Oxidation:

Iron in water in the reduced form is converted to ferric compound by Oxidation and these are removed by filtration alone or by sedimentation and filtration. Oxidation involves the transfer of electrons from the iron, manganese, or other chemicals being treated to the oxidizing agent. Oxidation methods fall into two groups: those using additives like chlorine, ozone or air; or those using an oxidizing filter media. For best results, water pH should be between 6.5 and 10.0.

Air is also used to convert dissolved iron into a form that can be filtered. This approach mimics what happens when untreated dissolved iron comes into contact with the air after leaving a faucet. When aeration is used as a pre-oxidizer, it is generally done with either an air inductor or an air pump. Aeration methods can be of a two-tank or a single-tank variety. In a two-tank system, air is introduced into the first tank using a pump or other injection device. The dissolved iron precipitates in the first tank and is carried into the second tank where it is filtered in a Birm or multi-media filter. One drawback to this system is that water bearing the precipitated iron goes through the head of the first unit and the piping between the units.

Iron and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are common well problems that frequently occur together and often lend themselves to similar treatment. Iron corrodes appliances, ruins clothing in laundry, stops up pipes, discolors fixtures; hydrogen sulfide, or rotten egg odor, makes water unpalatable and unpleasant, blackens plumbing fixtures, and can be a health hazard when severe. Where there is iron, there is often manganese, which in very small amounts can cause black staining and odors.

The standard methods used to treat iron, hydrogen sulfide, and manganese are variations on the same three-step principle of oxidation, precipitation, and filtration. An oxidizer is added to the water, which induces precipitation of the iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide, and the precipitated contaminant is then filtered out of the water.

A variety of filters are used to remove oxidized contaminants, but here we are concerned only with the first step, oxidation.

The Common Oxidizers: The old-standby oxidizers for years have been chemicals like chlorine and potassium permanganate. Ozone and hydrogen peroxide are more natural oxidizers that are gaining in popularity. Another common oxidizer that is being used with ever greater frequency is air.

Oxidizing with Air: Plain air is a powerful oxidizer of iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide. It has a variety of advantages, including its low cost and its easy availability. Air adds nothing objectionable to water and leaves no undesirable by-products. Air is in plentiful supply and does not have to be transported to the treatment site.

Air can be applied to water treatment in a variety of ways. We’re going to look at the most popular applications here.

Open Air Tanks and Air Stripping: Air stripping is a technique in which volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are transferred from water to air. Typically, air stripping takes place in a packed tower (known as an air stripper) or an aeration tank.

Traditional air strippers vary in height, and the height is correlated to the chemical concentration of the contaminated water. A recent innovation in air strippers is the low-profile air stripper. These units have a number of trays that are set almost horizontally. Water is cascaded over the trays to maximize air-water contact while minimizing vertical space. Because they are not so visible, they are increasingly being used for groundwater treatment.

Strippers are used most often to rid water of volatile organics (VOCs) and gasses like methane and radon. Methane and radon are often “aerated” by simply allowing the water to stand in an open tank.

For residential treatment of iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide, compact closed-tank aeration units are used. Below are some examples.

The Venturi System: The simplest of the closed-tank systems is a passive aeration system that requires no outside power. It pulls air into the water line by means of an induction device called a venturi. The venturi (sometimes called a “Micronizer” or an educer) is installed in the water line prior to the well’s pressure tank. As water is forced through the venturi while the pressure tank is filling, air is sucked into the water line. The aerated water then enters a small treatment tank where the air is mixed thoroughly with the water and excess air is vented to the atmosphere. The water then passes to a filter, which removes the oxidized contaminants.

The main advantages of the venturi system are its low cost, its economy of operation, and its simplicity. The main disadvantage is that the venturi valve itself restricts water flow considerably. The venturi works by funneling the entire water stream through a very small hole inside the valve in order to create the pressure differential required to pull air into the water line. This restricts water flow and often makes it difficult to size the filters which follow the unit, since iron filters often require significant backwash volume. Consequently, venturi systems are most often sold as “one size fits all” units that use a standard 8″ X 44″ aeration tank, relatively easy to backwash filter media, and filter tanks no larger than 10″ X 54″.

Air Pump Systems: A more aggressive approach to aeration, the air pump system uses a small compressor to pack air into a special aeration tank. This system normally has much more air turnover and therefore requires a more complex venting system than the venturi system.

Distillation:

In many ways, distillation is the reverse of boiling. To remove impurities from water by distillation, the water is usually boiled in a chamber causing water to vaporize and the pure (or mostly pure) steam leaves the non volatile contaminants behind. The steam moves to a different part of the unit and is cooled until it condenses back into liquid water. The resulting distillate drips in to a storage container.

 The Distillation Process: Distillation has been an essential part of nature since the earth began. The heat of the sun evaporates water from the earth’s surface into the atmosphere, leaving impurities behind. As the vapor cools, it condenses and falls back to earth as rain, snow or other forms of precipitation. Water distillation is the process of boiling water in a chamber creating steam. As the vapor rises, it passes through cooling coils and collects as pure water. All of the contaminants are left behind in the boiling tank and gases that vaporize at temperature lower than the boiling point of water are released through volatile gas vents. In essence, distillation duplicate’s Mother Nature’s cycle of evaporation and precipitation and is highly effective in removing all inorganic, organic and radio nucleotide contaminants. These include heavy metals, ammonia, nitrate, chloride, fluoride, radium 226, industrial organic contaminants, and pollutants. Distillation is also highly effective in removing commonly used insecticides herbicides, and lead as well as all bacteria and viruses.

