Saturday, November 30, 2013

Yeah Right - I'm Not Buying a Water Treatment System!

Are you one of those people who are still depending solely on your local water treatment system to keep you safe from all of the contaminants in our drinking water supply? Well, I hate to be the one to break it to you but you will probably find that the best water treatment can only be found at home.

With the kinds of contaminants that your local water treatment system is forced to face every day it cannot offer you the protection that you and your family need. The equipment that they are using may have been adequate to face the challenges of providing you with clean water a century ago, but that is not true anymore.

Although the best water treatment process did a great job at its inception, the system's design is no longer adequate to stop the kinds of impurities that we have today. The system is basically designed to de-mineralize drinking water, but it can do nothing to stop any chemical or microscopic material.

With the tens of thousands of impurities that can be found in our water today, your only safe bet is a home water treatment system. The fact is, for less money than you probably think, you can enjoy full protection from the harmful impurities in your water.

The best water treatment system should contain multiple filtering units, each with a particular focus. You will actually need four separate filters in order to remove all of the different kinds of contaminants that are present. Following is what you'll want to look for in a home water purification system in order to be successful in removing any threat from your water.

The two most important features that every water treatment system need's, are an activated granular carbon filter and a multi media block. These are the two tools that you need in order to be able to remove the chemical contaminants from your drinking water.

Now it is time to talk about the best water treatment filter for removing parasites and cysts from your water. A lot of people don't realize that not every organism that is in our water supply is affected by the chlorine disinfection process, and these microbes can cause serious illness if ingested.

Your water treatment system will need a sub micron filter in order to deal with these microscopic threats. One of these filters can eliminate up to 99% of any biological impurities in your water. There is only one more area that we have got to cover in order to maximize your safety.

The best water treatment system will also feature an ion exchange filter, which will remove any danger posed by lead or copper in the water. These two toxic metals often leech off of the pipes that carry the water from the treatment facility to your tap.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of why it is so important that you have a water treatment system in your home. With our water supply only getting worse, it is the only option that you have for you and your family's good health.

How to Find the Best Drinking Water Treatment - Discover the Truth About Your Tap Water

The need for a safe source of pure water has always been an issue. It has become even more of a cause for concern with the recent development of many synthetic chemicals that present a difficulty in water purification.

Drinking water treatment has taken various forms throughout history. The earliest and perhaps most widely used until the past several decades is the process of distilling water. This age-old method consists of heating water to its boiling point, causing the water molecules to transform into a gaseous state, recognized as steam. The steam condenses and is collected by various methods.

This technique of separating water molecules from possible contaminants is effective in some applications. However, it requires a lot of effort to obtain the results needed for mass collection of water. Additionally, there are many harmful elements that have a lower boiling point than water; consequently, they will become condensed along with the water molecules and will be collected as well.

Reverse osmosis was developed as a drinking water treatment method recently. This method is based on the scientific properties of water molecule movement. In its natural state, water will separate its molecules from some impurities based on mass and density. The application of this principle to a system of water treatment relies on the osmotic motion of water molecules and screening of any contaminants.

A semi-permeable membrane is used in a reverse osmosis system. This membrane is a grid of very fine pores that allow for the passage of water molecules through the membrane, while those elements that are larger in molecular size will be trapped by the membrane. The separated water molecules are then moved through the membrane to a storage unit by means of pressure, thus completing the reverse osmosis process.

While this method is more effective in removing a greater number of harmful elements than is distillation, it is still considered to be impractical in the sense that 3 gallons of water are lost in the creation of one gallon of purified water.

Additionally, many potentially harmful elements are of an even smaller molecular size than is water, such as MTBE and THM elements that have been found to be carcinogenic. The loss of trace minerals, such as potassium and calcium, due to their molecular size is also a negative aspect in the reverse osmosis process.

By far, the most cost-effective and efficient means of purifying water is the use of carbon filters. This is the only method approved by the EPA, and is especially effective as a water treatment method when incorporated into a multi-media system of filters and screens.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Drinking Water, the Parameter for Qualitative Water Treatment

Print media or social media, online or offline, every medium of information is being floated abuzz with the vital discussion of pure drinking water. Even article sites are no exception to this crucial element of mother nature. The crux of the matter is that water becomes suitable for drinking purposes only when it reaches to us after proper treatment. This treatment can only be perfect if the plant involved in the purification of water has been designed to the most optimum level.

The treatment of water being a huge process requires a number of procedures involved. The primary aim is to remove sludge and other such sewage type impurities. The next stage is that of removing toxic compounds like poisonous chemicals and gases. Even then the process only gets completed after the water is disinfected by removing bacterial organisms through advanced techniques like passage of UV rays.

Some years back, the understanding of treatment for water via a plant which is well designed was considered as something only meant for the industrial minds rather than for the masses. Now, since lots of info is at hand, people including expertise in this field may also publish magazines and journals regarding this industrial topic. Even the people from the administrations concerned are now paying attention to the importance of setting up such purification plants. Those industries which don't adhere to the standards set up by the authorities concerned are now being made to pay fines which are one of the ways to get penalized.

A time may come when such topics of social concern may also be raised in tv debates even if they don't make for great television rating points. A good amount of credit may also be given to government bodies like the water resources ministry who have increased the awareness towards the importance of water treatment and their designs of plants meant to handle this process.

Every drop of water is essential. This is a very well-known fact throughout the world. So we can surely conclude that the purity of water can't be compromised with. The treatment process via purification plants is just a baby step in the modernization process to avail pure drinking water. If people throughout the planet and especially on e zine articles get the message straight then the social aim of this article can be fulfilled.

Various outlet industries from the heavy industries sector which are involved in the manufacturing of parts like pipes, pumps and valves are also benefiting immensely. It's so as such parts and tools are used in the designing of the plants which treat water from its most crude to the purified form for consumption. Ultimately, it seems that this philanthropic style conducted industry will earn great profits in the years to come.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Water Treatment

Definition:

Screening, then Coagulation, Flocculation and Clarification or Dissolved Air Flotation, followed by Filtration and Disinfection, is a typical treatment which converts raw water to drinking water. It removes colour, suspended and colloidal matter from reasonably clean water but cannot reduce their salinity without desalination. A range of other processes may be used in water treatment to remove specific ranges of contaminants in the water. Examples include activated carbon filters, ion exchange and membrane processes. The sedimentation that occurs during raw water storage can also be regarded as part of the water treatment.

Screening:

The first stage in preliminary treatment usually involves a simple screening or straining operation to remove large solids. In the case of water treatment some form of sloping protective boom or coarse screen with openings of about 75 mm is used to prevent large objects reaching the intake. The main screens are usually provided in the form of a mesh with openings of 5-20mm and arranged as a continuous belt, disc or drum through which the flow must pass (Figure Water Treatment). The screening mesh is usually rotated slowly so that the material collected can be removed before an excessive head loss is reached The screenings removed from water are normally returned to the source downstream of the abstraction point.

