Gaskets and Packing for Water and Wastewater Applications


Gaskets and packing have a wide range of use in water management applications. Applications involve uses in municipal wastewater and stormwater treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, drinking water, and environmental. In many cases, these applications are governed by regulatory requirements, making the selection of gaskets and packing for water and wastewater applications a critical purchasing activity.

Gaskets and Packing for Water and Wastewater Applications: Challenges

Wastewater treatment applications pose significant challenges for gaskets, seals and packing. Chemicals, such as chlorine, used in the treatment process may degrade sealing materials and it is therefore important to choose materials which are able to resist attack and degradation. The effluent being processed may also contain compounds and materials that can attack and degrade sealing materials, while thick sludge and slurries can also compromise sealing performance.

The introduction of the NSF/ANSI 61 standard for drinking water applications has also placed new regulatory pressure on the selection and use of sealing materials. Developed by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), NSF/ANSI 61 includes criteria for testing and evaluating products to ensure they do not leach hazardous contaminants into water. Developed by a team of scientists, industry experts and key industry stakeholders, NSF/ANSI 61 establishes minimum criteria for impurities and contaminants that may be released indirectly into drinking water from products, components and materials, including joining and sealing materials such as gaskets and seals.

Wastewater treatment plants use a variety of organic and inorganic gasket materials for equipment and piping applications. High temperatures are not often encountered in these applications, and fluid pressures often do not exceed 500 psi. Gasket sheeting is more commonly used for piping applications than for equipment applications.

Gaskets for water management applications are usually purchased in one of two forms: either as finished gaskets bought directly from the manufacturer, or as sheet materials from which maintenance personnel fashion their own gaskets. Some facilities will also use a combination of both approaches, depending upon their specific needs. In either case, dealing with a supplier who has both the material expertise and supply capability becomes a critical requirement.

Gaskets and Packing for Water and Wastewater Applications: Solutions

Purchasing packing for water management applications involves the same considerations as gasketing. As with gaskets, selecting packing materials that can withstand the application challenges is critical.

CRG can assist facilities with the supply and provision of gaskets and packing for water and wastewater applications. Specific products and services we offer include the following:

Finished gaskets. CRG gaskets are purpose-made to each customers’ application requirements using CNC waterjet or flex/flash cutting. We specialize in short-run production and expedited and emergency service is available upon request.

Gasket sheeting. CRG maintains an wide range of gasket sheet materials. Our extensive inventory means we can service almost any application and assure ready availability. We can supply sheet material by the roll or in sheets cut-to-length. We can supply sheet materials that are certified to the requirements of NSF/ANSI 61.

Pump packing. CRG supplies high quality pump packing from Teadit. Our packing is available in a wide range of types for servicing water management applications.

Material advisement and selection. CRG can assist with the selection of the optimal sealing material for your water management application. If required, we can visit onsite to review your application and advise on the right material choice.

To find out more about how CRG can help with gaskets and packing for water and wastewater applications, please contact our sales team at crg@canadarubbergroup.com.