 The advantages of Distillation include: A good distillation unit produces very pure water. This is one of the views practical ways to remove nitrates, chloride, and other salts that carbon filtration cannot be remove. Distillation also removes pathogens in the water, mostly by killing and leaving them behind when the water vapor evaporates. If the water is boiled, or heated just short of boiling, pathogens would also be killed. As long as the distiller is kept, clean and is working properly the high quality of treated water will be very consistent regardless of the incoming water- no drop in quality over time. No filter cartridges to replace, unless a carbon filter is used to remove volatile organic compounds.

 The disadvantages of Distillation include: Distillation takes time to purify the water, it can take two, or five hours to make a gallon of distilled water. Distiller uses electricity all the time the unit is operating. Distillers require periodic cleaning of the boiler, condensation compartment, and storage tank. Countertop distillation is one of the more expensive home water treatment methods, using very much of electrical energy per gallon of distilled water produced- depending on local electricity costs. The cost of ownership is high because you not only have the initial cost of the distillation unit to consider, but you also must pay for the electrical energy for each gallon of water produced. Most home distillation units require electricity, and will not function in an emergency situation when electrical power is not available.

Effectiveness: The first residential water distillers were designed primarily to remove dissolved solids and inorganic salts. As more ‘sophisticated’ chemicals were created in our society, the need evolved for volatile gas release vents and pre or post filtration. Charcoal filters provide double assurance that ‘volatile’ contaminants, which may escape being vented, do not end up in the distilled water storage tank. These filters do not breed bacteria, as only pure water passes through. Distillers may also have a self-sterilizing feature for more protection.  Distillation systems offer their users consistently high quality water and, when used according to the manufacturer’s instruction, offer rejection rates exceeding 95% of contaminants.

Ultra Violet:

What is UV, How does it work? : – Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection uses a UV light source, which is enclosed in a transparent protective sleeve. It is mounted so that water can pass through a flow chamber; UV rays are admitted and absorbed into the stream. When ultraviolet energy is absorbed by the reproductive mechanism of bacteria and viruses, the genetic material (DNA/RNA) is rearranged and they become inactive for certain period of time (18/20 hrs). For that period are therefore considered dead. After that span of time bacteria and viruses may regenerate themselves. UV systems are generally not effective in removing cysts such as giardia and cryptosporidium because of the exposure time of the contaminant.  

What are the Advantages of UV Disinfection?

Following are the advantages of UV sterilization:

• Environmentally friendly, no dangerous chemicals to handle or store, no problems of overdosing.  
• Universally accepted disinfection system for potable and non-potable water systems.  
• Low initial capital cost as well as reduced operating expenses when compared with similar technologies such as ozone, chlorine, etc.  
• Immediate treatment process, no need for holding tanks, long retention times, etc.  
• Extremely economical, hundreds of gallons may be treated for each penny of operating cost.  
• Low power consumption.  
• No chemicals added to the water supply – no by-products (i.e. chlorine + organics = trihalomethanes).   
• Safe to use.  
• No removal of beneficial minerals.  
• No change in taste, odor, pH or conductivity nor the general chemistry of the water.  
• Automatic operation without special attention or measurement, operator friendly.  
• Simplicity and ease of maintenance, TWT Deposit Control System prevents scale formation of quartz sleeve, annual lamp replacement, no moving parts to wear out.  
• No handling of toxic chemicals, no need for specialized storage requirements, no OHSA requirements.  
• Easy installation, only two water connections and a power connection.  
• More effective against viruses than chlorine.  

(Compatible with all other water processes i.e., RO, filtration, ion exchange, etc.)

What are Common UV Applications? – One of the most common uses of ultraviolet sterilization is the disinfection of domestic water supplies due to contaminated wells. Coupled with appropriate pre-treatment equipment, UV provides an economical, efficient and user-friendly means of producing potable water. The following list shows a few more areas where ultraviolet technology is currently in use:

surface water, groundwater, cisterns, breweries, hospitals, restaurants, vending, cosmetics, bakeries, schools, boiler feed water, laboratories, wineries, dairies, farms, hydroponics, spas, canneries, food products, distilleries, fish hatcheries, water softeners, bottled water plants, pharmaceuticals, mortgage approvals, electronics, aquaria, boats and RV’s, printing, buffer processing, petro-chemical, photography, and pre- and post-reverse osmosis.

Disinfection:

Drinking water disinfection is routine in developed countries with adequate sanitation and safe hygiene practices. Depending on the source of the water, municipal water treatment plants use a variety of physical and chemical water disinfecting techniques before the water reaches your sink at home. The most common methods of water purification include heat, distillation, chemical treatment, UV light and filtration. In developing countries, where residents don’t have access to safe sanitation and hygiene, alternative methods are often used. In emergency situations, it is good to familiarize yourself with the various techniques used so that you can disinfect the water yourself, should the need arise.

