Specific filtration needs for water intended for irrigation or micro-irrigation in agriculture require systems that adopt layers of quartzite. The filtration process occurs with the water passing from top to bottom through the gravel layer, which serves to block pollutants such as suspended solids contained in the water.

Quartzite Filters are particularly suitable for the treatment of wastewater from car washes. In fact, as the water passes through the filtering material from top to bottom, the quartzite layer serves to block pollutants such as Suspended Solids, eliminating the turbidity of the water, with substances gradually retained until they reach the underlying layer, and the filtering effectiveness increases as the liquid moves downward.

In practice, the same natural process occurs as water passes through soil layers before reaching the underground aquifer. This allows for the reuse of wastewater in processing operations that do not require particularly high-quality water, such as the initial phase of high-pressure washing. This work phase indeed requires a very high amount of water (around 80/90% of the total) and is therefore particularly suitable for containing the management costs of the car wash.

Applications

Being a static precipitation filtration system, it is practically suitable for any type of water filtration coming from:

Contaminated Rainwater
Car Washes
Agricultural companies for the reuse of wastewater in agriculture (micro-irrigation systems)

Filtration Degree

Equates to a filtration of 100 µ.

Ensures the filtration of small particles such as:

algae
microorganisms
organic materials
colloids

Filtration Operation

A – the water to be filtered enters forcibly from the top (maximum operating pressure 8 bar) and falls onto the gravel layer.
B – the water passes by gravity through the quartzite layer. Substances are retained as the liquid descends, increasing effectiveness in subsequent layers.
C – the filtered water is channeled into the filtering arms and conveyed into a pipeline.
D – the water exits perfectly filtered and ready for use.

The effectiveness of the filtration depends on the speed at which the water passes through the gravel layer. The slower the flow, the better the filtration.

Backwashing

Over time, filtration loses effectiveness and there are flow losses at the outlet (or head losses). In automatic models, hydro-valves with significant water flow and control units with differential pressure, programmed time, or manual button are used for backwashing functions.

Backwashing operations are activated to maintain the pressure difference between inlet (dirty water) and outlet (clean water) within a maximum value of 1 bar.

A – a hydro-valve closes the inlet of dirty water from the top
B – the water reverses its flow, forcibly converging from bottom to top (countercurrent)
C – the backwashing water drags all the residues trapped in the gravel to the surface
D – the water saturated with dirty particles is channeled to a supplementary outlet.

In battery filters, backwashing occurs periodically and alternately during normal filtration and with the same filtered water.

Maintenance

With proper use and sizing, maintenance is practically nonexistent.

The forced backwashing system cleans and regenerates the quartzite layer, which, however, needs to be replaced over time.

The timing for the total replacement of quartzite depends on the conditions of use of the filter and the type of water intended to be filtered.

Replacement of Quartzite

It is generally recommended to completely replace the quartzite every 4-5 years, as over time it tends to round off due to a polishing process and to clog the micro-holes arranged at the bottom (decreased flow).

Purification with Quartzite Filters