Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - filter or softener?
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cuesiesue
07-31-08, 12:09 PM
Not sure if an iron filter or a softening system is the way to go - would appreciate feedback:
Family of three with a well. We currently have a single-tank, timed regenerated water softener and a 14-zone irrigation system (about 5 of those zones use the softened water). As far as I know, the iron is the only problem with our water that needs to be addressed. I used a simple home test kit and got these readings:
Ph - 5
Iron - .3 ppm
Total hardness - 50
Nitrate/nitrate - safe
A reputable local contractor recommends a Fleck 9000/1354 twin tank metered softening system @ 3690.00. He says a twin tank system is necessary b/c our current system cannot meet the demand of the irrigation, therefore we get raw well water that stains. He says twin tank system will reduce wear & tear on the well pump, and is more efficient in that it doesn't waste salt or water by regenerating when it's not necessary.
I understand that a water softener can be used to treat for iron. But I wonder if there is a better way, since we don't seem to have a hardness problem, and the twin tank system will require a lot of salt in the summer months when the irrigation system is in use.
Is there an iron filtering system that will work with irrigation system? If so, what are the recurring costs?
Thanks!
Family of three with a well. We currently have a single-tank, timed regenerated water softener and a 14-zone irrigation system (about 5 of those zones use the softened water). As far as I know, the iron is the only problem with our water that needs to be addressed. I used a simple home test kit and got these readings:
Ph - 5
Iron - .3 ppm
Total hardness - 50
Nitrate/nitrate - safe
A reputable local contractor recommends a Fleck 9000/1354 twin tank metered softening system @ 3690.00. He says a twin tank system is necessary b/c our current system cannot meet the demand of the irrigation, therefore we get raw well water that stains. He says twin tank system will reduce wear & tear on the well pump, and is more efficient in that it doesn't waste salt or water by regenerating when it's not necessary.
I understand that a water softener can be used to treat for iron. But I wonder if there is a better way, since we don't seem to have a hardness problem, and the twin tank system will require a lot of salt in the summer months when the irrigation system is in use.
Is there an iron filtering system that will work with irrigation system? If so, what are the recurring costs?
Thanks!
AndyC
07-31-08, 04:31 PM
I beleive twin tank systems are great for iron removal for a number of reasons. Have you considered Kinetico. At the price quoted for the Feck, a Kinetico may be very competitive. There are some advantages with the Kinetico.
MAke very sure your water test results are accurate. At 0.3 ppm iron, you should suffer iron stains only when your softener runs out of softening capacity (exhausted).
I find that you have 50 gpg hardness and yet 5.0 pH. Now, this is not impossible but not ordinary. Hardness is caused primarily by calcium carbonate (which elevates pH, not lowers it). You may have mineral acids rather in your water.
You have a major pH problem as well.
Again, get an accurate water test or you may be going the wrong way.
For irrigation systems, a polyphosphate feed can be added. This chemical sequesters the iron molecules from coming into contact with oxygen and thus prevents staining. As long as the water isn't being heated, it works very well. This can be added separatey from the softener.
50 grains hardness is extremely hard and will cause problems with irrigations systems and many other aspects of water usage.
Andy Christensen, CWS-II
MAke very sure your water test results are accurate. At 0.3 ppm iron, you should suffer iron stains only when your softener runs out of softening capacity (exhausted).
I find that you have 50 gpg hardness and yet 5.0 pH. Now, this is not impossible but not ordinary. Hardness is caused primarily by calcium carbonate (which elevates pH, not lowers it). You may have mineral acids rather in your water.
You have a major pH problem as well.
Again, get an accurate water test or you may be going the wrong way.
For irrigation systems, a polyphosphate feed can be added. This chemical sequesters the iron molecules from coming into contact with oxygen and thus prevents staining. As long as the water isn't being heated, it works very well. This can be added separatey from the softener.
50 grains hardness is extremely hard and will cause problems with irrigations systems and many other aspects of water usage.
Andy Christensen, CWS-II