Turbidity & Sediment
Suspended particles, sand, silt and visible cloudiness may require sediment removal and filtration.
Water Treatment
Test the water first. Treat the actual problem.
Water treatment systems designed from laboratory analysis, daily demand and the quality of water required at the point of use.
Analyse
Identify what is actually present in the raw water.
Design
Select only the treatment processes required for those conditions.
Verify
Commission and confirm that the treatment system is operating correctly.
Common Water Problems
Different problems need different treatment.
Similar-looking water problems can have different causes. Laboratory analysis prevents unnecessary or ineffective treatment equipment.
Iron & Manganese
Can cause staining, metallic taste, discolouration and deposits in plumbing and equipment.
Hard Water
High calcium and magnesium can cause scale in heaters, pipes, taps and appliances.
High TDS / Salinity
Elevated dissolved salts may require membrane treatment such as reverse osmosis depending on the intended use.
Taste & Odour
Organic compounds, chlorine and other contaminants can affect the smell and taste of water.
Microbiological Risk
Bacteria and other microorganisms may require appropriate disinfection such as chlorination or UV treatment.
Treatment Architecture
A treatment plant is a process — not one machine.
Depending on the water analysis, several treatment stages may work together before water reaches the required quality.
01
Raw Water
Source and storage
02
Pre-Treatment
Sediment / oxidation
03
Filtration
Media / carbon / softening
04
Polishing
RO where required
05
Final Treatment
UV / disinfection
Treatment Technologies
Select the technology after identifying the contaminant.
Sediment Filtration
Removes suspended solids and protects downstream treatment equipment.
Media / Sand Filtration
Used for turbidity reduction and selected suspended contaminants.
Activated Carbon
Helps reduce chlorine, odour and selected organic contaminants.
Water Softening
Ion-exchange systems reduce hardness where scale is the main problem.
Iron & Manganese Removal
Specialised oxidation and filtration can be used where laboratory results confirm these contaminants.
Reverse Osmosis
Membrane treatment for dissolved salts and selected contaminants where RO is technically justified.
UV Disinfection
Ultraviolet treatment can provide final microbiological disinfection where pre-treatment and water quality are suitable.
Chemical Dosing
Controlled dosing may be used for disinfection, oxidation or process conditioning.
Reverse Osmosis
RO is powerful — but it should not be the automatic answer.
Reverse osmosis is useful where dissolved salts or other membrane-removable contaminants must be significantly reduced. Proper pre-treatment protects the RO membranes and improves system performance.
Before sizing RO we consider:
- ●Raw-water TDS and chemistry
- ●Required treated-water quality
- ●Daily treated-water demand
- ●Required production rate
- ●Pre-treatment requirements
- ●Feed pressure
- ●Recovery and reject water
- ●Storage requirements
Treatment Sizing
Water quality is only half of the design.
Treatment capacity must also match how much water is required, how quickly it is consumed and what the treated water will be used for.
Laboratory Analysis
The report identifies the parameters that actually need treatment.
Daily Water Demand
Treatment capacity must match how many litres or cubic metres are required per day.
Peak Flow
The system must also deliver water fast enough during periods of highest demand.
Intended Use
Drinking, domestic use, irrigation and industrial processes can require very different water quality.
Source
Borehole, municipal, surface and harvested water sources have different treatment risks.
Storage & Pressure
Raw-water tanks, treated-water tanks, pumps and distribution pressure form part of the complete system.
Applications
Treatment systems for different water demands.
Homes
Domestic borehole treatment, drinking-water RO and whole-house treatment.
Apartments
Centralised treatment systems designed around larger daily demand.
Businesses
Water treatment for offices, hospitality, production and commercial facilities.
Institutions
Treatment systems for schools, hospitals, churches and larger facilities.
Have a Water Analysis?
Send us the laboratory report.
We can review the results together with your water demand and intended use before preparing the treatment recommendation.
Also tell us:
- ✓Project location
- ✓Water source
- ✓Approximate litres used per day
- ✓Required litres per hour, if known
- ✓How the treated water will be used
- ✓Existing tanks and pumps
- ✓Any current treatment equipment
- ✓Problems you have noticed with the water
Our Treatment Process
From laboratory results to treated water.
01
Analyse
Review laboratory water results and understand the source.
02
Define
Establish required water quality, daily demand and peak flow.
03
Design
Select the required treatment stages and system capacity.
04
Install
Install treatment equipment, controls, pumps and associated pipework.
05
Commission
Flush, configure, test and confirm correct treatment operation.
06
Maintain
Replace consumables and service equipment according to actual operating conditions.
Complete Water Solution
Need the borehole, pump and treatment system together?
Water Treatment Questions
Before buying a treatment plant.
Does borehole water always need reverse osmosis?
No. Reverse osmosis should be selected only where the water analysis and intended use justify membrane treatment. Some borehole water may only require filtration, softening, iron removal or disinfection.
Can SolarAxis recommend treatment from a laboratory report?
Yes. A recent laboratory analysis provides the best starting point. SolarAxis can review the results together with daily water demand and intended use before recommending a treatment process.
Why does my water leave white scale?
White scale is commonly associated with hardness minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Laboratory testing should confirm the hardness level before a softener or other treatment is selected.
Why does borehole water stain sinks and tanks brown?
Iron is a common cause of brown or reddish staining, although other water-quality issues may produce similar symptoms. Laboratory analysis should confirm the cause before treatment is designed.
How often does a water treatment plant need servicing?
Service intervals depend on raw-water quality, consumption and treatment technology. Filters, membranes, resin, UV lamps and dosing systems have different maintenance requirements.
Water Quality Problem?