Lifestream was recently contacted to bid on a proposed marijuana reverse osmosis project.   The project was for a licensed recreational marijuana cultivation facility near Pueblo, Colorado.

Cultivation facilities often desire reverse osmosis permeate water.  But, why?

Growers often desire water that is free of all contaminants and minerals (ions, silica, and organics).  In short, they desire pure H20.

Growers working with pure water can then mix in nutrients.  Thus, creating their own plant specific nutrient blend.

Water Chemistry and Pretreatment Equipment –

Reverse osmosis systems can become damaged by a number of factors or contaminants present within the source water supply.  Thus, Lifestream can’t recommend a treatment process with confidence without first understanding the source water’s chemical makeup.  Lifestream can recommend equipment and injections (pretreatment) ahead (upstream) of the reverse osmosis system only after the source water has been laboratory tested.  Example pre-treatment equipment includes: water softeners, carbon filters, sediment filters, UV lamps & chemical injection systems. This equipment protects the marijuana reverse osmosis system from scaling, fouling, and chemical attack.

 

Sizing Pretreatment Equipment and Reverse Osmosis Systems –

The following information is with regards to this specific project.  The feed water flow limited pre-treatment and RO equipment sizes at this job site.  The peak water flow was flowing at 10 – 11 GPM at 40 PSI out of the end-users well.  The slow flow rate and low pressure limited the size of equipment that the end-user could install at their cultivation facility.   Pre-treatment equipment often requires peak flow rates to backwash media.  Backwashing media frees trapped sediment from pre-treatment equipment.  Subsequently, we were able to design a RO system capable of producing reverse osmosis product water  at 10,000+ gallons per day.  Pre-treatment equipment was designed to operate under these limiting conditions as well.

Interested in learning more or obtaining a quote?  Contact Lifestream today!

If you’re concerned regarding lead in your drinking water,   we’re here to help. Lifestream can help walk you though lead detection and mitigation processes (i.e. identifying lead water filters and other lead removal water filtration systems for your application).

The occurrence of lead in municipal water supplies and household water distribution systems is a large-scale public health issue.  Colorado residents are becoming more concerned regarding the safety of their personal water supply.

The Flint Water Crisis has reminded us all to the vulnerabilities of the infrastructure that provides us our drinking water.

Lead Water Filters for Removal of this dangerous element and other contaminants.

If you have concerns regarding the presence of lead in your drinking water.  We have a few steps to help address the concern:

1. Have your water tested at a professional water testing laboratory.  If you are located in Colorado, we recommend sending a water sample to the CSU water and soil testing laboratory’s, check out their routine package or individual metal analysis.
2. If lead is detected and is above the EPA’s recommended levels.  Please contact us today and we can discuss some mitigation measures to remove lead from your drinking water.

 

 

 

Arsenic Removal Technologies – Part 2

In part one of our blog posts regarding removal of arsenic from drinking water supplies, we looked at removal of arsenic through reverse osmosis technology.  In part 2, we will look at the removal of two “species” of arsenic often encountered in water wells.  The USEPA and other health departments recommend that owners of private water wells with elevated arsenic use an alternate source of water for drinking and cooking, or install a water-treatment system that removes arsenic.  Treating water to remove arsenic is not simple.   However, there are a variety of arsenic removal technologies available on the market today.

Common household water-treatment methods, such as water softeners, activated carbon filters and sediment filters are not effective for removing arsenic from water.

As previously stated in our blog, reverse osmosis can be an effective tool for arsenic removal from well water.  Furthermore, home owners have a variety of other systems available when treating water for the removal of arsenic.  Please see the following article here, regarding removal of arsenic “species” III and V.  The article delves into arsenic removal methods for two “species” of arsenic often encountered in well water, As(III) and As(V).   And remember, Lifestream supplies a variety of reverse osmosis systems! Furthermore, Lifestream is your local water quality and water treatment expert for central Colorado.  Please contact us today if you have any questions regarding removal of arsenic from your drinking water supply!