Information for Off-Grid Properties | Non-Mains Water Supplies | Cottages / Country Houses etc
Water Filters for buildings with an Off-Grid / Non-Mains water supply / that use their own supply
Click here for Boats / Vans / Camping
Typical problems / concerns about taking your water supply from wells, springs or rivers
- Dangerous Bacteria and other micro-organisms
- Issues with iron and managanese or other metals
- Issues with Nitrate pollution
- General sediment.
We have helped some customers with an off grid water supply who have had their water polluted by nearby silage or chemical spraying.
How we can help you
Whether you are living in your country house or cottage or using it as a holiday home – possibly renting / letting it out to holiday makers – we can help you ensure your water supply is safe, whether it is for drinking water only or for the whole building's water supply.
These are the solutions you might want to consider
Firstly if it is only the drinking water you want to safeguard you can use a reverse osmosis filter.
But, there might be issues with bacteria in the water supply. Bear in mind that people can ingest these via showers / baths and brushing teeth. These are just as likely to cause health problems as the drinking water supply.
A better solution is to filter the entire water supply.
You almost certainly need to consider:
- Ultra Violet (UV) filters - see below
Plus, if your water tests positive for these:
- Iron and Manganese Filters - Best solutions
-
Nitrate Filters - Best solutions
- Chemicals - Best solution: Use Reverse Osmosis. Get either an undersink unit or for the whole property (RO would also deal with nitrates and iron.)
- Hardness - assuming it's caused by Calcium Carbonate - the most common UK type - we can offer these salt-free softeners. Otherwise send us your water test results.
Ultra Violet Water Filters
Ultra-violet (UV) light kills disease-causing bacteria and viruses and other micro-organisms. The water produced is safe, clean and fresh
UV doesn't add or remove anything from the water.
Pros
- It is 99.99% effective at killing micro organisms
- It is extremely cost effective by volume.
- No additives are needed
- Does not change the taste of your water.
Cons
- UV requires maintenance - you have to keep an eye on it (but UV is fairly basic)
- It needs a constant power supply (ie mains - UK 3 pin - or 12v battery if you're power supply is offgrid)
- The bulbs need to be changed – usually once a year
- If the UV bulb fails a holiday maker might not realise
- The sediment and carbon filters need to be changed - usually every 6 months
- The water needs to be forced through the pre filters ie to remove any sediment) which might mean there are water pressure issues - so you might need a pump
- UV does not remove any other contaminants eg metals pesticides / herbicides etc - but you can simply add filters for those
For prices and further details on Ultra violet water filters click here (This covers UVs for both mains power and offgrid (solar / wind etc) power supplies.)
