Filters and Filtration Systems - Canterbury Groundwater

Filters

We are blessed in most parts of Canterbury with abundant underground water. In some areas, however, there are contaminants that can affect your water supply. Furthermore, since September 2010 and the Canterbury earthquakes, underground systems have suffered major disruptions that have compromised water quality in many areas. Water that was previously clear may have been adversely affected.

Canterbury Groundwater can arrange laboratory testing and sort out the filtration systems required to treat your water and make it safe.

PROBLEMS

The kinds of nasties that can be found in some Canterbury water include:

Biological organisms – most commonly E coli, an anaerobic bacterium that can cause serious infections, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Heavy metals such as iron, which can cause brown staining on laundry and bathroom fixtures, and give an unpleasant odour and metallic taste to foods and drinks prepared with the contaminated water. Manganese, which is related to iron, is a significant health issue at levels over 0.4 ppm.
Other elements such as Arsenic and Nitrates. Medical studies have linked arsenic contamination to cancer and a range of other diseases.

WATER TESTS

The first step to solving such problems is to get a water test. Canterbury Groundwater provides a range of testing services to determine exactly what’s in your water. We take a sample in a special kit, and send it off to the laboratory for analysis. Tests include:

Drinking Water Test: for compliance with the NZ Drinking Water Standards.
Microbiological Test: for compliance with Local Authority Building Code.
Gas Appliance Test: for compliance with manufacturers’ minimum acidity levels for gas hot water appliances.

We then provide you with a full report detailing the filtration systems that will be necessary to make your water compliant to the relevant standards.

Water tests are also an official requirement for getting approval of building consents with your local council.

UV sterilisation system installed in pump shed

FILTRATION SYSTEMS

Depending on the problems with your water, a range of technologies are available.

UV sterilisation to kill bacteria – especially for supplies from rainwater or natural creeks and open springs where the water source is open to contamination from wildlife and organic matter.


Sediment filters – screen, disc or cartridge. These remove sand, grit and small debris that may damage filtration equipment or household plumbing and appliances.	pH correction – a neutralising filter to correct high acidity in water.	Resin bed water softeners for removing iron and manganese.	Reverse osmosis – under bench unit for removal of nitrates, arsenic and similar toxins.