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`How to Remove Sediment From Well & Spring Water
`
`(https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/shutterstock_87163711.jpg)
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`Well or spring water can often be full of naturally occurring particles and grit. Sediment in water can clog valves, fixtures, and ir-
`rigation systems. Sediment in well water can ruin water heaters and appliances.
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`How to remove sediment depends on the type and amount of sediment.
`
`Although water-sediment cartridge filters are widely available at hardware stores,
`these filters are often poorly sized or use the wrong type of filter for the type of
`sediment that is in the water. The result is often pressure drop, reduced flow rate,
`and frequent maintenance.
`
`With the correct well water sediment filter for the sediment present, there is a little
`pressure drop, and maintenance is kept to a minimum. To find the best sediment
`filter for your well water consider the following types:
`
`There are five main types of sediment filters that are most useful for well and
`spring water:
`
`Spin-down filter strainers (https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/rusco-spindown-filters.html)
`Cartridge filter systems (https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/filters-strainers.html)
`Backwashing media filters (https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/sediment-filter-5900-bt-series.html)
`Ultra-Filtration (UF) membrane systems (https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/ultra-filtration-systems.html)
`
`Questions to Ask When Choosing a Well Sediment Filter:
`
`What type of sediment do I have in my water system?
`What is the flow rate in gallons per minute that I want to filter?
`What is my line pressure in PSI?
`Which type or combination of types of filtration should I use?
`Do I have sub-micron sediment or turbidity that cannot be filtered out by standard filters and require ultra-filtration or
`flocculation combined with filtration?
`
`How to Remove Sediment: Test Your Water
`
`(https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/easy-well-water-test-kits/easy-well-water-home-test-kit-12-tests-w-tds-meter.html)
`
`It might look like sediment by the time you see it in the toilet bowl or laundry, but often what we think of as sediment is actually
`dissolved metals such as iron or manganese that turn into a solid particle only after they have entered the household plumbing.
`A basic water analysis is always a good idea when determining which type of well sediment filter is best for your needs.
`
`A general mineral analysis will provide a list of the common minerals. Important items to test for include:
`
`pH
`Hardness (calcium carbonate)
`Iron
`Manganese
`Total dissolved solids
`
`Stains and Odors
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`If water is discolored or has a strong odor, you may also want to test for:
`
`Iron Bacteria
`Tannin
`Hydrogen sulfide
`
`Professional Analysis or Home Test Kit?
`
`If you are trying to remove sediment in well water or eliminate iron, manganese or odors, home test kits you can do yourself on-
`site can work very well (https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/easy-well-water-test-kits/easy-well-water-home-test-kit-12-tests-w-tds-meter.html). The
`EPA recommends testing your water annually for coliform bacteria and nitrate.
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`

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`To find a local lab, consult your county health department for recommendations.
`
`The water sample should be drawn as close to the source as possible, before any fil-
`tration systems.
`
`Perform a “Toilet Tank Inspection”
`
`Unless your toilet tank is new or has recently been cleaned your toilet flush tank can
`be a wealth of useful water quality information! Simply lift the cover and look in.
`
`Water Heater “Sediment”
`
`Blue or gray chips
`
`Black or sandy sediment
`
`Black, orange or gray flakes
`
`Caused By
`
`Decaying dip tube
`
`Decaying glass liner
`
`Decaying anode rod
`
`It is recommended that you drain your water heater at least once per year. This is not
`only quick and easy to do, but this will also flush out the sediment that may accumu-
`late in the bottom and give you an idea of the sediment type and color, if any, that are
`present.
`
`Connect a garden hose to the bottom drain on your water heater and open the valve
`and run the water into a white 5-gallon bucket.
`
`Check for Pipe Corrosion and Scale Build-up
`
`Your pipes and/or water heater can introduce sediment into your water if they are cor-
`roding. Unless your home is new, it is important to check for pipe corrosion scale
`build-up in the piping. Fortunately, this is not difficult to do by using one of the follow-
`ing methods:
`
`Symptom
`
`White scale on float
`
`White scale on float
`
`Cause
`
`Calcium hardness
`
`Total dissolved solids
`
`Solution
`
`Water softener
`
`Reverse osmosis
`
`Tank sides are white, but black, rust or sand is
`laying on the bottom
`
`Decaying galvanized pipes
`
`Replace pipes; correct corrosiveness of water
`
`Blue Stains
`
`Rust Stains
`
`Sand, rust or sediment in well water
`
`Sediment and/or iron filter
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`Acidic (low pH) water
`
`Calcite neutralizer or soda ash feeder
`
`Iron
`
`Iron filter (Birm, MangOX, Greensand, Pyrolox)
`
`Furry, stringy red growths
`
`Iron (and/or other) bacteria
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`Furry, stringy gray or black growths
`
`Sulfur (or other) bacteria
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`Frothy, with bubbles
`
`Iron bacteria
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`Brown stains
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`Black Stains
`
`Iron And/or Manganese
`
`Iron And/or Manganese
`
`Chlorination, aeration, ozone injection, hydrogen
`peroxide, followed by filtration
`
`Chlorination, aeration, ozone injection, hydrogen
`peroxide, followed by filtration
`
`Chlorination, aeration, ozone injection, hydrogen
`peroxide, followed by filtration
`
`Iron filter that removes manganese (MangOX,
`Greensand, Pyrolox)
`
`Iron filter that removes manganese (MangOX,
`Greensand, Pyrolox)
`
`

