Water Filtration

How the Aquafier IM System Works:

We have developed our filters based on the concept from nature’s own filtration systems.

The water from a source delivered under pressure from a submersible, centrifugal or bulldozer pump, passes through the media filter. The media is initially coarse to take out larger material without clogging the filter. Progressively the media becomes finer until all unwanted material is extracted.

The filter’s backwash program is initiated at pre-determined times or on set parameters. These parameters are triggered via the highly sensitive turbine flow sensor integrated into the system.

When the set backwash time has ceased and the media is clean, the valving system changes and initiates a short rinse cycle of the pipework before allowing the water in from the contaminated source.

The whole cycle can be programmed to occur at any time needed.

What are Iron and Manganese?

Iron and manganese are metallic elements present in many types of rock. Both are commonly found in water and are essential elements required in small amounts by all living organisms. Concentrations of iron and manganese in groundwater are often higher than those measured in surface waters.

The New Zealand drinking standards for iron in drinking water is less than equal to 0.2 milligrams per litre (mg/l), while for manganese in drinking water, is less than or equal to 0.04 mg/L.

The presence of iron causes unsightly staining to the dairy shed and yard, household whiteware and laundry. The formation of insoluble iron deposits is troublesome in many industrial applications and in agricultural water uses such as drip feed irrigation.

In domestic situations, manganese will cause brown or black staining to laundry or plumbing even in very low concentrations. Manganese salts may impart an astringent taste to drinking water supplies and in swimming pool applications, and can give an aesthetically displeasing brown colouration to the water. Manganese, along with calcium and magnesium, contributes to the hardness in water.

Negative effects of iron on the dairy cow:

• Bad tasting drinking water – reduced water intake, reduced feed intake, growth and milk output
• Iron is an antagonist of zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and competes for absorption of these vital trace elements
• Stresses metabolic function
• Risk of increased somatic cell counts
• Increases requirement for vitamin E – vitamin E is an essential antioxidant (cell protection). Iron acts as an oxidising or “rusting” agent
• Compromises liver health
• Suppresses immune system
• Limits mineral absorption and utilisation
• Can cause deficiency
• Potential hoof hardness issues increasing risk of lameness, haemorrhages, bruising and ulcers
• Bacterial invasion and infection i.e. digital dermatitis, induced zinc deficiency essential for hoof hardness
• Increased deterioration of milking rubberware
• Allows pathogens to breed and reproduce in cracks
• Risk of milk duct infections due to slipping cups
• Potentially more difficult birthing (dystocia), higher still born / calf fatality rates
• Low oxygen status and high free radicals (adverse chemicals)
• Loss of milk production from fighting pathogens
• Cattle immune components (antibodies) are actually proteins
• Dairy pay-out – especially high value milk protein output can be reduced when the immune system is challenged.

Aquafier IM Media

We use a number of different media to help achieve the results needed for water filtration, whether it be for iron or manganese removal, nitrate removal, turbidity reduction, pH correction or effluent filtration.

We have a media to suit all applications.

The most common media we use is DMI-65. This media is the most sophisticated catalytic water filtration media that has extremely high capabilities of removing both iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) simultaneously through low cost catalytic oxidation and retention of precipitate. The DMI-65 will also remove arsenic from a water supply, given the correct conditions.

DMI-65 is one of the fewer catalytic water filtration media in the world, developed to remove iron and manganese certified for drinking water applications.

Another commonly used medium is activated carbon; this is used in the removal of chemicals and for taste and odour removal. Sometimes in the filtering process we need to add chemicals to aid the filtration system in removing the unwanted element. This is more-so the case when removing iron which is locked up in a water source with tannins or high suspended solids.

Iron & manganese

The Aquafier IM systems have been installed in a wide variety of problem areas, from extremely high iron contamination and pH correction, through the potable water at 400,000 litres per day. In some areas these elements have seriously challenged the ordinary filtration methods, but have been overcome by the Aquafier IM filtration systems.

Our filtration systems can be tailor made to accommodate any water filtration demand, from dairy farms, chicken sheds, factories and processing plants, to small townships.

Being of modular construction, the completed unit is easily assembled, placed and installed on site.

Potable water system design & manufacture

FORSI Innovations have been commissioned to design, manufacture and install the water filtration and treatment solution for a prestigious invitation only golf resort in the Mangawhai Heads, north of Auckland.

We are treating water to potable standards for the resort club and surrounding residences, along with the treatment for all water used to irrigate the greens.

Dairy Effluent Treatment & Recycling

FORSI Innovations has New Zealand’s first and only effluent filtration system on a trial farm just outside Matamata. This ground breaking treatment system will see dairy farmers comply with all dairy effluent and water consent regulations for years to come. Along with cutting down on fertilizer bills and eliminating the need for land wasting effluent ponds, the system will deliver clean, clear pathogen free water, ready for reuse on the yard and irrigation water for the pasture. All this water is treated close to New Zealand drinking water standards and is all done in the footprint of a 40ft” customized shipping container.