Water treatment systems

Common water problems

Iron and manganese

Iron and manganese give a metallic taste to the water and leave orange spots wherever the water is used. Iron and manganese make the use of the washer and dishwasher virtually impossible. The solutions are the sea salt regenerating water conditioner, the green sand filter or a chlorination system.

sulfur

The smell of sulfur is simply repulsive. You will not want to drink your water or wash. Sulfur also tarnishes cutlery and metal surfaces. The solutions are green sand filters, chlorination, activated carbon or air injection.

Hardness

Hardness is without a doubt the most frequent problems. Limestone leaves white shadows wherever water is present, limestone also causes soap to precipitate, forming clumps that stick on dishes, laundry and in the bath, making housekeeping more difficult. It also results in excessive consumption of soap and energy to heat the water, not to mention the risk of scaling plumbing and plumbing fixtures. The proposed solution is a regenerating water conditioner with sea salt.

Bacteria

It is much less likely to find potentially pathogenic bacteria in groundwater than in surface water. On the other hand, even while respecting the standards of construction and development of a well, it is possible to find bacteria in the water. The proposed solutions will be a chlorination system or an ultraviolet sterilizer.

Arsenic

Without taste or smell, only an analysis of water can reveal its presence. Regular consumption of high-arsenic water can increase the risk of developing bladder, skin, lungs, and multiple health problems. The proposed solutions are reverse osmosis or a filter using a media specific to the removal of arsenic.

To learn more about the operation of water treatment systems, here are the main water treatment equipment recommended by our experts.

UV sterilization

Ultraviolet ray sterilization eliminates problems related to microorganisms like bacteria. Advantages of ultraviolet sterilization:

1. Simple
2. No chemical modification of the water is required
3. Zero water consumption
4. Requires very little space

Disadvantage of ultraviolet sterilization:

1. Reserved for already good or pre-treated water

Oxyfilter

The oxyfilter is a catalyst filter with a regenerant. The media, which has an oxidizing ability, is often used to oxidize and precipitate iron, manganese, hydrogen sulphide and to remove arsenic. Advantages of the oxyfilter:

1. Easy to use
2. System combines easily with others to increase effectiveness
3. Can improve taste and smell
4. It can treat sediment issues
5. Very low maintenance cost
6. Takes little space
7. Can treat many issues simultaneously
8. Excellent durability
9. Does not add sodium into the treated water

Disadvantages of the oxyfilter:

1. Being a filter, it requires a minimum amount of water flow to wash properly
2. Must be properly adjusted upon installation (a professional is recommended)

Reverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a system used for very fine water purification that allows practically only water molecules to pass through. This system is currently the most efficient and most economical on the market to eliminate contaminants. This system provides water quality comparable to bottled water, but at a lower cost! Advantages of reverse osmosis:

1. Appropriate solution to reduce the amount of inorganic minerals
2. Eliminates a significant number of chemical products and heavy metals from the water
3. Easy to maintain
4. Low cost
5. Very effective

Disadvantage of reverse osmosis:

1. Preferable to use it with clean or pre-treated water

Air injection

Air injection is mainly used to eliminate H2S (sulphur smell) and can also serve as an oxidant for iron and manganese. Advantages of air injection:

1. Low-cost maintenance
2. Ideal for water with a sulphur odour

Disadvantages:

1. Not recommended for use with water containing a lot of iron or manganese
2. We use ambient air, so you must ensure that the air injected comes from a healthy place

Catalytic water filters

Catalytic water filters without regenerant work well with the oxyfilter. Advantages of catalytic filters:

1. Easy to use
2. Combines easily with others to increase effectiveness
3. Can improve taste and smell
4. They can treat sediment issues
5. Can treat many issues simultaneously

Disadvantages:

1. Being a filter, it needs a minimum water flow to be properly washed
2. Must be properly adjusted upon installation (a professional is recommended)
3. Must be washed frequently
4. High water consumption
5. Short lifespan

Sediment filters

Sediment filters have a very simple function, which is particle filtration. There are 2 main types: disposable cartridge and self-cleaning. The disposable cartridge type is the most common. The disposable cartridges must be changed regularly or after a gradual loss of pressure. Many people choose self-cleaning filters because they require very little maintenance. Advantages of a self-cleaning sediment filter:

1. Simple and easy to use
2. Combines easily with others to increase effectiveness
3. It can treat sediment issues in great quantities
4. Very good lifespan

Disadvantages of a self-cleaning sediment filter:

1. Being a filter, it requires a minimum flow of water to be properly washed
2. Must be adjusted properly upon installation (professional recommended)
3. Requires frequent cleaning
4. High water consumption
5. More expensive than a disposable filter

Ion exchanger

A selective removal ion exchanger is very similar to a water softener, except that it does not soften the water. Its resins all recharge with salt, but each resin is designed for certain materials like nitrates, arsenic or tannins. The way it works is simple. The ion exchanger’s resin is saturated with chloride (using salt), and exchanges it with the ions from nitrates, arsenic or tannins. In other words, unwanted contaminants remain stuck in the resin until its next wash. However, these resins are fragile and you must properly maintain them by washing them frequently with a large amount of salt. Advantages selective removal ion exchangers:

1. Easy to use
2. Can eliminate a large quantity of contaminants very quickly
3. Combines with other treatments to eliminate many issues

Disadvantages of specific removal ion exchangers:

1. Useful only in very specific situations
2. High salt consumption
3. High water consumption due to frequent washing
4. High maintenance cost

PH adjusters

It’s a system used to neutralize water, in other words, to bring the water closer to a pH of 7. This water treatment system can come in solid or liquid form. The solid product is in the form of crystals. We will install it in a conventional filter that must be washed regularly to ensure its effectiveness. These natural crystals will dissolve in water, thereby naturally increasing the pH, by adding a little lime. As for the liquid product, we inject it using a metering pump and a water meter. Advantages of crystal pH adjusters:

1.  Simple, maintenance-free other than checking the pH and adding crystals
2. Adjusts automatically: the more aggressive the water, the more the crystals dissolve
3. Can increase the capacity of some filters if they are installed afterward.

Disadvantages of crystal pH adjusters:

1. Makes the water harder

Advantages of liquid pH adjusters:

1. Adds little lime and can make water more acidic or more base as needed
2. Can quickly treat water with a very large pH deviation

Disadvantages of liquid pH adjusters:

1. More expensive to buy, a little more complex to set and maintain
2. Does not automatically adjust

Chlorination

Chlorine is used to disinfect and oxidize certain metals or gases in the water. Chlorine is also used to remedy water discolouration and certain tastes and smells. The chlorine currently used in residential water treatment is in liquid form and is called NSF-approved 12% sodium hypochlorite. Advantages of chlorination with active carbon:

1. Easy to use
2. Dosage can be adjusted (by the customer)
3. Excellent oxidant
4. Combines easily with other treatment systems to increase effectiveness
5. Makes water safe
6. Improves taste and smell
7. Versatile: it can treat a multitude of issues

Disadvantages of chlorination with active carbon:

1. Carbon must be changed regularly (Every 1 to 2 years based on the recommendations)
2. Installation requires space

Water softener

A water softener is simply an ion exchanger that is frequently used to remove lime, iron and manganese in situations where these materials are dissolved, invisible and in clear water. Advantages of a water softener:

1. Easy to use
2. The most economical system to completely eliminate calcium
3. Combines easily with other treatment systems to increase effectiveness
4. Can improve taste and smell
5. Versatile: it can treat a multitude of issues at the same time

Disadvantages of a water softener:

1. Uses salt, so it adds sodium into the water (which can easily be removed with a reverse osmosis system)