Coagulation:

The use of chemicals for coagulation brings a further level of complexity to them treatment process and should only be adopted if the necessary supplies and skills are available locally. The use of natural coagulants like Moringa oleifera as described in Chapter 12 can make coagulation feasible in situations where conventional coagulants are unaffordable or unavailable. Chemical coagulation will only be successful if the appropriate dose can be determined and then applied to the water in such a manner as to ensure adequate mixing and flocculation. A simple form of chemical feeder is one based on hydraulic control of a solution such as the Marriotte vessel which provides a constant rate of discharge regardless of the level in the storage container. The coagulant must be added at a point of turbulence such as a weir or in a baffled channel and flocculation is best achieved in a baffled basin connected to a settling basin. In practice it is difficult to prevent floc carry-over from the settling basin so that the output water quality may at times have fairly high turbidity levels. A more satisfactory water may therefore arise by omitting the coagulation stage and proceeding directly with filtration.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Escalating Need for Waste Water Treatment

Although few environmental tragedies are on the scale of the Deepwater Horizon incident in 2010, it is the latest example of what happens when industry meets with the environment in a bad way. Few issues affect the public easily than ecological issues. This means you have to make sure your waste water treatment systems not only work but are of the best quality possible.

Why water can be such a bother

Water is a sensitive topic because of its importance to our existence and civilization. Science currently knows of no major organism on this planet that can live without water. Humanity will not long survive, both as a species and in the organized manner of our civilization, if suddenly there is a serious scarcity of clean water.

It goes without saying that industrial facilities near major bodies of water should have a water treatment plant that can handle its liquid waste. It is easy to be the headline of the evening news if your waste contaminates a nearby river, lake or even a stream. It can get even worse if said body of water happens to be a wildlife sanctuary, major fishing ground or aquifer that supplies water to nearby cities.

Even if you are far from major bodies of water, you cannot be lax in making sure your waste water passes regulations. Improperly handled waste water can easily contaminate the surrounding area. If you "merely" killed off the native animals and plant life, you are getting off easy. In case your waste happens to contaminate the water table, though, you probably wish you spent more on good waste water treatment systems.

Some pointers on cleaning water

Waste water treatment is not simply about passing your effluent through filters and purifier chemicals and leaving it at that. Not unless you want environmental groups and politicians to start picketing your facility's gates.

One of the major concerns about treating waste water is the question of just how clean the water is after treatment. Typical industrial waste can contaminate water chemically, biologically and physically. Your water treatment plant or process must remove enough contaminants to pass. Then, there is the odour. Liquid industrial waste almost always has this offensive smell to it, and properly dealing with this can be challenging.

Additionally, there are the by-products of the treatment process to worry about. One of the primary concerns here is the leftover sludge. This accumulation must also be treated and disposed safely and effectively. Sludge can be a much bigger concern than the original waste water itself if left untreated and disposal is not properly done.

This is why your water treatment plant and processes have to be top-notch. It should do its job of cleaning waste water and at the same time allow you to easily and properly dispose of by-products.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Water Treatment and Dewatering Systems, Eco Friendly Solutions to Tackle Pollution

Water pollution is one of the major concerns in urban areas. The harmful effects of water pollution are visible today in various forms whether it is the shortage of potable water or the spread of water borne diseases. Pollution mainly occurs due to release of untreated industrial effluents and sewage in water bodies as well as due to accidents like oil slicks. Another kind of pollution is due to stagnant water which poses a health hazard from contamination and proliferation of diseases.

Regulatory bodies and rules

In most countries around the world government bodies have laid down rules and regulations to curb water pollution. In the U.S the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a federal program that seeks to control water pollution by regulating sources that discharge pollutants. Any activity that involves discharge of wastes in water bodies requires a permit from the NPDES. A stringent evaluation, treatment and monitoring program are required to avail of an NPDES permit.

An example highlighting the need for water treatment

Construction sites need to drain water accumulated due to storms and rains on a regular basis. A major source of pollution, construction sites need to perform dewatering and groundwater control especially if the activity is carried out in low lying areas. Most sites let off excess water into sewers however in some areas it is not permissible to discharge ground water unless in-depth treatment processes are initiated.

Storm water management

Another important factor is surface water accumulated due to storms and rains in depressions and sinkholes. A properly designed treatment system is required to get a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) permit. The SWPP permit as it is known is a mandatory requirement for constructions sites to deal with storm water accumulation issues.

Major industries that make use of dewatering and water treatment units are

  • Construction
  • Petroleum
  • Environmental solutions for residential and industrial purpose
What all is needed?

The requirement for water treatment is often varied. Infrastructure includes dewatering equipment, water analysis tools, large scale holding tanks and of course in-depth planning. A complete dewatering and water treatment system will include different types of filters like sand filters, bag filters, cartridge filters, activated carbon mesh filters, oil/water separators, pipes, hoses, meters and pumps.

Water treatment is a continuous process and therefore needs to be monitored regularly. Quality reports help to determine if the process functions at the effective level. For example groundwater sampling provides data regarding the water quality and whether it's fit for use.

Water treatment and dewatering is a major industry today and has contributed greatly to reducing the menace of water pollution. The practices put in place by the industry have become commonplace in most countries around the world. A number of states in the U.S have established standards to not only control pollution but also make optimum use of excess water.

Water Treatment Products - Home Water Treatment Systems

Bottled water has turned out to be one of the most significant water treatment products of our age. Every day you see new brands of bottled water cropping up. Of course the prices as a result of the entry of such new brands have hardly gone down proportionately, if at all. The other accusation which can be brought against the bottled water industry is that they hardly keep quality control measures as a result of which the bottled water too can be as impure s tap water. Home water treatment systems thus could be a desirable alternative to the more expensive bottle water system in terms of quality of water and expenses incurred.

There are a few definite choices when it comes to the home water treatment systems. There is the reverse osmosis technique to purify water. Using the scientific technique of osmosis, this process helps separate the molecules larger than the water molecules in the solution by exposing it to a solution with stronger concentration of pure water molecules. Then the process is reversed. Along with leaving a few dangerous contaminants behind, this system also filters out few minerals which are helpful for humans. Water treatment products often use this system though it is not that dependable or cheap because it might be sufficient under certain conditions.

There are obviously other single unit, point of use home water treatment systems. These involve the usage of faucet mounted filters which take care of the water which is emitted from that particular faucet. Also these could be put to use for showers to get clean bathing water free of air and water pollutants. Personal systems like pitcher purifiers or filter bottles or filter straws are also available in the market as substitutes for systems like reverse osmosis on the one hand and bottled water on the other. Other single unit, point of use water treatment products are the counter top system and the under the counter system. These are hassle free and the latter can actually be designed to save space and not be seen.

Surface pollution by the usage of plastic bottles is becoming a serious issue in this era of global warming. By resorting to home water treatment systems, we could avail of an option which is friendlier to the environment than bottled water.

There are three chief issues when you are deciding on which water treatment products to buy. These would be the health issues, the financial issues and the environmental issues. So apart from judging the benefits chiefly in terms of the immediate availability of the system, think about a few more issues.

You also might want to save enough space in your house or apartment for things other than water treatment products. In such cases you could take into consideration single point of use systems like the counter filters or the faucet filters. Yet again the counter might not have enough space for the filter. Also give a thought to the whole house water treatment systems if you have a large house and a big family.

The costs of installing these filters of any and every kind and their individual product prices are also a concern. Remember that there are subsidiary costs which you need to bear which covers a wide array of replacement units along with maintenance expenses. So choose your home water treatment systems carefully to suit your needs and to fit the budget apart from the other considerations.

