Sediment is the loose sand, clay, silt and other soil particles that settle at the bottom of a body of water. Sediment can come from soil erosion or from the decomposition of organic matter. Sediments can also be caused by iron from rusted water pipes, soil, microorganisms, and other substances seeping through improperly operated water systems.
There are many different filtering methods and medias used to remove sediments. In rare circumstances when sediments are extremely fine, flocculating agents help the water filtration process by clumping the substances together found in water.
The first method is an inline canister filter. A replaceable cartridge filter catches dirt and sediments down to approximately 5 microns. These filters clog up quickly, reduce water pressure and flow and need to be replaced often depending on the sediment levels.
The second method is an inline spin down filter. This unit catches sediments with a fine mesh screen that comes in different sizes. This filter has a valve on the bottom that can be opened and discharges the sediments through a discharge line or into a 5 gallon bucket or to the ground.
The third filter method is a swirl tank. Water entering the tank is directed into a swirl pattern. Through centrifical force and gravity, the sediments are deposited at bottom of the tank and can be blown out periodically. This is similar to a spin down filter but much larger.
The fourth and most popular sediment dirt filter is the self-cleaning sediment filter. It has a control valve that can be programmed to backwash and rinse the media bed at the desired number of days for the desired amount of time. The media put in the tank is specifically chosen for your particular sediment problem.