Whole House Water Filtration?

[suburbanplumber]

Gents I wonder if any of you can point me in the right direction

I'm quoting on an installation in a country house that's divided into flats, the rising main is in Lead, much of the other pipe work is in Mild Steel do any of you have any (positive) experience of whole house filtration to remove heavy metals and soften the water. I'm looking for as near to 'fit and forget' as possible as the house is only in use some of the year.

Cheers
SP

 

[dai the plumber]

I've fitted a couple of 'whole house' systems, one customers had very bad 'contamination with iron (from a private well) the water being virtually undrinkable. I installed a Reverse Osmosis system and that solved the issues, but I wouldn't say it could be 'fit and forget' as some maintainence is necessary just like most things. These units from my recollection supplied about 150 gals a day so would be too small for a large multi occupied building, no doubt some one somewhere will make a semi commercial unit. Neither actually softened the water but with some of the salts removed it could be classed as partially softened water I suppose, but I think that would be stretching it a bit as a water filtration unit is not a true water softener.
Might be better to install a single unit on the drinking supplies for each flat to save treating water that gets flushed down the pan

 

[WHPES]

You can get large cartridge filters similar to the type in the Screwfix catalogue which will take out rust particles. As for lead you are best to speak to a water filtration equipment supplier. My advice would be to replace the lead pipe.

 

[dontknowitall]

If this was my job I'd be suggesting this was updated to current building regulations and fit a new supply pipe (MDPE) and have a logical system of stop taps for each flat and (if necessary) water filters for each flat too.

 

[suburbanplumber]

Thanks for the replies chaps

Dontknowitall - me too if i were doing the whole building, alas it's only one flat hence the filtration idea.

WHPES in town I've done very well out of just such a strategy, same problem

Dai do you remember the brand by any chance?
thanks again
SP

 

[dai the plumber]

Pretty sure the last unit fitted was a Liff.