But keep the health of the family as the prime concern. With water all over the world becoming more dangerous to drink by every passing day you will necessarily need to have some quality control over the water you use and drink.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Home Hard Water Water Treatment Systems

Drinking water contains magnesium, calcium, and other minerals. The "harder" the water is, the more minerals it contains. As the water and mineral ions enter the home, they meet up with heat, pressure, and agitation that cause them to crystallize. The dissolved mineral ions come out of solution and form branched shaped mineral crystals with an electrostatic charge. This charge causes them to attach to the sides of plumbing pipes and fixtures, which results in harmful scale build-up. The crust of scaly material reduces the patency of pipes and efficiency of plumbing fixtures, which results in repeated maintenance calls.

Hard water scale can be annoying and in some cases dangerous and even deadly. The build up is annoying when it blocks the tiny exit holes in the shower head or faucet causing water to squirt out in odd directions. It is much more annoying when it interferes with the temperature sensing device in the water heater resulting in hotter than needed water, and a rising utility bill. Scale build up can costly when it narrows pipes so much that the pressure of water at the faucet heads is sub-standard. In that case a homeowner may end up spending thousands of dollars to replace the pipes in his home. Scale build up can be deadly when it blocks the temperature and pressure valve in the water heater. This may result in the buildup of extreme pressure in the tank that can, in some cases, result in a deadly explosion!

For over 100 years the solution to hard water has been water softener treatments. Unfortunately water softeners contain large quantities of salt. Softeners remove beneficial calcium and magnesium through an ion exchange process, and replace them with sodium. The subsequent wash out cycle results in the loss of more than 100 gallons of water and with it the healthy minerals and remaining sodium. In homes with well and septic systems the salt run off may end in the ground water and then back in the well. With city systems it flows to a waste treatment facility and from there to lakes, streams, and rivers, where the high sodium content damages the environment. Because of the harmful sodium runoff, some areas have totally banned the use of water softeners. Even in locales where the treatment is legal, homeowner must still spend $100s of dollars a year to purchase heavy bags of salt, and pay for high maintenance costs.

The inconvenience and in some cases illegality of water softeners meant that a new approach to conditioning hard water and preventing scales needed to be developed. In response to the problem, researchers in Germany developed a technique called template assisted crystallization. Template assisted crystallization (TAC) is a type of physical water treatment. It processes hard water without the use of chemicals, without the need to discharge large amounts of waste water, without subsequent pollution, and without large maintenance costs.

With TAC, water entering the home or about to enter an appliance passes through a media containing tiny polymeric beads. The beads have tiny chemo-active sites or templates impressed on their surface. These micro sites attract Ca++ and Mg++ in solution and transform them to sub-micron sized inert crystals, which pass through the water system without binding to the inner surface of pipes and appliances. The myriads of tiny inert crystals attract additional free Ca++ and Mg++, which pass harmlessly through the system to be consumed or washed out the drain.

A number of American companies now manufacturer and market template assisted crystallization treatments. They come as cartridges which a plumber or DIY homeowner can attach to the home's plumbing system. They can be placed anywhere, and therefore treat water coming from the main, or water about to enter one or more of the appliances. A homeowner using a TAC system can expect to add years of life to his pipes and plumbing fixtures and avoid the dangers and costly repairs associated with long-standing exposure to hard water.

Friday, November 22, 2013

A Water Treatment System Can Provide the Best Water Treatment - Do We Help Or Hinder the Process?

The sewage works, the water works or even the filter beds may be the name given to the Water treatment system in your locality. Whatever they are called these are performing a vital role in maintaining a healthy environment for the community we live in.

A clear objective is to provide the best water treatment so that what is poured back into the rivers, lakes and reservoirs is not harmful to the environment and is also well on the way to having healthy clean drinking water for all those who live in a particular area.

To achieve this all household waste water whether its from baths, sinks, showers, kitchens or toilets has to go through several stages of treatment that is designed to progressively remove contaminants that could create potential health risks.

Liquid wastes from commercial and industrial sources also has to go through similar processes, household wastes are often included with these as they are delivered to the plant by the same sewage pipes.

The challenges a water treatment system faces in being able to achieve these goals are considerable to say the least and if trends continue as they are these challenges are not likely to lessen in the near future.

Commercial and domestic abuse can cause problems long before anything reaches a treatment plant. The disposal of cooking oil or chip fat down sinks and drains is a major problem for water companies.

Once these start solidifying in the sewers blockages can soon occur. This can then prevent household and industrial waste water making its way to the treatment works. It is claimed that one Water supplier in the UK spends £3.8 million a year removing solidified fats from sewers in its area.

In London alone over 50 million litres of used fat is produced each year, well illustrating the scale of the problem faced by those who strive to maintain sewage systems and we have not even mentioned the amount of nappies flushed down the loo.

The question raised above - should we do more to support them? is one well worth considering in the light of the information above.

One thing we can decide to do from now on is to only pour down the sink or drain, or flush down the toilet what is meant to be poured or flushed down them. In this way we can help with what goes back to the water treatment system.

Despite these added hurdles water suppliers still manage to provide us with reasonably healthy water to use in our homes and place of work.

Even so there are countless reports stating that trace elements of contaminants are found in drinking water. Contaminants such as chlorine, lead, cysts, pesticides, chemicals, micro organisms and pharmaceutical drugs have been discovered in tested water.

With this we can help ourselves by installing a quality water filtration system that specifies the removal of contaminants that have been listed above. This obviously is a voluntary action, its not mandatory, but well worth considering so that we ensure we drink only healthy water.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Whole House Water Treatment - Hot Tips You Need to Know Before You Buy Any Water Treatment Equipment

If you are like most people in the market for whole house water treatment, you need to know not all water treatment equipment is created equal. In this article I'm going to give you some hot tips in selecting the right water treatment. Did you know the first whole house water treatment was simply a pot, and some fire? Back in the day, people realized that by boiling their water they could kill the germs that were making them sick, pretty simple stuff.

To get started let's consider something: Do you really need whole house water treatment? If you simply want to improve the quality of your drinking water all you may need is a simple counter top water filter, or an under sink water filter.

Both are very easy to install without having to hire a plumber. This will give you fresh pure water to drink and cook with, and save you the cost of a whole house water treatment system. You can plan on spending $99 to $125 for a quality complete counter top filtration system, and somewhere in the range of $175 to $219 for a complete deluxe under counter system.

If you see the importance of drinking, bathing, and cooking with fresh pure water then you may want to consider whole house water treatment. Here are some hot tips you need to know before you purchase any water treatment equipment.

Stay away from Reverse Osmosis or R.O. equipment:

R.O. very expensive and does not do what many people think it does. If you are not familiar with it reverse osmosis exposes water under pressure to a semi permeable membrane with a very fine pore structure. Many inorganic contaminants have a larger molecular size than water. The membrane rejects certain contaminants, minerals and a large part of the water. There are a lot of harmful things that still get through the membrane such as herbicides and pesticides and require use of a carbon filter adding to the cost. Without making this article to long, bottom line is reverse osmosis is just not effective and is very expensive, (around $2500-$3500 or more plus the cost of a plumber). It also wastes a tremendous amount of water because of the way it works. It also filters out beneficial minerals and actually makes water acidic, which is not healthy!

