Borehole water treatment

IS WATER TREATMENT REQUIRED?

If you are using a water supply other than mains then water treatment of some kind will most probably be required. Supplies that have been used for generations may become suspect and natural water can become unsafe to humans. 

Authorities have recognised this and legislation has made greater demands on purity for a wholesome drinking supply. Local Government requires that your supply meets these stringent conditions and parameters to continue to use it as a primary potable source. It can be condemned and if no treatment carried out you may be forced to discontinue its use as a supply. 

The primary reasons are that scientific evidence has shown that ill health, infections, sometimes not so severe are caused by consuming suspect poor quality water, especially infants, elderly and infirm. Putting up with water that is not only sub-standard but dangerous to long term health may be a major problem. 

 

WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED PROBLEMS?  

Water dissolves small amounts of almost anything with which it comes into contact with. It may have absorbed contaminants from the atmosphere, gases from industry etc. 

Once on the ground it may pick up bacteria from animals, in grazed areas it most certainly will. Water may enter aquafers where after percolation through rocks on the ground picks up and absorbs minerals, iron, manganese which gives a poor taste and unpleasant taint causing problems of staining laundry, sinks, baths and appliances etc. Calcium and Magnesium salts may be present which give hard water with the resultant scale deposition problems. 

Low pH or acid waters from upland peat areas are corrosive, particularly to copper pipes and as well as staining a health hazard. 

Appearance may be a less serious side effect but unpleasantness such as sediment, dirty, discoloured or very strong odour waters may be a bigger problem. 

 

REMEDIAL ACTIONS

The supply of a water however poor may be treated effectively. However, it may take more than one single treatment to be effective and the treatment used appropriate to the specific problem. 

Wherever possible the treatment will be as least complicated as to be achieved both efficiently and economically. Adequate sizing is imperative with flows, temperatures and storage all to be considered. It is far easier to reduce a flow through a treatment than increase it beyond its capability.A water sample should be taken and preferably a site survey, although not always necessary. 

Information required should be as comprehensive as possible by the client to the water treatment company. 

Water Analysis (Problem Identified)
On Site (Supply, Well water, Tank)
On Site (Pipework required)
On Site (Plantroom or Housing)
On Site (Electrical and Plumbing)
Design Flows (Volume of water expected)
Site Pressures (Pumped supply or Natural feed)
Maintenance (Throughlife support/Spares)

 

TYPES OF TREATMENT 

A very varied collection of single to multiple problems may be solved from Chemical, Mechanical and Physical treatments. 

Pre-treatment  

These are normally Filters to enable the major problem to be effectively assisted before final polishing of quality. Booster pumps for flows to site.

 

Post-treatment 

Bacteria removal or taste improvement, storage of water with pump for site supply.

Problems arising Remedial Action
BACTERIA Ultra Violet (U. V.) Disinfection
LOW pH/ACID WATER pH raising Filter Unit
IRON/MANGANESE Media Filter Unit
SEDIMENT/TURBIDITY Media Filter Unit
ORGANICS/COLOUR/TANNIN Carbon Filter Ion Exchange
TASTE/ODOUR Carbon Filter
TOXIC PESTICIDES Carbon/Anthracite Filter
HARDNESS Water Softener
NITRATES Nitrate Removal Unit
HYDROGEN SULPHIDE Aerated Filter/Ozone
ALUMINIUM Specific Dedicated Filter
LEAD Specific Dedicated Filter
HEAVY METALS Specific Dedicated Filter
MINERAL REDUCTION Reverse Osmosis

 

HydroChem staff have the experience to advise on installation requirements, however the clients needs are noted and acted upon. 

Larger pieces of equipment may require a total floor area or approximately square metre and an outside housing, shed, lean-to may be necessary. Some equipment may fit inside a cellar or utility room. The smaller U.V. units and point of use filters adjacent to the drinking water tap. 

Maintenance will be required to change filters, lamps etc. and servicing therefore provision must be made for this. 

 

COSTS  

The variables are great, however it is usual to have a full breakdown of costs before hand with options and alternatives. 

A comprehensive package may consist of Pre-treatment with Booster pumps, Filters and final polishing unit with U.V. disinfection. Some may just be a filter. Costs vary between £50.00 to upwards of £2000 and above for larger schemes and multi occupancy uses and shared properties. Grants may be available with funding from Local Authorities.

HydroChem offers site visits with full analysis and a detailed report with schematics for any water related problem that may exist to remedy and improve poor water quality with a guaranteed quotation.

 

THROUGH LIFE SUPPORT  

This is important the servicing and spares are fundamental to good practice and ensure the longevity of the unit and quality of the water. This also covers. older equipment that may have been added onto. 

HydroChem has many types and makes of equipment that enables a full through life support package to allow the client to have best spares and repair facility available. 

