Water treatment valves and actuators: types, applications and certifications

Water treatment valves are shut-off components that manage the fluids in plants where water is treated, purified or made into drinking water. It is a fast-growing sector, moving from low-spec applications toward high-tech plants, today fully aligned with sustainability.

Choosing the right water treatment valves means knowing their types, applications and available certifications: it is the first step toward a safe supply and a plant that stays reliable over time.

Types of water treatment valves

In water treatment plants, ball valves and butterfly valves are used above all, both of which can be automated with an electric actuator or a pneumatic actuator. The former ensure reliable fluid shut-off, the latter suit water lines and large-diameter circuits.

Among the OMAL valves, the MAGNUM is the lightweight, compact wafer version, a ball valve for water also available as a 316 stainless steel ball valve. The THOR split body flanged version, instead, covers larger diameters and pressures, with options such as a three-way ball valve execution and reduced bore. 

Finally, the KRAVEN is the range's butterfly valve, WRAS certified, available as a wafer butterfly valve or lug butterfly valve, with body and disc in cast iron, CF8M or aluminium bronze.

Applications in water treatment: wastewater treatment plants, depuration plants, and more

Water treatment includes several sub-sectors, sharing large volumes and continuous operation. Valves must therefore cope with corrosion, sludge, chemical dosing, filtration and disinfection.

OMAL solutions are used in:

• Wastewater treatment and depuration plants, including industrial wastewater treatment.
• Desalination and reverse osmosis plants.
• Water filtration and potabilization.
• PFAS treatment and ozonated water.

In wastewater treatment plants and depuration plants the valves manage the fluids along the process stages, where resistant materials and reliable sealing are needed. In desalination plants and reverse osmosis plants, where pressure and salinity weigh heavily, the range responds with stainless steel valves and actuators sized on the real plant conditions.

In water filtration, potabilization and water purification, the suitability of the materials in contact with drinking water becomes decisive, confirmed by WRAS certification. PFAS treatment, finally, is an emerging sub-sector.

Certifications for water treatment valves

In water treatment plants the conformity of components has a direct impact on the safety and reliability of the process.

WRAS certification attests that materials in contact with water are suitable for drinking water service according to British regulations: we recently obtained it for the KRAVEN butterfly valves.

For more particular applications, such as ozonated water or PFAS treatment, where dedicated certifications do not yet exist, we bring conformities already obtained in more critical sectors, starting from TA Luft & Fugitive Emission on the containment of fugitive emissions.

Depending on the product family, the range then offers Pressure Equipment CE/UKCA, the Ex CE/UKCA (ATEX) marking, SIL certification up to SIL3 and the Fire Safe qualification; the DNV certification is available on the AGO pneumatic actuator.

Why valve and actuator should be chosen together

In water treatment the choice does not concern the valve alone, but the valve-actuator group as a whole. At OMAL the two components are made in the same facility: we supply a group already coupled and sized, with the valv- actuator coupling verified in production and a single technical contact, instead of buying them separately from different suppliers.

We get involved in projects with a co-engineering approach, up to custom solutions designed for the specific plant. Automation ranges from the EA IP68 electric actuator, suited to damp environments, to the AGO pneumatic actuator, scotch yoke on/off in double acting and spring return and DNV certified, up to the AGO Handwheel version with integrated handwheel, which allows commissioning without compressed air, even before the plant's air supply is available.

Do you want to explore the complete range of valves and actuators for water treatment? Click here and discover OMAL's certified solutions.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about water treatment valves and actuators

Which valves are used in water treatment plants?

Mainly ball valves and butterfly valves. The MAGNUM and THOR ball valves ensure reliable fluid shut-off, while the WRAS certified KRAVEN butterfly valve suits water lines and large-diameter circuits.

Which materials resist in water treatment applications?

The valves are available in 316 stainless steel and, for butterfly valve discs, also in aluminium bronze. The seals are made of PTFE, PEEK, EPDM, NBR or FKM, depending on the fluid. Electric actuators are available in aluminium, whilst pneumatic actuators are also available in stainless steel or carbon steel.

What does WRAS certification mean for valves?

WRAS certification attests that materials in contact with water are suitable for drinking water service according to British regulations. In our range it applies to the KRAVEN butterfly valves, and it is relevant for potabilization and drinking water distribution.

Which valves are used for desalination and reverse osmosis?

For desalination and reverse osmosis plants we offer ball valves and butterfly valves in resistant materials, paired with EA IP68 electric or AGO pneumatic actuators, sized on the plant's pressure and service conditions.

Is it possible to commission a plant without compressed air?

Yes, thanks to the AGO Handwheel pneumatic actuator with integrated handwheel, which lets you operate the valve manually and commission the plant even when compressed air is not yet available.