WaterBoy for better tasting tank water and longer lasting water filters!
Tank Water Quality & WaterBoy
The ability of water tanks to store not only water, but also to collect everything else from off the roof is well known.
Increasing water quality studies have challenged the notion of tank water superiority. Sure it is chlorine and fluoride free and generally tastes far better than town water, but in most cases tank water contains significant quantities of micro organisms, which can be very detrimental to your health.
The chances of fatal diseases from tank water are very low, but ‘minor’ illnesses, caused mainly by E-coli and campylobacter bacteria, are common. Ingestion of these faecal bacteria can lead to an upset tummy or diarrhoea. Most people attribute their symptoms to “bad food or the bot”, and accept the discomfort- but it needn’t be so.
Some tank water also carries Giardia and Cryptosporidium, (usually derived from the gut of mammals or birds): both these water parasites have the potential to make us quite ill.
Organic matter on the tank bottom provides the perfect environment for these microbes to multiply, and we typically pump our household water from this zone! This debris is also forced through any water filters, clogging them quicker- pump life can also be reduced.
Water at the top of your tank carries lower numbers of these bugs, and is the freshest, most highly oxygenated, best tasting tank water.
Why not get your house water from the cleanest, best tasting part of the tank water column?
The WaterBoy, a floating water intake, designed specifically for water tanks, taps this better quality surface water, and delivers it (by your existing water pump) to the household.
The WaterBoy is not a water filter, but by automatically adjusting to the changing water level in your tank, provides the cleanest water from the tank 24/7, thereby greatly extending the life of all tank water filters!
Manufactured from the best quality non toxic, food grade components, (stainless steel cage, collar bracket and chain, polyethylene flotation buoy, and flexible outflow pipe), the WaterBoy carries a 10 year guarantee.
Fitted to the outlet pipe (inside the tank),the WaterBoy ensures your pump only draws tank water from the inlet floating just below the water surface, where the best tasting water is located.
“Combining the WaterBoy with the Super Purifier tank water filter, provides the ultimate in water health protection for the whole family”
read moreWater Filters work better with the WaterBoy
TheWaterBoy extends the life of tank water filters
The WaterBoy, a floating water intake device designed specifically for water tanks, has been developed to tap the better quality water from the top of your tank, and deliver it (via your existing water pump and water filters), to your household. The WaterBoy is not a water filter itself, but will greatly extend the life of tank water filters, by optimising your tank water quality, 24/7.
The ability of water tanks to store not only water, but also to collect everything else from off the roof, (or other water source), is well known. The water tank then provides a perfect environment for a multitude of microbes to multiply in the resulting layer of organic matter on the tank bottom.
( That’s why a general recommendation exists to fit a water filter for tank water intended for household usage.)
Increasing studies into the quality of tank water have found some disturbing facts that challenge the notion of tank water superiority. Sure it can be chlorine and fluoride free, and in general tastes far better than town water, but in most cases tank water contains significant quantities of micro organisms, many of which can be very detrimental to your health.
The chances of fatal diseases from tank water even without water filters is very low; however, there is a very high chance of ‘minor’ illnesses. These are caused mainly by E-coli and campylobacter bacteria which are present in virtually every water tank. They are concentrated at the bottom of the tank and if you ingest too many you get an upset tummy and or diarrhoea. Most people attribute their symptoms to bad food or “a bit of the bot,” and accept the inconvenience, but it shouldn’t be so. Good water is the very basis of health and our immune systems have enough work to do already without extra caused by an easily preventable burden of faecal bacteria. Also this type of illness spreads easily so it tends to affect the whole family.
Some tank water also carries the harmful water parasites, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, usually derived from the gut of mammals or birds. River and dam water sources usually have higher instances of these single celled organisms than rain water tanks, (except if rodents and possums inhabit roof catchment areas!). Both these organisms have the potential to make us quite ill.
Modern water filters can remove dirt, sediment, odour, bad taste, heavy metals and disease causing organisms from tank water, making it safe for all household uses including drinking.
Your tank water column and your water filters
Importantly, as well as carrying lower numbers of these bugs, the upper level in your water tank contains fresher, more highly oxygenated water which is noticeably better tasting.
Obviously drawing water from the tank bottom / organic zone is not good for best water quality, nor for long life of tank water filters.
It also shortens the life of any water filters or water purifier system, because organic rubbish from this area is forced through the water filters, clogging them quicker; pump life can also be reduced.