Boiling: Waterborne illness is caused by bacteria, viruses and parasitic cysts – Giardia and Cryptosporidium – often found in rivers, lakes and other dirty water sources. Heating the water to boiling point kills these disease-causing microorganisms and is the surest way to make contaminated water safe for drinking. At altitudes higher than one mile, boiling point decreases, so you should boil the water for at least three minutes. In developed countries, boiling is usually the recommended solution in emergency situations where accidental water contamination has been reported. However, if boiling is not an option, residents often resort to drinking bottled water. Distillation is the process of boiling water to produce water vapor which then condenses onto a cool surface. The solutes do not normally vaporize and are left in the boiling solution leaving the condensed water vapor almost completely pure. However, it is possible to get water that is not completely pure at the end of this process, due to contaminants with similar boiling points and un-vaporized droplets being carried with the steam. Distillation is a controversial water disinfecting method, because it de-mineralizes the water, leaving it void of essential minerals like magnesium and calcium, which prevent nutritional deficiency.   Chemical Water Disinfection: Two of the most common chemical water disinfecting agents, which may be used in emergency situations, are chlorine and iodine (halogens). Chloramines and Ozone are also used by water treatment plants. In order for chemical disinfection to be effective, the water must be filtered and settled first. Chemical disinfection often leaves an undesirable taste in water, which an activated carbon filter can remove post-treatment. Otherwise, you can minimize bad taste and odor by reducing the disinfectant concentration and increasing contact time before drinking

Chlorine may be used in gas, liquid or solid form to disinfect water. Because chlorine gas is highly toxic and can be dangerous if released into the atmosphere, this form of disinfection must be done in a very controlled environment. Otherwise, the danger is avoided by the use of chlorine in liquid form (sodium hypochlorite) or solid form (calcium hypochlorite). Household bleach is made up of 3-6 percent sodium hypochlorite and the EPA recommends using it to disinfect water in emergency situations. Waste water treatment plants typically use a 12 percent solution. Chlorinated should not consumed directly.

Iodine, like chlorine, is available in liquid and tablet form. Iodine is used by the thyroid and is recommended for emergency use only, in limited quantities. Iodine water purification is not recommended for people with who are pregnant, have thyroid disease, or an iodine allergy.

Chloramines do not form THMs or halo acetic acid as chlorine does, and, as a result, is becoming more commonly used as a water disinfectant. However, nitrates, which impart a bad taste and odor and may be harmful to humans, are sometimes formed as a byproduct instead. Chloramines are made when ammonia is added to water containing chlorine, or when water containing ammonia is chlorinated. They are less effective than chlorine at killing viruses or protozoa. 

Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that is toxic to most waterborne organisms. It is widely used in water treatment plants in all parts of the world. Ozone is often accompanied by a secondary disinfectant, such as chlorine, because although it effectively kills existing microorganisms, it leaves few residuals to prevent the future growth of microorganisms in the water, post-treatment.Distillation is the process of boiling water to produce water vapor which then condenses onto a cool surface. The solutes do not normally vaporize and are left in the boiling solution leaving the condensed water vapor almost completely pure. However, it is possible to get water that is not completely pure at the end of this process, due to contaminants with similar boiling points and un-vaporized droplets being carried with the steam. Distillation is a controversial water disinfecting method, because it de-mineralizes the water, leaving it void of essential minerals like magnesium and calcium, which prevent nutritional deficiency.   Chemical Water Disinfection: Two of the most common chemical water disinfecting agents, which may be used in emergency situations, are chlorine and iodine (halogens). Chloramines and Ozone are also used by water treatment plants. In order for chemical disinfection to be effective, the water must be filtered and settled first. Chemical disinfection often leaves an undesirable taste in water, which an activated carbon filter can remove post-treatment. Otherwise, you can minimize bad taste and odor by reducing the disinfectant concentration and increasing contact time before drinking.

Chlorination:

 Why is chlorine added to drinking water? Chlorine destroys disease-causing germs and waterborne disease germs.

What impurities will chlorination remove? Chlorination is a water treatment that destroys disease-causing bacteria, nuisance bacteria, parasites and other organisms. Chlorination also removes soluble iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfate from water.There is no substitute for a safe and sanitary water supply. If your water supply becomes contaminated, elimination of the source of contamination is the most permanent solution. Continuous chlorination to kill disease-causing bacteria in contaminated water source should be a temporary measure used only until you can develop a new sanitary water supply. But it causes water to smell and taste very bad.

 How is chlorine added to drinking water? Water treatment operators may chlorinate drinking water using either chlorine gas, liquid sodium hypochlorite solution (bleach) or dry calcium hypochlorite. Each of these disinfectants unleashes the power of chlorine chemistry to destroy disease-causing germs in water.

 How does chlorine destroy germs in drinking water? Chlorine destroys waterborne germs by penetrating their slime coatings, cell walls and resistant shells. Chlorine either kills the germs or renders them incapable of reproducing.

  Is chlorine in drinking water safe? A very small amount of chlorine added to disinfect drinking water is safe for consumption. Allowable chlorine levels in drinking water (up to 4 parts per million) pose “no known or expected health risk [including] an adequate margin of safety” while providing for “control of pathogens under a variety of conditions.”

 How to test your water? Most water testing for chlorination purposes is done to detect the presence of coli form bacteria. Coli form bacteria testing is used as an indicator of the possible presence of disease-causing bacteria. Tests for the presence of coli form bacteria may be made by the Most Probable Number (MPN) method or the Membrane Filter (MF) method. If no coli form bacteria are detected in a test, the MPN will be reported as and the MF as. If any bacteria are present, the number will be stated.

 What are the advantages of Chlorination? Chlorination controls Disease-Causing Bacteria, Controls Nuisance Organism, and Mineral Removal.

 What are the disadvantages of Chlorination? Nitrate Removal is not done by chlorine: nitrates are not removed from water by chlorination, Causes Smell and Bad Taste: in those cases an activated carbon or charcoal filter may be used to remove the chlorine from the drinking water. Chlorine changes the tastes and odor of water. Chlorination can also produce harmful by-products called Trihalomethanes (THMs) which are linked to incidence of cancer.

 The Chlorination Process To chlorinate a water supply properly it is necessary to understand chlorine demand, free available chlorine residual and contact time.

