Calcite Filters – Acidic Water Treatment
Pristine Water Systems are specialists in water management systems with more than 10 years of research and development. If you have a water problem, we have the solution! Contact Us
Calcite Filtration Treatment
What is the pH of the water stored in your rainwater tank?
Pristine Water Systems is able to complete pH & 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 value less than 6.5 is considered acidic and is typically soft and corrosive. It may contain metal ions, and these may be toxic, or produce a metallic or sour taste and can also 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 value 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 and 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, 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 experience any of the following?
- Bad smelling water
- Bad tasting water
- Discoloured water.
Our solutions include…
- Water filtration
- Tank cleaning
- Iron removal
- Tannin removal
- Water softening
PWSA Calcite 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 dissolve the calcium carbonate to raise the pH which reduces potential leaching of copper, found 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 the Calcite is depleted. As the Calcite’s calcium carbonate neutralizes the water, it will increase hardness and in rare cases a softener may become necessary after the neutralizing 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 inspection port.
Various calcite filter size capacity and water flow rate are available to suit specific requirements.
Choosing the right calcite filtration system for your needs is as simple as contacting us.
