Backwashing a Sand Water Filter

This instructional video is designed for ARC field staff who conduct household visits to train home owners in how to backwash their newly installed sand water filters.

Flow rate of water from tap low?

Backwash water filter tank

Dirty water coming from tap?

Open side outlet.

Remove inlet filter.

Screw one end of backwash hose on inlet pipe. Connect other end of hose to tap by pushing it on.

Close ball valve

Open tap to release water to level of filter.

Open ball valve.

Turn off ball valve

Remove backwash hose from inlet pipe and tap.

Pat the sediment at the top of the tank down.

Replace inlet filter

Open ball valve

Fill water filter tank

Open tap to flush remaining dirty water for 5 minutes or until water runs clear.

Allow water to flush through hose for 20 minutes

Turn off tap.

Close side outlet

An

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Meet the homeowners.

Homeowners

Explain overall process and demonstrate for homewoners

Test turbidity and flow of water

If the water is dirty, it has high

turbidity.

If the water is flowing at just a

trickle, the flow is low.

When your tank has low flow or high turbidity, you need to backwash your tank. This usually is done every 6 weeks.

Close ball valve

Ball valve

Open tap

Tap

Remove inlet filter

Inlet filter

Screw one end of hose onto tap

Tap

Hose

Push other end of hose onto inlet pipe

Inlet pipe sits just below water

surface

Open side outlet

Side outlet

Open ball valve

Ball valve

As water flows, pat down the top layer of media

Allow water to flush through hose for 20 minutes

Turn off ball valve

Ball valve

Close side outlet

Side outlet

When water stops flowing, remove backwash hose

Replace inlet filter

Inlet filter

Open ball valve

Ball valve

Allow tank to fill

Open tap to flush remaining dirty water for 5 minutes

Let’s see how well you remember all that…

Flow rate of water from tap low?

Backwash water filter tank

Dirty water coming from tap?

Open side outlet.

Remove inlet filter.

Screw one end of backwash hose on inlet pipe. Connect other end of hose to tap by pushing it on.

Close ball valve

Open tap to release water to level of filter.

Open ball valve.

Turn off ball valve

Remove backwash hose from inlet pipe and tap.

Pat the sediment at the top of the tank down.

Replace inlet filter

Open ball valve

Fill water filter tank

Open tap to flush remaining dirty water for 5 minutes or until water runs clear.

Allow water to flush through hose for 20 minutes

Turn off tap.

Close side outlet

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Congratulations – you did it!!