How common is chlorine disinfection of drinking water? Chlorine is by far the most commonly used drinking water disinfectant in all regions of the world. Today, about 98 percent of water treatment systems use some type of chlorine disinfection process to help provide safe drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency requires treated tap water to contain a detectable level of chlorine to protect against germs as it flows from the treatment plant to consumers’ taps.

 How effective is chlorine against germs? Chlorine is highly effective against most disease-causing germs found in drinking water sources. The ability of chlorine to kill germs depends on both the concentration of chlorine in the water and the amount of time that the chlorine has to react with microorganisms (contact time). While chlorine quickly kills most waterborne germs, a few microorganisms, such as Cryptosporidium, are resistant to typical chlorination practices. Therefore, some water systems may require additional treatment steps to protect against particularly resistant pathogens.

What are disinfection byproducts? Disinfection byproducts, or DBPs, are chemical compounds formed unintentionally when chlorine or other disinfectants react with natural organic matter in water. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established science-based regulations limiting certain DBPs (particularly two groups of chemicals known as trihalomethanes and halo acetic acids) in drinking water. These standards have been endorsed by a broad range of organizations, including public health agencies, environmental groups and drinking water utilities. Most water systems do not meet EPA standards by controlling the amount of natural organic matter present in water prior to disinfection.

 While DBPs should be reduced where possible, protection from germs remains the top priority. The World Health Organization strongly cautions that “The risk of illness and death resulting from exposure to pathogens in drinking water is very much greater than the risks from disinfectants and DBPs…Efficient disinfection must never be compromised.”

Iron Remover:

Iron Removal will keep your drinking and bathing water clean and healthy, and can prevent those unsightly red-orange stains.

I have red stains in my sinks and other fixtures:  Iron can cause red-orange stains to appear. You must test the water to determine the amount and type of iron you have (oxidized, soluble, colloidal, bacteria, or organic-bound, see below). Iron can stain clothing and dishes too, so it is definitely a problem that should be fixed!

 Oxidized iron: – This type of iron is usually found in a surface water supply. This is water that contains red particles when first drawn from the tap. The easiest way to remove this type of iron is by a fine mechanical filter. A cartridge-type filter is usually not a good solution due to the rapid plugging of the element. Another method of removal is by feeding a chemical into the water to cause the little particles of iron to clump together. It will then fall to the bottom of a holding tank where it can be flushed away.

 Soluble iron: – Soluble iron is called “clear water” iron. After being drawn from the well and contacting the air, the iron oxidizes (rusts), forming reddish brown particles in the water. Depending on the amount of iron in the water, you can solve this problem with a water conditioner, or a combination of softener and filter. You can use an iron filter that recharges with chlorine or potassium permanganate. You can also feed chemicals that oxidize the iron, and then filters it with a mechanical filter. You can sometimes hide the effects of soluble iron by adding chemicals that, in effect, coat the iron in the water and prevent it from reaching oxygen and oxidizing.

 Colloidal iron: – Colloidal iron is very small particles of oxidized iron suspended in the water. They are usually bound together with other substances. They resist clustering together due to the static electrical charge they carry. Because these particles are so small, this iron looks more like a color, rather than particles, when looked at in a clear glass. There are two popular treatments: feed chlorine to oxidize the organic away from the iron. This will allow clustering to occur. Another way is to feed polymers that attract the static charge on the particles, forming larger clumps of matter that is filterable.

 Bacterial iron: – Iron bacteria are living organisms that feed on the iron found in the water, pipes, fittings, etc. They build slime along the water flow path. Occasionally, the slimy growths break free, causing extremely discolored water. If a large slug breaks loose, it can pass through to the point of use, plugging fixtures.

 Organic Bound iron: – When iron combines with tannins and other organics, complexes are formed that cannot be removed by ion exchange or oxidizing filters. This iron may be mistaken for colloidal iron. Test for tannins. If they are present, it is most likely combined with the iron. Low-level amounts can be removed by using a carbon filter. This absorbs the complex. You must replace the carbon bed when it becomes saturated. Higher amounts require feeding chlorine. This will oxidize the organics to break apart from the iron and cause both to precipitate into a filterable particle.

 How does the Iron Removal process work? : – Most iron removal water filtration systems work with the notion that the iron needs to be oxidized to convert it from a ferrous (dissolved) state to a ferric (undissolved) state. , The iron can then be filtered out properly.

 What is PH and what role does it play? : – The PH (Potential of Hydrogen) of a water source plays a very important role in understanding the way that the iron can convert from a ferrous (dissolved) state to a ferric (un-dissolved) state. The higher the PH level, the faster iron can convert. It is suggested to have a PH of at least 6.5 or higher for the iron to convert.

Which is the best iron filter? This depends on your well water chemistry. The first step is finding out if your cold water has a sulfur odor in it, or if it is just the hot water. If the water does have odor, then you need an iron filter that works in removing this sulfur odor, or you need to inject chlorine, ozone or hydrogen peroxide. The next step is to find out how much iron and manganese you have, and determine the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of your water. However you don’t have to become a chemist in order to find out the simple parameters you need to know before selecting an iron filter.

 How do iron filters work? When your water is underground in your well, it is usually clear in color, even though it may contain high levels of iron. This is known as ‘ferrous’ or clear water iron. Iron filters take this clear iron and transform it to rust or ferric iron in the process known as oxidation. These trapped particles are periodically and automatically backwashed out to drain, usually once or twice a week. Most iron filters remove both clear water iron and ferric iron.

