If your water treatment system isn’t performing as it should, the issue may not be maintenance-related.
It may not be chemistry.It may not even be the equipment.
It may be that the wrong process was selected from the beginning.
Aeration.
Decarbonation.
Degasification.
They sound similar. They often look similar. They even use similar tower designs.
But they solve different problems — and selecting the wrong one can lead to:
For municipal operators, industrial plant managers, and consulting engineers, those aren’t small inconveniences. They’re operational liabilities.
At DeLoach Industries, we help facilities make the right call — not just for startup performance, but for decades of reliable operation.
Let’s walk through the real differences and how to determine what your process truly requires.
Aeration is the process of introducing oxygen into water to increase dissolved oxygen levels.
Its primary purpose? Initiate oxidation reactions.
When oxygen is introduced into water at its maximum saturation level (which varies with temperature), certain dissolved contaminants can be converted into forms that are removable.
Common Reasons to Use Aeration
Aeration is frequently selected when the goal is to:
For example:
In groundwater applications, iron exists in a dissolved ferrous state. Without oxidation, it passes straight through filtration. When aeration is properly engineered, oxygen converts ferrous iron into ferric iron — allowing it to settle, coagulate, and filter effectively.
No oxygen transfer? No oxidation.
No oxidation? No removal.
It’s that simple.
What Most Facilities Overlook
Oxygen saturation levels depend heavily on influent water temperature. A system designed without accounting for temperature variation may underperform seasonally.
This is where engineering precision matters.
DeLoach Industries Aeration Systems
Aerators manufactured by DeLoach Industries are:
For high-iron or heavy scaling applications, square units with self-cleaning PVC slat trays dramatically reduce fouling compared to loose-fill random media.
For lower-fouling, non-iron applications, round packed towers offer high efficiency.
If hydrogen sulfide is present, draft configuration becomes critical to prevent corrosion damage to blower components.
Choosing the correct configuration isn’t optional — it directly impacts operating cost and system lifespan.
Decarbonation is the removal of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from water. And in many facilities, CO₂ is quietly driving up operating costs.
Carbon dioxide may exist naturally in groundwater or form from carbonic acid reactions. When left untreated, it:
Why CO₂ Removal Impacts Your Budget
In lime softening systems, failing to remove CO₂ before chemical feed means:
By installing a properly designed decarbonator:
This is not theoretical — it’s measurable.
Where Decarbonators Are Most Commonly Used
DeLoach Industries manufactures RTP-1 fiberglass and NSF-61 compliant decarbonators for municipal and industrial use, available in:
For heavy fouling or scaling water, square designs allow slat tray configurations. For ultra-pure applications requiring high efficiency, round packed towers may be selected.
The choice isn’t about preference. It’s about chemistry.
Degasification is a broader term that refers to removing dissolved gases from water.
These gases may include:
It’s important to clarify: removing oxygen requires vacuum or thermal degasification. Standard air stripping systems are typically used for H₂S and CO₂ removal.
Properly designed non-vacuum degasification systems can achieve up to 99.99% removal efficiency when pH and temperature are correctly adjusted.
When Degasification Becomes Critical
If hydrogen sulfide exceeds 1–2 PPM:
In these cases, a forced draft degasification tower is typically recommended.
Forced draft systems:
Using PVC structural components in high H₂S or CO₂ environments often leads to brittleness, cracking, and premature failure due to UV exposure and vibration stress.
That’s why DeLoach Industries designs degasifiers with:
We don’t design for the first year. We’ve been designing for decades.
Here’s where many projects go wrong: assumptions.
The correct selection depends on:
Step 1: Analyze Raw Water Thoroughly
Before selecting any aeration, decarbonation, or degasification system, a comprehensive water analysis must be reviewed by both the engineer and the equipment supplier.
If the LSI is negative and iron, calcium, or magnesium levels are high, a square tower with slat tray media may reduce fouling and maintenance downtime.
Round towers using random packing offer high removal efficiency but may foul faster in scaling environments.
Ignoring fouling risk during design inevitably increases long-term operating cost.
Initial capital cost is visible.
Lifecycle cost is not — until it becomes a problem.
System selection affects:
A properly engineered forced draft degasifier may cost more upfront than a basic configuration — but it protects against corrosive gas damage and extends blower life.
Over 20 years, that difference is substantial.
Municipal and industrial water treatment is not a short-term investment.
It is infrastructure.
DeLoach Industries is one of the most experienced manufacturers in the United States specializing in aeration, decarbonation, and degasification systems.
We work directly with:
Our approach includes:
We do not provide generic, off-the-shelf solutions.
We engineer systems based on your application, your chemistry, and your operational goals.
That’s the difference between equipment supply and engineered partnership.
Selecting between aeration, decarbonation, and degasification is not simply a terminology decision.
It determines:
If your current system is underperforming, or you are designing a new treatment process, the most important first step is not ordering equipment.
It is asking the right technical questions.
If you are evaluating:
DeLoach Industries is ready to assist.
We will review your water chemistry, evaluate your operating conditions, and help you determine whether aeration, decarbonation, or degasification — or a combination, is the correct approach.
Contact DeLoach Industries today at (941) 371-4995 to discuss your municipal or industrial water treatment application.
Your infrastructure and your operating budget will depend on it.