Sedimentation Tank for Domestic Well Water System

[Civrel]

About a year ago, I had a new PVC well and screen installed. Ever since the installation, fine sand has been a problem, clogging up the pleated filter at least once a week. (note, this is my fourth well in the last 35 years and all have had fine sand/sediment issues, no matter the depth). I installed a fine mesh spin-down filter before the pleated filter, but not I am constantly cleaning the spin-down filter. I was considering installing a large vertical (60 to 80 gallon) sedimentation tank prior to the spin-down and removing the pleated filter.

I was looking for a fiberglass tank that has a top outlet, an inlet in the middle and a bottom outlet for a drain/sediment removal. I would hook up a solenoid valve and timer to the bottom drain of the tank for automatic cleaning. Does such a fiberglass tank exist? I was hoping to avoid a galvanized tank due to corrosion/rust problems. Any suggestions or thoughts on this system?

 

[Reach4]

http://www.flexconind.com/products/well-tanks/flex-lite-fls-and-flu-well-tanks/ has tanks that I think meet what you are asking for. Also see http://www.wellmate.com/en-US/produ...ts/side-port-air-water-tanks/sideport-series/

If you go for a fifth well, there are drillers who can prevent most of the long term sand problem with fine enough slots and fine enough "gravel".

I installed a fine mesh spin-down filter before the pleated filter, but not I am constantly cleaning the spin-down filter.

Have you looked at the TwistIIClean filters? They are easy to clean. Also see Lakos Sandmaster. http://www.lakos.com/groundwater.htm http://twistiiclean.com/

Regarding the pleated filters, you can still keep that for finer stuff. Maybe go to a different element. I am not a pro.

 

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[Civrel]

At least it's getting better, it's not clogging up the pump as the previous well did. I agree, the screen size way too large. The driller poured a significant amount of coarse sand down the hole, but he had to pull the screen up a little to get out of the hydrogen sulfide. Also, any deeper and you get salt water and shallower, high iron.

I have to clean the spin down filter once or twice a week. However, it usually clogs when the wife is taking a bath. I only have the 1 1/4" spin down, so maybe the 2" version would have more screen area. I looked up the TwistIIClean and they are pricey and no distributes within 500 miles. The Flex-Lite FLS looks like it would do the job and I contacted the company for more information. The Wellmate is just a pressure tank, but I did contact Pentair to see if they have storage/contact tanks as well.

 

[Reach4]

TwistIIClean is not so pricey.... under $100 usually. You would probably want the 140 mesh or 200 mesh, I would think.

Sandmaster is pricey. It is available with automatic purge.

 

[Civrel]

The distributor I found, McMaster-Carr wants $505 for the 2" model. The price does appear to drop significantly for the 1.5" model ($80) at the Cannon Water Supply site. Must be the different type of flange on the 2" model.