High Flow Aeration Units

Aeration is a powerful pre-treatment for filters removing iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide. AerMax closed tank systems offer an efficient, economical, chemical-free method for oxidizing contaminants for easy removal by filtration.

Standard AerMax units come in one size — a 10″ X 54″ mineral tank powered by the standard 115V. or 230V. compressor. This unit is effective at flow rates up to nine or ten gallons per minute–ideal for most residential applications.  The same compressor and installation parts can be used with larger 2.5 top hole tanks, 12″ X 52″ and 13″ X 54″, to make aeration units for treatment at flow rates up to 12 gpm and 14 gpm respectively.

For higher flow rates, we now offer larger units built on tanks with 4″ top holes and powered by the CAP high capacity air pump. The chart below shows aeration units up to 35 gpm using 65″ tanks.

It should be noted that the 65″ tank units include the pump, installation kit, vent kit,  and the tank. The inner riser and inlet tube can be easily made with standard hardware store PVC parts. Complete instructions are included.

Prices above include shipping.  They are subject to change.

The high quality CAP high volume air pump used to power larger systems built on 14″ diameter and larger tanks with 4″ top holes.  This quiet (65 decibel) 1/4 horsepower pump is available in 230v. or 115v. (This pump is also recommended for  all sizes of Aeration systems installed on “constant pressure” wells.)

Higher flow rates can also be achieved by using two units in parallel.  For example, two standard 10″ x 54″ AerMax units can be installed in parallel for a combined flow rate of 18 gpm, and you could treat up to 70 gpm with two of the 18″ X 65″ units installed side by side.

High Flow Triple AerMax Installation

1, 2, 3-Trichloropropane (TCP) in California Water

TCP, or 1, 2, 3-Trichloropropane, has been found recently in the water of Tulare, CA in excess of the state’s newly established limit of 5 parts per trillion. Water from six wells in Tulare flunked the test for the cancer-causing chemical.

TCP is a waste product from making plastic. For years, it was added to fumigants that farmers put in the soil to kill tiny worms called nematodes.

To solve the TCP problem, the city will install water treatment tanks containing granular activated carbon that strip away the TCP.

Until recently, there was no state standard for the amount of TCP in drinking water, but last year the state said public water systems could have no more than 5 parts per trillion of TCP. The Tulare wells tested at 8 parts per trillion. The cancer risk is low. It is estimated that you would have to drink a couple of liters of TCP-contaminated water daily for several decades to run even a slight risk of getting cancer from it.

There is no federal drinking water regulation of TCP.  This means that if you live anywhere but California, you’ll probably never know whether it’s in your water or not.
TCP has been called a “garbage chemical.” It was most likely added to fumigants not because it was needed but simply to get rid of it and avoid the cost of disposal. (It is widely believed that this is a strong motivation for putting the industrial waste product fluorosilicic acid commonly called “fluoride” into drinking water–just to get rid of it without the expense of toxic waste disposal.)

Tulare is getting four new water treatment tanks containing activated carbon and two new wells to be financed by litigation, still in progress, against Dow Chemical and the Shell Oil Company, the companies who provided TCE in the 1940s to be added to fumigants.

Several cities in California in addition to Tulare have sued the two companies, with Clovis reaching a $22 million settlement in 2016.

TCP is readily removed from water by granular activated carbon, so if you have a good quality home drinking water system–either a carbon filter or a reverse osmosis unit–you don’t have to worry about TCP.

Source Credit: The Fresno Bee.

Michigan, After the Flint Water Disaster, Is Adopting the Toughest Lead Rule in the Nation

In response to the Flint public water supply lead crisis that started in 2014 as a result ancient infrastructure and incredibly poor management, the state of Michigan is adopting a new lead standard for public water that is more stringent than the nation’s 15 ppb allowable.  In addition, it mandates a long-term project to replace the state’s ancient lead water piping system.

Under new standards set by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the maximum level of allowable lead in drinking water will drop to 12 parts per billion in 2025. The federal level as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 15 parts per billion.

All public water systems are required to replace the state’s 500,000 lead service lines at a rate averaging 5 percent per year beginning in 2021 over a 20-year period.

The new rules prohibit partial lead service line replacement due to the potential for elevated lead levels that could harm public health. Most public water systems are required to perform a full system inventory detailing all parts and materials used.

“The new Michigan Lead and Copper Rule is the most stringent in the world when applied to cities with lead pipe – yet it strikes a reasonable balance between cost and benefit,” Virginia Tech professor Marc Edwards, a water engineer who first raised the issue of Flint’s lead contamination, said in an email to a Reuter’s researcher.

Source Credit: CompuServe News

Pure Water Gazette Fair Use Statement

California’s New Proposition 65

The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65) requires businesses to provide warnings to consumers in California of products that cause cancer, birth defects, or harm to health.  These warnings have been visibly present in restaurants, for example, in CA but are so common they have become unnoticeable. Two years ago a task force got together to figure out a way to make consumers more aware of these warnings.

It’s simpler to understand:  On each warning sign there will be a yellow triangle with an exclamation point.  The wordage will change from “this products contains…” to “this product will expose you to…”, then, 1 or 2 chemicals will be listed.

A website will be provided for more information– www.p65warnings.ca.gov.

There are about 1,000 chemicals listed on Prop 65.

Sellers will be required to put Prop 65 warnings with new language on products that are subject to this law. Manufacturers have the primary responsibility for placing these warnings. Manufacturers can either label the product or provide notice to the retailer that the product may provide exposure to a listed chemical. They should also provide the warning materials.

Many water treatment products will not be affected by the law and don’t require the warning.

Information above is from a Webinar provided to members by the Water Quality Association.