How to Filter Well Water

Using water from a Well can be a bit scary. Water filters can help clean drinking water, but what about the Well water your family comes in contact with from showering and brushing their teeth, that can affect the skin and hair that they have to use every day. What is the best way to filter well water? 

Use a Whole House Water Filtration system that contains:

• Pre-Filter Sediment Removal 
• Water Softener
• Carbon Filter (kills Bacteria)
• Pre-micro-sediment
• Reverse Osmosis-(Dissolved Contaminants to .01 microns in size)
• Polishing-Coconut Fiber-UV treatment (kills Virus & Cyst)
• Minerals-added that were stripped

Most private Wells are supplied with groundwater that is not regulated or controlled. Even when the well is properly maintained, the surrounding environment is constantly changing that can leave your home’s water supply vulnerable to contamination and bacteria growth. How can you ensure that the water of your family is safe?

How to Filter Well Water

 

Whole House Water Filters with Water Softener

 

The Whole House Water Filtration System that is built for the Well water supply needs a little more treatment than what a normal water treatment filter would give. Well, water could contain contaminants like bacteria which is a common problem with wells.

Bacteria and other contaminants can be introduced into the Well from groundwater through a combination of reasons like intense rain events, construction, and various surface activities.

A common test for bacteria is the total coliform bacteria test. Aside from the Carbon Block that is typical for the removal of bacterial contaminants, other components like Pre and post-filters can be back-washed or removed and replaced. All these filters work in tangents and help to clean the system’s well water.

RO (Reverse Osmosis) Water filter systems contain pre-sediment filters to catch material that can block the filters and destroy their capability. Multi filters reduce a large amount of sediment of all sizes from whole-house water filters that assist in the process.

Water-borne sand, rust, dirt, and such are caught throughout the layers, and stages of the process and get blown away during backwash or can be manually removed by the Pre-Filters.

Filter media like activated carbon can last several years with proper backwash and manual filter cleaning. No chemical regeneration is required, and nothing is imparted into the house water. Whole house filters can remove anything and everything, any size from the point of entry into the house from the well.

Whole House filtering goes the extra step by filtering all incoming potable water that is at risk for contaminants. These filters come in stages with Reverse Osmosis Technology that will remove major health-related elements that make it through your water delivery system down to .01 microns in size.

Reverse Osmosis Technology is a system that uses filters. Just like a filter on a swimming pool. The same concept is used except that the filtering is done on a micron-scale which is a very small scale and an added pressure pushes the water through the small filters trapping small contaminants.

With the use of Pre-Filters, these technical and intricate filtering systems can last for extended periods and work more efficiently. You can save a lot of money by keeping the pre-filters clean and working well by setting up a regular maintenance program and keeping the filter clean.

Reverse Osmosis Technology is a system that uses filters. Just like a filter on a swimming pool. The same concept is used except that the filtering is done on a micron-scale which is a very small scale and an added pressure pushes the water through the small filters trapping small contaminants.

With the use of Pre-Filters, these technical and intricate filtering well systems can last for extended periods and work more efficiently. You can save a lot of money by keeping the pre-filters clean and working well by setting up a regular maintenance program and keeping the filter clean.

 

 

Well Water Filter Systems Diagram

 

Multi-filters reduce large amounts of sediment of different sizes from the whole house water treatment system.
The filters can use layers of anthracite coal, calcined aluminum silicate, and garnet as media.

Water-borne sand, rust, dirt, and such are caught throughout the layers, get blown away during backwash cycles used as part of the treatment, or are manually cleaned by the owner.

It’s really easy to perform this job and is important. Original media like activated sometimes will last several years with proper backwash. There are no chemicals involved. Filters remove material physically.

Whole house filters can remove almost anything and everything from the point of entry into the house. It’s a great concept and each component depends on the other for overall efficiency.

When looking for the best well water filtration system, it’s important to take into mind a few factors, including what contaminants the system will filter out, filter size, flow rate, and filter type. Evaluating these factors will help you choose the right water filtration system for a home.

Unlike city water, water from private wells is untreated. This means your water may contain higher-than-acceptable levels of contaminants deemed by the Environmental Protection Agency or your local health department.

To protect your well water from harmful bacteria, Microorganisms, volatile organic compounds, and other common well contaminants, you’ll need to get your water tested annually and treat your water according to the test results. Other contaminants that are removed by Well Water Filter Systems:

• Sediment particles such as sand and dirt naturally occur in well water, but removing them is important to ensure water is clean and to minimize wear on appliances.
• Sulfur-too much sulfur, in and of itself, isn’t necessarily bad in drinking water, many detest the smell of sulfur, which can have a rotten egg odor.
• Iron-Iron plumbing pipes can contaminate water as it enters the house, but iron also can come naturally from the ground. Like many contaminants, low levels are generally not harmful, but high levels are of concern and can cause organ damage, acne, fatigue, and joint pain.
• Organic chemicals can include pesticides, pharmaceuticals, paints, dyes, and disinfectants that can contaminate well water. Organic chemicals such as these can cause liver and kidney damage as well as damage to the nervous and reproductive systems
• Heavy metals include copper, lead, cadmium, arsenic, and chromium. While trace amounts of these metals are generally not harmful, significant amounts of heavy metals can pose health threats, such as an increased risk of cancer, especially if consumed over time.
• Nitrate can naturally contaminate well water and doesn’t normally pose an issue, but high levels can be a concern. Consuming too much nitrate can cause headaches, nausea, and even an increased risk of cancer.

