Multi-cyclone Pool Water Pre-filtration Device

[RealityCheck]

Hi.

Can anyone tell me where in Thailand I can buy a WaterCo multi-cyclone pool water pre-filter?

I've emailed the company main offices (not in Thailand) but can not get a response - presumably an order for one unit is not worth the trouble.

Any help in pointing me in the right direction would be appreciated.

Thanx.

[Chaichara]

I have never known the need for such a thing in thirty-six years of experience with pools large and small around the world. The principle on which it works is very simple - and it could be argued that the firm has designed it to be able to sell some largely unnecessary piece of equipment to people who think they need it. What we call a "gimmick' in British English. A common enough problem in this 'luxury price tag' world of swimming pools. It's only justifiable use is if the pool water has a very high level of fairly large diameter solids such as a plague of millions of locusts that drown in the pool overnight.

You may need to determine whether or not your pool water is really so extremely filthy that it needs any extra pre-filtration.

Even if your well water is rather dirty, modern swimming pool sand filters are extremely effective if of the right size, properly installed, and matched to a pump of the right capacity (that also means NOT to a pump that is overpowered either, as some pool firms install. A pump that is too powerful for the filter will in fact have an extremely adverse effect on th filtration properties of the filter unit and media. A pump that is underpowered will need to run longer to get the job done, and hence use more electricity, and will wear out sooner.

To enhance the water flow, 90º bends in the pipework are best avoided and wide radius bends used instead. Most pool firms don't think about this although the extra cost is less than about 200 baht per pool!

Sand filters are up tp 30 times more effective if filled with Zelbrite ior DiamondKleen filter media instead of sand. many pool companies in Thailand don't even know about this stuff although it is widely available. It only needs 75% of the volume of sand too, reducing the load on the pump even more.

All pool filtration equipment, whatever the solution, is designed to remove only suspended solids, although this includes microscopic bacteria. they will not however, remove disolved chemicals. If your top up supply is suspect - too close to a septic tank and containg E-coli, or has a high level of iron and other minerals, the WaterCo cyclone is not going to be of any advantage - the money is best invested in a proper domestic water treatment plant.

[Chaichara]

These people should be able to tell you anything you need to know about WaterCo products:

B.L.T. Associates Co. Ltd.

888, Soi 28, Pracharajbumpen Road,

Samsen nok, Huay Kwang,

Bangkok 10320, Thailand.

Business phone : +66 2 6916789

Fax : +66 2 6916797

Contact : Mr Bhutep Devahastin

SiamConsulting & Associates

Bangklok - Pattaya - Udon Thani

Th: 0871020117 (English, French , German)

Th: 042 372 395 (fixed & Fax, English only )

Th: 089 030 6404 (English, French , German)

UK Office: +44 (0) 8716696404 (English, French , German)

SiamConsulting Pools Division: Contact: Mr Chris. (English, French, German) Tel: 0801844040

[RealityCheck]

Dear Chaichara,

Many thanks for your replies - the notes in your first post are appreciated and understood. However, I specificly need a filter with zero maintenance - no cleaning/replacement of filter mesh or sand, etc. Yes, our source has a very high concentration of suspended particles and the spec on the WestCo looks ideal to remove these before they hit the main filters.

I could bring one back from the UK next time I visit, but it's a big lump to process through the airport

I'll contact BLT and Siam Consulting as you suggest - hopefully they'll be able to help.

Again - many thanks.