Acidic Water Tank Treatment with Calcite Filters
Pristine Water Systems are specialists in water management systems with more than 20 years of research and development. If you have a water problem, we have the solution! Contact Us
Calcite Water Tank Filtration Treatments
What is the pH of the water stored in your rainwater tank?
Pristine Water Systems can complete pH and conductivity Water Testing and can also arrange for more extensive laboratory testing if required.
The pH value of natural water ranges between 6.5 to 8.5*. Water with a pH less than 6.5 is considered acidic and typically soft and corrosive. It may contain metal ions, which may be toxic, produce a metallic or sour taste, and stain fixtures and fabrics. Metals tend to be more toxic at lower pH because they are more soluble. Water with a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic than water with a pH of 6.
Low pH can also corrode and damage metal piping and fixtures by leaching minerals from copper pipes causing blue/green stains in sinks, bathtubs and toilets not to mention the potential adverse health effects of ingesting copper.
Rain falls from clouds with a pH value of approx. 5.6 (which is slightly acidic due to carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere). From there, the water attempts to neutralise itself with natural minerals. Concrete rainwater tanks generally neutralise the acidity in rainwater naturally, as concrete is essentially alkaline.
Where rainfall catchment is a Galvanised or Colorbond roof and the water is then stored in a Poly, Colorbond, or Galvanised rainwater tank, the water is unable to neutralise, so it begins to erode the copper piping, in some cases creating leaks under concrete slabs and in wall cavities.
Other causes of blue/green staining may include Bacteria or incorrect earthing.
We regularly see issues in stored tank water where the property has a galvanised steel roof catchment flowing into poly rainwater tank(s).
Typical water problems include:
- Staining. (on porcelain including baths, toilets, and sinks) • Low pH. (acidic compounds)
- Colour. (greenish-blue water colour)
- Metallic, sour taste.
*NHMRC, NRMMC (2011) Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Paper 6 National Water Quality Management Strategy. National Health and Medical Research Council, National Resource Management Ministerial Council, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra
Do you have the following Water Tank Problems?
- Bad-smelling tank water
- Bad-tasting tank water
- Discoloured tank water.
How we can solve your Tank Water Problems
- Water tank filtration systems
- Water Tank cleaning
- Water Tank servicing
- Testing Tank Water Quality
- Iron removal
- Tannin removal
- Water softening
PWSA Calcite Water Tank Filtration System
A calcite filtration system effectively passes water through a bed of suspended calcite (calcium carbonate). Calcite is a naturally occurring media, crushed and screened white marble used to neutralise acidic or low pH water. The main advantage of Calcite is its self-limiting property. When properly applied, it corrects pH only enough to reach a non-corrosive equilibrium. Under normal conditions, it does not overcorrect. Upon contact with calcite, acidic water slowly dissolves the calcium carbonate to raise the pH, reducing the potential leaching of copper in typical household plumbing systems.
Benefits include: Depending on pH, water chemistry, and service flow, the Calcite bed will need to be periodically replenished as it is depleted. As the Calcite’s calcium carbonate neutralises the water, it will increase hardness, and in rare cases, a softener may become necessary after the neutralising filter.
- Inexpensive: Calcite media is economical and generally requires top-up / replacement annually.
- Self-regulating pH correction.
- Quality constructed Vessel (spun wound fiberglass) tested to 600Kpa.
- Features a flow-through head with an inspection port.
Various calcite filter size capacities and water flow rates are available to suit specific requirements.
Choosing the right calcite filtration system for your needs is as simple as contacting us.
