AboutSteve Young Expertise I will answer questions on residential water treatment, i.e. use of softeners, filters, reverse osmosis systems, disinfection, iron and/or sediment removal and other issues facing the homeowner.
Experience I have worked in the water treatment area for 15 years. I have specialized in the design of reverse osmosis, deionization, and water softening units. I have also done work in water quality and stream and river remediation as it relates to the Clean Water Act.
Organizations I am currently serving as an Expert for Home Improvement, Travel (New Mexico) and Travel (North Carolina)
Expert: Steve Young Date: 7/11/2008 Subject: Pre-filter
Question I have a domestic water system where water is drawn from a shallow lake then treated with a large biological sand filter, followed by a biological carbon filter, then a UV filter (for general home usage) and finally an RO system to supply our drinking water. This system works well except when it is windy; then it stirs up the very fine silt in the bottom of the lake and quickly restricts the water flow through my sand filter, forcing me to backwash it frequently.
I want to install either a washable or disposable a pre-filter prior to my sand filter to catch this silt. What type of filter do you recommend? What micron size do you recommend? My sand filter claims to filter down to 1 micron in size. (I am filtering approximately 150 gallons per day).
Thanks
Tom Fulcher
Answer Hi Tom,
This is what I would recommend: http://www.home-water-purifiers-and-filters.com/WH1B-HF-sediment-water-filter.ph...
Because I have no idea of the volume of solids you are talking about it may be that this plugs as quickly as the sand filter - I have no way of knowing. This would definitely remove the silt - you don't need to get down to the 1 micron size to remove silt and sand. You can wash out these filters several times before replacing (even though they don't recommend it - they want to sell more filters! I have done it for years)
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Take care,
Steve