WaterBoy in water tank
Why not get your house water from the cleanest, best tasting part of the tank water column, and automatically extend the life of your water filters?-This is the job of the WaterBoy!!
Like all good innovations it is simple and it works brilliantly.
Not only does it get your water supply away from the zone where the majority of bugs reside and multiply, it also gets you the cleanest and tastiest water in the tank! Being just below the surface, it tastes better because it is fresh and highly oxygenated.
With its floating intake, the WaterBoy automatically adjusts to the changing water level in your tank, and is always providing you with the best quality water for your water filters to purify, and for your household to drink!
WaterBoy Construction:
The WaterBoy is made from the best quality non toxic, food grade components, including a welded stainless steel cage, stainless steel collar bracket, stainless steel chain, polyethylene flotation buoy, and a flexible outflow pipe. It carries a 10 year guarantee but will last for many more.
WaterBoy Installation:
The WaterBoy tank outlet is just fitted to the pump outlet pipe (inside the tank), ensuring your pump now only draws from the inlet floating just below the water surface at the top of your tank, where the best tasting water is located. Pumping this better quality water to your house by way of a high performance water filter /purifier will protect family members from tank waterborne diseases.
WaterBoy is customised to your tank: the standard outlet fitting is 32mm sizing, but this will vary depending upon the tank construction (plastic, concrete, metal, wood), and outlet diameter of your tank. Other sizes are available, and can be specified.
We will ask you to indicate whether your tank is plastic, concrete, metal, or wood when ordering, and also to measure your outlet pipe diameter so that we can customise the WaterBoy to your water tank for easy fitting.
“Combining the WaterBoy with a high performance water filter /purifier system, (our Super Purifier Plus), provides the ultimate in water health protection for the whole family”
Check them both out on www.saferwater.com.au or phone us on 07 5511 1522 for more info, or to order.
read moreThe no frills tank water Super Purifier
Had a request from a customer:
“I’m on tank water without water filtration and really want to buy your whole house Super Purifier water filter to remove the bugs from my water ‘cos the birds are always crapping on the roof – but times are tough and I can’t afford it. Could you make me a “cheaper” version, say without the case and filter gauges etc?”
So we listened…
Announcing today the Super Purifier –“no frills” version of the Super Purifier Plus whole house tank water purifier for $699.
The $699 version still has 20” x 4.5” housings, the same 1 micron sediment polyspun pre-filter, and the sub micron Purifier Filter for removal of contaminants down to virus level, but comes with none of the protective case, brass elbows, filter indicator gauges,or brass/stainless ball valves of
the Super Purifier Plus. It is still however a combination water filter / water purifier, and is supplied fully assembled, fitted with a mounting bracket and contains the two essential filters,bonus pre-filter, plus two x 1” PVC ball valves for water connection.
And, based upon the success of the whole house Super Purifier, for tank water filtration, we now also offer kitchen versions for bench top, under sink, and portable (caravans, boats and travellers) use. See Super Purifier water filter (‘Simple Fit’ Bench / Under Sink models) on www.saferwater.com.au
No Bacteria, No viruses, No Giardia or Cryptosporidium Cysts.
Removes Dirt, Sediment, Chemicals, Heavy Metals, Odours and Bad Taste.
“The Super Purifier Water Filter is the ultimate combination water filter/water purifier for safer household water…protecting your family from waterborne disease and toxins each and every day”
Related External Links
Water – tanks, bores and dams – Better Health Channel
The highest quality water available should be used for drinking. Rainwater tanks are often the safest source but there are contamination risks that can cause severe gastric illnesses. Drinking water may also be contaminated after a bushfire, flood or other extreme weather event. Analysts can assess your water to ensure it is safe to drink.
Introducing the Super Purifier filter cartridge
The Super Purifier filter cartridge: a totally new category of water filter/water purifier
This new water filtration technology is based upon a non-woven, electro-positively charged, depth filter comprising twin layers of super small (or ” nano”), alumina “nanofibres”. Each filter fibre is only 2 nanometers in diameter, and 200-300 nanometers in length (nanometer = one millionth of a mm; a sheet of paper is roughly 100,000 nanometers thick).
The super small fibres of this unique filter create a massive 63,000 sqm of electro-adhesive (positive charge) purifier filter surface area for water filtration.
