Other Methods of Well Water Treatment

Treatment

Effect

Drawbacks and/or limitations

Other issues

Distillation

• kills microbes with heat as long as the water is boiled.
• also removes metals and minerals
• very effective when used in collaboration with carbon filters

• some chemicals have a boiling point similar to or higher than that of water; these will not be removed
• scale buildup needs to be removed

The “brine” will need to be removed effectively.

Ultra-Violet Sterilization

• kills bacteria, viruses and other organisms
• a clean and effective way to kill parasites without having to “shut down” water use as you do for chlorination

• requires filtration to effectively remove microbes and parasites that are embedded in dirt
• dose not remove chemicals, metals, etc.

The UV lamp requires maintenance and this method is restricted to killing bacteria and living organisms.
 

Ozonation

• kills many microbes but not some of the most dangerous, such as cryptosporidium
• removes other organic compounds including pesticides
• works well if combined with another filter such as carbon

• not effective in removing chemicals or metals
• not effective in removing bacteria that cling to dirt particles which need to be removed via a filter

These units vary in effectiveness depending on model and manufacturer.

Greensand Treatment

• removes some or most iron and manganese

• is unsuitable for removing microbes, dissolved chemicals

• difficult to operate and maintain
• requires regular backwash and periodic reactivation

Water Softeners

• these reduce hardness of water that can lead to calcium deposition
• they can also remove some metal particles of iron and copper

• not at all suitable for the removal of microbes or most chemicals
• they also increase sodium in the water

• require replacement of salt and other maintenance