 Benefits of Iron Filtration Systems

• Reduces most chlorine taste and odor.
• Eliminates water stains due to corrosion.
• Neutralizes acidic water.
• Saves on soaps and shampoos
• Clothes will be brighter and last longer
• Prevents scale build-up in pipes, fixtures and appliances

Ultra Filtration:

What is ultra filtration (UF) membrane filter technology? Ultra filtration (UF) is used to remove essentially all colloidal particles (0.01 to 1.0 microns) from water and some of the largest dissolved contaminants. The pore size in a UF membrane is mainly responsible for determining the type and size of contaminants removed. In general, membrane pores range in size from 0.005 to 0.1 micron. UF membrane manufacturers classify each UF product as having a specific molecular weight cutoff (MWC), which is a rough measurement of the size of contaminants removed by a given UF membrane. A 100,000 MWC UF membrane means that when water containing a given standard compound with a molecular weight of around 100,000 Daltons is fed to the UF unit, nearly all of the compound will not pass through the membrane. Substances with a molecular weight of 100,000 Daltons have a size of about 0.05 microns to about 0.08 microns in diameter. UF membranes are used where essentially all colloidal particles (including most pathogenic organisms) must be removed, but most of the dissolved solids may pass through the membrane without causing problems downstream or in the finished water.

 Does your water purifier remove micro-organism from water? Most water purifier either kills or inactivate micro organism present in water by using chemicals or Ultra Violet radiation. Ultra filtration membrane filter micro-organisms including their floating dead bodies, cysts, and spores from your drinking water, by physically filtering them out through a membrane.

 Does it remove turbidity from water? Water supply in monsoon is very turbid and water borne diseases are at its peak in monsoons. Membrane is the only method for removing turbidity from water. No other water purifying technology can boast of it but it never reduces TDS of Water.

 Does it remove colloids from water? Colloids, which lead to dental problems, can be removed only Ultra filtration by membrane. Ultra filtration membrane is a membrane based water purifier.

 Does it use electricity for purification? When you use Ultra Violet based water purifier, you have to depend on electricity. Ultra filtration membrane works on overhead tank pressure; so does not require electricity for purifying water.

 Does it use any chemicals or additives for purification? When you use chemical filter, you consume extra iodine everyday which itself is a health hazard.  Ultra filtration membrane does not use any chemicals for purifying water.

 Does it have any operating cost? There is no operating cost on Ultra filtration membrane as it does not consume electricity but works on overhead tank pressure.

 Does it have any maintenance cost? There are no electronics or mechanical parts in Ultra filtration membrane and hence maintenance cost is minimal. As it is easy to maintain, you do not need to enter into maintenance contracts.

  Is your water purifier full proof? Does it give 100% pure water all the time? Ultra filtration membrane is full proof because water passes through a membrane whose pore size is so small that no bacteria or virus can pass through it. Till Ultra filtration membrane gives water, the water is 100% pure & safe.

 Does your water taste natural after passing through your water purifier? Ultra filtration membrane works on the same principle used by nature to absorb purified water from dirty subsoil water e.g. Coconut water. Hence, water purified by ultra filtration membrane tastes natural.

 Does your water look clear after passing through your water purifier? Water passing through membrane will look sparkling clear because it removes all colloids impurities from water.

 Benefits of Ultra Filtration Systems

• No need for chemicals (coagulants, flocculates, disinfectants, pH adjustment);
• Size-exclusion filtration as opposed to media depth filtration;
• Good and constant quality of the treated water in terms of particle and microbial removal;
• Process and plant compactness; and
• Simple automation.

Water Softener:

What Is A Water Softener? – A water softener is a unit that is used to soften water, by removing the minerals that cause the water to be hard. The Drinking Water Dictionary defines a water softener as “a pressurized water treatment device in which hard water is passed through a bed of cation exchange media for the purpose of exchanging calcium and magnesium ions for sodium or potassium ions, thus producing softened water that is more desirable for laundering, bathing, and dishwashing. A water softener is a whole house solution for hard water; it is not a water filter.

What is hard water? – When water is referred to as ‘hard’ this simply means, that it contains more minerals than ordinary water. These are especially the minerals calcium and magnesium. Hard water is known to clog pipes and to complicate soap and detergent dissolving in water. Water softening is a technique that serves the removal of the ions that cause the water to be hard, in most cases calcium and magnesium ions. Iron ions may also be removed during softening. The best way to soften water is to use a water softener unit and connect it directly to the water supply.

What makes water “hard”? – Groundwater dissolves rocks and minerals releasing calcium and magnesium ions that cause water to be hard. These dissolved ions give hard water its characteristics.

Are there any risks to hard water? – For many uses, hard water does not cause any problems. Hard water is not damaging to your health either. There are a number of negative effects to hard water, for instance: soap does not mix with hard water very well, when hard water is heated the hardness minerals can plug the pipes and hardness minerals often interfere with industrial processes. That is why hard water is often softened.

Can one measure water hardness inline? : – Yes, although the measurement system is mainly applied in industrial water softeners.

Which industries attach value to hardness of water? : – In many industrial applications, such as the drinking water preparation, in breweries and in sodas, but also for cooling- and boiler feed water the hardness of the water is very important.

Why is water softening applied? : – Water softening is an important process, because the hardness of water in households and industries is reduced during this process. When water is hard, it can clog pipes and soap will dissolve in it less easily. Hard water causes a higher risk of lime scale deposits in household water systems. Due to this lime scale build-up, pipes are blocked and the efficiency of hot boilers and tanks is reduced. Water softening means expanding the life span of household machine, such as laundry machines, and the life span of pipelines. It also contributes to the improved working, and longer lifespan of solar heating systems, air conditioning units and many other water-based applications.

What impurities will softeners remove? : – Water softeners will remove nearly all the calcium and magnesium from the raw water during the softening process. Softeners will also remove up to 10 PPM of iron and manganese. Water supplies with high levels of iron and manganese (greater than 10 PPM may need pretreatment to prolong the lifespan of a water softener.

