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Filters · Raw Water Treatment

Pressure sand and activated carbon filters

Media filtration for raw water. A pressure sand filter passes water downward through graded quartz sand supported on gravel and pebble beds of progressively larger size, removing suspended solids, turbidity and silt. An activated carbon filter installed downstream removes residual chlorine, colour, odour and dissolved organics. The two units are ordinarily supplied as a pair ahead of softening, reverse osmosis or a process water requirement, and are sized against the raw water analysis and the required output.

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Flair pressure sand and activated carbon filter vessels installed on a raw water line Photograph of completed unit
Pressure Sand & Activated Carbon Filters
Construction & Types

Two stages, one raw water train

A pressure sand filter is installed ahead of an activated carbon filter, together forming the first stage of raw water treatment. Water enters the top of each vessel, passes downward through the media bed, and is collected at the base through a distributor and collector system.

Pressure Sand Filter Solids removal

Graded quartz sand on supporting gravel and pebble beds removes suspended solids, turbidity and silt from raw water before it proceeds to carbon filtration or the process it feeds.

Activated Carbon Filter Adsorption

Granular or pelletised activated carbon removes residual chlorine, colour, odour and dissolved organics, installed downstream of the sand filter.

Manual Multiport Standard duty

A single multiport valve handled by the operator through service, backwash and rinse positions. Economical and straightforward to operate.

Automatic Multiport Unattended operation

Sequences through service, backwash and rinse positions on a timer or differential pressure without operator intervention, suited to continuous or unattended duty.

Specification

Standard range

Where a stated range does not cover a particular requirement, equipment is engineered to the customer specification.

Vessel material Mild steel with epoxy or rubber lining, FRP, SS 304 or SS 316
Media, PSF Graded quartz sand on supporting gravel and pebble beds
Media, ACF Granular or pelletised activated carbon — iodine value to be specified
Operation Manual multiport valve, individual butterfly valves, or automatic multiport
Backwash Manual or automatic, on timer or differential pressure
Internals Distributor and collector system — strainer nozzle or header lateral to be specified
Options Frontal piping, pressure gauges, sample point, air scouring, skid mounting
Materials of Construction

Grades routinely handled

Mild Steel (Epoxy Lined) Mild Steel (Rubber Lined) FRP SS 304 SS 316

Lined mild steel is the economical choice for standard raw water duty, FRP suits corrosive water at moderate pressure, and stainless is specified where lining life or product purity is a concern. Vessel material is selected against the raw water analysis and the downstream process.

Applications

Where these units are installed

Raw water pre-treatment ahead of RO and softening plants Process water preparation in pharmaceutical and food facilities Swimming pool and recreational water filtration Effluent polishing following biological treatment Borewell water treatment for industrial estates
FAQ

Common questions

A pressure sand filter removes suspended solids, turbidity and silt by passing water through graded quartz sand. An activated carbon filter, installed downstream, removes residual chlorine, colour, odour and dissolved organics through adsorption. The two perform different functions and are ordinarily supplied as a pair.
Against the raw water analysis and the required output, primarily the flow rate and the suspended solids or turbidity load. Send us your raw water report and the flow rate you need and we will size the vessel and media bed accordingly.
Frequency depends on the suspended solids loading of the raw water, not on a fixed schedule. Rising differential pressure across the bed is the operative indicator that backwash is due. A timer-based cycle can also be set where the raw water quality is fairly constant.
Activated carbon exhausts its adsorption capacity over time, and the replacement interval depends on the organic and chlorine load in the water and the volume treated. We can advise an expected interval once we know your raw water quality and throughput, though periodic testing of treated water is the reliable way to confirm when replacement is due.
A manual multiport valve requires an operator to turn the valve handle through the service, backwash and rinse positions. An automatic multiport valve sequences through these positions on a timer or controller without operator intervention. Individual butterfly valves are a lower cost alternative to a multiport valve, at the expense of more manual steps per cycle.
Yes. The pressure sand filter, activated carbon filter, piping and valves can be supplied as a single skid-mounted assembly, so site installation is limited to connecting the inlet, outlet and drain.
Mild steel with epoxy or rubber lining, FRP, SS 304 and SS 316 are all supplied. Lined mild steel is the economical choice for standard raw water duty; FRP and stainless suit more corrosive water or where lining life is a concern.
Yes. They are routinely supplied ahead of softening and reverse osmosis plants, or as part of a complete process or effluent water treatment system. See our STP and ETP Systems page for the wider treatment scope.
Enquiry

Request a quotation for Pressure Sand & Carbon Filters

Give us the line size, flow rate, fluid and operating conditions and we will engineer directly against them. Most enquiries are answered the same working day.