Jan 08

Case Study: Arsenic and Iron Removal – Plus Salt-Free Softening in Shorewood, MN

Iron Filter, Reverse Osmosis, Water Softener, Well Water No Comments »

Well water in Shorewood, MN is known for high levels of iron, hydrogen sulfide, and water hardness. In the last few years, a surprising number of wells have tested positive for arsenic levels 3-7 times the legal limit.

Old Culligan Iron Filter and Softener

Old Water System

Our client had been renting a softener and an iron filter from another company for over 10 years before we met them. Both systems were undersized and required constant service as they were not capable of handling the iron level in the water.

In late 2009, the homeowners heard rumors about high Arsenic in the Shorewood, MN area. After talking to local residents, they contacted
Premier Water to see what could be done.

We collected a water sample and had the water tested at a state certified lab. The results came back with 34.1ppb – 3.4x the legal limit for Arsenic.

“For 10 years, we had been buying organic food, and cooking it in water full of Arsenic. We couldn’t believe it. We wanted to make sure our kids could have a safe drink of water anywhere in the home.”

Why the Previous Water System Failed:

  1. Iron Filter was too small and could not support the water flow rates this family required
  1. Softener frequently ran out of salt
  1. It had ZERO EFFECT on the Arsenic Levels!
Pureoflow System and Iron Filter

New Water Treatment System

Our client wanted to start from scratch and take advantage of the new technology we had to offer. We designed a system with guaranteed iron and arsenic removal, plus salt-free softening.

The system we designed uses a 13”x54” Iron Filter that processes water roughly 7x slower than their previous system. This results in superior iron removal and initial arsenic precipitation and reduction.

We followed the iron filter with a Pureoflow Whole-House System that uses a proprietary membrane designed by GE Water & Process Technology. This membrane is actually designed to soften hard water – something that would destroy a normal membrane. The Pureoflow was successful at softening the water, reducing the TDS level, and the Arsenic levels were reduced well below the EPA limit!

“Our old rental equipment required constant service and used so much salt. We had ongoing problems with iron stains and were not confident the other company could handle Arsenic.

We love our new system – no rust, no salt, and NO ARSENIC!”

System Performance BEFORE:
Hardness: 21gpg
Total Iron: 4ppm
TDS: 261ppm
Arsenic: 34.1ppb
System Flow Rate: 5gpm

System Performance AFTER:
Hardness: 0gpg
Total Iron: 0ppm
TDS: 21ppm
Arsenic: 1.15ppb
System Flow Rate: 22gpm

5gpg is the average national hardness
0.3ppm iron is the limit before staining begins
10ppb is the legal limit for Arsenic

Click here to download this case study

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Nov 20

Case Study: Residential Iron Filtration System in Deephaven, MN

Iron Filter, Well Water No Comments »

October 2009

Deephaven, MN is a city that is well known for having poor water quality. Private well owners constantly battle with high levels of iron, hydrogen sulfide, water hardness, and even arsenic.

Old 10" iron filter in Deephaven, MN

Old Iron Filter System

We first serviced our clients in 2007 by replacing an old softener with a new high efficiency Hague WaterMax softener. This system improved water pressure and used 70% less salt than their old Fleck water softener.

The existing 10” x 47” iron filter was in bad shape, and had been partially disabled by other sub contractors over the years. At the homeowner’s request, we re-built the control head and added a new air relief valve to try and get this system to “limp along”.

By October, 2009 the old iron filter was failing again. The rust stains and rotten egg smell were starting to take it’s toll on the plumbing, water softener AND the homeowner. It was time for a real iron filter system:

“We just COULD NOT get the iron and odor filtered out of the water for a constant, clean water supply. We wanted water that was always clean, odor-free and soft. We wanted a solution that would work.”

Why the Previous Iron Filter System Failed:

    - Inadequate Iron and Hydrogen sulfide capacity
    - Iron and Hydrogen Sulfide were not completely oxidized
    - Undersized filter vessel only provided 2.7gpm (gallons per minute) flow (enough for 1 faucet)
    - Iron-clogged plumbing reduced the filter’s backwash ability (clean itself)
    - Frequent power outages constantly disrupted the filter’s settings
New Iron Filter System

New Iron Filter System

The Premier Water Solution:
The old ¾” copper was replaced with new 1” copper for less restriction and improved backwashing (cleaning) ability. We used a Hellenbrand Iron Curtain system with a 13”x54” dedicated aeration tank was used to pre-treat the water and oxidize the iron and hydrogen sulfide for better filtration. A 13”x54” vessel using vertical depth filtration replaced the small 10” filter to handle heavier water flow rate needs up to 8gpm.

A special distributor was also used to reduce waste water by 30% over the old system. A digital controller runs the system and holds all settings up to 2 ½ years during power loss to combat the frequent power outages here.

The new system completely eliminated the rust stains and odor problems, the softener now works more efficiently, and waste water was reduced. The results speak for themselves:

My freshly washed clothes now smell like a clean fresh load of laundry. Brushing my teeth is no longer a gross experience with smelly water.

Your staff worked very hard to solve our water issues, and truly care about customer satisfaction.

Initial Results:
System Flow Rate: 2.7gpm
Iron Bleed-Through: 6ppm*

Final Results:
System Flow Rate: 8.0gpm
Iron Bleed-Through: 0ppm*

*0.3ppm is the iron limit before staining begins

Click Here to Download this Case Study

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