The nano fibres produce an electro-positive charge when water flows through them. Many impurities (bacteria, viruses, cysts, parasites, organic debris, dissolved and particulate minerals such as copper, tin, iron, aluminium and lead) are negatively charged, and are absorbed by electro-adhesion onto the nanofibres, where they are tightly retained, and thus removed from the filtered water stream.
But wait, there’s more to the Super Purifier filter…
The Super Purifier filter is also infused with Powdered Activated Carbon at manufacture. This further extends the protection offered your family by removing toxic chemicals (including chlorine and its by-products, pesticides, volatile organic compounds, etc), as well as absorbing water odours, and bad taste.
Plus the Super Purifier filter has…
a Biostat incorporated into the water filter media which is particularly effective at preventing the growth and reproduction of bacteria. By disinfecting the nanofibres of the filter, growth of bacteria trapped by the water purifier is limited, which extends the Purifier filter’s life …
making the Super Purifier filter the ultimate water purification system for safer water in households throughout Australia
The Super Purifier Filter Performance:
- >99.99% efficiency at 0.2microns
- >99.99% protozoan cyst retention (e.g. Giardia, Cryptosporidium) >99.9999% virus retention
- >99.9999% E.coli retention
- 99.95% Endotoxin (Bacterial Toxin) Removal
- Higher Dirt Holding Capacity – up to 25x greater than conventional filters
- Heavy Metal Removal – copper, iron, lead, tin, aluminum
- Faster and More Effective Absorption of Toxic Chemicals: chlorine, chlorine by-products, pesticides, and volatile organic compound, plus organic compounds responsible for odours and bad taste in drinking water.
| Adsorption of heavy metals by the Super Purifier Filter | |||
| Metal | Challenge concentration, mg/L | Concentration in filtrate, mg/L | Filtration Efficiency, % |
| Zinc | 50 | 0.001 | 99.998 |
| Cadmium | 35 | 0.001 | 99.997 |
| Lead | 35 | 0.001 | 99.997 |
| Copper | 35 | 0.001 | 99.997 |
| Gold | 1 | 0.001 | 99.9 |
| Silver | 1 | 0.001 | 99.9 |
| Super Purifier: percent virus and bacterial retention (US Lab Test) | |||||
| 25 litres of MS2 virus, and 25 litres of E.coli bacterium suspension were passed through | |||||
| the Super Purifier cartridge under controlled laboratory conditions. | |||||
| Percent removal of both micro organisms were measure in the filtered solution. | |||||
| Virus input concentration | % Virus removal | E.coli input concentration | % E.coli removal | ||
| (PFU* / ml) | (CFU** / ml) | ||||
| Test #1 | 1.1•106 | 99.9999% | 1.8∙106 | 99.99996% | |
| Test #2 | 1.1•106 | 99.9999% | 1.8∙106 | 99.99996% | |
| Test #3 | 1.1•106 | 99.9999% | 1.8∙106 | 99.99994% | |
| Average | 1.1•106 | 99.9999% | 1.8∙106 | 99.99995% | |
| * | PFU plaque forming units | ||||
| ** | CFU coliform forming units | ||||
Product Features
The Purifier Filter has an average pore size of 2-3 microns with low water pressure drop (<2psi) and consequently permits high water flow rates suitable for whole house water filtration systems.
This technology’s unique advantage in water purification is an electro-absorptive removal process whereby its positively charged filter media attracts, and (by electro-adhesion) retains, electro-negative sub micron sized particles. These include micro organisms (viruses, bacteria and protozoa including Cryptosporidium, Giardia intestinalis, Pseudomonas, Salmonella, E-coli, Mycobacteria, Aspergillus etc) – all at flow rates many times greater than virus-rated ultrafiltration(UF) systems.
Such is the power of this electro-positive attraction within the water filtration media, the Super Purifier removes 99.99% of micro-organisms, right down to virus sizing.
High efficiency, powdered, Activated Carbon is incorporated at manufacture into the Purifier Filter cartridge. Because this Activated Carbon is added undiluted (without the need for conventional glues or adhesives) it is 100% available, and surpasses the chemical removal power of standard carbon water filters improving the very taste and quality of your drinking water.
The addition of a Biostat disinfectant minimizes growth of captured bacteria on the water filter surface, reducing the prospect of early filter fouling.
The Purifier Filter is manufactured from 100% FDA-compliant materials for direct food contact, and is acceptable for potable and edible liquid contact, having been tested and certified to meet NSF/ANSI Std.53 for material safety.