Health risks associated with softened water: – During the softening process sodium is released from the exchange media into the output water. For every grain of hardness removed from water, 8 mg/1 (PPM) of sodium is added. People on restricted sodium intake diets should account for increased levels of sodium in softened water. Your family physician should be consulted. Sodium intake from softened water can be avoided by leaving one kitchen tap unsoftened for drinking and cooking.

Advantages of water softeners: – Softeners offer: 1) cleaner, softer feeling clothes; 2) longer life of appliances including washing machine, dishwasher, and water heater; 3) less use of household cleaning products, such as detergents, as well as personal cleanliness products, like shampoo; 4) reduction of water spotting.

Disadvantages of water softeners: – 1) Softened water is not recommended for watering house plants, lawns and gardens due to its sodium content; 2) water used in recharging a water softener may over load or reduce the effectiveness of small septic or sewer systems; 3) there may be health risks from sodium intake; 4) softened water is not recommended for steam irons or evaporative coolers. The best choice for such appliances is distilled water or water from a reverse osmosis unit.

Items to consider when purchasing a softener

• Test your water to determine the hardness and other impurities that may need to be removed.
• Determine how much softened water your household needs per day, per year.
• What type and size of softener will fit your situation?
• How easy is the softener to clean and/or repair & Will the dealer provide service?
• Choose a reputable dealer get guarantees in writing and read them thoroughly.
• Beware of manufacturer’s advertising that is too good to be true.

How often should one add salt to a softener? : – Salt is usually added to the reservoir during regeneration of the softener. The more often a softener is regenerated, the more often salt needs to be added. Usually water softeners are checked once a month. To guarantee a satisfactory production of soft water, the salt level should be kept at least half-full at all times.

Can salt from softening installations enter drinking water? : – Salt does not have the opportunity to enter drinking water through softening installations. The only purpose of salt in a water softener is to regenerate the resin beads that take the hardness out of water.

Is softened water any help for dry skin conditions? : – There are cases to be noted, in which people with dry skin conditions have benefited from water softening, because soft water is kinder to the hair and skin.

When does a softener resin need replacement? : – When the water does not become soft enough, one should first consider problems with the salt that is used, or mechanical malfunctions of softener components. Through experience we know that most softener resins and ion exchange resins last about twenty to twenty-five years and many need little maintenance, besides filling them with salt occasionally.

Does a softener brine tank need cleaning? : – Usually it is not necessary to clean out a brine tank, unless the salt product being used is high in water-insoluble matter, or there is a serious malfunction of some sort. If there is a build-up of insoluble matter in the resin, the reservoir should be cleaned out to prevent softener malfunction.

Can waste from a water softener be discharged directly in the garden? : – As brine alters the osmotic pressure that plants rely upon to regulate water needs, direct discharge of either sodium or potassium chloride brine should be avoided.

Ozone Treatment:

 What is ozone? : – Ozone (O3), one of nature’s basic elements, is a very powerful disinfecting and deodorizing gas consisting of oxygen (O2) with an extra oxygen atom attached, therefore becoming ozone (O3). Ozone layer in the atmosphere protects the earth from deadly UV radiation (Sun’s harmful rays). Each ozone molecule consists of three oxygen atoms. Ozone is a natural purifier. Ozone is the most powerful oxidizer that can be safely used. Ozone is the alternative water purifier to traditional chemicals such as chlorine and bromine.

 How is Ozone produced? : – Ozone is created in nature by the combination of oxygen in air and the ultraviolet rays of the sun or by the corona discharge during a lighting storm.

How long has ozone been used to? : – Ozone has been used in purification of water since the late 1800’s & purify pool and spa water and remove odors from the air over 50 years.

How does the ozone used for water purification affect the air we breathe? : – The amount of ozone produced by an ozone generator is insignificant to the normal atmosphere we live in. When dissolved in water, ozone is extremely safe. Excess ozone quickly converts back to oxygen.

 Ozone treatment: – Ozonation is a water treatment process that destroys bacteria and other microorganism through an infusion of ozone a gas produce by subjecting oxygen molecules to high electrical voltages.

Will ozone hurt me? : – No! In the quantities necessary to be effective, ozone is very gentle to humans and equipment in the water. However, you should never breathe concentrated ozone gas.

 Does ozone have an odor? Yes, Depending on the concentration, the odor ranges from slightly sweet to moderately antiseptic.    

Will ozone kill bacteria & viruses? : – Yes. It is one of the most effective, complete bactericides of all earth’s miserable elements. Ozone kills virtually all known forms of viruses in water and air.

 How is ozone different from chlorine?: In the quantities needed for water purification, it has no noticeable odor ,taste or color it is not irritating to humans or equipment .Ozone purifies water and air very quickly and efficiently ,3,000 times faster than chlorine. Ozone leaves no by products except pure oxygen. In contrast chlorine leaves a chemical by-product called hypo chloride acid and additional salts in water applications.

 Will Ozone affect my PH? : Ozone is pH neutral. Ozone does not affect the pH balance of thus, minimizing pH adjustments.

Do I still have to filter the water as often? : Yes, because impurities are constantly being introduced into the water and the ozone is constantly destroying them, the microscopic remains will need to be filtered out of the water.

 Will ozone reduce scum lines and forming in spas? : Yes, with proper filtration it should completely eliminate them.

If I use ozone in my pool or spa, will I help replenish the ozone layer? : – No, Because ozone reacts so quickly with contaminant in water and air , it converts back to oxygen within minutes or even seconds .Any ozone molecules that break free from the pool or spa water will convert to oxygen and never reach the atmosphere.