Point-of-Use Distillation:

This process has your water go over a hot coil, making the water vaporize and become gaseous. This process is not very good at removing organic chemicals, since they typically vaporize at a lower temperature than water does and are transferred in the steam. Bottom line, it's not very effective water treatment equipment.

The most effective whole house water treatment solution:

If you want the most effective, best priced water treatment equipment, use a system that employs multi-media block filters such as Carbon Block and Granular Carbon Filters and a system that employs a 3 stage filter system. If you buy direct from the manufacturer, expect to pay $799-$999. You will need a plumber to install the system for you unless you are very handy. Installation by a plumber will cost about $175. You could pay quite a bit more for less for similar systems if you don't purchase manufacturer direct. You will need a replacement filter about every 3 years which cost around $650 which you can easily install yourself. When all is said and done, the cost for a complete system mentioned can be as low as 50 cents per day over time.

In conclusion, when considering whole house water treatment and the many water treatment equipment systems available, the 3 part, multi stage system, using carbon block and granular carbon filters are the best and most cost effective system you can buy.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Significance and Types of Water Treatment Plants

Water, a natural and essential resource is undoubtedly the most indispensable part of our lives. Though it is pure by nature, the purity of water is diminished with the contamination of various sources such as chemicals, pollutants and several organic materials. It thus becomes unfit for drinking or other useful purposes.

The use of water treatment plant is one among different methodologies invented by mankind to save this precious natural resource from being depleted. Water is treated to make it suitable for human consumption through various processes. The growing rate of population has led to the consequent reduction in the availability of this natural resource. Recycling is one of the best methods to meet the growing needs of the people.

Water Treatment Plant- Types and Uses

There are different types of water treatment plants which use various types of equipments to purify water from pollution, chemicals and so forth. Chlorination, coagulation, disinfection, sedimentation and filtration are some of the most common processes undergone in such purifying plants.

Packaged water treatment plant: These plants are used to purify and reduce the COD levels in the water. Different processes are used in these plants which include precipitation, coagulation, ion exchange and reverse osmosis. These plants are widely used for separating suspended solids from river and lake water.

Ozone based plants: One of the most widely used plants for treating pool water. The ozone based plants use ozone to disinfect the water and it requires no other variety of chemicals for purification.

Waste water treatment plant: The waste water which is collected from industries, homes and other places are treated in the waste water plants for reuse. This is one of the most effective methods of reusing the natural resource. Various kinds of pollutants such as biological, physical and radioactive elements are removed from water to make it usable again.

Bottle water treatment plant: The use of bottled water has increased manifold during the past several years. Today millions of people all over the world rely in the availability of pure drinking water which is packaged and bottled. This water is treated in specific plants before it is packed in bottles.

Mobile plants: These treatment plants are ideal for treating water during certain calamities or emergencies. It can also be used as a mobile unit for the requirement of army regiment units. The mobile treatment plant is usually an extension of an existing plant in some area. It can be used for treating ground and surface water.

Compact water treatment plant: Another most effective treatment plants for treating ground water is the compact plant. It is considered to be more economical and can be used to purify water on the spot. The compact plants can also filter even the smallest particles in water.

The need and use of water treatment plant has been escalating ever since the growth of population and industries. Though our planet is surrounded by 70 percent of water, only one percent of water can be used for drinking purposes. It is important to conserve this natural resource from depletion.

Following Water Through a Water Treatment Facility

Water treatment involves taking used and runoff water and making it acceptable for drinking or simply for reintroduction into the environment. Organic and inorganic contaminants are removed through both mechanical and chemical methods. At several designated points along the process, samples are taken and tested to ensure standards are met.

Outlined here is a description of this process in a Middle Georgia water treatment facility that processes surface runoff water.

When water first comes to the facility, it flows into the Influent Pump Station (IPS). Here bar screens take large chunks of organic and inorganic material out of the water and conveyors send them to a landfill. Three main lines bring water from different areas in the city. From here the water is pumped to the next step of the purifying process.

Between the IPS and the next stage is the Switch gear, which houses two sources of power for the plant that back each other up in the event that one fails.

The next step involves the Bar Screen Grit Structure. Here is where smaller particles are removed. The organic matter is agitated into suspension and filtered away. The grit that is retrieved is sent to a landfill. A sampler takes a composite sample that is tested in the facility's laboratory for monitoring purposes.

The Primary Clarifier is the next stage of water treatment. At this location, the solids that settle out are removed and the surface is skimmed. The removed solids are pumped out to the gravity thickeners and then to the digesters. On the way to the next stage, blowers incorporate oxygen into the water.

At the Trickling Filter the flow from the Primary Clarifier is pumped up into the distributor arms and allowed to fall through the filter. Aerobic bacteria located in the media of the filter reduce the ammonia in the water to nitrite.

Next, at the Aeration Basin aerobic bacteria in the water further reduce nitrite to nitrate. A return flow adds water back to the beginning of this step from a later stage to maintain the food value for the bacteria.

The Final Clarifier allows any remaining solids to settle and be filtered out. A portion of the water is sent back to the Aeration Basin.

The majority of the water from the Final Clarifier is sent to the Chlorine Contact Chamber to kill harmful bacteria. Chlorine is added via chlorine injectors and the pH is regulated. Then Sodium bisulfite is added to remove the chlorine before it is pumped into a nearby river.

The solid waste that was removed from the water must be prepped to allow for transport. This is done at the Headhouse Digesters and the Gravity Thickeners. In the thickeners, the collected sludge is thickened through the removal of some excess moisture. In the digesters, the waste solids are stored where anaerobic bacteria break it down, producing methane gas as waste.

The methane gas is used as fuel to heat the digesters so they remain between 85 ºF and 95 ºF, for the bacteria to thrive. This energy is also used to run other equipment at the plant. The solids are then sent to the Secondary Digesters to press out any remaining water and then sent to the a nearby plant.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Water Treatment - A Way to Make Environment Healthy

Water Treatment or you may say Aqua Treatment is a process that is being used to make water more acceptable for a desired end use. Water is the most amazing and precious natural resource so we must take care of it as much as possible and all this can be done by adapting proper treatment which aims to keep you fit and healthy as it is a major source of human being. It removes the unpleasant taste and odors that may occupy your everyday tap water and this can be done by using a water filter. Also you will find food and beverages taste better and look better when prepared with natural water. So enjoy the great taste of natural water.

It can be used in many fields like in industry areas, irrigation system, skin problems, medical treatment and many more. Hard water is hard for plumbing that cause damage which results cost of money. It also builds up a layer of scale in your water heater, so by using this treatment which helps in converting the hard water into soft water. Soft water allows you to save up to 75% on soap products simply by allowing soap to do its job.

Domestic waste water treatment is the process of removing contaminants from waste water as well as household sewage, both runoff and domestic, which includes physical, chemical, and biological processes to remove impurities. Industrial sources of waste water often require specialized treatment processes. Aqua quality for our household need depends on the geographical location and source. That's why different methods of water treatment can be used. The filter will remove a far wider range of contaminants.

All in all, there are many aspects of waste water treatment which benefit from new environmentally friendly technology. Aqua treatment's aim is to provide solutions to all water problems both for the domestic and industrial markets.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

How Do Municipal Water Treatment Systems Really Work?

