Whidbey Water Filters

OTHER SYSTEMS
IN ADDITION TO OZONE

In addition to ozone treatment, often there will be more than one problem to be eliminated from the water. No one system will take care of everything. For example, a compressed carbon block filter will remove chemicals and bacteria, but it won't remove minerals. An ozone system will remove iron, manganese, sulfur, bacteria and particulate matter, but it won't remove hardness or tannin. Tannin is acidic, so when a tannin resin is used it may change the pH of the water so much that a pH stabilizer is required. Some water is so high in virus or bacteria or coliform that sometimes an ultra violet sterilizer is required. However, UV will not filter anything out, so pre-filters and post-filters are required. Sometimes the water is so sull of sand or silt or large particles that a roughing filter or coarse pre-filter is necessary so as to prolong the life of the main filtration system.

In other words, it is necessary to know what is in the water by sending a sample of water to a professional watter testing laboratory. Once we know what is in your water, we then know which technologies will remove each item. There is a certain order for sytems. Assuming the worst, a number of systems might need to be combined in order to get your water crystal-clear. Below is a possible sequence for a lot of in-line systems:

1. Pre-filter/roughing filter/coarse filter/sand filter/15-50 micron filter cartridge
2. pH stabilizer
3. Ozone injection
4. Off-gas tank to remove all gases (sulfur, ozone, methane, ammonia, etc.)
5. Filter media tank (remove particulates, iron, manganese, etc.)
6. Water softener with tannin resin (removes hardness, tannin, color)
7. Ultra-Violet sterilizer
8. Point-of-Use filter at the sink (compressed carbon block or reverse osmosis)

In addition to this hypothetical list of systems, some other systems might be necessary instead. If arsenic is an issue, there is a completely different system that will remove arsenic, iron, and everything else. If minerals are not an issue, the waterr is clear, but it is high in bacteria, sometimes nothing more than ultra-violet treatment is needed. This is particularly the case for treating rainwater, and might be the case for people using shallow hand-dug wells. The problem with rainwater is that it is highly acidic. Pond water, on the other hand, is extremely alkaline. Consequently the pH might need to be altered. If there is dirt in the water, at least a coarse filter might be required. Then we get back into the issue of multiple systems.

So the question is, which system is the least redundant and the most effective for the lowest price and the least amount of maintenance. That's a good reason to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dean. Call (206) 324-5055.