Whole House Filtration & Disinfection
3 stages of filtration (Coarse, Fine, UV/Liquid Disinfection)
What you need to know
The main purpose of filtering your water is to make it microbiologically safe to drink, cook with, and bathe in.
The Ministry of Health recommends a two-barrier approach to this – namely, filtration (course and fine) followed by disinfection. Although we can provide a number of solutions that suit your requirements, the simplest solution is for cartridge filtration followed by ultraviolet disinfection.
Coarse Filtration
Filtration is based on a micron rating, and is most commonly achieved with coarse pre-filtration, usually with a 20 micron washable, pleated cartridge for the bulk of suspended solids removal.
Fine Filtration
This is followed by a fine depth filter of one micron. This step is most important for the removal of giardia and cryptosporidium cysts, by trapping them in the filter.
UV/Liquid Disinfection
Disinfection is by exposure to ultraviolet light. This inactivates bacterial and viral contaminants. Microlene systems are designed to deliver consistency of water pressure based on existing flow rates. Alternative, but less popular methods of disinfection include the use of oxidizing chemicals such as Acquasafe (NB –this will not kill giardia and cryptosporidium cysts.
An additional option in the water treatment process can be purification – the removal of dissolved substances and gases which affect taste and odour. Activated carbon is a media which can remove chlorine and its byproducts, pesticides and sulphur. These media filters are often chosen for treating drinking water only. Some are able to remove giardia cysts, some pesticides, tastes and odours. They will NOT, however, remove bacteria and viruses.