FACTS ABOUT RESIN TECHNOLOGY BASED STORAGE WATER PURIFIERS

• What is Waterguard?
• What is the life of each cartridge?
• How does Waterguard kill bacteria & viruses?
• Are all bacteria & viruses killed by Waterguard?
• Will there be improvement in taste of my tea/coffee?
• Is the ice made from Waterguard water better than ice made from unfiltered water?
• Is water quality of Waterguard better than that of UV purifiers?
• How does Waterguard purify water?
• Will Waterguard release excess iodine in water and is excess iodine harmful?
• Which heavy metals are removed by Waterguard?
• Which harmful bacteria & viruses are removed by Waterguard?
• What are the various water sources, water from which can be purified by Waterguard?
• Should one replace health & taste cartridge at the same time?
• Should one store health cartridges in fridge, when going on a holiday?
• When should the cartridges be replaced?
• Can one fill the top tank with hot water?
• How should the pre-filter pad be cleaned?
• When should one change the pre-filter?
• In case cartridge is not changed in due time what happens?
• Why does flooding (overflow of water from the system) take place?
• What should be done if the flow rate of the system drops?
• Occasionally, why does filtered water not have clean appearance or has bad odour or taste?

What is Waterguard?

Waterguard is a three stage water filter + purifier. The three stages are:
1. Prefiltration - to remove suspended impurities.
2. Iodine disinfection - to disinfect water from bacterial and viral pathogens.
3. Granular activated carbon and ion exchanger mix bed -to remove dissolved organic impurities, foul odour, bad taste, chlorine, residual iodine & iodide from water.
The purified water is collected in the bottom container and is available as and when required.

What is the life of each cartridge?

A set of Waterguard cartridges work for 1500 liters of water. If a family of 4 members consumes 8 liters of water per day for drinking, it is sufficient for six months.

How does Waterguard kill bacteria & viruses?

When water percolates through health cartridge, it carries an optimum dose of iodine which possesses appreciable germicidal properties against bacteria and viruses. Iodine is a strong oxidizing agent and this fact is accounted for its action. Oxidizing agent causes irreparable damage to essential metabolic compounds of microbes. Disinfection depends upon the dose of disinfectant & exposure time. The dose and time is regulated by the system flow rate. The slower the flow, the better it is for purification. Waterguard has been designed to deliver an optimum flow of 20-24 min. per litre.

Are all bacteria & viruses killed by Waterguard?

Disinfection is a function of dose & contact time of disinfectant with water. The system has been designed to take care of all water borne diseases-causing bacteria & viruses. Waterguard is routinely tested in leading Indian and foreign Institutes. Waterguard has been certified by many Institutes like AIIMS, New Delhi and University of Frankfurt, Germany, CISIR, Colombo, Sri Lanka and many more reputed national & foreign institutes.

Will there be improvement in taste of my tea/coffee?

Waterguard removes offending taste caused by organic impurities and chlorine in water and improves the taste of tea and coffee.

Is the ice made from Waterguard water better than ice made from unfiltered water?

Yes, ice made of unfiltered water if added to water is one of the major cause of recontamination of purified water. Bacteria and viruses may go in a dormant phase at low temperature and resume their metabolic activities once the conditions of temperature get favourable for them. One should always use ice made of purified water only.

Is water quality of Waterguard better than that of UV purifiers?

Both iodine disinfection and UV disinfection are proven technologies for purification of water. If the systems are well calibrated then, they will deliver equally good purified water.

How does Waterguard purify water?

Waterguard takes care of all three types of impurities present in water. At the time of filling the top container, water passes through a pre-filter pad of 5 micron rating. Suspended particles get trapped in the pre-filter pad. Then, the filtered water flows through iodinated resin beads for disinfection. It carries an optimum dose of iodine and gets collected in carbon cartridge holder reservoir, where it flows on first come, first out basis. The disinfected water then passes through granular activated carbon & ion exchanger mixed bed where the residual iodine chlorine, organic impurities like pesticides (Aldicarb, Lindane etc.), herbicides Trihalomethanes (THM), DDT, CTC, and other impurities like, colour, odour, and bad taste are adsorbed. Water which is free from all suspended, dissolved chemical & microbiological impurities gets collected in the bottom container and is available for use.

