Cooling towers are easy to overlook, even though they play a huge role in keeping data centers operating efficiently. In Michigan, shifting weather, hard water and seasonal demand put extra pressure on these systems, making proper water treatment a necessity.
When scale or corrosion are not well managed, the impact shows up fast in higher energy use and unplanned maintenance. Having a reliable water treatment provider in place can keep those issues from turning into bigger operational problems.
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The Top Cooling Water Treatment Providers in Michigan
The following are some of the top-rated cooling tower water treatment providers operating in Michigan. Each offers a different mix of expertise, service models and sustainability-focused solutions, making them well-suited for data centers with varying operational needs.
1. Chardon Labs
Chardon Labs is a Midwest-based water treatment provider known for its service-inclusive approach and emphasis on guaranteed performance. Rather than focusing only on chemical delivery, the company is a full-service partner, taking ongoing monitoring, maintenance and optimization of cooling tower systems off the plate of facility teams. This hands-on model makes
Chardon Labs a strong fit for data centers where uptime, consistency and predictability are crucial.
Key features for data centers:
- Service-inclusive treatment programs: Chardon Labs provides a comprehensive service model that includes routine technician visits, system testing, reporting, and all required chemicals and equipment under a single program. This approach helps simplify vendor management and ensures consistent oversight of cooling tower performance.
- Guaranteed scale-free operation: The company offers a “guaranteed scale-free” program, addressing one of the most common causes of cooling tower inefficiency and heat transfer loss. This guarantee reduces the risk of performance degradation and unplanned maintenance tied to scaling issues.
- Custom-blended chemical solutions: Chardon Labs formulates its own treatment chemicals, allowing programs to be tailored to a facility’s specific water chemistry, operating conditions and load requirements. This customization is especially valuable in Michigan, where source water quality can vary widely by region.
- Certified, consistent service delivery: With ISO 9001-certified technicians, Chardon Labs delivers standardized service processes and quality control.
Sustainability and Water Efficiency
Chardon Labs places a strong focus on reducing water, chemical and energy use through optimized cooling tower operation. By maximizing cycles of concentration and minimizing blowdown, its treatment programs can conserve water while maintaining system cleanliness and efficiency.
Best For
The company is a top fit for data centers looking for a hands-off, service-driven cooling tower water treatment program with guaranteed performance and a strong focus on preventive maintenance.
2. Veolia Water Technologies
Veolia Water Technologies operates at a global scale, delivering water and wastewater treatment solutions for industrial and mission-critical environments. With deep experience supporting large, complex facilities, Veolia brings engineering expertise, digital monitoring and sustainability-driven system design that aligns well with the demands of modern data centers.
Key features for data centers:
- Advanced cooling water treatment programs: Veolia provides comprehensive cooling tower water treatment services that address scale, corrosion and microbiological control while optimizing heat transfer efficiency. Programs are engineered around site-specific operating conditions, system loads and local water chemistry.
- Digital monitoring and automation tools: The company integrates real-time monitoring, analytics and remote system visibility to help facilities teams track performance, identify inefficiencies and respond quickly to changes. This level of insight supports proactive maintenance and reduced operational risk.
- Mobile and temporary water treatment solutions: Veolia offers mobile water treatment systems that can support planned maintenance, emergency outages or capacity expansion. This flexibility can be valuable for data centers managing upgrades or unexpected operational disruptions.
- Global engineering and compliance expertise: With experience across regulated and high-demand industries, Veolia brings strong knowledge of environmental compliance, water reuse and system optimization at scale.
Sustainability and Resource Efficiency
Sustainability is a central focus of Veolia’s water treatment approach. The company reduces water consumption, improves cycles of concentration and enables reuse where feasible. These strategies help data centers lower their environmental footprint while maintaining strong cooling performance.
Best For
Veolia is best for large or growing data centers that need a highly scalable, technology-driven water treatment partner with strong sustainability credentials and global engineering support.
3. Garratt-Callahan
Garratt-Callahan is a long-standing industrial water treatment provider known for pairing traditional water chemistry expertise with data-driven system optimization. The company focuses on helping facilities improve cooling tower efficiency, reduce water waste and meet sustainability targets without sacrificing reliability. This approach is key for data centers operating under tight performance and ESG expectations.