Testing performed by the Water Quality Association has also determined that this product reduces Cysts by at least 99.98%.
Related External Links
Water – tanks, bores and dams – Better Health Channel
The highest quality water available should be used for drinking. Rainwater tanks are often the safest source but there are contamination risks that can cause severe gastric illnesses. Drinking water may also be contaminated after a bushfire, flood or other extreme weather event. Analysts can assess your water to ensure it is safe to drink.
Tank Water, Bird Poo, Bacterial Soup, & You
Rain water is our cleanest water, when falling straight out of the sky. We use our roof catchments to capture our share, and store it in household rainwater tanks, but during this process unwanted additives pollute this pure water before we shower, cook, wash clothes, or drink it.
That is, deposits of all kinds on our roof surfaces add a kind of unhealthy bacterial soup to this rain water, with potential disease pathogens derived from bird and bat poo, possum/rodent droppings, and dead insects. These microbial contaminants are often supplemented with algae, pollen, leaves, dirt, fertilizer dust, pesticide spray drift, perhaps mosquito larvae, and the odd frog body, or dead bird.
Some poorly maintained water tanks can in fact promote algae and microbial growth in water collected for household use.
Even with the best roof maintenance, and the use of both an efficient “first flush” system on the water tank (to bypass the first twenty or so “roof cleansing” litres of new rainfall), plus leaf mesh on the guttering, a level of bacterial contamination, (potential germs), is totally unavoidable in our tank stored water.
Protection from waterborne diseases in tank water is provided by SaferWater’s, “Super Filter Purifier”, a specialist tank water filtration system applicable to all rural water supplies. The SFP intercepts all water entering the house providing “Whole House / All Taps” filtration, and requires no electricity or ultraviolet lamps to function. Additionally, the SFP can even be utilised on gravity fed water supplies.
The Super Filter Purifier removes bacteria (e.g. E.Coli), viruses, algae, water parasites (e.g. Giardia, Cryptosporidium cysts), sediment, odours, bad taste, chemical toxins, and some heavy metals from water by a combination of (standard), physical “sieve” filtering, and (new technology), electro-adhesion.
A totally new category of water filter is the technological advance behind the Super Filter Purifier: a highly efficient electropositive fibrous filter media comprising super small, “nanofibres”.
When water passes through this filter, the nanofibres become positively charged, and, by electro-adhesion, attract (and retain) electronegative particles, such as bacteria, viruses, and fine particulates.
The Super Filter Purifier operates with the efficiency of a membrane filter because of its enormous electro-adsorptive filter area, (63,000 sq. m / SFP), eliminating 99.9999% of microbiological water contaminants. Because microbes are captured by the filter, there are no dead bacterial “carcasses” left in the drinking water, and even E. coli inside dung particles are removed.
But with an average physical filter pore size of 2.5 microns, the Super Filter Purifier does not suffer the water pressure drop of other ultra filtration processes, and water flow is not significantly impacted.
Available as a fully assembled tank water purification system, complete with high flow 20” x 4.5” filter housings pre-fitted to a wall mounting bracket, 25mm inlet & outlet ball valves, two filter gauges (indicate when to clean/change filters), and a lift-off, see thru cover, the Super Filter Purifier is designed for easy, tidy installation between the water tank and the house.
The system is rated for even the largest houses, with water flows to 90L/min., and comes complete with all filter cartridges, (including a spare Pre-Filter), for a very competitive $999 (+ freight). The Super Filter Purifier is designed in Australia specifically for water tank application. It is assembled locally, shipped Australia wide, and can be purchased online at www.saferwater.com.au or by phoning SaferWater on 07 5511 1522.
Protect Your Family's Health
“The Super Filter Purifier is the ultimate solution for safer water…protecting your family each and every day”
Related External Links
SaferWater Tank Water Tips #2
SaferWater Tank Water Tips #2: Make it easy on your tank water filtration system.
Have you had a real good look at what accumulates on the bottom of your rain water tank? Have you been brave enough to tell your wife and kids?
Bottom Sludge:
Even with the best management solids will still settle out and accumulate on the tank bottom. In poorly managed water tanks, this often includes bird, bat and rodent faeces, dead insects and maybe bird, frog and toad bodies.
Check that your pump intake does not draw from this sludge area and you will extend the life of any tank water filters downstream of the pump, and the pump will thank you too!
