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DRISTEEM HIGH-PRESSURE SYSTEM INSTALLATION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL
OVERVIEW
Water quality and component overview
WATER QUALITY
Supply water must be softened and dechlorinated before being supplied to the reverse-osmosis system. If water is not
properly dechlorinated or softened, it can damage reverse osmosis membranes. If you are not installing DriSteem water
pretreatment components, verify that your water has had chlorine removed and is softened.
DECHLORINATOR REMOVES CHLORINE
The dechlorinator removes chlorine from supply water before it enters the reverse osmosis membranes.
Supply water enters the dechlorinator and passes through a charcoal sieve, which neutralizes chlorine before entering
the water softener. The dechlorinator is automatically backflushed whenever a programmed calendar date or water
meter usage is met. During automatic backflushing, clean water flows through the dechlorinator to rinse the charcoal,
and then flows to drain (tank dechlorinators only).
WATER SOFTENER REMOVES CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM, AND IRON
The water softener removes dissolved hard water minerals from supply water before it enters the reverse osmosis
membranes.
Water passes from the dechlorinator into the softener where dissolved minerals are removed by an ion-exchange
process. Softened water exits through a water meter to enter the reverse osmosis membranes. When the water meter
flow setpoint is satisfied, the softener will take brine from the brine tank to regenerate the resin. Water will be rejected to
drain during this period of rinsing.
CAUTION
Water supplied to the reverse-osmosis
system that does not meet the required
water quality standards will cause
premature component failure and void
the DriSteem warranty.
REVERSE OSMOSIS MEMBRANES ELIMINATE REMAINING MINERALS AND
ORGANICS
Dissolved minerals and organics must be eliminated from the water in order to
keep system components operating properly. Potable water passes through a
dechlorinator and duplex water softener to take out chlorine and hard water
deposits. The softened water enters the RO station, then flows through a 5
micron filter cartridge. Thereafter, a multi-stage pump pressurizes the water to
approximately 125 psig (860 kPa), depending on the quality of water and
the desired flow. Then, water is forced to cross a reverse-osmosis membrane,
which removes most dissolved minerals. The water is now purified and contains
very few minerals (typically less than 10 ppm) and is then stored in the
pressurized storage tank. A portion of the rejection water may be recirculated;
the rest, which is saturated with minerals, is sent to the drain.
COMPONENT OVERVIEW
Your system may include all or some of the following water treatment components.
• Water pretreatment components
- Dechlorinator (tank style floor mount recommended on all sizes, cartridge style wall mount available for RO
models 401 and 402)
- Single or duplex water softener and brine tank
• RO storage options include:
- Pressurized RO holding tank
- Atmospheric RO holding tank with UV sterilization and booster pump