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`Pink Stains
`
`Airborne bacteria
`
`Not water quality related; Clean with chlorine bleach
`
`Ferric Sulfide (black rust)
`
`Iron filter (Birm, MangOX, Greensand, Pyrolox)
`
`Check for signs of blue stains in fixtures, blue stains in toilet tanks, which can indicate copper corrosion, and/or test water for
`copper.
`If you have galvanized iron pipe, look for signs of rust and rust-colored scale in the toilet flush tank.
`If possible, inspect the exterior of pipes and valves, to see if you see any signs of pinhole leaks or corrosion by-products
`which can be crusty, bluish, white or salty looking or rusty. If you are having any plumbing work done on your house, inspect
`any sections of the pipes that have been cut to see if there is any scale build-up or signs of corrosion.
`
`Flakes or Particles
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`Cause
`
`Possible Remedy
`
`Black flakes, grit
`
`The lining of water heater deteriorating
`
`Replace water heater
`
`Black grit or particles
`
`Manganese
`
`Greensand filter or MangOX filter
`
`Iron sulfide “black rust”
`
`Chlorination with iron filtration
`
`Corrosion from lining of the galvanized pipe
`
`Replace galvanized pipe with copper or plastic pipe
`
`Blue chips
`
`Water heater dip tube deteriorating
`
`Replace water heater
`
`Blue or green flakes
`
`Copper-stained calcium particles from copper pipe
`corrosion
`
`Check pH of water and neutralize acid pH
`
`Dirt color sediment
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`Sediment from well water
`
`Sediment backwash filter, or cartridge type filter;
`ultrafiltration
`
`Gray sand or grit
`
`Sand or dirt from well water
`
`Sediment backwash filter, or cartridge type filter
`
`Water heater liner deteriorating
`
`Replace water heater
`
`Red, yellow or orange beads
`
`Water softener resin from a broken water softener
`
`Repair or replace water softener
`
`Rust, orange flakes
`
`Rust and iron from well water
`
`Sediment backwash filter, and/or iron filter
`
`Iron bacteria
`
`Chlorination with iron filtration
`
`Rust from corroded iron pipes
`
`Replace corroded iron pipes
`
`Sand or grit
`
`Sand from well
`
`Sand separator or Spin-Down filter strainer
`
`White or tan flakes
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`Clay or calcium particles from well water
`
`Calcium carbonate (water hardness)
`
`Sediment filter
`
`Water softener
`
`White plastic chips
`
`Water heater dip tube deteriorating
`
`Replace water heater
`
`Gray particles suspended in
`water
`
`Colloidal clay
`
`Sediment Filter System Types:
`
`Ultrafiltration (UF) membrane
`
`Mesh screen “spin-down” filter strainers: 100 to the 500-micron range, remove sand and larger sediment
`Micron cartridge filters: 0.5 to the 100-micron range, remove fine sediment
`Sediment backwash filters: (https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/sediment-backwash-filters.html) filter down to 5 to 10-micron range and are
`self-cleaning. Often used in conjunction with 1 to 5-micron cartridge filters.
`Ultrafiltration membranes (UF): filter down to less than 0.15 microns. Remove bacteria; very fine colloidal sediment.
`
`
`
`Spin Down Filter Strainers
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`