When you flush your toilet or run water down a drain, where does it go? Most people are vaguely aware that there are municipal water treatment systems in their community, but they don't know what processes the wastewater is put through in order to purify it. Industrial, business, and residential liquid wastes all run down sewers which then route them to facilities where they are cleaned up and made ready for use again. After all, we don't have enough water resources on the planet to be able to afford to dispose of water without cleaning it and reusing it. That's the purpose of municipal water filtration.

Our sewer systems consist of pipes and pump stations that move the wastewater to the treatment facility. Many municipal water treatment systems use a 3-stage process. In the primary stage, sewage is kept in tanks where the heavy solids are allowed to sink to the bottom. This also allows the lighter materials, such as grease and oil, to rise to the top. After removing all the solids that have accumulated in the bottom of the tank as well as the lighter ones on top, the water is ready to be sent on to the second step of the process.

The second treatment the wastewater goes through takes out all of the biological matter that's either suspended or dissolved in it. At this phase indigenous organisms, those that come into the water naturally without any human input, are introduced into the wastewater, because they clean up the harmful organisms and matter. After they have done their job, it's often necessary to do a separate treatment in order to remove them from the water, too.

The final phase, known as tertiary treatment, is anything that needs to be taken care of that's on and beyond what the first two treatments removed. Sometimes water is disinfected using chemicals, and other times physical disinfection methods are used, such as microfiltration and lagoons. Once the water has come through all of the municipal water treatment systems, it is safe to be discharged into a river, wetland, stream, lagoon, or bay. In many cities it is used to irrigate golf courses. Water that is really clean may also be used to recharge groundwater or in agriculture.

As you can see, municipal water filtration is a lengthy and expensive procedure; however, it is very necessary. In some foreign countries, people actually make their waste right in the water sources, and that leads to disease epidemics and death. Therefore, it's important that our tax dollars be used to maintain our water treatment systems.

Learn About the Water Purification Process

The water purification process used by a treatment facility varies. In order to explain water purification in its entirety, visual aids are helpful, but as with many other scientific procedures, you can think of it as a circle. Where to begin on that circle is difficult to decide.

Let's start with a brief explanation of why we need a water purification process. In old movies, you would see a cowboy fill his canteen from a mountain stream. The stream could have been fed by a glacier, a spring or other groundwater, as well as regular rains. There were far less people and far fewer environmental pollutants at that time, so as long as the stream was moving rapidly, he could count on rocks, gravel and gravity to "clean". You could think of it as the "natural" water purification process.

That stopped working for us a long time ago, because so many different bacteria, parasites, viruses and protozoa thrive in above ground water-supplies. They can cause waterborne diseases like cryptosporidiosis, Giardiasis, typhoid and dysentery, with symptoms ranging from a stomach ache to death.

For many years, groundwater, from wells or springs was safe, because the ground itself contributed to the water purification process, by filtering debris and other contaminants. Now, even they require testing before they can be considered safe for human consumption.

To explain water purification, as it currently exists, we begin with disinfection processes that remove the majority of the disease causing micro-organisms mentioned above. Typically, chlorination is used on raw sewage, before it is treated and returned to a river or ocean. It is also used as source-water enters a facility to be prepared for drinking purposes and again, at the end of the water purification process before it enters the pipes and tanks.

Now, take a step back and look at the circle we mentioned when we began to explain water purification. Rain hits the ground, some is absorbed by the soil, some enters streams and lakes, and some evaporates and returns to the atmosphere. Treatment facilities pump water from reservoirs and lakes. They clean it up some. It enters a home, where it may be further cleansed if the homeowner has his own filtration system. People drink it and use it for cooking. Some ends up in the sewer as wastewater.

From there, it goes to a wastewater treatment facility, where scum and sludge are removed and it is screened, aerated and disinfected. It is then sent back to a river or ocean, where some is used again by the public and wildlife, but some evaporates again and falls back to the ground as rain.

At any point on the circle, there is the possibility of contamination. Every chemical pollutant in the environment eventually ends up in our rivers, streams, oceans and groundwater. Advancements in the water purification process have helped, but many chemicals and other contaminants still end up in tap-water. So, there is a final warning when we explain water purification.

You are ultimately responsible for your own health. Without a good home water purification process, there are many things that come through the tap that can adversely affect your current and future health. Don't drink straight from the tap. Always filter first.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

How to Choose the Best Water Treatment System That's Right For You

Let me ask you a simple question, does your health and that of your family concern you? Well then, consuming tap water is not a wise decision especially when you have no idea of what it contains. Drinking bottled water is expensive so really there is no excuse for you not to have a home water treatment system.

The problem is that there is a large amount of misinformation out there regarding home water filters. Therefore it's important you grasp some basic information to understand which system is best for you and your family.

The three main types of home water filters are distillation, reverse osmosis, and carbon block or granular filtration. It's important to compare cost, effectiveness, efficiency, and speed when shopping around for the best water treatment device for your home.

When it comes to cost reverse osmosis runs from around 18 to 24 cents per gallon. Distillation runs from around 20 to 26 cents per gallon. Using a home water filter is substantially cheaper than drinking bottled water or using a pitcher-style filter like the Brita, which would run you about 25 cents per gallon. However, it's possible to have a steady supply of clean, filtered water for even less.

A carbon water treatment system is the least expensive out there, costing less than 10 cents per gallon. Carbon filters are also speedy compared to other water filtration methods. Carbon filters produce up to 30 gallons of clean water per hour and don't waste any water in the process.

This makes them the best water treatment devices on the market in terms of cost and efficiency. In contrast, reverse osmosis units produce less than a gallon of clean water per hour and waste two to three gallons of water for every gallon they produce.

The best water treatment device for your home will also depend on your health concerns. Reverse osmosis and distillation were invented to produce mineral free water for the printing and photo processing industries. They started to purify water for human consumption but not without a cost to health. Drinking demineralized water can lead to numerous health problems.

Demineralized water produced by a water treatment system like reverse osmosis is an acid with a pH below 7. By drinking this your body tries to compensate by extracting minerals from elsewhere. This can lead to multiple mineral deficiencies. Furthermore, when your body is in an acid state versus an alkaline state, free radical production increases. This in turn leads to an increased risk for cancer.

The best water treatment device will remove the impurities from tap water but leave in the essential minerals. As such, the best system for the job is a carbon block filter. This system is most effective at filtering out contaminants while leaving in the beneficial trace minerals.

Reverse osmosis and distillation strip water of its minerals. These methods also fail to remove both organic and synthetic chemicals hence need to be used in conjunction with a carbon filter.

Do yourself a favor and shop carefully when you look for a water treatment system for your home. There are a lot of mediocre products out there but if you keep this information in mind, you are bound to find a product that stands head and shoulders above the rest. Remember that when you consider all the factors such as cost, effectiveness, and efficiency, carbon filtration systems come out on top.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Comparison - Here's What You Must Know

You're investigating reverse osmosis water filters, right? Here's a reverse osmosis water treatment comparison that will help you decide between a reverse osmosis system or a carbon filtration system.

Reverse osmosis, or "RO", is the process of forcing water through a membrane, or filter, with tiny holes. The holes are so tiny that a molecule of water can just barely get through, and the contaminants in the water, such as chlorine, dirt and sediment, nitrates, and many other chemicals, which are larger than the water molecules, can't get through.