 

BENEFITS  

Once the water is clean, sterile, taste free the health implications are removed. Both humans and mechanical appliances operate better. 

Next to Oxygen, Water is the most important element in life, a body may live for weeks without food but not without water. 

You are what you drink! 

Find out more contact HydroChem (UK) Limited. 

Water is a very serious business……..Thats why we make it our business. 

Complete solutions for Water Treatment. 

Next to oxygen, water is the most Important element in life. You may live for several weeks without food, but without water, you would be dead within a few days. Your body is on average about 66% water, and It must be renewed about every 14 days. No wonder, that the purity and quality of water is so vital to your body’s balance and well being. ‘Varies according to weight and sex.

Private Water Supplies Regulations

These regulations say the Water must be wholesome to drink – defined by a list of bacterial and chemical parameters – see below. The allowed concentration of sodium is 200 mg/I, there is no mention of softened water. There are extra parameters for supplies over 10m3/day.

Drinking Water Quality Standards

Parameter

Max Concentration

Escherichia coli (Ecoli)

0 per 100 ml

Enterococci

0 per 100 ml

Acrylamide

0.1 µg/L

Antimony

5 µg/L

Arsenic

10 µg/L

Benzene

1 µg/L

Benzo(a)pyrene

0.01 µg/L

Boron

1 µg/L

Bromate

10 µg/L

Cadmium

5 µg/L

Chromium

50 µg/L

Copper

2 µg/L

Cyanide

50 µg/L

1,2 dichloroethane

3 µg/L

Epichlorohydrin

0.1 µg/L

Fluoride

1.5 µg/L

Lead

10 µg/L

Mercury

1 µg/L

Nickel

20 µg/L

Nitrate

50 µg/L

Nitrite

0.5 µg/L

 

Pesticides

Max Concentration

    Aldrin

0.03 µg/L

    Dieldrin

0.03 µg/L

    Heptachlor

0.03 µg/L

    Heptachlor epoxide

0.03 µg/L

    other pesticides

0.1 µg/L

PAH

0.1 µg/L

Selenium

10 µg/L

Tetra & Trichloroethane

10 µg/L

THM

100 µg/L

Vinyl chloride

0.5 µg/L

 

National Requirements

Max Concentration

Aluminium

200 µg/L

Chloride

250 mg/L

Colour

20 mg/L pt/co

Iron

200 µg/L

Copper

2000 µg/L

Manganese

50 µg/L

Lead

10 µg/L

Sodium

200 µg/L

Sulphate

250 mg/L

Nitrate

50 mg/L

Trichloromethane

3 µg/L

Turbidity

4 NTU

pH

6.5-9.5

Conductivity

<2500 µg @ 20degC

 

Water consumption figures

Human (average)

160 Litres per day

Bath (average)

80 Litres

Shower (5 Min)

35 Litres

Power Shower (5 Min)

125 Litres

Wash

5 Litres

Tap (running)

6 Litres per minute

Toilet

6-9 Litres

Washing Machine

45 Litres

Dish Washer

20 Litres

Hosepipe

9 Litres per minute

 

Note – the above figures are estimates

Horses

40 Litres per day

Sheep

40 Litres per day

Dry Cow

50 Litres per day

Milking Cow

75 Litres per day

Dairy Calf

9 Litres per day

Chickens per 100

20 Litres per day

Pigs

9 Litres per day

Turkeys per 100

75 Litres per day

Hog

15 Litres per day

Goats

7 Litres per day

Llama / Alpaca

19 Litres per day

Donkey

22 Litres per day

 

Contact us

To learn more about our services and products, or to get advice or more details, just get in touch. 

The full range of HydroChem Services:

Water Treatment - Industrial

We are leading supplier of Legionella compliance services, water hygiene risk assessment, water treatment, installations and maintenance.

Water Treatment - Domestic

Assessing systems that may pose a risk to exposure to legionella, including humidifiers, air washers, emergency showers and indoor ornamental fountains.

Risk assessment

Ensuring all commercial premises have a statutory duty to control the risk of legionella bacteria in water systems. 

Water Hygiene

Protecting the public from hazards associated with bacteria in water systems particularly Legionella.

Chemicals

We offer an extensive range of water treatment chemicals to suit all processes and requirements.

Chemical Cleaning & Disinfections

We have dedicated teams of experienced engineers to diagnose and give site specific recommendations.

Plant & Equipment

We offer a vast range to ensure that processes are effectively operated to their maximum advantage and costs.

Remedials

After a Legionella risk assessment, it is likely that corrective or improvement works are required to bring your system up to compliance.

Mould, Air & Surface Remediation

Our protocols allow a building or site be kept clean, environmentally sound and free of contamination.

Borehole Water Treatment

We offer an extensive range of borehole water treatment options to suit all processes and requirements.