 Will water temperature affect ozone? : Wide variations in pool water temperature will affect how well ozone works. An ozone generator should be designed and sized for maximum water temperatures and bather load.

 Can ozone damage my pool or spa equipment? : No, in fact, it is very gentle to spas, pool, and equipment. Applied properly, ozone is gentler than any other water purifier in existence.

Can the ozone in my pool irritate skin or eyes like chlorine in pools? : No! Ozone is very gentle to skin and eyes.

 How long will Ozone last in my pool or spa water? : Scientific theory states that Ozone has a half life of about 22 minutes in water. In residential application, Ozone reverts back to oxygen in minutes (Ozone breaks down faster in warmer water)

 Is ozone the same as “SMOG”? : – No! “Smog” is air pollution created by combustion polluters. While smog contains small amount of ozone, it is largely composed of harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide. In fact smog and other pollutants may contribute to the damage of the ozone layer.

 How does ultraviolet light Ozone generation work? : A special lamp gives off a specific wavelength of ultraviolet light which convert oxygen (O2) molecules into ozone (O3) molecules by splitting the oxygen molecules into individual oxygen atoms (O) which then recombine with oxygen molecules to form ozone. This all occurs instantly inside the ozone chamber in the ozone generator.

 How does corona discharge Ozone Generation work? : Ozone is produce by passing air through a high voltage electrical discharge, or corona. A minimum of 5,000 volts of electricity is necessary to create a corona. Ozone does not have to be purchased or stored Ozone is generated on site and is introduced into the water or air automatically.

What are uses of Ozone? : – Some common uses are pool & spa water purification, drinking water purification, waste water purification, and air freshening. Municipal water companies have used ozone technology to treat large quantities of water for many years because of its effectiveness in purifying and conditioning water.

• Ozone is used in thousands of residential and commercial pools and spas.
• Ozone system is use to bring the life back to “dead” contaminated lakes and pools.
• Ozone is used to purify air in hotel rooms, boats, and cars and smoke/fire damaged structures.
• Ozone is convenient in pools and spas.
• Ozone reduces scale build-up equipment such as pipes and water heaters, and staining of showers, sinks, bathtubs, and toilets.

 What does ozone do?

• Ozone keeps water fresh, clean & sparkling clear.
• Ozone eliminates odors in air, such as smoke, spores, cysts, yeast, and fungus and oils.
• Ozone destroys bacteria, viruses, molds, and mildew.
• Ozone helps reduce TDS in water so water does not have to be changed as often in pools.

Is Ozone Healthy?

• Ozone leaves no chemical by-products, chemical taste, or odor in water.
• Ozone will not burn eyes or make them red or irritated or dry out skin, nose, or ears.
• Ozone will not discover or damage hair or clothing.
• Ozone leaves no residue; its only by-product is pure oxygen.

The benefits of Ozone: – Triple O system has selected ozone technology for use in treating well / tank water because of its unique properties to:

• Ozone will not explode & is not a fire hazard.
• Ozone precipitates heavy metals.
• Ozone will not damage plumbing fittings or pipes.
• Ozone kills bacteria & virus on contact thousands of times faster than chlorine or bromine.
• Ozone removes excess iron, manganese, and sulfur by a process known as micro-flocculation.

Demineralization Plant (DM Plant)

 What is Demineralization Plant? : – A Demineralization Plant consists of two pressure vessels containing cation and anion exchange resins. Various types of ion exchange resins can be used for both the cation and the anion process, depending on the type of impurities in the water and what the final water is used for. Typically, the cation resin operates in the hydrogen cycle. The cation in the water (i.e. calcium, magnesium, and sodium) passes through the cation exchange resin where they are chemically exchanged for hydrogen ions.

The water then passes through the anion exchange resin where the anions (i.e. chloride, sulfate, nitrate, and bicarbonate) are chemically exchanged for hydroxide ions. The final water from this process consists essentially of hydrogen ions and hydroxide ions, which is the chemical composition of pure water. The simplified demineralization plant consists of Composite resin vessel with change of strong cation and anion resin; control panel encompassing conductivity measurement and alarms, etc; acid and caustic injection facility from bulk, semi-bulk, or carboy containers.

What is DM water used for?: – The high-purity water from a DM plant is typically used for food beverage industries, high pressure boiled feed, wash water for computer chip manufacture, pharmaceutical process water, micro-electronics and any process where high-purity water is a requirement.

Why are there numerous types of resins used in demineralization plants? : –The type of resins employed and selected depends on numerous factors:

1. Treated water quality.
2. Input water quality.
3. Presence of organic foulness.
4. Water temperature.
5. Flow through plant required.
6. Regeneration method-either counter-current or co-current regeneration.

There is a vast range of resins to select from, e.g. pure fine resins, enhanced capacity resins, gel polystyrene resins, potable clear gel resins, resins for water containing organic matter, resins to achieve low silica levels.

What is co-current flow regeneration? : – The resin contained in the pressure vessel has about 50% free spaces above the resin (known as resin-free board). This free space allows backwashing, removal of any entrained solids, re-classification of the resin bed and it relieves bed compaction.

Water and acid/caustic regeneration is carried out in a down-flow direction.

What is counter-current flow regeneration? : – With counter-flow regeneration, the regeneration acid and caustic passes in the opposite direction to the service flow water. With counter-flow regeneration, the regeneration passes through the resin near to the outlet of the unit and, hence, counter-current flow regeneration has lower leakage to service than the co-current method.

