Mains Water

The term mains is generally applied to water supplied from local authority sources or water companies. Water from the mains meets specific regulatory requirements that are laid down with regard to its potability (suitability for drinking) and its suitability for use aesthetically. However each home is a different distance from the water works and the nature and quality of pipe work through which water travels varies. There are issues, which may need to be resolved. Dirt/grit in the water supply will plug domestic appliance filters, ball valves etc. Hard Water (lime) will cause scale to build up and damage heating elements in appliances, water cylinders etc. Chlorine, which is added as a disinfectant gives an unpleasant taste and sometimes a smell. Fluoride is also added to mains supplies. There is considerable debate about the advantages/disadvantages of adding this substance to drinking water. Other possibilities. From time to time we see newspaper reports concerning many issues with regard to pollution from various sources, nitrates, bacteriological contamination, cysts, heavy metals, etc. Whilst these are not normally found in mains water it is possible to guard against the fact that they could find their way into the system

Surface and Well Water

There are many sources of water besides mains. Supplies may be drawn from rivers, lakes, shallow wells, boreholes, and other sources. What has to be borne in mind is that until a proper analysis has been carried out very little is known about either the chemical or bacteriological condition of such waters. In the first case the most sensible starting point is to have the water supply properly analysed. It also makes sense to have this done on a regular basis (at least annually). This is a service we do not offer because we believe that there is a conflict of interest between carrying out the analysis and supplying water treatment systems. Testing should be carried out by a laboratory independently accredited for the testing of drinking water according to the current regulations and standards. Once we have had sight of a water analysis we can recommend treatment systems that will solve the issue and work for considerable periods of time with minimal maintenance.

Products

COMMERCIAL VENDING MACHINES / KITCHEN APPLIANCES.

Hot and cold water vending outlets are increasing in popularity. This poses problems for operators from two points of view. Firstly the taste of tea/coffee etc must be acceptable to customers and secondly in hard water (lime) areas scaling can occur which severely increases the maintenance requirement. In addition to beverage vending machinery similar problems occur with icemakers, glass washers, steam/combi-ovens and similar appliances. Specific advice is required if systems are to work properly with minimal maintainence requirements Chemical, Metals and Flouride Reduction Due to the past history of contaminants entering water supplies many people are concerned about contaminants that will dissolve in water. These can be broadly divided into two categories. Those that are considered harmful to health and those that are not. Below are some examples of the types of contaminant that may be harmful.

What is the current solution?

Reverse osmosis (R.O.) is the current state of the art system for the removal of desolved contaminants. R.O. is unique in the reduction of contaminants because of the use of a semipermeable membrane. It is the ultimate mechanical filter in that its pores are around 0.0000005 millimeters or 2 ten millionths of an inch. This means that it will strain out all particulate matter Cysts, bacteria and even individual molecules of larger molecular weight compounds. Furthermore it can remove dissolved minerals, heavy metals and other impurities. The real reason it is so effective is the wide variety of impurities it is capable of removing. Our R.O. systems are usually installed under the kitchen sink or in a nearby cupboard. A single system is designed to produce sufficient drinking water for all but the largest of families. However because water production by R.O. is slow then a small reservoir (approx 8 litres) is included in the system, which means that sufficient water is always available at any one time. Because of variations in water pressure we offer only fully pumped systems to ensure adequate water production. Furthermore our systems incorporate TFC membranes because this material is not subject to bacteriological attack and has both higher chemical rejection rates and higher permeability allowing more rapid water production.

Dirt/Sediment Reduction

Despite the fact that huge volumes of water leave treatment plants every day in excellent condition the distance of every home on the mains varies from the supply facility and many factors affect the condition in which water arrives at our homes. Underground pipe work systems vary considerably and the need to carry out repairs all affect our water. We frequently hear about leakage from pipe work, however if water can leak out then it is clearly possible that materials can also get in. This is how dirt and sediment can be introduced to our water supply. If ignored then the risk is blockage of domestic appliance filters, showerheads, float valves etc. Well or surface waters are likely to contain even larger quantities of suspended solids because there is often no filtration. Water is simply pumped directly from the source to the point of use. A simple low cost filter installation on the incoming water supply will protect entire properties from the ingress of suspended solids.