Forcing the water through the membrane is a slow process, and most of the water doesn't make it through, which is good news and bad news.

The good news is that the water that doesn't get through goes on down the drain, taking the filtered-out contaminants with it, washing the membrane clean so it can continue to do its job.

The bad news is that a lot of water is wasted. Depending on the system, about 3 to 10 gallons of water flows down the drain for every 1 gallon of water that is cleaned.

The other main kind of water filtration unit for home use is the "SBAC", or "solid block activated carbon" system. These systems use a block of highly-compressed activated carbon to filter water. They don't waste any water.

The contaminants in the water get filtered out by the carbon in two ways. Incredible as it seems, the carbon blocks have up to 150 acres or more (That's over six and a half million square feet!) of surface area in just a pound of carbon, so the contaminants get trapped in the tiny passages that create all that surface area.

Also, through a process known as adsorption, the contaminants are attracted to the carbon particles and held there.

SBAC systems filter out chlorine, dirt and sediment, just as the reverse osmosis units do. They also filter out what are called VOCs ("Volatile Organic Compounds".) These are things like various breakdown products of chlorine, petroleum, pesticides, herbicides, and pharmaceuticals.

These substances have molecules that are smaller than water molecules, so RO units by themselves don't remove them from the water, although most RO units do add a carbon filter to catch the VOC's. (So why not just use carbon filtration in the first place?)

RO units do filter out all the minerals, like calcium, magnesium and potassium. Unfortunately, these are things our bodies need, and that generally make the water taste good. Many authorities think that demineralized water isn't good for us. SBAC units don't filter out the minerals.

RO systems do filter out nitrates, which SBAC systems don't, so if you're in an agricultural area where nitrate levels can get high as fertilizers break down and nitrates get into the water supply, an RO unit is the better choice. Otherwise, for my money the SBAC unit is the better choice.

So there's your reverse osmosis water treatment comparison. Now go ahead and protect your family by purifying your water with a home filtration unit, not by drinking bottled water, which uses huge amounts of petroleum to manufacture the bottles, and huge amounts of landfill space to accommodate the 50,000,000+ bottles discarded each day.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

How Does Water Treatment Combat Water-Borne Diseases?

Every year millions of people die due to water-borne diseases. Such diseases are caused due to consumption of polluted or contaminated water, which in many parts of the world is contaminated with harmful pathogens, toxic chemicals, and other suspended particulates that make it unfit for drinking. But, then why do people consume such toxins? The answer is simple...often the scarcity of freshwater is the main reason why people tend to drink it from polluted sources.

There are ways of conditioning the water and make it fit for human consumption. A variety of equipment and devices are available for its treatment too. Such devices not just remove suspended solids but, also clean harmful pathogens and microorganisms that are mainly responsible for water-borne diseases.

Process applied for making it drinkable

There are various ways for it. Some of the processes are discussed in brief below:

Pre-chlorination - In this process of conditioning chemicals like chlorine is added. This is mainly done to disinfect, control tastes, aquatic growths, and foul odors. Addition of chlorine aids in coagulation and settling of impurities thereby provides you safe and drinkable water free from disease causing pathogens.

Aeration - It is done to remove dissolved iron and manganese by circulating air through the liquid by using devices like paddle-wheels, venture tube or diffusers. Sometimes, the liquid itself is passed through air for removing such impurities.

Coagulation - In this method various coagulant aids, known as polyelectrolyte are used for water treatment. These substances aids coagulation of the impurities and the waste materials is removed in the form of thick floc formations.

Sedimentation - This method is mainly utilized for the separation of solid sediments. It is a physical water treatment process that works on the principles of gravity. There are various devices available today for this process

Filtration - It is a conventional process of filtering out dirt and sediments. Filters are used for the process. There are different types of filters available in the market today - the one that would suit your requirement is determined by a specialist water treatment service provider only.

Desalination - It is the process of removing salt. There are various devices and chemicals for the process.
Disinfection - There are various chemical disinfectants available in the market today that can be used for killing the pathogens that are the main causes of water-borne diseases in humans and animals.

If you are eager to install or buy any of the conditioning devices or chemicals or need consultation on water treatment, Racine, WI based The Water Store can be the best one to approach. You can trust it for all types of plumbing and water related service needs.

7 Tips For Selecting Home Water Treatment Systems

There are a vast number of home water treatment systems out there but few of them deliver optimal results. It's always better to have any water treatment system in your home rather than nothing at all but in order to make the most out of your investment you need to find a filter that truly works to provide clean, healthy water.

Here are 7 tips to help you find the best water treatment system money can buy.

1. Avoid pitcher filters. Pitcher filters might seem like the cheapest, easiest option but you will end up spending a lot of money in the long run. Pitcher filters run on the Polaroid principle, meaning the initial investment is low but you make up for that by paying an exorbitant amount for film or in this case, filter cartridges.

By purchasing water treatment products and installing them to your kitchen sink, you may have to pay more initially but the replacement cartridges are cheaper and the water that comes out is much purer.

2. Look for home water treatment systems that remove both organic and synthetic chemicals. Reverse osmosis is not capable of removing synthetic chemicals while distillation is not capable of removing organic chemicals. Carbon filters are the best choice because they remove all types of contaminants.

3. Look for a carbon filter that uses a multi-stage filtration process. Not all carbon filters are created equal. Carbon block or granular water treatment products that use a multi-stage process of filtration remove the widest range of contaminants.

4. When shopping for home water treatment systems, think of something that fits with your budget. Distillation and reverse osmosis can cost up to 26 cents per gallon. Carbon filtration costs less than ten cents per gallon so it's a good choice if you are looking for an effective yet affordable option.

5. Get a water treatment system that doesn't de-mineralize tap water. Drinking de-mineralized water over time can lead to an increased risk for cancer and multiple mineral deficiencies. Both reverse osmosis and distillation produce de-mineralized water, which is needed in the photo processing and printing industries.

In order to stay healthy, humans need to drink water that contains trace minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Use a carbon filter for the best results because it doesn't remove minerals from the water.

6. Look for home water treatment systems that are fast and not wasteful. Reverse osmosis and distillation are notoriously slow. They produce only up to a gallon per hour and waste around 2 gallons for every gallon they produce. Carbon filters produce up to 30 gallons per hour and do not waste any water whatsoever.

7. Water treatment products should be convenient. Avoid high maintenance products that require storage tanks or any other extra equipment. All that should be required of you is a moment every few months to change a filter cartridge.

You'll find more detailed information on home water treatment systems on my website.

Keep these 7 tips in mind when you are shopping around for home water treatment systems. When you take all factors into consideration, water filters that use the multi-stage carbon filtration process are by far the most effective and affordable of the bunch. So get out there and find an appropriate carbon filter for your home so you can start enjoying clean, healthy water every day.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Different Applications of Water Treatment Plant

A water treatment plant is a facility where water is treated to make it acceptable for the designated end-user. Various processes involved in this exercise, such facilities include sedimentation, filtration, chlorination, disinfection, coagulation and so on. Water purification equipments used at these plants are water filters, ozone generator, oil water separators, screening equipments, sludge treatment equipment and many more.

Treatment of water is done for different purposes and there are water treatment plants serving different applications. Here is a brief discussion.

