Know Your Options

What is UltraViolet Water Filtration?

Ultraviolet light is a spectrum of light just below the range visible to the human eye. Ultraviolet light, at the germicidal wavelength of 253.7 nanometers, alters the genetic (DNA) material in cells so that bacteria, viruses, molds, algae and other microorganisms can no longer reproduce. The microorganisms are considered dead, and the risk of disease from them is eliminated.

Ultraviolet (UV) filtration is used as a pretreatment and/or post treatment step to kill or inhibit growth of microorganisms, remove ozone, chlorine and trace organics and reduce total organic carbon (TOC). During UV sterilization, the water is exposed at a controlled rate to ultraviolet light waves. The bacteria absorb the UV radiation energy, which destroys or inactivates their DNA, thus preventing the bacteria from reproducing. UV systems may reduce 99% of bacteria in the water.

How does UltraViolet Water Filtration 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, and UV rays are admitted and absorbed into the stream. The UV-C spectrum (200 to 280 nanometers) is the most lethal range of wavelengths for microorganisms. When ultraviolet energy is absorbed by the reproductive mechanisms of bacteria and viruses, the genetic material (DNA/RNA) is rearranged and they can no longer reproduce. They are therefore considered dead and the risk of disease has been eliminated.

What are the benefits of UltraViolet Water Filters?

It is proven scientifically that 85% of child sickness and 65% of adult diseases are produced by water-borne viruses, bacteria and intestinal protozoa such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Inappropriate water treatment can lead to heath problems – hepatitis B, tuberculosis, meningitis, typhoid fever, tricomoniasis, and cholera, glaucoma, gastrointestinal pain, salmonella, poliovirus, and diarrhea. In North America, E.coli O157:H7, an extremely dangerous strain of E.coli bacteria, infects more than 80,000 people annually. Fortunately, E.coli O157:H7 is easily inactivated by UV light.

Disinfecting your drinking water with ultraviolet light (UV) makes good sense. It’s environmentally safe, it’s well proven, and it’s the way of the future for water disinfection requirements around the globe. UV water filtration can be applied to almost any water system, it adds no chemicals to the water, it wastes no water, UV is particularly effective with viruses, and is inexpensive to maintain.

UV disinfects water without adding chemicals, and therefore possesses some of the same benefits as distillation. It does not create new chemical complexes, nor does it change the taste or odor of the water, and does not remove any beneficial minerals in the water.

Ultraviolet light is a natural, cost effective, environmentally friendly disinfection process for use in homes where healthy water is a concern.

Picture courtesy of Emperor Aquatics, Inc.

If left untreated, the minerals in hard water will cause yellow stains on plumbing fixtures and be deposited as scale, eventually clogging plumbing and shortening the life of appliances like washing machines, water heaters and dishwashers. Scale deposits not only cut down on the efficiency of these appliances, they cost you money, increasing both energy and maintenance bills.

Soft water makes a difference you can see and feel…

• Soap & shampoo lathers better and won’t leave stains or buildup on your sinks and bathtubs
• Dishes clean more easily and dry spot-free
• Clothes come out of the laundry cleaner, softer & brighter
• Water Heater & Appliances last longer with less maintenance

Soft Water Makes a Difference You Can See & Feel

In the Bathroom

Soap and shampoo will lather better. Hair and skin will feel noticeably cleaner, softer and not as dry. No soap scum or mineral deposits to clean off sinks, showers, tubs or toilets.

In the Laundry

Clothes will be softer, cleaner, whiter and brighter. Plus they will last longer. Using soft water increases the life of clothing, towels and linens up to 33%. Without hard water service issues, washing machines last longer, too.

In the Kitchen

Dishes will clean more easily, and be spot free, without the film glasses get when etched by mineral-laden water.

Throughout the House

Water-using appliances will last longer and run better. Why?, because water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers using hard water can wear out 30% faster.

How a Water Softener Works

Hard water passes through the media tank that contains resin beads coated with sodium ions. The calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium (or potassium) ions, thus softening the water.

When the beads have trapped the hardness and need to be regenerated, the control valve charges them with brine (salt and water solution) from the brine tank. As regeneration occurs, calcium and magnesium (hardness) ions are freed from the beads, replaced with sodium or potassium ions; and the system is ready to soften water again.

How the Water Softener Regeneration Process Works

There are 3 basic types of water softener controls that are used in residential applications to manage the regeneration process. The control valve will manage the frequency of recharging the resin beads that clean the water and flushing the contaminated water out of the system.
Computerized Control

The most popular of the 3 types, computerized systems regenerate based on actual water usage. If you are away on vacation or if you have guests staying, the control will adjust accordingly. Computerized controls are programmed with grain capacity of the softener, water hardness and how many people are in the home. Since this type of unit only regenerates when necessary, it is the most efficient in salt pellet usage.

Timer Controlled

This type of system regenerates based on a time clock. The control is set to run at a predetermined time, regardless of the actual amount of water that has run through the system. Timer controlled systems tend to be less costly than computerized, however salt usage tends to be higher and there may be times when un-softened water is delivered due to higher than expected demand.

Manually Controlled

Although rare, there are some applications where a manually controlled system is needed. Manual systems simply use a lever control valve that regenerate when you want it to. An example of a manual control application is when a permanent drain is not available and a hose is temporarily used to flush the waste water. It’s best to oversize the system in this case so that the system doesn’t need to be regenerated as often.

