FEATURE 23
Know your water: Matching the treatment to the problem Problem Hardwater( limescale)
Iron
Manganese
Bacteria
Biofilm
High salinity Sediment
Possible treatment options Physical water conditioning Water softeners Chemical treatment, such as phosphates, polymers and acids( mainly for commercial and industrial use). Iron removal filter Oxidation, such as ozone treatment Chlorine dioxide – oxidises and removes dissolved iron Manganese filter Oxidation, such as ozone treatment Chloring dioxide – oxidises and removes dissolved manganese UV technology Ozone treatment Chlorine dioxide Sodium hypochlorite( chlorine) Borehole rehabilitation and disinfection Chlorine dioxide – penetrates and removes biofilm Reverse osmosis Sediment filtration
NOTE: Certain purification methods, such as reverse osmosis, work best as part of a multi-stage treatment process. Water is typically pre-treated using activated carbon media, activated glass media or water softeners before purification, with post-treatment disinfection methods such as UV or ozone providing an additional barrier against microorganisms. However, these technologies are primarily designed to treat the water itself. If the borehole and associated water system remain contaminated with iron bacteria, manganese deposits, biofilm or other deposits, simply filtering or disinfecting the water will have limited effect. In these cases, effective borehole rehabilitation requires oxidation and removal of these contaminants( such as through chlorine dioxide treatment) before ongoing water treatment can achieve optimal results.
The site requirements, such as water consumption required per day, also play a role in which treatment options should be installed. Not treating your borehole water can affect your plumbing systems down the line.
The Golden Rule in practice Test the borehole water → Match treatment to what’ s in the water → Expect a combination of treatments
NOTE: Installing a filtration or treatment system without first establishing the water quality can result in ineffective treatment, unnecessary costs and ongoing plumbing failures. By recommending laboratory testing before specifying equipment, plumbers can protect both the customer and themselves.
What plumbing components are affected by untreated water? Untreated borehole water can significantly reduce the lifespan and efficiency of plumbing equipment throughout the installation. The plumbing components most commonly affected by untreated borehole water include:
• Submersible pumps and impellers
• Pressure tanks and pressure control equipment
• Pipes and fittings
• Appliances connected to the plumbing system, such as washing machines, dishwashers and kettles
• Control valves and solenoid valves
• Geysers, boilers, heat exchangers, gas geysers and heating elements – geyser lifespan is often decreased, caused by overheating elements
• Filters and filtration systems( cartridges clog faster)
• RO systems( membranes scale and fail)
• Taps, mixers, cartridges, shower heads and aerators
• Irrigation systems( drippers and sprayers can clog)
• Livestock watering systems
• Pumps in mining environments
It can be difficult to know if these plumbing-component issues are caused by the water supply specifically, so it is important to know what signs to look for that indicate the water supply is the problem.
Signs of poor water quality There are signs of poor water quality that both the plumber and the homeowner can look out for. You, as the plumber, can ask the client if they have experienced the below factors to assess if water quality could be the issue.
Supplied by Bore Restore
The Golden Rule of borehole water: Test first, treat appropriately, maintain proactively.
Limescale effects heating elements, driving up consumer electricity costs.
Supplied by Kurt Vermaak
October 2026 Volume 32 I Number 08 www. plumbingafrica. co. za