Reduction of Backwash water loss ideas.

[mas985]

John,

For #2, there is a device called a separation tank. They are actually required were I live for sand and DE filters. The sole purpose of these devices is to reclaim backwashed water. They have an internal screen/filter which removes the dirt/DE from the backwash and returns the water to the pool. Here is an example of one:

http://www.cheappoolproducts.com/Sep...3~product.html

[mshumack]

You may want to just switch over to a cartridge filter. It takes a lot less water to periodically rinse/clean the filter .

[mwsmith2]

Yep, exactly what I was going to suggest. Not a convenient (IMHO) but a better solution for you I think.

Michael

[JohnT]

You may want to just switch over to a cartridge filter. It takes a lot less water to periodically rinse/clean the filter .

I had one in the past on an above ground pool, and didn't care much for it. I have a pretty significant dirt and debris load from surrounding farmland and woods that I'm afraid would be pretty annoying based on my past experience with a cartridge. It may have been that I had more dirt going into the previous pool than I was aware of, but I never got the life out of them that I was told to expect, and always seemed to be cleaning the cartridge.

[JohnT]

John,

For #2, there is a device called a separation tank. They are actually required were I live for sand and DE filters. The sole purpose of these devices is to reclaim backwashed water. They have an internal screen/filter which removes the dirt/DE from the backwash and returns the water to the pool. Here is an example of one:

http://www.cheappoolproducts.com/Separation~Tank~for~any~Pool~Filter_52_1293~produc t.html

Worth considering. I've been reading up on them. Does the bag in the ones I'm reading about catch dirt and DEas it comes out of the filter? Thanks.

[JohnT]

A hitch in #4 pointed out by a co-worker is that pool water could be forced back into the drinking water line while the pump is on if the valve were to leak

[tphaggerty]

One small thing to try is the "skimmer socks" that were in another recent thread. These are fine mesh bags that fit inside of your skimmer basket. They really do pick up a LOT of stuff, including very fine stuff. We have a combination of high pollen and dandelion/cottonwood tree fluff here and the socks work great at keeping almost all of it out of the filter.

I keep several sets of these on hand, each time I empty the skimmer, I replace the sock with a cleaned/dry one and wash and hang out the old one. Keeps the labor pretty low and really does seem to significantly extend time between backflushing (with a DE filter).

[mas985]

Worth considering. I've been reading up on them. Does the bag in the ones I'm reading about catch dirt and DEas it comes out of the filter? Thanks.

I don't have one myself, but from what I understand is that they simply filter the backwash coming out of the main filter in the bag.

I figured that if I had to clean a sep tank bag, why not just get a large cartridge filter so I would only have to clean it out twice a year and save me time in the process.

[Poconos]

John,
Since you live in a rural area do you have a stream on your property? Water wouldn't be as clean as a well and you would have to shock it to get rid of critter doodoo etc but the TA would probably be a low lower. 800...wow. I have two wells and a stream and when fill is needed I use the stream. Also, any way to cat rain water from roof gutters, if you have them, and use that for fill? Just a couple thoughts.
Al

[duraleigh]

Hi, John,

I'm a sand filter guy, too.

I swear to you I have not been drinking (yet)

Two sand filters. (plenty of folks giving up perfectly good ones cheap) Backwash one into the other. When the backwash cycle is complete, valve off the one you just dirtied up to remove it from the system.

Go back to filtering from the one you just backwashed. At your leisure, "backwash" the now "removed" filter with a seperate water source. What that source might be is the snag. I doubt a garden hose will do it so you'd have to probably cycle some well water through the pump into the filter which would call for another valve on the pump.

Hmmm, after rereading this post, maybe it IS time to start drinkin'!