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`Spin-down filters use screens of varying sizes to remove large sediment and grit from the water. A typical practical size for home
`water wells is either 60 (250 microns) or 100 (150 microns) mesh.
`
`Mesh Size to Micron Chart
`
`(https://cleanwater.lpages.co/leadbox/145471373f72a2%3A12e3cf016b46dc/568312703274188
`
`8 /
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`Sediment Backwash Filters
`
`
`
`(https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/sedimentfilter.jpg)
`
`• Removes sediment and turbidity with no filter cartridges or maintenance
`• Natural zeolite mineral filters water to 5-micron range
`• Auto backwash & rinse keeps media clean
`• Little or no pressure drop through the filter
`• Rugged media lasts for years
`• Lighter than sand but filters finer
`• Lower backwash flow rate requirements than traditional sand filters
`
`)
`How to Remove Sediment in Water with Three Stage Approach
`
`Well water first flows through a filter strainer removing sand and large sediment common with silt, dirt, and mud. An optional
`auto-flush valve keeps the filter mesh screen clean, or it can be manually flushed by opening the bottom flush valve.
`
`Next, the water flows through an automatic back-washing sediment backwash filter where most of the turbidity and sediment are
`removed down to 5 microns.
`
`Accumulated sediment is automatically flushed out to drain restoring water pressure.
`
`After the sediment backwash filter, the water is further filtered to 1 micron removing all particles over 1 micron.
`
`Micron Cartridge Filters
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`

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`Page 6
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`OWTEx. 2196
`Tennant Company v. OWT
`IPR2021-00625
`
`

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`Filter cartridges are widely used in home water systems and come in a variety of sizes and micron ratings. A micron rating of 50
`microns, for example, means that approximately all particles 50 microns in size and up will be trapped by the filter.
`
`Ultra-Filtration Membrane Systems
`
`Some particles are less than 1 micron and cannot be removed by conventional micron filter cartridges. These sub-micron
`particles can cause water to be cloudy or discolored, or harbor bacteria.
`
`An ultra-filtration or “UF” membrane system filters water down to less than 0.015 microns, effectively removing bacteria, crypto-
`sporidium cysts, and very fine sediment and colloidal clay particles.
`
`The result is crystal clear water with no bacteria or sediment.
`
`UF Systems
`
`• Remove all particles down to the 0.020 to 0.015-micron range.
`• Remove turbidity, cysts, and bacteria
`• Use Hollow-fiber membrane that is cleaned by simple backwashing
`• Require normal line pressure to operate
`• Retain natural minerals. Does not desalinate
`• Pre-filter water to 1 to 5 microns before UF
`
`Flocculation Aids
`
`Some natural waters contain tannin, organic matter, color, and/or superfine particles called colloids that cannot be practically re-
`moved filtration without first pre-treating it with a flocculent. After the non-toxic chemical is injected, it combines with these fine
`colloidal particles to form ‘floc’, which is a larger mass of these particles. The floc is then easily filtered out with auto backwash-
`ing sediment filters or cartridge filter systems.
`
`Common Flocculants Include:
`
`• Alum (aluminum sulfate)
`• Ferrous sulfate
`• Chitosan (from crustaceans)
`• Alginates
`
`

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` (https://www.cleanwaterstore.com/wp-
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`

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`content/uploads/2021/02/How-to-Remove-Sediment-From-Well-Spring-Water_.png)
`
`(If you want to learn more about how to remove sediment in water, check this post out (https://www.challenge.gov/challenge/sediment-
`removal-techniques-for-reservoir-sustainability-stage-1/).)
`
`Residential Well Water Flocculation and Filtration System
`
`Sediment Removal Cheat Sheet
`
`

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`How to Remove Sediment From Well & Spring Water (hps://www.cleanwaterstore.com/resource/how-to-guides/how-to-remove-sediment-from-well-spring-water/)
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`How To Treat Iron, Manganese & Odors Well Water (hps://www.cleanwaterstore.com/resource/how-to-guides/how-to-treat-iron-manganese-odors-well-water/)
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