Key features for data centers:
- Performance-focused cooling tower programs: Garratt-Callahan designs cooling tower water treatment programs that target scale, corrosion and biological growth while maintaining stable heat transfer performance. Treatment plans are tailored to site-specific water chemistry and operational demands.
- Smart monitoring and control technologies: The company leverages automated monitoring, control systems and analytics to optimize chemical dosing and system performance in real time. This helps reduce manual intervention and supports more predictable cooling tower operations.
- Advanced chemical formulations: Garratt-Callahan offers proprietary chemical solutions, including its G-C HALO line of solid concentrates. These formulations improve safety and sustainability by reducing liquid chemical handling, lowering shipping weight and minimizing plastic drum waste, while still delivering effective control in cooling tower systems.
- On-site expertise and ongoing support: Garratt-Callahan provides regular service visits, system assessments and performance reporting, giving facilities teams clear visibility into system health and treatment effectiveness.
Sustainability and ESG Alignment
Sustainability is central to Garratt-Callahan’s treatment philosophy. With smart controls and optimized water chemistry, the company can help facilities reduce water use and support broader ESG initiatives.
Best For
The company is a good fit for data centers looking to balance cooling tower performance with measurable water savings and sustainability outcomes through smart, technology-enabled water treatment programs.
4. Nalco Water
As the industrial water division of Ecolab, Nalco Water is a global leader in treatment technology with a strong presence in mission-critical environments. The company offers deep water chemistry expertise with advanced digital monitoring and analytics. This makes it a common choice for data centers that prioritize uptime, risk management and measurable performance outcomes.
Key features for data centers:
- 3D TRASAR technology for cooling water: Nalco Water’s flagship 3D TRASAR technology provides real-time monitoring and automated control of cooling tower systems. The platform continuously analyzes system conditions and applies chemical adjustments to maintain stable performance.
- Water safety and Legionella risk management: Nalco offers specialized programs that mitigate the risk of Legionella and other waterborne pathogens in cooling systems. These programs support facility safety initiatives and help data centers maintain compliance with health and regulatory standards.
- Performance-based treatment programs: The company often structures its service agreements around defined performance metrics, such as water savings, energy efficiency improvements and reduced operational costs. This approach helps facilities track return on investment and align treatment programs with broader business goals.
- Cooling as a service (CaaS) delivery model: It supports CaaS programs that bundle water treatment, monitoring, optimization and performance accountability into a single service model. This approach helps data centers shift cooling management away from reactive maintenance and toward predictable performance, while aligning costs with measurable efficiency and sustainability outcomes.
Sustainability and Resource Optimization
Sustainability is closely tied to Ecolab’s corporate strategy, and Nalco Water’s solutions reflect that focus. Through advanced monitoring and data-driven insights, the company helps data centers reduce water and energy consumption. The Ecolab3D intelligence platform provides visibility into performance trends and sustainability progress over time.
Best For
Nalco Water caters mostly to data centers that want highly automated cooling tower control, strong water safety programs and a global partner with extensive technical resources.
5. Chem-Aqua
Chem-Aqua is the water treatment division of NCH Corp., a global maintenance and supply company with decades of experience in industrial water management. It focuses on delivering customized, cost-effective cooling tower water treatment programs that protect equipment and reduce total operating costs.
Key features for data centers:
- Focus on total cost of operation: Chem-Aqua’s service approach is centered on demonstrating measurable return on investment. Its programs extend equipment life, reduce energy consumption and lower water usage, helping data centers manage long-term operational costs.
- Solid and liquid treatment options: Chem-Aqua offers traditional liquid chemicals and solid concentrate solutions, including its Handi-Pak system. This flexibility allows facilities to choose treatment options that align with safety policies, storage constraints and handling preferences.
- Customized program design: Treatment programs are developed following a detailed assessment of each facility’s cooling systems, operating conditions and water chemistry. This site-specific approach helps address unique challenges related to scaling, corrosion and biological control.
- On-site service and performance reporting: Chem-Aqua provides routine on-site service, water analysis and performance documentation to help facilities teams track system health and treatment effectiveness. Regular reporting supports informed decision-making and ongoing optimization of cooling tower performance.
Sustainability and Resource Conservation
Resource conservation is a core part of Chem-Aqua’s treatment philosophy. Programs are engineered to minimize water and energy loss, while solid concentrate options reduce shipping requirements and eliminate the need to dispose of plastic drums. These efforts support sustainability goals without compromising system reliability.
