How Private Water Supply Filtration Can Make Borehole Water Safe for Drinking

How Private Water Supply Filtration Can Make Borehole Water Safe for Drinking

Private Water Supply is certainly a more cost-effective solution than mains in the long term, especially when it comes to industrial, agricultural, and domestic applications that use a lot of water each day … but you need to be confident that the water extracted from the ground will be suitable for the intended use (drinking, irrigation, cleaning, cattle). While ground water comes straight from natural sources, making it 100% fresh and pure, it still needs to be checked to ensure it is safe. Selecting borehole water filters (also known as well water filters) to filter out contaminants is vital as it can prevent health risks, improve the taste of water, remove bad odours and prevent staining and corrosion of equipment.

However, there are still a lot of questions when it comes to borehole water such as: Why do you need to test it if it comes directly from a natural source? How can you make it safe to drink? What are the different water supply filters, and how can you benefit? This article will answer all of these questions and discuss how you can ensure that your Private Water Supply is safe for drinking.

The importance of water testing

Although sometimes the private water supply looks clear and you cannot see any contamination, there might be potentially harmful bacteria that needs filtering out. For example, if certain types of micro-organisms are present in your drinking water, they could pose a risk to you and your family’s health and even cause serious long-term illness. Therefore, it is important to consider obtaining a water quality test to identify any water contamination, and if found, select the best private water supply filters to address the issue.

The groundwater supply must be tested if you intend to use it for drinking purposes, but even if it is used for irrigation, feeding livestock or other industrial processes, we highly recommend conducting a water sample test. The main reason is that certain minerals such as iron and magnesium can cause clogged pipework and even suppress crop, vegetation, and plant growth, resulting in equipment downtime and collateral loss.

Another thing that you will need to consider is that environmental factors can change over time. So, you will need to perform water testing periodically to ensure the effectiveness of the water treatment implemented, and that no further water quality issues have arisen.

How to make borehole water safe for drinking?

As the private water supply is coming straight from the ground, it could have higher levels of iron, magnesium, calcium or other minerals and some bacteria. Most of these are harmless, but they can make water taste and smell bad and make vulnerable people like babies or the elderly poorly. So although ground water is usually safe to drink, installing borehole water filters can significantly improve the quality of your water supply and is vital as it:

- Ensures water supply is safe and free from any bacteria that is a health risk.

- Prevents staining and corrosion of equipment, pipework, taps, sinks, and baths.

- Improves the taste of water, removes bad odours, and makes it clearer.

Types of borehole filtration systems

When it comes to water supply filters, it's not a "one-size" fits all solution, as it depends on the intended use and the specific contaminants found in your water supply. Therefore, after you receive your sample report, you will be able to define what water treatment you will need and which of the following types of borehole water filter will address your issue:

- First stage filters - They are basic, cost-effective filters for getting the initial contamination out. For example, our range of Standard Water Filter Cartridges includes polypropylene filters, washable nylon filters and granular carbon filters that can help you remove sediment and large particles and are suitable for eliminating odours and bad taste.

- Advanced filtration system – These well water filters are ideal for when water testing identifies specific problems with the water supply. One of the most common borehole filtration systems is for iron and manganese removal, as these minerals are commonly found in private water supplies. By installing an iron and manganese filter, you can prevent sludge build-up, corrosion and improve the quality of your private water supply. Another common well water filtration system is the ph Correction Filter which removes metallic taste from water and prevents staining and corrosion to the pipework. Other advance private water supply filters include Sediment Backwash Filters, Arsenic Removal Systems, Colour Removal Filters, Nitrate Removal Filter and Hydrogen Sulphide Removal Systems.

- Ultraviolet (UV) Sterilisers – These are essential for eliminating harmful bacteria in water. The ultraviolet light penetrated from these systems destroy 99.99% of harmful micro-organisms without the use of heat and chemicals and acts as a final filtration barrier to eliminate organisms. In addition, the only maintenance required is an annual bulb change to ensure the optimum UV dose is achieved.