Water Treatment - Frequently Asked Questions
Multimedia Sand Filters - FAQ’S
MULTI-MEDIA FILTER – FAQ’S WHAT IS A MULTI-MEDIA FILTER?
A multi-media filter is a fiberglass tank filled with three or four layers of media available and either a manual or automatic head attached. Its use is primarily to remove sediment down to ten microns.
WHEN WOULD A MULTI-MEDIA FILTER BE RECOMMENDED?
When the suspended solids in the water supply reaches an unacceptable level based on a water analysis, or simply a visual examination of the water. In some cases a flocculent may be required to gather the suspended solids which would normally pass through a multi-media filter.
WHAT DOES A MULTI-MEDIA FILTER DO?
A multi-media filter simply gathers and collects the sediment and when this unit is back washed, it flushes these particles to waste.
IS A MULTI-MEDIA FILTER BETTER THAN A SAND FILTER?
Yes. A sand filter will only filter down to approx, 30 microns and requires three times the service flow rate to achieve an adequate back-wash of the sand bed. Whereas a multi-media filter with its four layer bed requires only an equal flow rate to initiate an effective back wash. The reason for this is that the upper layers of the media are much lighter in their dense weight.
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A MULIT-MEDIA FILTER?
The filter is made up of either a manual or automatic back-wash control, bypass valve and a fiberglass pressure tank. The tank contains three or four layers of media from the top (coarse based gravel – (5/8”), medium based gravel (3/5”), filtration sand (14/25”), anthracite. The fully automatic head incorporates service, back wash and rinse positions and a six day timer allowing you to set the back wash frequency for either every, second, third or sixth day. A manual head is available if no power is accessible.
HOW DO I SIZE A MULTI-MEDIA FILTER?
This is done simply on the flow whether it’s 15 – 70 LPM or higher with larger commercial units being available.
Water Softener - FAQ’S
WHY DO WE NEED TO SOFTEN WATER?
All water contains traces of calcium and magnesium. These minerals in large quantities will cause hardness in the supply and need to be removed.
WHAT PROBLEMS DOES HARD WATER CAUSE?
When high levels of calcium are present a number of problems are evident. Low sudsing of the supply when detergent or soap is used is the first thing to be noticed. In the long term scaling of pipes and fittings will occur as well as clogging of the hot water system. Hard water soap residue on your skin, hair and clothes dulls the complexion, leaves skin red, dry and itchy and clothes stiff and starchy.
WHAT DOES A WATER SOFTENER DO?
Softeners use a process called Ion Exchange. A bed of positively charged resin is used in a Softener and as the Hard negatively charged water passes through the resin the minerals are attracted like a magnet to the resin. At a pre-set-time, brine (salty water) is sucked up from an attached tank and is flushed through the resin. As salt has a positive charge it regenerates the now negative resin re-charging it positively and the salt attracts the minerals to it which are flushed out to waste.
WHEN WOULD YOU RECOMMEND A SOFTENER?
If after a water analysis has been done and the hardness is over 60mg, a softener would be recommended.
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A WATER SOFTENER?
A water softener is made up of a fibreglass pressure tank containing the resin bed (cation) and an internal or external brine tank. The head is fully automatic and incorporates Service, Backwash, Brine Draw/Rinse, Fast Rinse and Brine Refill positions and a six day timer allowing regeneration to be set for regular periods. A Micro-processor model is also available which back-washes based on usage of water and not time.
HOW DO IS SIZE A WATER SOFTENER?
This is done based on the Hardness of the water and the flow rate. A formula is available but we would advise to contact us direct for help in sizing a unit. Larger commercial units are also available.
Neutralising Filter - FAQ’S
WHY DO WE NEED TO NEUTRALISE WATER?
The gases carbon dioxide and oxygen enter water naturally from the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide molecules combine with water to form carbonic acid. In vegetated areas, oxygen in water is consumed and the carbon dioxide is increased through decay of vegetation, thereby increasing the carbonic acid strength in underground aquifers. Most people are not aware that rain water is also acidic due to coming into contact with carbon dioxide as it falls from the sky. Rivers, creeks, dams etc do not generally suffer from this problem as the carbon dioxide can escape.
WHAT PROBLEM DOES ACIDIC WATER CAUSE?
When used on a domestic water supply, acidic water will cause corrosion of fittings and pipe work. This is evidenced by the pitting of metal surfaces, unsightly green staining caused by the leaching of copper from pipes, and an unpleasant metallic taste in the water. In some cases it can cause blonde hair to turn green.
WHAT DOES A NEUTRALISING FILTER DO?
A neutralising filter uses a product called akdolit, which is principally calcium carbonate, an alkali. As water, by nature, prefers to be neutral, and not acid or alkaline it will normally absorb only the amount of akdolit it requires to adjust to a neutral state.
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A NEUTRALISING FILTER?
The filter is made up of either an up-flow, manual or automatic head with an automatic backwash control, bypass valve, and a fiberglass pressure tank containing akdolit with a gravel under bed, and an internal riser pipe with a distributor basket. The valve is fully automatic and incorporates service, backwash and rinse positions and a six day timer allowing you to set the backwash frequency for either every, second, third or sixth day. An up-flow or manual head is available if no power is accessible with the advantage of the up-flow head being set up for quick refill of media.
HOW DO I SIZE A NEUTRALISING FILTER?
This is done simply on flow, whether it is 20 – 80 LPM or higher with larger commercial units being available.
High Flow Carbon Filter - FAQ's
WHAT IS A CARBON FILTER?
A Carbon Filter is a fibreglass tank filled with Activated Carbon with either a manual or automatic head. Its use is primarily to remove chlorine, organic taste and odour.
WHEN WOULD A CARBON FILTER BE RECOMMENDED?
Whenever chlorine or organics are required to be removed from water. This is necessary before a Reverse Osmosis System and before a Water Softener as softener resin is not tolerant to chlorine. Also for health reasons some households may require a Carbon Filter. Food or Drink Processing plants would also use this filter.
HOW EFFECTIVE IS CARBON FILTRATION?
It is the most common and widely used method of dechlorination and organic taste and odour removal. The carbon has an exceptional surface area and therefore tremendous absorption capacity for chlorine and organic molecules to attach themselves. Unlike any other media filter it will remove tannin or organic colours as well. One litre of carbon has roughly the surface area of a football field, therefore quite extensive runs from the carbon bed can be realised before replacement is needed. It would be replaced on average at two-yearly intervals.
WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS OF A CARBON FILTER?
The filter is made up of either a manual or automatic backwash control, bypass valve and a fibreglass pressure tank. The tank contains an under-bed of medium based gravel (3/5”) followed by Granular Activated Carbon. The fully automatic head incorporates Service, Backwash and Rinse positions and a six day timer allowing you to set the backwash frequency for either every day, second day, third day or sixth day. A manual head is available if no power is accessible.
HOW DO I SIZE A CARBON FILTER?
This is done simply on flow, whether it is 25 – 70 LPM or higher with larger commercial units being available.
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