Thursday, October 1, 2009

how do I build a well water filter

how do I build a well water filter?
I live in Cambodia and my ground pump has a lot of pressure but the water is high in iron and is a very red color. I do not need to purify for drinking water - only for other home uses without the red color.
Do It Yourself (DIY) - 1 Answers
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Greensand (Adsorptive/Oxidative) Filtration One of the first types of filters to be used to treat water was the "greensand" filter. The active material in "greensand" is glauconite. Glauconite is a green clay mineral that contains iron and has ion exchange properties. Glauconite often occurs mixed with other material as small pellets, thus the name "greensand." The glauconite is mined, washed, screened, and treated with various chemicals to produce a durable greenish-black product that has properties that allow it to adsorb soluble iron and manganese. As water is passed through the filter, soluble iron and manganese are pulled from solution and later react to form insoluble iron and manganese. Insoluble iron and manganese will build up in the greensand filter and must be removed by backwashing. Backwashing should be done regularly twice a week or as recommended by the manufacturer. Eventually the greensand must also be regenerated by washing with a permanganate solution. Regeneration will leave the greensand grains coated once again with a manganese material that adsorbs soluble iron and manganese. Frequency of regeneration will depend on the level of iron, manganese, and oxygen in the water and the size of the filter. The manufacturer's recommendations should be followed. Most greensand filters are rated to be effective treating water with iron concentrations up to 10 ppm. Because some greensand filters are not rated this high, the manufacturer's recommendations should always be checked. The acidity or pH of the water will influence the ability of the filter to remove both iron and manganese. If the pH of the water is lower than 6.8, the greensand will probably not adequately filter out the iron and manganese. The pH can be raised above 7.0 by running the water through a calcite filter. Regular backwashing is essential for effective filter performance and require flow rates that are often three to four times the normal household useage rate. A backwash rate of about eight gpm/square foot of filter bed is recommended. If the household system cannot support the needed flowrate for adequate backwashing, poor filter performance and failure are likely.