Disinfection

At the turn of the century chlorine started to be used as a disinfectant in water supplies to combat the 3 most common water born bacterial diseases. Typhoid fever, Asiatic Cholera and Bacterial Dysentery. Today chlorine is still being used to control many waterborne micro organisms including both bacteria & viruses. The technical definition of disinfection is a 4-log reduction or 99.99% reduction. The EPA and WHO define disinfection as something that is free from infection or harmful organisms. It is normally qualified by the absence of an indicator group of bacteria i.e. coliforms and e-coli. Mains water supplies are usually disinfected using chlorine. This is what most often gives rise to the unpleasant taste associated with mains water. Chlorine is used both because it effectively destroys micro organisms and because it leaves a residue in water and frequently the point of use of the water can be a considerable distance from the waterworks. For individual well or surface supplies chlorine can be unpractical because of the handling of chemicals and the use of dosing pumps which require continual maintenance. UV (ultraviolet light) at a wavelength of 254 nanometres is an effective and practical way of disinfection of individual water supplies and small group supplies. It is also starting to be used on mains supplies because of the ability of UV to render harmless organisms such as Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lambilia which are resistant to chlorine. UV is capable of rendering a wide range of organisms harmless, however it is dose dependant and the UV systems available today vary considerably. The wattage of a UV lamp is not a relevant factor it is the UV output that is important. Thus comparing systems on the basis of lamp wattage is incorrect.

Hardness & Lime Reduction

WATER SOFTENING The single largest cause of domestic appliance damage is hard water (lime). Systems to prevent the effects caused by hard water fall broadly into two types: Water softeners and Scale prevention systems (which are frequently incorrectly referred to as water softeners). The principal of water softening uses a technology called Ion exchange. Water softening will prevent the build up of scale on all surfaces and in addition will leave the water feeling soft, allow soap/washing powder/detergents to lather properly, prevent the ring around the bathtub syndrome and prevent white stains on shower panels, tiles, etc. Our scale prevention systems do not soften water and will only help to prevent the build up of scale in pipe work. We do not recommend them for very hard water. A note of caution Water Softeners (ion exchange) increase the Sodium content of the water because the ions responsible for the hardness in the water are exchanged for sodium Ions. Hence the name Ion exchange. For individuals who are on low sodium diets or who wish to limit their intake of sodium precautions must be taken with regard to drinking softened water. Appliances also require protection from the ingress of dirt, sediment, grit etc. It is possible to protect individual appliances but most of the time it makes more sense to remove these contaminants at the point where the mains enters the house. This is referred to as P.O.E (point of entry). Protection at individual appliances would be referred to as P.O.U. (point of use).

Taste and Odour removal / Chlorine reduction

The addition of chlorine as a sanitisation agent is the principal reason for the unpleasant taste found in some mains waters. The reason that chlorine is used (in addition to its qualities as a disinfectant) is because it leaves a residue in the water for a considerable period of time. This means that even properties that are a long distance from the water works will receive water in sanitary condition. The downside is that we humans can detect very low concentrations of chlorine, which is unpleasant in terms of smell and taste. In surface or well waters many dissolved substances, in particular those of organic origin can cause an unpleasant taint or odour. Activated carbon is macroporous (sponge like) and has a high capacity for the adsorption of substances causing unpleasant taste and odour. However not all activated carbon is the same. The best quality carbons, frequently derived from coconut shells, have much higher capacities than many other sources of carbon. Specific problems such as hydrogen sulphide (sulphur) found in surface waters require specific treatment methods in addition to or instead of activated carbon.

ACIDIC WATER- pH CORRECTION

This phenomenon is usually associated with well or surface waters. Awareness of the problem is often prompted by blue green stains on ceramic appliances, usually just below a tap or some other water outlet. The blue green stains are in fact copper compounds formed by the corrosion caused by the acidity of the water attacking copper pipes or brass fittings. The pH scale runs from 1 to 14 with 1 being most acidic and 14 being most alkaline. In water supplies the pH is normally around 7, which is neutral, however it does of course vary constantly. Acidic or corrosive water has a pH below 7 but rarely falls below a pH of 5. In the range 5-7 however corrosion will occur and the general rule is the lower the pH the worse the corrosion. If left uncorrected it will ultimately cause considerable damage to copper pipe work (including pin holing) and brass fittings.

