Sediment, Sand & Cloudy Water

Signs of sediment

• Grit in faucet aerators and showerheads
• Sand or silt in the bottom of toilet tanks
• Cloudy, dirty or discolored water
• Fill valves and faucet cartridges that wear out or leak early

What causes cloudy water

Cloudiness is measured as turbidity, and California’s secondary (aesthetic) standard for turbidity is 5 units [California secondary drinking water standards (Title 22)]. Penn State Extension notes that turbid, cloudy or dirty water can come from silt, sediment and clay, and can also come from oxidized iron or manganese [Penn State Extension: Common drinking water problems and solutions]. That’s why we test before choosing a filter: if the “sediment” is really iron, a cartridge alone won’t solve it. See iron & manganese and Hughson water.

How we treat it

• Polypropylene cartridge filters, 5 micron or 20 micron, in Big Blue housings. Simple and affordable, with easy cartridge changes.
• Whole-home backwashing NextSand sediment filters. They clean themselves by backwashing, so there are no cartridges to change.

Penn State Extension recommends cartridge filters for less severe cases and media filtration for more severe ones [Penn State Extension: Common drinking water problems and solutions], which matches how we choose. Sediment filtration often goes in first, ahead of a water softener, carbon filter or UV, because catching sand and grit protects everything downstream.

What treatment saves you

• Protected valves, fixtures and appliances, with less grit scratching seals and clogging screens.
• Longer life for your softener and filters downstream.
• Clearer water and fewer clogged aerators and showerheads.
• Less time cleaning toilet tanks and faucet screens.

Sudden sand on a well? Look at the well too

If sand or grit shows up suddenly on a well that used to be clean, the well itself may need attention. A sediment filter protects your home, but it can’t fix a well problem. We don’t sell or service well pumps, so if we see signs the well needs work, we’ll tell you honestly and recommend you call a licensed well contractor.

Choosing the right micron rating

A micron rating describes the size of particle a filter is designed to catch. A 20 micron cartridge catches coarser sand and grit and loads up more slowly. A 5 micron cartridge catches finer particles but fills faster when there’s a lot of sediment. Sometimes the best answer is two stages, coarse then fine, so each cartridge lasts longer. We look at your water and pick what keeps it clean without choking your water pressure.

What upkeep looks like

Cartridge filters are changed on a schedule that depends on how much sediment your water carries; we’ll show you how and can handle it with a service plan. A backwashing NextSand system cleans itself on a set schedule, which makes it a good fit for heavy or constant sediment. Either way, catching the grit early is far cheaper than replacing valves, fixtures and treatment equipment worn down by it.

Sediment problems near you

We install sediment filters across the corridor: Manteca · Lathrop · Stockton · Patterson · Hughson · Turlock · Modesto.