Older tanks with a pump intake in the sludge zone can be retro-fitted with a piece of piping elbow inserted inside the tank to raise the intake point 250 – 350mm off the bottom, clear of the sludge. Use two people for safety when carrying out this upgrade, and obviously it’s easier when tank levels are low!
These days a good water tank cleaner can vacuum remove sludge from tank bottoms with minimum loss of water. This is a good annual practice -check your local tank cleaner bloke offers this service.
Again this approach will reduce the sediment / micro-bug load in your pumped tank water, and provide you with better quality water to filter, and longer water filter cartridge life.
But the bottom line is that unfortunately some bacterial contamination of our tank drinking water is unavoidable. The very nature of roof catchments, combined with the ubiquitous occurrence of potentially harmful bacteria, ensure micro-organism contamination of our tank water- even with the best catchment / tank maintenance possible. Some rain water tanks in fact provide a good environment for bacterial and algal multiplication as a consequence of their composition, age, or location.
To use tank water safely for drinking, cooking, washing, and showering, we always recommend the use of a complete tank water filtration system- one which offers bacterial control capability.
Super Filter Purifier
Check out the new SaferWater (whole house) Super Filter Purifier, developed specifically for tank water users ….to give you safer water, protecting your family each and every day.
Related External Links
read moreSaferWater Tank Water Tips #1
SaferWater Tank Water Tips #1: Make it easy on your tank water filtration system.
Basically its common sense, but we don’t always remember the factors responsible for poor quality tank water.
Roof Catchments:
First, check you are collecting rainwater from a safe roof catchment. Avoid lead based paints, preservative wood treated surfaces, and bitumen based products on roofs used for drinking water collection.
Clear overhanging branches to reduce the possibility of leaves, pollen, and leaf tannins entering your tank water. Tree clearing will also remove potential roosting points for birds and bats, and access points for rodents, cats and possums, reducing a major source of bacterial contamination of tank water.
Keeping roof gutters clear of leaves and dirt also reduces the possibility of corrosion of metal guttering by rain which is naturally slightly acidic.
Windblown leaf contamination of tank water can be reduced by sensible use of leaf mesh on guttering, and water tank inlets and overflows can be screened to limit access by frogs, toads, snakes, birds and insects, including mosquitoes.
First Flush Devices:
These prevent the first portion of roof water run-off from entering your water tank, and will reduce the amount of dust, dirt, bird/bat droppings, leaves, pollen, dead insects etc. being washed into water storage. This is particularly applicable after a long dry period when the first welcome rain does a great job of cleaning the roof into water tanks, placing an abnormally high loading of bacterial dirt on tank water filters, if a first flush diversion isn’t fitted.
And yes, the kids add further contamination, and shouldn’t be swimming in the water storage tank on a hot day when mum and dad have gone to town!
With below ground water tanks, it is vital to prevent entry of surface run off from areas other than the roof catchment, to prevent ingress of stock faecal contaminants and associated harmful micro-organisms.
Flood events increase this possibility even further, and a tank water filtration system, with water purification capability, is a real necessity for safe household water.
Super Filter Purifier
Check out the new SaferWater (whole house) Super Filter Purifier, developed specifically for tank water users ….to give you safer water, protecting your family each and every day.
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Related External Links
read moreNew website launch: new water filtration technology!
SaferWater is here to help you with your water quality problems; we provide practical and affordable solutions to give you safer, better tasting water for healthy living.
SaferWater is the developer of the new water filtration system for whole of house- The Super Filter Purifier for safe tank water free from waterborne diseases.
Super Filter Purifier
We provide friendly water filtration / water purification know-how, and a range of products to eliminate dirt, bacteria, viruses, water parasites and chemical toxins from rural tankwater, or to remove chlorine or fluoride from municipal water, or just to make water taste better!
If your requirement isn’t listed, just ask…we can probably get it for you.
We welcome your pre-purchase enquiries, and you can order SaferWater products online or phone us for advice.
Our pricing is GST inclusive, and freight charges are on a regional basis for convenience. We will email you a freight inclusive invoice (with the best possible freight option and price) for payment by electronic funds transfer or can accept payment by credit card using PayPal.
On receipt of payment, we offer efficient same day (or soonest) dispatch, and email you with consignment details for your purchase.
SaferWater is based in Queensland, and we ship Australia wide.
For “whole of house”, or “point of use” kitchen water filtration & water purification solutions, go to www.saferwater.com.au
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