Iron Removal/Reduction, Manganese & Sulpher

Iron is an offensive contaminant. It is found in two forms, clear water iron in which the iron is not normally visible until the water mixes with air, and red water iron with the typical red coloration associated with Iron. Both forms can be present at the same time. It will stain appliances, in some cases make washing impossible, discolour white or light coloured clothing and cause a continuous build up of sediment in storage tanks. It can be present at pH levels both above and below neutral. When the water is acidic (pH below 7) frequently other contaminants such as Manganese and hydrogen sulphide (sulphur) may also be present. When the pH is close to or above 7, hardness (lime) may also be present. Care must be taken in sizing systems to remove iron and a full analysis is of paramount importance in providing an installation that operates properly at a sensible continuous flow rate is trouble free and easy to maintain at minimal cost. Iron Removal/Reduction, Manganese & Sulpher Iron is an offensive contaminant. It is found in two forms, clear water iron in which the iron is not normally visible until the water mixes with air, and red water iron with the typical red coloration associated with Iron. Both forms can be present at the same time. It will stain appliances, in some cases make washing impossible, discolour white or light coloured clothing and cause a continuous build up of sediment in storage tanks. It can be present at pH levels both above and below neutral. When the water is acidic (pH below 7) frequently other contaminants such as Manganese and hydrogen sulphide (sulphur) may also be present. When the pH is close to or above 7, hardness (lime) may also be present. Care must be taken in sizing systems to remove iron and a full analysis is of paramount importance in providing an installation that operates properly at a sensible continuous flow rate is trouble free and easy to maintain at minimal cost.

WATER SOFTENING AND IRON REDUCTION

Hard Water (lime) may also contain Iron and less frequently manganese as well. Historically water softeners, often completely undersized, have been fitted to water of this nature. They work for a short period of time but the ion exchange resin rapidly becomes fouled and then the system no longer removes any iron or softens the water. The only way to recover from this situation is a resin change and system clean up, but then of course the whole process starts all over again. If you have hard water and Iron together a detailed analysis is necessary to be able to recommend a suitable system. A combination Water softener and Iron reduction system can be used for this application but it must be specifically designed to cope with these circumstances. In severe circumstances when the levels of iron are too high then it is necessary to first reduce the iron content and then soften the water. Our Iron Guard series of water softeners are specifically designed to treat hard water (lime) that contains Iron and/or manganese. They feature larger than normal vessels; fine mesh resin and res-up dispensing systems to ensure thorough cleaning of the fine mesh resin bed during regeneration. Without these safeguards ordinary softeners quickly suffer from fouling of the resin bed by the Iron/manganese in the water, resulting in premature resin changing, which is both expensive and time consuming. System requirements are one standard 13 Amp socket plus a drain for the backwash. System should be protected from frost.

Hardness & Lime Reduction

WATER SOFTENING

The single largest cause of domestic appliance damage is hard water (lime). Systems to prevent the effects caused by hard water fall broadly into two types: Water softeners and Scale prevention systems (which are frequently incorrectly referred to as water softeners). The principal of water softening uses a technology called Ion exchange. Water softening will prevent the build up of scale on all surfaces and in addition will leave the water feeling soft, allow soap/washing powder/detergents to lather properly, prevent the ring around the bathtub syndrome and prevent white stains on shower panels, tiles, etc. Our scale prevention systems do not soften water and will only help to prevent the build up of scale in pipe work. We do not recommend them for very hard water. A note of caution Water Softeners (ion exchange) increase the Sodium content of the water because the ions responsible for the hardness in the water are exchanged for sodium Ions. Hence the name Ion exchange. For individuals who are on low sodium diets or who wish to limit their intake of sodium precautions must be taken with regard to drinking softened water. Appliances also require protection from the ingress of dirt, sediment, grit etc. It is possible to protect individual appliances but most of the time it makes more sense to remove these contaminants at the point where the mains enters the house. This is referred to as P.O.E (point of entry). Protection at individual appliances would be referred to as P.O.U. (point of use).

 

 
 

 

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