How do you regenerate a DM plant? : – The “Agarwal’s” range of DM plant regenerates automatically according to the conductivity. The reentrant for the cation column is 28% hydrochloride acid and 30% caustic soda for the anion column.

 What is mixed-bed demineralization? : – Polishing mixed beds come after the cation and anion standard vessels and, as the name implies, they are there to polish the water. The bed is an intimate mix of anion and cation resins. These resins are not regenerated at a pre-set time according to conductivity and are not operated to exhaustion but are regenerated on time and volume.

How to size a demineralization plant? : – For the sizing of a demineralization plant, a good in-depth water analysis is normally required which gives the breakdown of total anions and total cations and any potential organic foulness. The final required quality water specification is required, as well as flow rate and water used per day. In some circumstances, Life saver Water systems can “budget size” demineralization plant by knowledge of the total dissolved solids and water usage rates. This is not recommended, however for accurate costing and for a guaranteed outlet water quality.

Can water systems service demineralization plants? : – Yes, we offer single-day services or service contacts on all water treatment equipment. All of our water treatment service engineers are fully qualified and experienced on the full spectrum of water treatment equipment available. We have defined service specification sheets (available on request) which define the exact service schedule proposed for a  demineralization plant.

Reverse Osmosis System:

What Is Reverse Osmosis: It is the phenomenon of water flow through a semi permeable membrane that blocks the transport of salts or other solutes through it. Water pressure is used to force water molecules through a membrane that has extremely tiny pores; Water is split into two streams. The pure water comes after passing through the membrane holes, containing only permissible intergradient. Before membrane, water is pre-treated by passing through softener, sediment filter, carbon filter, and chlorination if desired.  

Osmosis: To understand reverse osmosis we must first understand osmosis. During natural osmosis, water flows from a less concentrated solution through a semi permeable membrane to a more concentrated saline solution until concentration on both sides of the membrane are equal. Osmosis is a fundamental effect in all biological systems. It is applied to water purification and desalination, waste material treatment, and many other chemical and biochemical laboratory and industrial processes.

Osmotic Pressure: When two water (or other solvent) volumes are separated by a semi permeable membrane; water will flow from the side of low solute concentration, to the side of high solute concentration. The flow may be stopped, or even reversed by applying external pressure on the side of higher concentration. In such a case the phenomenon is called reverse osmosis. If there are solute molecules only in one side of the system, then the pressure that stops the flow is called the osmotic pressure.

Cross Flow Filtration: Feed water is pressurized and flows across a membrane, with a portion of the feed permeating the membrane. The balance of the feed sweeps parallel to the surface of the membrane to exit the system without being filtered. The filtered stream is the ‘permeate’, because it has permeated the membrane. The second stream is the ‘concentrate’ because it carries off the concentrated contaminants, rejected by the membrane. Because the ‘permeate’ and ‘concentrate’ flow parallel to the membrane and not perpendicular to it, the process is called “cross flow filtration”.

Reject water: A large percentage of the feed water does not pass through the membrane but flows across the membrane surface, constantly cleaning it and carrying the inorganic and organic solids to drain. This water is called ‘reject water’.

Feed water factors affecting membrane performance and life include the following:

• Pressure: Reverse osmosis require external pressure to reverse natural osmotic flow. As pressure is applied to the saline solution, water flows through the semi permeable membrane. Feed water pressure affects both the quantity and the purity of reverse osmosis product water. Lower feed water pressure causes lower product flow rate & lower product purity.

• PH: Feed water PH range is important. It is recommended that you use wider PH range membranes when feed water is basic, acidic, or unstable.

• Langlier Saturation Index (LSI): The LSI indicates the tendency for scale to form on a membrane surface. If the LSI index calculation is positive, it is recommended that you install a water softener prior to the reverse osmosis system.

• Silt Density Index: The SDI is a measurement of submicron particles and their tendency to block membranes. The speed of water flow and total volume collected determines the index value.

• Free Chlorine & Bacteria: – Cellulose acetate membranes require constant free chlorine to prevent bacterial growth and membrane damage. In contrast, polyamide and thin film membranes are damaged by free chlorine. Activated carbon is used to remove free chlorine when polyamide and thin film membrane are chosen.

• Temperature: – Membrane performance is based on feed water temperature of 25˚C.

• Turbidity: – Turbidity is a measurement of suspended submicron particles that obscure light ways.

The advantages of Reverse Osmosis include: Reverse Osmosis significantly reduces salt, most other inorganic material present in the water, and some organic compounds. This technology used worldwide for making bottled mineral water. The system is based on NASA approved technology and uses FDA grade high quality components. It is latest technology to remove all excess dissolved solids and chemicals in the water up to 95%. It removes impurities and bacteria-virus up to 0.0001 microns and to a level of 99% ++. It removes undesirable salts, which cause blood pressure, kidney stones, indigestion, gastric, bacterial disease etc. Other purification method has no effect on TDS level of water. The water coming out of the system is bottled water standards, pure, clean, safe, odour free, sparkling, refreshing, healthier, and safest for drinking.

Applications For Reverse Osmosis: – Reverse Osmosis is used in various applications such as Drinking water, water filters for refrigerators-fridge, fluoride removal, ship, boats, for beer brewing equipment, for hydroponics, fish tank, for milk, reverse osmosis for plants, iron removal system, House Oxidation System, Manganese Removal, Sulphur removal, Ice flakers machine manufacturers, Medical water purifier, Hem dialysis patients, dialysis, for Blood Dialysis, for Biochemistry Analyzer, For Pharmacy, for Hospital, Central Sterilize Supply Department (CS SD),for Clinical Analysis, Laboratory Water Purification and Polysulfide filter.