Will Waterguard release excess iodine in water and is excess iodine harmful?

In Waterguard, iodine released from iodinated resin cartridge gets adsorbed onto the activated carbon & ion exchanger mixed bed.

Selecting a system which adequately removes iodine from product water (after disinfecting it), is therefore as important as selecting a system with adequate disinfection capabilities. This feature makes the Waterguard a right and fearless choice.

However pregnant ladies & people with dysfunctional thyroid/thyroid disorders should consult the doctor prior to using iodine based water purifiers.

Which heavy metals are removed by Waterguard?

Activated Carbon has fair affinity towards few heavy metals and their organic complexes i.e. lead, iron. As the contact time of water with activated carbon is relatively good in Waterguard, it will help in reducing such metals in water but will not totally remove them.

Which harmful bacteria & viruses are removed by Waterguard?

The system will remove all known water borne pathogens. We have calibrated the system to take care of pathogens count up to 1000000 / 100ml, without any problem. Few bacterial & viral pathogens disinfected by iodine are as follows:

What are the various water sources, water from which can be purified by Waterguard?

Waterguard works well against designated water pollutants irrespective of the source of water. However, one should use water meant for drinking purpose only, i.e. municipal water supplies, bore-well, hand pump & open well.

Should one replace health & taste cartridge at the same time?

Yes, as both are designed to work together for 1500 litres of water.

Should one store health cartridges in fridge, when going on a holiday?

Preferably yes. But the cartridges should be sealed in separate polyethylene bags.

When should the cartridges be replaced?

One has to keep track on the approx. daily consumption of water & derive a thumb rule, that after how many days it will complete 1500 litres of water. For example a family of 4, if consumes 8 litres water per day, should replace it after 6 months. A calendar sticker has been provided with the system to help you remember when to replace your Usha Brita cartridges.

Can one fill the top tank with hot water?

No, hot water should not be used. It will affect the Health cartridge.

How should the pre-filter pad be cleaned?

The pre-filter pads are washable and can be back washed holding the pre-filter under tap water in inverted position. One can also remove the pre-filter pad; hold it under running tap water and squeeze it several times. This will increase the life of pre-filter pads. The frequency of back flushing depends on the quality of incoming water, however this should be done at least once every 15 days.

When should one change the pre-filter?

Filter pad once cleaned will work again with good efficiency. Pads should be changed when they get clogged or distorted.

In case cartridge is not changed in due time what happens?

Health cartridge - If the cartridge is exhausted and is not replaced, the iodine required for disinfection will not be present in water. This will affect the disinfection of water and as a result will allow bacterial and viral pathogens in output water.

Taste cartridge - If exhausted and not changed will allow chlorine, iodine, other organic impurities, bad smell and odour to pass through in output water.

Why does flooding (overflow of water from the system) take place?

The top cap may not be closed tightly. Close the top cap tightly. The 'o' ring between the top cap & top lid may be missing or damaged. The 'o' ring should be inserted or replaced. Also ensure that Waterguard is placed on a flat surface.

What should be done if the flow rate of the system drops?

If the filtration rate is too slow i.e. > 40 min/ltr.,then one or both the cartridges may be blocked. Take out the cartridges from the system, immerse them in pure water for about 5 min. and shake vigorously. Insert back the cartridges tightly in their respective holders.

Occasionally, why does filtered water not have clean appearance or has bad odour or taste?

As and when new cartridges are put in the system, the first 3-4 litres of water should be discarded. If the problem still persists, more filtered water should be thrown till the problem disappears.

The problem can also be due to water bypassing the cartridges in case the cartridges are not inserted tightly into the holders. The cartridges should be pressed tightly into the holders to ensure proper fitment. The cartridges should be replaced in case these have been used for more than 1500 litres or longer than 6 months. Cartridges with damaged or open pouch should not be used.