Abstract Water conservation efforts in industrial water applications have led to increases in water concentration cycles in cooling towers. The increased stress can challenge the chemical treatment program in the areas of corrosion, deposition and microbiological control. The most recent financial crisis has led the industry to scrutinize and minimize all cooling tower operating costs, including those associated with the use of acid to control the pH of traditional stabilized phosphate program that operates in the near neutral pH range. A new treatment program designed to address stressed water systems in the alkaline range (pH ≥ 8) will be presented and discussed. The paper will cover results obtained under both laboratory and field conditions.