Water treatment

[Kiwi Phil]

Does anyone on this board know anything about treating water. And before all the Larikins jump up and tell tales of Prostrate 'Checks', I would like to make it clear I am serious........<br />I have mentioned before we are in the 5th yr of drought, which is about to roll over to 6th.<br />I use town water for my Herbs, but the day may be fast approaching when that source will be cut.<br />I do have a rotten dam of at the moment 2million litres. It is covered in dence duck-week (to keep the evaporation down).<br />I have ideas on how to treat this water and I have been to the experts, who are also the sellers of all sorts of plant and equipment, who also critices their oppoditions product.<br />My criteria is:<br />I have to:<br />1. get the sediment out of this water (so it runs through my filters and feeders freely).<br />2. remove any e-coli (from duck poo etc)so i don't make my customers sick.<br />3. remove any pathogens, human or plant <br />The water does not have to look or smell nice but it does have to be disease free.<br />Does anybody have any experience in this field I can discuss this matter with.<br />I do have a Microbiologist in this field but he charges like a stag in the rut, and i will end up with something more complicated that the Shuttle.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Water treatment

I don't know Phil, but this sounds like something for the non-boating tech forum.<br />Good luck.

 

[tommays]

Re: Water treatment

well i take care of water treatment at the plant and what you want is very costly and complex<br /><br />you have to have something to get 99.9 percent of the muck out which will be a LOT of muck<br /><br />floating the clean water off the top of a tank were the muck settels to the bottom would be prety cheep<br /><br />then it gets hard microbe filters are high dollar and then we treat it in a UV chamber to kill anything that makes it through the filters <br /><br /><br />if your out there in the sun which is free i would look into a solar still like these<br /><br /> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=solar+still&btnG=Google+Search <br /><br />you can do homemade at a low cost<br /><br />tommays

 

[technostingray]

Re: Water treatment

The first step is to determine the quantity needed and the rate of purification. Distilling water is the surest way of purification. More than that I have no suggestions.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Water treatment

Years ago I worked at at treatment plant. Process was floculate w/alum and lime to remove suspended particulates, filter, purify w/chlorine. Seems the process hasn't changed. Here's a summary of the process. http://www.valleywater.org/Water/Water_Quality/How_we_clean_your_water/The_treatment_process.shtm

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: Water treatment

Here are 2 sites to read<br /><br /> http://www.ih2000.net/csbrocato/water.htm <br /><br /> http://www.cdcncl.org/water.htm <br /><br /><br />hope you have a good liability policy if you are going to deal with the public!!!

 

[aspeck]

Re: Water treatment

Phil, in Ghana we were on "City" water that was supposedly treated with chlorine. When we tested the water we were still getting unsafe levels of e-coli. We went to a semi-inexpensive UV filtration system. The thing that would be expensive for you is the muck filtration. Our UV system consists of 2 pre-filters to each UV system. We have 2 24 gallon-per-minute systems plumbed in parallel. Each UV system contains 2 UV bulbs that last for approximately 16 months (on continuously) and each bulb costs about $85 SD. This system cost us just a little over $3,000USD and has been in operation for the past 5 years. We have to replace the pre-prefilters about every month and the prefilters about every 6 months. We have also had to replace 3 balasts in the 5 years of operation. It has been pretty much problem free, just maintenance, and each time we check the pre-treated water and compare it to the post-treated water we are very pleased with the results.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Water treatment

Phillip, rate of flow requirement and total daily volume could make a huge difference in your options.

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Water treatment

Rate of flow/pressure is not important. I would store it in a 5,000gal tank, and transfer to a 2,000gal tank, which has pumps to pump out to feeder lines-grow tables.<br /><br />Volume.........with no failures or overflows I need:<br /><br />1. the max water I need is 600-1000gals per day (when temp is over 36C).<br /><br />2. under that temp it drops to 300-500gals per day.<br /><br />I have work to do before i can read those sites quoted, so I will be back. Thanks for all the help.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: Water treatment

Have read through the sites you guys put up.<br />This is what I am going to attempt.<br /><br />My pump draws 150gal per minute, and on close inspection there is very little duck weed in water, probably as I draw water about 18" below surface (duck weed on surface.)<br /><br />I will fill 2x 44gal drums, and 'flock' it. One drum with Al. flock from swim shop, one with (I am told) gypsum....anyone used this? any comments?<br /><br />I will take the 'clear water' off and treat it with chlorine, leave it for 24hrs and send samples away for testing for e-coli, pathogens etc.<br />If that works, I have one 5,000gal tank already.<br /><br />I will buy another and put a drainage hole (4") in centre of bottom, with pipe and gate valve to outer side. <br />I will fill, then flock, and when reasonably clear, transfer to new 5,000gal tank. I can then open gate valve to drop sludge water on to turf area.<br />I will then chlorinate water (in 2nd tank), let it sit for 24hrs, then use on plants.<br /><br />I have learnt from past, cleaning a tank with a hole in the bottom side, is hard work getting last 2-3" out. Centre hole, and shaping sand pad tank sits on like a bowl, allows gravity drainage, and then hose out from top. Easy.<br /><br />Currently I only have shed (20'x40') and half the house plumbed for rain water to go to the current 5000gal tank. <br />I think I should plumb the other half of the house to go to the tank also, plus add another 5,000gal tank.<br /><br />Any ideas/comments from anyone.<br /><br />I have always 'got by' for past 10yrs, but me thinks changes may be in the winds from Local authorities. This year I had to submit a detailed Water Management Program, which was approved, but it is bare minimum to get by. can't see things improving, hence seeking alternatives.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

 

[KRS]

Re: Water treatment

Maybe a search of your country's military would provide info.... I would bet they have the most training out of any other country (maybe not the middle east) on making sanitary water out of stagnant water.

 

[technostingray]

Re: Water treatment

Originally posted by Kiwi Phil:<br /><br /><br />I will fill 2x 44gal drums, and 'flock' it. One drum with Al. flock from swim shop, one with (I am told) gypsum....anyone used this? any comments?<br /><br />Is this in place of something like diatmatious earth? Is it cheaper?<br /><br />I have always 'got by' for past 10yrs, but me thinks changes may be in the winds from Local authorities. This year I had to submit a detailed Water Management Program, which was approved, but it is bare minimum to get by. can't see things improving, hence seeking alternatives.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip

Awps, if the gov is involved. I better comment no further.