Filtration for spring water

[JD 1250]

My wife and I have recently purchased a farm with a spring for the water source. I have been looking at whole house filtration systems and would like to go with uv. I want to stay away from adding any chemicals for purification. My question is, will a uv system be good enough to kill the bad bacteria? Like I said, we want to stay away from using chemicals to purify our water.

 

[PILOON]

We did a lot of research on that subject as we (many lakers) use lake water.
UV filters are an excellent purification method.
Pre filtering (fine mesh etc) for particles is advised as otherwise the UV tube gets coated with particles, slime etc shortening the life.
A downside is the UV tubes need annual replacement which add a maintenance or annual upkeep factor.
Rather than whole house I suggest a 3 rd tap for drinking/cooking in appropriate locations* simply to 'save those UV rays', like U don't need purified water to bathe or wash dishes etc.
*bathroom and kitchen.

 

[JD 1250]

Thanks for the info.

 

[PILOON]

Might add that 1/2 of our 75 lakeside residents use this method and that over some 40 years of using lake water and so far no adverse effects.
However we have one of the purest lake waters in the region it being mainly spring fed and the first in the water chain with no inlet and merely one outlet.
Naturally nature, animals etc can always introduce bacteria.
Also all power craft are banned other than electric.

 

[oosik]

I also have a spring. It was developed by the original homesteaders in 1892. It has always provided safe, pure, cold water. There has never been ANY type of treatment on my spring. I've lived here, using this spring as sole source for 35 years. I have the water tested bacterially every year. Its never been a problem.

I would suggest that before you go whole hog with some type of treatment system - have the spring water tested both chemically & bacterially. This way you will know exactly what, if anything, needs to be done to your spring water.

I don't know why, but folks assume country water supplies automatically need treatment. Maybe its because they are more familiar with the taste of chlorinated & fluoridated water that they get in the city.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Where the spring water comes out of the ground it will have no bacteria at all. The place it might become contaminated is the catchment or cistern. If you have slugs and frogs in the catchment or cistern, you might think about just upgrading your water system to a more sanitary installation. A UV purification system will cost $1000, so that will go a long ways toward cleaning up the supply.

I installed a flush valve at the end of my water system. Once a year I super-chlorinate the cistern and open the flush valve to purge the lines. Cities do that to eliminate stagnant water in water main dead ends.That's all it takes to keep the water bacteria free.

 

[mapper]

I grew up on untreated spring water.My folks did have it tested occasionally, there was never a problem with it. We did have problems with ceded tree roots growing into the spring channel and plugging it up. Nothing like laying on your belly in the mud with your arm in the spring up to your shoulder pulling the root mat out (water temp 40 degrees ).
Occasionally a small salamander would find its way into the holding tank and then into the water line, that will plug up a faucet or ball clock really well, voice of experience here :laughing:. Dad put a filter on the intake after that. You only have to spend a couple of hours disassembling a bathroom sink faucet to pick the compressed remains of a small amphibian out of it to learn that lesson

 

[fishheadbob]

My #1 well hit a spring at 12 feet down, we've been drinking it untreated for 37 years with no ill effects. I would have your water tested to see what if anything needs treating.
My buddy's farm in the boondocks had a spring flowing out of a hillside. Sometime in the last 200 years someone installed a pipe into the hillside to tap the spring before it saw daylight, birdpoop, salamanders, and all. They then piped it to the house and had indoor plumbing and good drinking water way before any other rural properties.
I'm thinking that if and when you opt for a test DON'T have it tested by any outfit that also sells water equipment. The Culligan man or others will scare the beejeepers out of you and make you think you'll have instant cholera unless you buy their top of the line system. A couple of twentys to your local health department should get you an unbiased test, or at least they should know where you can get an objective test.

 

[oosik]

I've had my water tested by various testing labs in Cheney and some times in Spokane. I've had the random snake and frog pass thru my spring enclosure.

They don't bother anything and they don't drink much water either.