During June 2014 we had two prolonged (4 days then 3 days) water interruptions resulting in dry water shops within a 12km radius from home. This set the ball rolling to have a water reservoir installed at home (town house complex). To cut a long story short, after many days/nights of research on the best possible options for clean water, I found Glacier. The core of the system. Due to the nature of my wife’s disability, diarrhea caused by any water borne contamination was and is not an option, no matter the costs involved. What was supposed to be a basic installation, ended up in quite a nifty, redundant, purified water buffer system (4 – 7 days reserve).
My system is based around your “Glacier Whole House Water Filter System with UV Steriliser I”.
Joburg water is supplied through a non-return valve and Walker Crossweller pressure regulator, set at 5bar.
This water supply fills the 2 x 750 litre JoJo Slimline tanks on demand, controlled by a float valve in each.
This reservoir supplies water to a Pentax Cam 100 booster pump, controlled by Pentax Hidromatic controller :- senses pressure, flow and dry supply.
The pump starts when the pressure drops below 2.3bar and will continue until the flow stops, running for another 15 seconds and stops at 4bar.
The 15 seconds avoids rapid start/stop after tap is closed/opened in short successions.
The pump then supplies water to the Glassfibre Carbon filter with Automatic Backwash Head (ABH).
Water is then fed through the UV Water Sterilizer to the house – all of it.
The water pressure at the taps are static at 4 bar but will gradually drop to 2.3bar by a 8 litre pressure tank.
This is to compensate for the pressure properties of the Carbon filter vessel AND the way the Hidromatic controller operates. (some serious tuning was needed here)
The ABH assures the carbon is backwashed every Saturday morning at exactly 06:34 and cycles for 3 minutes (your recommendation and unchanged since installation)
Load shedding? I installed a motorised valve to allow Joburg water to bypass the pump and feed the water filtration/purifier directly.
I have a micro controller setup that monitors the water pressure at various points and reports any event of failure (visually and SMS).
The electricity supply is also monitored before and after the main breaker to monitor utility supply interruption or a tripped breaker (visually and SMS).
An electricity interruption, in any event, activates the motorised valve to bypass the pump and switch the UV lamp to be powered by an inverter.
Everything, besides the 230VAC pump is powered by solar charged battery system/inverter and is therefore never interrupted.
Our trustees allowed this system installation due to the quality of the products, workmanship and sustained suppliers and available maintenance programs. Municipal bylaws are all adhered to which necessitated the installation of a aesthetically neat and “sound proof” pump enclosure, lined with rockwool – 43dBA!
After you left a few days ago with the UV replacement (8000 hours maintenance interval), I opened the tanks to inspect the water. The Milton idea was excellent, yet, as you said, not necessary. The tank and water was sparkling clean.
During and after the installation, you played a major role and guided me with the correct procedures and advise to make this a perfect solution for sustained and clean water. Bottom line: Money well spent at the right place.
Thanks boss!