Our Guide

Living Water Filtration Specialists

This page will guide you through the regulations in Wales for private water supplies, and outline what testing and treatment your water needs.

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There are over 14,396 private water supplies in Wales. If your property has a private water supply, then it is important that you know how to maintain it, ensuring it meets local authority regulations and that you have safe, clean drinking water.

Guiding You Through the Regulations in Wales

Do I Have A Private Water Supply?

Water coming into a property, that’s not on ‘the mains’, will be a private water supply. In other words, in Wales, it is any water supply which is not provided by Dŵr Cymru / Welsh Water. The water source will then likely be from one of the following:
  • Boreholes – tapping into the water underground and pumping it to the surface.
  • Springs – Catching water where it naturally comes to the surface
  • Wells – Already dug holes which give access to underground water.
  • Surface Water – Pumped from streams, rivers or lakes.

Water filtration removes impurities by lowering contamination using a fine physical barrier, a chemical process, or a biological process. Filters cleanse water to different extents for purposes such as providing accessible drinking water.

Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gasses from water.

The goal of our team is to provide water fit for human consumption. These standards include minimum and maximum concentrations of contaminants, for the use of private water supplies. Remember, although your water may appear clear it could still contain many contaminants, both chemical and bacterial.

If you are the owner of a Private water supply, then you are responsible for anyone who consumes the water. To avoid bad tasting water, potential illness and hefty fines from your local authority, you must keep your private water supply maintained according to the regulations. Regulations for private water supplies are set by The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), but these regulations are enforced by local authorities in England and Wales.

Local authorities are also responsible for arranging the private water supplies in their area and that they are monitored correctly to ensure they maintain the correct standards. (Learn more about the role of the DWI and local authorities)

If you wish to read the legislation, you’ll find it here: The Welsh Private Water Supplies Regulations (2017). It outlines what a local authority must do to monitor and enforce the rules laid out by the DWI.

Filtration and Purification are the two minimum treatments required for water coming from a private water source. These treatments will prevent natural sediment entering your home, thus protecting your boiler, washing machine and other household appliances as well as kill bacteria such as E-coli and Coliforms.

Turbidity, Alkalinity, Aluminium, Ammoniacal Nitrogen,Cadmium, Calcium, Chloride,Colour, Conductivity, Copper, Hardness, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Nitrate, Nitrite, Sodium, Sulphate, Zinc, PH

The Majority of these can be treated and your Private Water Source can be made safe. A simple test will be able to determine what kind of treatment your system will need. This will help prolong the life of appliances in the house and prevent leaks, scaling of pipes and ensure better water pressure and flow rate. If you need to test your water for contaminates, please contact us to arrange a visit.

Filtration:

Filters use sieving, adsorption, ion exchanges and other processes to remove unwanted substances from water. Unlike a sieve or screen, a filter can potentially remove particles much smaller than the holes through which its water passes.

Micro Z/Turbidity/AG Plus:

This is a high-performance granular filter media and supports higher flow rates. These units’ backwash and filter down to 5- Micron (5-10 if AG Plus)

UV Purification:

Ultraviolet water purification is the most effective method for disinfecting bacteria from the water. Ultraviolet (UV) rays penetrate harmful pathogens in your home’s water and destroy illness-causing microorganisms by attacking their genetic core (DNA)

PH Correction Unit

Brings the PH level to neutral, preventing damage to copper pipes, boilers and other household appliances.

Nitrate Reduction Systems

Reverse osmosis is often a point of application this can be placed underneath the sink and can remove 83-92 % of nitrates in water. Larger units can be installed and pumped to a water tank.

Softeners

Eliminates expensive maintenance bills, removes traces of scale in the shower, bath or sink – scale can give a 75% reduction in flow in 18 months, give your skin a clean silky feeling, make your laundry feel softer and look brighter.

Iron and Manganese Removal

A Triplex Filter consists of two vessels, the first one is a contact assembly, the second consists of a blend of PH correcting media, and Iron and Manganese removal media, clearing the dirty orange water and oily residue from the water.

Ecomix- Iron, manganese, hardness, Ammonia and organics.This is a combo of five different medias in one unit, there are two versions depending on the levels of contaminants in the water, the unit gets rid of iron and manganese, softens the water and stops the water smelling of sulphur

Tannex

Tannex causes a light yellow to a weak tea staining, although Carbon filters can be used to remove organics, the media becomes quickly fouled when the organic load is high. Tannex filters consist of a mix of two scavenger resins, these have a special porous structure which will capture organic species using ion exchange resins that utilise salt to backwash, clearing the system

RO Systems:

RO Systems will remove common chemical contaminants (metal ions, aqueous salts), including sodium, chloride, copper, chromium and lead; may reduce arsenic, fluoride, radium, sulfate, calcium magnesium, potassium, nitrate and phosphorous

Carbon Catalyst Unit:

Carbon Catalysts are used to polish the water at its final point before the U.V treatment. It is excellent at removing odours from the water.