Whole House Water Filter Systems & Replacement Filters

Whole house water filters provide water filtration at the point of entry to your home. They help ensure quality water throughout your home because clean, filtered water emerges from every water source in the house. Filtering water through a whole house water filter helps reduce the risks of both drinking and showering in contaminated water.

For centuries, people have relied on rainwater harvesting to supply water for household, landscape, livestock, and agricultural uses. Before large centralized water supply systems were developed, rainwater was collected from roofs and stored on site in tanks known as cisterns.

With the development of large, reliable water treatment and distribution systems and more affordable well drilling equipment, rain harvesting systems have been all but forgotten, even though they offer a source of pure, soft, low sodium water.

A renewed interest in this time-honored approach has emerged in Texas and elsewhere due to:

• health benefits of rainwater
• collection systems
• the escalating environmental and economic costs of providing water by centralized water systems or by well drilling

Our focus is to insure water quality by utilizing the area’s abundance of rainfall. This water will not make contact with the ground; therefore, eliminating pesticides, herbicides, iron, calcium, magnesium, heavy metals and other substances.

You will be in control of your water supply at all times. Instead of adding chlorine, the natural U.V. light will act as a disinfectant. Fluoride is ideal in mouthwash and toothpaste but certainly not intended as a part of drinking water.

For you to use during municipal down times or the occasional accidental contamination periods, we will install a large storage vessel for your reliance. This leaves municipal water supply as a back-up.

By rainwater not having calcium or magnesium this eliminates the worry of prematurely replacing appliances such as the water heater, dishwasher, ice maker, and plumbing fixtures due to erosion.

The water filled storage tanks serve as fire protection, and could help lower insurance premiums by a great deal. (Check with you agent.)

The amperage load for the pumping system calculates a much lower cost per gallon of water delivered as compared to municipal supplier charges. The rate of a supplier is likely to increase periodically. In the event of a power failure, a small generator will run the pump to keep in pressurized water. You can be off the grid!

• Natural safe Ozone Gas
• Ozone gas produced on site from air
• No chlorine or chemical residuals
• Eliminate hydrogen sulfide “rotten-egg” odors
• Kills iron bacteria and coliform bacteria
• Removes hydrogen sulfide “rotten-egg” odors
• Great for disinfecting surface water from lakes and rivers

How Does Ozone Work?

Ozone is made from oxygen in air and is a powerful oxidizing agent similar to chlorine or hydrogen peroxide. After the ozone is injected into the water, iron, manganese and other metals are oxidized (turned into a solid particle) in preparation for filtration. Ozone also destroys bacteria and odors and leaves the water smelling fresh and clean.

When peroxide is added to water a large amount of dissolved oxygen is released and a powerful oxidizing effect occurs. Coliform and iron bacteria are killed, and tannins are oxidized. This type of iron filter system handles the absolute worst type of water reliably and effectively.

Peroxide oxidizes the iron, manganese and sulfur odors to a solid form that the catalytic carbon can remove. For many applications no contact tank is required, and the hydrogen peroxide is effectively removed by the catalytic carbon media.

• Eliminate sulfur & other odors.
• Remove iron, manganese
• Kill iron bacteria.
• No chemical residuals.
• Enjoy low maintenance.

How Do Peroxide Systems Aid Iron Removal?

A peristaltic pump automatically injects a small amount of hydrogen peroxide ahead of an auto-backwash filter containing a special grade of catalytic activated carbon.

The peroxide pump is installed so that when your well pump turns on, the peroxide pump turns on, and injects a small amount of hydrogen peroxide. Alternatively a proportional-feed system can be used.

The Centaur Carbon Backwash filter automatically removes iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide (sulfur rotten-egg odors). Removes all residual peroxide if any is left in the water after the contact tank.

For water very high in iron, hydrogen sulfide gas, or coliform bacteria, the optional contact tank is recommended.

Iron filters oxidize (turn to rust) dissolved ferrous iron in water to an insoluble particle and trap the iron (now “rust”) in the iron filter media. A periodic backwash cleans out the rust and flushes the filter media clean.

Oxidizing iron filters use either air, potassium permanganate, chlorine or ozone to aid the filter media in oxidizing the iron. In some cases, there is already enough dissolved oxygen present so no additional oxidizers are needed.

Eliminate iron stains and offensive “rotten egg” odors.

• Stops iron stains from occurring
• Provides clean, odor free water
• Protects your water softener equipment from ”iron fouling”
• Protects plumbing fixtures, appliances and clothing
• Protects pipes from iron clogging and black oxidation

In deep water wells, manganese can be found in concentrations as high as 2 to 3 parts per million. In general, it is very difficult to remove from water because of complexes it forms that are dependent on certain states of oxidation, pH, and the presence of other minerals.

Ion exchange, sodium form cation softening, or oxidation/filtration are the most common met hods of manganese removal.

The chemical name for soda ash is sodium carbonate, chemical formula Na2CO3. It is more basic, that is, less acidic, than sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), whose chemical formula is NaHCO3. The purpose of sodium carbonate is simply to increase pH.

Its use in water treatment is to increase the pH of acidic waters.

• Activated carbon filters
• Catalytic carbon filters
• Acid neutralizing filters
• Arsenic filters
• Nitrate filters
• Chlorine and chloramine Filter for city water