Wastewater Treatment
The most common application of a water treatment plant is to treat the waste water collected from homes, industries and many other sources. In order to make the waste water reusable, it is treated to remove physical, radioactive, chemical and biological pollutants. Sewage treatment and sludge treatment are the two most popular sub-types of wastewater purification plants.

A decentralized wastewater plant is another common facility in this category. The water treated at this facility is reused for landscape irrigation and toilet flush supply.

Surface Water Treatment
A surface water treatment process is used to make surface water fit for municipal applications. Suspended impurities, colloidal matter and organic components are removed through processes like sedimentation, aeration, screening, disinfection and sand filtration.

Containerized Water Treatment Plant
To make pollutant-free water available in remote areas, the containerized treatment plant for water is considered as a suitable option. A single unit arrangement is used in this category of treatment equipments. Such plants can also be installed near military and mining camps. Environmental emergencies too ca be met with the help of such facilities.

Ozone Based Water Plant
These plants use ozone for water purification and useful to treat pool water or water present in the cooling towers. Ozone is an excellent disinfectant for variety of microorganisms, including Cryptosporidium and protozoan parasites. The main advantage of this type of plant is that it doesn't require adding any chemical to the water.

Seawater Treatment Plant
Seawater is treated to remove dissolved minerals and salts at a seawater treatment plant. Desalination, membrane separation, vacuum freezing and many such processes are employed at these plants. Saudi Arabia and the USA are the two countries with most number of seawater desalination plants.

Package Wastewater Plant
Treating wastewater using the process of aeration is done at a package wastewater treatment facility. These plants are available in different sizes and are used for applications in small and medium urban areas, remote mining areas, construction sites, recreational sites, educational sites and at various other sites.

Bottled Water Treatment
The popularity of bottled drinking water is increasing with passing time. The water is collected at the source, treated and packed in bottles that are supplied to the market. A bottled water plant is installed near the source to make water treating easy and economical.

Mobile Water Treatment
This is another popular facility designed by water treatment plant manufacturers. Reverse osmosis and mobile wastewater treatment are the methods used to treat water at these facilities. This plant is installed over a big trailer and moved to different sites.

Water is becoming a scarce commodity and use of treatment plants is one solution to save it from depleting.

Advanced Oxidation For Water Treatment - Ozone UV

The removal of micro pollutants from drinking water and water used in industrial processing is becoming increasingly important. In drinking water the discovery of pharmaceutical and personal care products in lakes, rivers and reservoirs has created uncertainty in the safety of these water sources because conventional water treatment plants can not remove these compounds. In industrial applications, especially semiconductor manufacture and pharmaceutical production increasing quality standards are requiring greater purity levels in the water used in these processes.

Advanced oxidation processes can address the need to remove low level contaminants in water without concentrating or absorbing these materials. As a result, they are permanently and safely removed, i.e. converted to CO2 and salts. Advanced oxidation process work by producing the hydroxyl radical. This short lived chemical species with a high oxidation potential can be produced in a number of processes, all referred to as advanced oxidation. These include exposing hydrogen peroxide or ozone to UV radiation, reacting ozone with hydrogen peroxide, and reacting hydrogen peroxide with certain Fe salts.

The hydroxy radical will react with virtually all organic compounds except certain heavily chlorinated compounds. The reaction time is exceedingly fast and indiscriminate, i.e. all organic compounds present will be attack.

In this article, we will focus on the ozone UV process for making the hydroxyl radical. When ozone is exposed to UV radiation in the 254 nm range, the ozone is converted in the presence of water to the hydroxyl radical via the following reactions:

O3 + hν > O2 + O
O + H2O > 2OH•

This reaction is fairly efficient, but depends on the transmission of UV through the fluid, known as UV transmittance or UVT. This can be hindered by suspended solids, or dissolved materials that absorb UV radiation in the 254 nm range. Even clear solutions can have low UVT values since many organic compounds absorb UV.

In relatively pure water systems with low levels of organic contamination, UVT levels can be high, i.e. greater than 95%. This makes the use of ozone UV as an advanced oxidation process practical.

The advantage of the ozone UV process is that no chemicals need to be purchased, stored or handled. The hydroxyl radical is made on site from air and electricity. Since the process is efficient with respect to ozone, there are no measurable byproducts, other than potential break down compounds of the organic materials in solution. Thus it is an extremely safe and sustainable process.

Because equipment is substituted for purchased chemicals, capital expense for the process tends to be higher than other advanced oxidation processes. These systems tend to have a small foot print and are highly automated eliminating the need for constant operator attention.

Thus ozone UV tends to be a better choice for applications with low flows or very low contaminant levels. Some applications where ozone UV has been applied are laboratory water reuse systems, groundwater remediation and semiconductor water reuse.

Since all advanced oxidation processes produce the same chemical agent, the selection of a particular process depends on how that process fits with the end use application in terms of capital expenditure, operating expenses, tolerance for chemical handling, byproduct formation, water quality, etc.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

How to Install a New Water Treatment System

We had an old hard water treatment system that was broken. The tap water from this old system gave me a severe headache so we bought bottled water. I was buying about 10 gallons a week, or about $10.00 per week, that is over $500.00 per year. I looked over the available literature and found 3 systems that could provide us with drinkable water for about 9.7 cents per gallon vrs $1.00.

After studying each of these systems we decided to go with an Aquasana whole house water treatment system. I did a diy installation of the drinking water treatment unit in the garage where the old water softener used to be. This water treatment process gave us filtered water for baths, showers, dish washing and washing clothes.

This hard water treatment system uses no salt to condition the water. It can filter 300,000 gallons of water before it should be changed out. I added a water meter in line to the system that displayed gallons of water used up to 9,999,999 gallons to determine how much water we were using.

We added an Aquasana Premium Under counter Water Filter for a drinking water treatment system under the kitchen sink to get drinkable water. This filter extracts the impurities down to 0.995%. This is the equivalent or superior to the bottled water and I don't acquire a headache from drinking this water.

I installed a special faucet on our porcelain sink in the kitchen for this filtered water. I drilled a hole in the porcelain sink to mount this faucet. This is a tricky job and must be done very exactly. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself then have a plumber do it.

I studied the advise and recommended tools on how to drill porcelain. You can purchase a special drill set that is quite expensive just for drilling holes in porcelain. I decided to make my own jig to drill a 5/8" hole for this new faucet. I purchased 2 brass washers, the largest had 3/4" inside diameter which I glued to the sink with a rubber based glue at the place for the new faucet.

Let the glue dry for 10 minutes or more and then take a Dremel tool with a diamond bit to route through the porcelain inside the 3/4" washer down to bare metal. This is a very tricky process as you do not want to crack or chip the porcelain under the brass washer. Keep the working area cool by putting water inside the brass washer while you are drilling to keep the temperature of the drill bit and brass washer down.

The second step is to put a 3/4" outside (OD) and a 1/4" inside diameter (ID) brass washer in the center of the other brass washer. Also you need a 1/4" OD and a 1/16" ID spacer to place inside the smaller brass washer. This gives you the exact center for the faucet. Use the Dremel tool with the diamond bit again to drill a guide hole through the center of the spacer and through the porcelain down to the metal.

