Water purification system

Do any of you have knowledge of water purification systems used at Lakeside? 

Mine has; a sediment filter, a water softener, and a UV light.  Is that sufficient or do I need a carbon (charcoal) filter too?  Anything else?

I have two sediment filters (one for the larger sediment, the other for the fine) as well as the water softener and UV light. I have tried a carbon filter in one of my filters and found that they clog up really fast.

I guess that means it's filtering!

Probably, however I decided I didn't need it filtered that good.....jaja. Those ones are expensive ($300+ pesos) and were only lasting a month at most.

It will depend on the quality of the water entering the system.
You may want to get it tested before deciding on what to get.
We have a carbon, a sediment and a UV light. none of the filters get very dirty, so I only change them once a year.
Technoagua on the carretera are good to deal with, and Vicki's English is very good.
Or you could drink tequila instead.  

I do drink tequila but it's not filtering.  Where are you located, I'm in upper Ajijic.  The sediment filter needs replacing about once a year.  Do you have your carbon filter after the sediment filter and before the UV?

Ignacio installed ours with the charcoal (Carbon) filter, no water softener to mine David.  Are you upgrading or replacing?

David wrote:I do drink tequila but it's not filtering.  Where are you located, I'm in upper Ajijic.  The sediment filter needs replacing about once a year.  Do you have your carbon filter after the sediment filter and before the UV?

I am fairly sure that is the sequencing that we have. Unfortunately, we are NOB at this time, so I can not check it.
I am in west Ajijic, in Los Sabinos.   

I was told by two local filtration companies that the charcoal filter improves the taste of the water. I use two sediment filters and a UV rather than a charcoal. But I live in the worst water area lakeside. I change filters monthly.

Sediment filter, Block Carbon filter (not coated pleated filter but block of carbon) than UV light. I have a small cheap sediment filter that I change every two months in front of the other filters.  Carbon filter removes many chemicals and makes it taste better.  Not sure CB why you carbon filter is clogging I didn't have that problem down the street from you. I change the carbon and sediment filter twice a year and replace the cheap sand filter in front of the filters every two months.

Please note this does not solve the mineral (hard) water problem.  My meter says 650.  Bottle water done with reverse osmosis shows less than 50.  I have a TIMS meter if anybody wants to know.  I am still deciding whether to soften the water.

My aljibe probably needs to be cleaned.

we have our aljibe cleaned every coupla years and every once in a while we dump some clorox in it. it's huge and as we found out when our pipe from the street broke-it has about a 3 week capacity.

Pedro wrote:we have our aljibe cleaned every coupla years and every once in a while we dump some clorox in it. it's huge and as we found out when our pipe from the street broke-it has about a 3 week capacity.

¿Lake pedro?

I don't recommend UV lights to the users on the system I take care of. Due to the high iron content, the glass tubes get coated quickly and the light gets refracted and doesn't make them very effective. The tubes are also expensive to replace. Just use a one or two stage (coarse/fine)sediment filter and use the water for everything EXCEPT drinking. For drinking water, buy garafons from a reputable source or install a small 5 stage RO unit.

I agree on the poor effectiveness of the UV light, so we turned ours off years ago. We simply use two 20“x 2“ cotton filters and change them at least every 6 months, or if we notice a drop in pressure. We use the water for everything inside the house, including drinking. Our outside faucets are all directly from the street.

Our UV light works just fine.
We change it once a year, and they are not very expensive.
Not when compared to the cost of bottled water.   

Rv who is the service company for your system?

Rv who is the service company for your system?

SunshineyDay wrote:Rv who is the service company for your system?

We did not use a service company for most of our time at Lakeside. I purchased the parts and installed the system myself in our first home, then bought a used system for our second home and had the plumber install it during renovations. They are simple, if you have basic plumbing skills and tools. Later, when I was no longer able to drive and sometimes had trouble with a tight filter, I would call Jackie at H2Ole to bring new filters and change them.

H2Ole' for filter changes and UV light bulbs.

I am getting a new whole house system installed. 3 stage.
What should be the micron size of the initial filter-2nd filter-carbon block. Should they be nominal or absolute size. I am in Riberas (worst water around) and None of the vendors I have talked to seem to be in agreement on the filters.

Ask H2Ole.

Agreed Ask H2Ole.  Have updated to water softener since thread started.  Love the softer water and no calcium deposits.  For Riberas a pre filter or sand trap is needed otherwise in many areas you may be replacing filters monthly which is expensive.  Pre filter on my system allow filters to last six months instead of three. Also some folks commented on taking the UV light out of your system.  The UV light is what makes the water safe!!  The carbon filter does more than make the water taste better it filters out many chemicals I would not want in my drinking water. Order of gear, Prefilter if needed or sand trap, Particle filter, Carbon Block filter, than UV light than water softener. Pay more for good filters. Pay less for sand filter or pre filter. All this system was installed and maintained by H2Ole.

Where in the system does the pre filter go.

Before your expensive filters. Mine is on city line going to roof tanks. Basement tank also pumps thru this filter. Cheap filter and I open it up and clean it every month or so. It lasts a while if you clean the filter.

City water
Prefilter (or sand filter if appropriate)
Roof tanks 1500L
Pump and pressure tank
Large particle filter
Large Carbon block filter
UV light
Water Softener
Drinkable house water that tasts good