Splash Digest

Cleaning A Water Treatment System

Nov 01, 2017

Post flood & boil alert conditions

Mother nature created her fair share of hurricanes this summer. As people return to their homes and pick up the pieces, it’s important to remember their water treatment system may have been affected. Any equipment that has been in standing flood waters is at risk for bacterial growth inside the unit.

This is also an issue when municipal water sources issue a boil water alert triggered by a bacterial contamination. It is important to sterilize these units before returning them to their regular service. Read through our tips below on how to clean and recover a contaminated unit.

BEFORE DISINFECTING ANY WATER TREATMENT DEVICE

  • Confirm the water supply is deemed safe before proceeding. Do not continue if a boil water alert is still in effect.
  • If the system has been completely submerged due to flood conditions, the unit should be considered a total loss due to irreparable damage to electronic components.

BRINE TANK PROCEDURE

  • Remove the salt tank and brine well cover.
  • Empty the water and remove/discard all salt from the brine tank.
  • Clean the interior of the brine tank. Scrub the inside of the tank and all interior components with warm, soapy water. Confirm that no brine residue remains in the tank.
  • Wash the inside of the brine tank and all interior components with a medium bleach and water solution (using 5.25% bleach). Rinse the tank and components with clean water.
    Note: Use normal unscented bleach. Do not use splash proof bleach or bleach with any additives.
  • Add new salt to the brine tank. Note: We strongly recommend using solar salt inside our systems.
  • Pour three gallons of fresh, clean water into the brine tank. Add three teaspoons (1.5oz) of 5.25% unscented household bleach into the brine tank to make a chlorinated water solution.

  WARNING: DO NOT MIX bleach with red-out salts, salt with additives, or any resin bed cleaners. Doing so may produce potentially harmful fumes.

WATER SOFTENER/CONDITIONER PROCEDURE

It is common practice to clean resin and zeolite (found in our TotalCare and EV1/EV2 units) based water softeners in place. Please follow the instructions below for these types of systems that are in a recoverable condition. (These steps should be completed after cleaning the brine tank.)

  • Flush water softener by placing unit into backwash and allow water to run to drain for 10 minutes. If water is still cloudy, continue to run until clear.
  • Pour 2 ounces of 5.25% household bleach per cubic foot of media into the brine well. For a zeolite unit, use 6 ounces per cubic foot. Rinse components off in brine well as to avoid corrosion of parts.
    Note: Use normal unscented bleach. Do not use splash proof bleach or bleach with any additives.
  • Initiate an immediate regeneration. The bleach will create a chlorinated brine solution and will be drawn into the unit, through the media, and through other internal passages of the valve to sanitize the softener.
  • After regeneration is complete, turn on a cold water supply and run water. If chlorine is still present, allow water to run until clear.
  • Have water tested by a certified lab to ensure purity before consumption.

CARBON SPLIT TANK PROCEDURE

Any equipment that contains carbon, such as our CareSoft RC or EVRC units, must have the carbon removed, discarded, and replaced with new material.  Please see the steps below for replacing the carbon in an RC split tank system. (These steps should be completed after cleaning the brine tank.)

  • Flush water softener by placing unit into backwash and allow water to run to drain for 10 minutes. Unplug unit from power source during this step. After 10 minutes, if water is still cloudy, continue to run until clear.
  • After the water has run to drain for 10 minutes (and water is clear), by-pass the water softener. Water will stop flowing to the drain, indicating that the unit is depressurized.
  • Remove valve assembly and flange from tank.
  • Drain water from tank. This can be accomplished by siphoning the water from the distributor tube using a wet/dry vacuum or pump.
  • Using a wet/dry vac, vacuum all of the carbon from the top of the tank to the top “mid plate” of the tank.
  • Replace carbon with the proper amount.
  • Replace flange and valve assembly.
  • Open by-pass slightly, allowing water to enter the tank slowly.
    Note: Do not allow water to enter the tank rapidly to avoid backwashing the carbon to the drain.
  • Once water is flowing to the drain, plug unit back in to a power source and advance the unit to the rinse cycle. Allow water to run to drain until clear.
  • Pour 6 ounces of 5.25% Chlorine (Household Bleach) per cubic foot of media into the brine well. Rinse components off in brine well as to avoid corrosion of parts. Note: Use normal unscented bleach. Do not use splash proof bleach or bleach with any additives.
  • Initiate a delayed regeneration. The bleach will create a chlorinated brine solution that will be drawn into the unit, through the media, and through other internal passages of the valve to sanitize the softener.
  • After the regeneration is complete, turn on a cold water supply and run water. If chlorine is still present, allow water to run until clear.
  • Have water tested by a certified lab to ensure purity before consumption.

Following disinfection, it is critical to resample the water and have it tested for contamination. If the water is discovered to be contaminated after these procedures, disinfection will need to be repeated.

For any questions regarding the procedures, call Technical Service at (800)-777-1426 or contact your regional sales manager.