The third step you need to remove the spacer and small brass washer but leave the large brass washer glued to the sink. It is a heat sink for the porcelain below it. Now drill a 1/4" starter hole through the porcelain and metal sink at the place marked above.

The fourth step is to take a 5/8" carbide hole saw drill bit and meticulously drill a 5/8" hole in the sink. Make sure the hole saw drill will fit into the center of the large brass washer with good clearance from the washer. Use a low speed drill and keep water on this hole drill and sink to keep every thing below the boiling point of water.

After finishing the hole, take a small hammer and screw driver and carefully knock this brass washer off, being careful not to break the porcelain on the sink. Porcelain is unforgiving and is very difficult to fix. Remove the surplus glue off the sink, you should have a clean hole through the sink with no chips or cracks in the porcelain. The shroud of the faucet should cover up any cracks. You can mount your new faucet on the sink.

Attach the hoses to your new faucet from the final stage filter per the manufactures instructions. Turn the water on and look for leaks. Re-tighten any junction that leaks. Let the water run through the filter per the manufacturers instructions. Now you can test the taste of your own Aquasana Premium filtered water treatment system.

Green Solutions for Your Waste Water Treatment

With increasing population and growing competition over water resources, water security has become one of the most fundamental issues and it is going to be accentuated even further as we progress through the century. With green solutions gaining prominence and reduced quantum of resources consumed attracting tax cuts; a huge impetus is given to water conservation, recycling, and reprocessing industry.

Waste Water Treatment: Generally the sole objective of an advanced waste water treatment is to ensure that the waste water and other industrial effluents are released into the environment whereby they ensure minimum or no harm. This is why waste water is subject to a lot of treatment processes each with the sole purpose of ensuring that the harmful chemicals and compounds are either separated or converted through chemical and biological processes into something less harmful. There are a lot of houses these days that have a full-fledged waste water tank. While installing a waste water tank, we recommend you to follow these tips

- Ensure that the waste water tank is easily accessible and that there no obstructions in the way of the waste water treatment truck.
- Ensure that the bottom of the advanced waste water treatment tank is properly sealed with butyl sealant as recommended by the manufacturer

Residential septic system: Residential septic system is a cheap system of discharging the waste products in our house. Generally septic tanks consist of two sections, in one section heavy solids settle down; while in the other section the harmful effluents are broken down so that they are safe enough to be released into the atmosphere. It is important to note that the released water is unfit for consumption, but however it is cheap and economical to install. These are the following precautions to follow when installing one:

- Ensure that the residential septic system is not too close to the roadways, as the vibrations may cause the weakening of the walls of the septic tank
- Check out the rules with the local municipal corporation to determine who has the right of way and other issues like property etc.
- After some years invariably there is an accumulation of scum at the bottom of the tank, to remove it you will have to call in the vacuum truck

Sewage Treatment: The basic difference between a sewage treatment plant and residential septic system is that the sewage treatment plant is much more advanced and water undergoes a more stringent test to ensure that it is clean. It however comes with first time cost that deters many from installing it

- It consumes electricity
- Reduced costs as water consumption reduces
- Lesser impact of house on environment
- Lesser strain on public resources like dams, reservoirs due to recycling of water

Friday, November 8, 2013

Useful Tips to Compare Water Treatment Systems and Choose the Right One

One of the first things you need to do before buying water treatment equipment is to compare water treatment systems. With the kind of contaminated water we get these days, having a water filter at home becomes very, very important.

But just so you know, water purification is big business these days and every other company claims to have the best water filter in the market. In this situation, comparing the different types of water treatment equipment available in the market seems to be the best idea to find out which is actually the best product.

Before you begin, you should know how to compare water treatment systems. Price should not be the most important factor as water treatment equipment is one of the most important investments for a healthy family. So, it does not matter if it is pricey or cheap - if it is good, go for it. The only thing you should check out is the technology behind the water treatment equipment.

As you know, there are plenty of water treatment systems available in the market and they have different technologies behind them. Reverse osmosis, point of use filtration, and activated carbon block filtration are the most famous methods used for water purification.

Reverse osmosis is one of the popular water treatment methods out there. A typical reverse osmosis unit has a semi permeable membrane and a very fine porous structure through which water is passed under pressure during the filtration process. It blocks any substance that is larger than water in molecular size. However, substances like herbicides have a smaller molecular size and get through the system easily and as a result; the water you get is not completely safe.

Point of use filtration is yet another popular water treatment method. In this method, water is passed through a hot coil where it becomes water vapor and then it is passed into a cooling chamber where it becomes a liquid again. In this process, all the inorganic compounds present in water are removed. However, the organic compounds are still present and again as a result, the water you get is not very safe.

Activated carbon filtration has multiple chambers of activated carbon filters which are very effective in removing all types of contaminants from water. Also, since water is passed through multiple chambers, it is absolutely pure. This is the reason why doctors around the world recommend multi chambered carbon filters more than any other water treatment system.

Again if you compare water treatment systems further, you will also realize that reverse osmosis and point of use filtration destroy the essential minerals present in water, while carbon filtration does not do that. These essential minerals are very important for the human body and drinking de-mineralized water could lead to a lot of complications too.

So, there you go people. When you compare water treatment systems, you find out what really is the best there is. Now that you know what the best out there is, what's stopping you from buying it?

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Water Treatment Filters - Essential Information About How to Purify Drinking Water Effectively

People have become aware of health issues today. They are very health conscious and are ready to spend money and effort to ensure their family is perfectly safe.

This is the reason water treatment filters are gaining a lot of popularity today. Water from the tap is not safe anymore and people need to use filters to ensure the quality of the water is high.

There are three main water treatment filters in the market today.

Reverse Osmosis

One commonly used water treatment filter is the reverse osmosis system. This is very widely used and is very effective in removing any toxins from the water.

Purification is done using a very simple process. The water is first made to flow through a membrane. Then pressure is applied to reverse the process and force the water back through the membrane again. Reverse osmosis costs around twenty four to twenty six cents per gallon of pure water produced.

Disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is very effective at removing harmful toxins and bacteria. It is still not the best due to one reason. It will also remove essential nutrients and minerals from the water along with the toxins and bacteria.

It does not remove any organic matter or synthetic chemicals. The Reverse osmosis process produces only a gallon of water per hour after wasting around two gallons of water.

Activated Carbon

Purifiers using the activated carbon filters are one of the most popular in the market today. This is because these water treatment filters are widely believed to be the best.

These filters absorb the toxins, bacteria and other harmful substances in the water. It is also a very affordable system that does not cost a lot.

This system is also extremely efficient in removing chemicals such as chlorine that inadvertently are found in your tap water because active carbon has an electro positive charge.

This system requires filter changes only occasionally helping you save even more money. This system costs only around ten cents per gallon of pure water produced. They can also produce thirty gallons of clean water in an hour with no wastage of water.

Charcoal Water Filter

Charcoal water treatment filters might also be used. There are three main types of charcoal filters. These include activated silver impregnated charcoal, the micron rating type and the carbon block.

These systems are very efficient in removing harmful chemicals by absorbing them with ease. These systems have been known to absorb chlorine, toxins such as pesticides, benzene and other chemicals easily.

Do your research carefully and keep all the different factors in mind before you go out and buy a water treatment filters. You will find many options but choose carefully and spend your money on the best one.