Patent ID: 7353634

Claim:
A method using an aqueous effluent comprising the steps of: collecting water contaminated with the salts of Na, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO 4 , or CO 3 ; processing the contaminated water to produce a first effluent of clean water and a second effluent of waste water, the clean water having increased sodium so as to have more sodium than the contaminated water and having a salt content too high for potable use, and the second effluent of waste water having 0.15% or more by weight of the salts of Na, Ca, Mg, Cl, SO 4 , or CO 3 or combinations thereof and a greater salt content than the clean water; analyzing the clean water to determine if its sodium content is too high for potable use; and using the clean water within a cooling tower to dissipate heat if it has been determined that the clean water's sodium content is too high for potable use.