Dry Fountain Filtration

In dry fountains, just like in every public or private installation where a certain quantity of water is stored, it is compulsory to include a filtration system to purify the water and keep it in optimal condition. It is a basic feature: we are talking about installations where peasants make contact with water. In passable dry fountains this is much more likely to happen, ad they are places where people interact with the fountain and make direct contact with the liquid. Read More

In previous post we talk about the different installation types. At the end of each section there is a small note describing which filtration systems are more suitable for each fountain type. Now we will extend this information and will provide relevant data about this subject

Suction and impulsion

The water-filtering process is quite simple. It consists on suctioning and filtering the liquid at one end of the installation, and pushing it so it reaches the most distant point. This way, the filtered water is kept in constant circulation all over the system. However, each installation type has some variables:

• Dry Fountains with Individual Pits: Water is suctioned in one of the pits located at the end of the design (at the end of a linear system, at the corner of a matrix, etc.), and is then pushed so it reaches the pit at the opposite corner or end. In order to achieve a proper water flow, it is important to check that there is a perfect communication between pits.
• Dry Fountains with Communicated Canals: The process is quite similar to the one taking place in fountains with individual pits. Water is suctioned in one of the canals at the end of the installation, and then is pushed to the most distant opposite canal. Just like before, the communication between canals must be perfect in order to let the filtered water circulate all over the system.
• Dry Fountains with Open Pool: Again, the water filtration and circulation process is repeated. In this case, water is sucked at one of the pool’s sides and pushed to the opposite. This system is similar to those used in any kind of pools or fountains.

It must be pointed that in passable dry fountains (just like any other type of fountain) the filtration system is designed taking in consideration the maximum water quantity that can be stored in the pits, canals or pool. It is basic that the total volume of stored water gets fully renewed each eight days. Last but not least, the installation must be equipped with a drainage point near the place where the sand filter remains, preferable a gravity-fed drainage. This device is necessary to clean or rinse the sand contained in the filter. This operation must be regularly carried out in order to guarantee the good performance of the filtration system.

UV Sterilization Equipments

The current legislation requires that every passable dry fountain (as they are installations where water usually makes contact with peasants) includes a UV sterilization system. These systems make water pass through a pipe with a UV lamp inside. The lamp’s action on the liquid will destroy all the microorganisms and germs. It is especially important to guarantee that the dangerous Salmonella germ is fully eradicated.

The UV-lamp power is calculated on the basis of the water flow that circulates through the sterilization system. As for the installation point, the equipment is usually installed in by-pass with the filtration system’s impulsion pipe. This way, the filtering process can continue when maintenance or cleaning operations are performed.

Chlorine and anti-algae products

The third basic point in the water-treatment and filtration process of a dry fountain is the addition of chlorine to the water. This addition can be manually done, but there is also the option of installing a small tablet-dispenser like the ones used in swimming pools. However, today there are complex chlorine-dispensing systems that make this task easier and more efficient. These are fully-automated devices, managed by a pH-controller: the controller obtains information from the water and acts accordingly through a small dispensing pump. The pump pushes the right quantity of chlorine from an acid deposit installed for the purpose

It must be pointed out that dry fountains can include an anti-algae product dispenser together with the chlorine dispenser. These systems work like automatic chlorine dispensers – they suction the product from the corresponding deposit and add it to the water through the filtering system’s impulsion pipe.