Best For
Chem-Aqua serves organizations that want a highly customized water treatment program focused on clear ROI, cost control and long-term system protection through well-documented performance management.
The Criteria Used to Rank Michigan’s Top Providers
Before determining Michigan’s top cooling tower water treatment providers, several factors were used to evaluate how well each company serves data center environments. These criteria focus on performance, reliability and long-term value rather than marketing claims alone.
Criteria used to rank Michigan’s top providers:
- Cooling tower expertise: Demonstrate experience designing and managing cooling tower water treatment programs for complex or mission-critical facilities
- Service model and support: Offer routine on-site service, responsiveness and hands-on support to facilities
- Technology capabilities: Exemplify use of automation, real-time monitoring, analytics or reporting tools
- Sustainability: Reduce water usage, energy consumption and chemical waste through optimized treatment strategies
- Customization and flexibility: Possess a willingness to tailor programs based on site-specific water chemistry, system design and operational needs
- Proven performance: Have a track record of delivering consistent results, minimizing system disruptions and supporting uptime in high-demand environments
A Comparative Analysis of Each Provider
The following is a comparison of the top contenders’ key features and services.
| Feature | Chardon Labs | Veolia Water Technologies | Garratt-Callahan | Nalco Water | Chem-Aqua |
| Primary Focus | Service-inclusive programs with guaranteed performance | Global engineering and technology-driven solutions | Performance optimization with a focus on sustainability | Real-time automation and data-driven risk management | Customized programs focused on total cost of operation |
| Key Technology | Custom-blended chemical formulations | Hubgrade digital monitoring and mobile treatment units | Smart controls and G-C HALO solid concentrates | 3D TRASAR automated real-time control | Handi-Pak solid concentrate system |
| Service Model | All-inclusive service with technician visits and supplies | Engineered programs with digital and mobile options | On-site expertise and performance-focused plans | Performance-based agreements, including CaaS models | Customized plans with routine on-site service |
| Sustainability Approach | Maximizes cycles to reduce water and energy use | Focus on water reuse and environmental footprint reduction | Aligns performance with measurable water savings | Resource optimization via the Ecolab3D platform | Resource conservation to lower operational costs |
| Best For | Hands-off, predictable performance with a service guarantee | Large-scale facilities needing scalable tech and global support | Balancing performance with measurable sustainability goals | Highly automated control and comprehensive risk management | Achieving clear ROI and long-term system protection |
How to Choose the Right Cooling Tower Water Treatment Partner
Choosing the right water treatment partner involves more than comparing service plans or chemical offerings. The right provider should support uptime, efficiency and sustainability goals while fitting smoothly into day-to-day operations. The following considerations can narrow the field and identify a partner that aligns with a facility’s needs.
Prioritize Proven Data Center Experience
Some water treatment providers can lack familiarity with the demands of data center cooling systems. Look for partners with a track record of working in mission-critical settings and an understanding of how cooling tower performance impacts uptime and energy efficiency.
Evaluate the Service Model
Consider how much hands-on support your team needs. Some providers offer fully service-inclusive models with routine monitoring and maintenance, while others take a more consultative approach. The right fit depends on your internal resources and tolerance for risk.
Assess Monitoring and Visibility
Real-time monitoring, automated controls and clear reporting can make a significant difference in how quickly issues are identified and addressed. Providers that offer data-driven insights give facilities teams better visibility into system health and performance trends.
Look for Measurable Efficiency Gains
A strong partner clearly explains how their program improves water efficiency, reduces energy use and lowers the total cost of operation. Ask for examples of measurable outcomes, not just general claims.
Consider Sustainability Alignment
If sustainability or ESG reporting is a priority, evaluate how well a provider’s programs support water conservation, reduced chemical usage and waste reduction. Treatment strategies should align with operational goals and long-term environmental targets.
Partnering With the Right Cooling Tower Water Treatment Provider in Michigan
Cooling tower water treatment is critical in keeping data centers efficient and sustainable, especially in Michigan’s variable climate. The right provider brings more than chemicals, offering the expertise, service and technology needed to protect systems and support long-term performance. By focusing on experience, service models and measurable outcomes, facilities can make more informed decisions that align with operational and sustainability goals.
