Water treatment Part 5

Ok this the first step in the water treatment process and for this one ill cut and paste a great explanation of how the water softening process works.

Water softeners operate on a simple principle: Calcium and magnesium ions in the water switch places with more desirable ions, usually sodium. The exchange eliminates both of the problems of hard water because sodium doesn't precipitate out in pipes or react badly with soap. The amount of sodium this process adds to your water is quite small -- less than 12.5 milligrams per 8-ounce (237-milliliter) glass, well below the standard set by the Food and Drug Administration for "very low sodium" 

Water treatment Part 4

Working back from the RO is another carbon filter this one is referred to as the carbon pre-filter and works on the same concept as the post-filter. This filter provided the initial water polishing.

Water Treatment Part 3

Ok so this is the step that gets really interesting. This mid-step is the one that removes the majority of unwanted particles from the water. This step is where RO or reverse osmosis takes place.

Now I'm going to paraphrase here because some of this process is pretty hairy i.e. complicated. The main idea that is osmosis, more or less, is the natural tendency for areas of lower solution concentrations filter to areas of higher solution concentration to equalize naturally. In our case the solution is water. We of course aren't doing osmosis but reverse osmosis. In other words we are forcing the area of higher solution concentration to an area of lower concentration i.e. water with impurities to an area without impurities. More or less this is the process using pumps and RO membranes the water is purified. The particular RO unit that we employ is capable of providing up 95 percent + of total dissolved solids.

Water treatment process Part 2

Ok sorry its been a while since I have blogged but thing s have been hectic around the home front. We just bought a new pool and as great as I am at managing the water quality at our Kooler Ice machine I haven't quite mastered keeping the temperamental pool water just right.

Well back to our water treatment saga, going one step further back we reach the post carbon filter. The carbine filter is a very simple process. The carbon filter is basically charcoal. As wired as this sounds the charcoal has been treated with oxygen to make it absorbent. The charcoal removes unwanted odors and flavors that are trapped in the water. It is also a great tool for removing chlorine which gives water an unwanted taste.

These filters don't last forever and depending on the volume of water the machine uses we will change the filters every 3-6 months.

The next step back is where it gets really interesting.

So how does the water treatment process work? Part 1

So I was thinking if I was to walk up the a Kooler Ice machine and see the five step water treatment sign, I would wonder what actually happens in all the steps. I feel that a knowledgeable consumer can make the most informed decision about the water and ice that they are putting into themselves and their families bodies. That being said in the next few posts Ill briefly outline what happens at each step working back to the source of our water. 

The ultraviolet(UV) process is one our most important steps for sanitation. I have pulled some information from the National Environmental Services Center. This group posts "Tech Briefs" discussing many aspects of water treatment. The NESC says:

What is UV disinfection?

UV light, which continues to be a reliable means of disinfection, involves exposing contaminated water to radiation from UV light. The treatment works because UV light penetrates an organism’s cell walls and disrupts the cell’s genetic material, making reproduction impossible.

Now that not to say our water is contaminated or that this step is even necessary but it is an added step giving the you, the customer, added value and security. 

UV also has many advantages such as removing bad tastes by neutralizing organic material, no toxic residual, no added smells or tastes, and little if no impact on environment. I could not personally recommend a better final treatment. That is why I chose to work backwards. I feel it so important to stress the safety of this water before any step that removes minerals or tastes. I put the health of my customers at the forfront of my business and look forward to serving the City of Merkel and surrounding communities the safest and healthiest water around. 

Thanks,

John Lopez

Hey guys, decided I need to make this ice machine do some overtime! From now on we are going to offer $1.00 for 10 lbs. of ice from 5-7 PM daily. Come see us soon, limited time offer!