 

 

Ultra Violet Treatment has been around for decades in water treatment and works well if the water being treated doesn’t contain particulate matter that can negatively affect the operation.

Wells systems that employ this type of treatment for bacteria removal normally use Pre-and Post Filters to remove finer particulate matter before the well water is treated with Ultraviolet light.

If you decide to go with the UV instead of Carbon Filters or Reverse Osmosis you will still need the Pre-filters along with Post Filters. Higher water pressures may damage equipment and may not allow for proper exposure time with a UV lamp.

Ultraviolet or UV energy is found in the electromagnetic spectrum between visible light and x-rays and is described as invisible radiation. To kill microorganisms, the UV rays must strike the cell.

UV energy penetrates the outer cell membrane, passes through the cell body, and disrupts its DNA stopping the reproduction of cells. UV treatment does not alter water chemically; nothing is added except energy. The sterilized microorganisms are not removed from the water. UV disinfection does not remove dissolved organics, inorganics, or particles in the water. By the time the Well water makes it through the system, there aren’t many bacteria leftover from this kind of treatment. The UV is very reliable and has a proven track record of doing a great job.

 

Flow Rate Water Filters

 

Flow rate in water filters refers to the speed at which water passes through the filtration system. It is measured in gallons per minute (GPM) or liters per minute (LPM). The flow rate of a water filter is important because it determines how quickly water is purified and delivered to your faucet or appliance.

Choosing a filter with an appropriate flow rate ensures sufficient water pressure while effectively removing contaminants. It’s essential to consider your household’s water usage and the capacity of the filtration system when selecting a filter with the right flow rate.

1. High Flow Rate Water Filters: These filters have a high GPM (gallons per minute) or LPM (liters per minute) capacity, making them suitable for households with high water demand or larger appliances.
2. Low Flow Rate Water Filters: Designed for applications where water usage is lower, these filters have a lower GPM or LPM capacity. They are ideal for small households or point-of-use installations.
3. Medium Flow Rate Water Filters: Offering a balance between high and low flow rates, these filters are suitable for average household water consumption. They provide adequate water pressure while effectively filtering contaminants.
4. Variable Flow Rate Water Filters: Some filters allow for adjustable flow rates, providing flexibility to accommodate different water usage scenarios. Users can adjust the flow rate based on their specific needs and preferences.
5. Whole House Water Filtration Systems: These systems typically have higher flow rates to accommodate the water needs of an entire household. They are installed at the point of entry and provide filtered water to all faucets and appliances throughout the home.
6. Under-Sink Water Filters: With lower flow rates, under-sink filters are installed directly beneath the kitchen sink to provide purified water for drinking and cooking purposes.
7. Shower Water Filters: These filters are designed specifically for showerheads and have flow rates optimized for shower use. They remove impurities from the water, improving its quality for bathing.
8. Refrigerator Water Filters: Refrigerator filters have flow rates tailored to fit the water dispensing systems in refrigerators. They provide clean and filtered water for drinking and ice making.

Consider the specific requirements of your household and the intended use of the filtered water when selecting a water filter with an appropriate flow rate. The Activated Carbon Filter needs Pre-filters so they can work more effectively. The UV light also needs to be filtered so it has a better kill rate and is more effective. Sediment Filters will add life and allow the overall efficiency of the system to work much better.

If you swapped the UV light out with a Reverse Osmosis Filter it would do the same work but in a different way. The applications may be completely different and the prices will also be something for the homeowner to investigate.

You could use all the methods together to ensure higher-quality tap water. That would also be up to the person installing the system. Reversed Osmosis is becoming hugely popular and inexpensive as the years go by.

Unlike UV which takes nothing chemically from drinking water, the one drawback of RO is the removal of minerals that are stripped away during the process. These minerals are naturally found in water and are healthy.

Wouldn’t you know it, Manufacturers of water treatment systems have come up with a way of using RO and then inserting the minerals back into the drinking water. So this System would add another component. This component would add minerals to the Well water.

Well, water filters physically remove the matter from the Well water. Each of these components except the Water Softener a filter that uses some filter media that will reduce contaminants by physically removing them or filtering them from the Well water. Water Softeners systems reduce iron from the well water coming into the house.

If you didn’t use this water filter and drank directly from the Well then your body would become the filter and would remove most of the same contaminants and particulates from the Well Water. Unfortunately, those undesirable chemicals, bacteria, and particulate matter like dirt, rust silt, and other nasty things would stay in your body and after a while make you sick. You are just one big human filter absorbing whatever is in the air or water in the world you live in.

 

 

What are the best types of Portable Water Filtration Systems for Disaster Relief?

Water Filters that:

Run by Gravity
Uses Distillation
Needs No Power or Plumbing
Portable Microfilter/UF/Carbon
Can use Solar Power
Gravity & Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Able to Filter 0.01-0.02 Microns needed to take out microbes, viruses, radionuclides, .………………………………………………………. Read more