The summer season is approaching and in the coming months we will have to make sure that our pools are working properly so that users can enjoy them with confidence. One of the most important components of the installation is the filter media, which is responsible for retaining dirt particles and leaving the pool clean and transparent.
In the market we can find a great variety of brands of filtering glass sands, and from Nature Works we want to share with you the characteristics that we should value when choosing the most suitable one. The price differences are minimal, but the advantages are widely different.
Total Filtration Performance, the key feature
Naturally, the first thing we expect from a filter media is that it filters, this is, that it retains as many dirt particles as possible (dust, algae, bacteria, hair, etc.). And that it does so throughout its lifetime, not just during the first few months of use.
Silica sand has a good initial filtration performance, but due to the shape of its grains it is prone to create biofilm (bacterial colonies), which leads to clogged areas. This process can even occur in just a few weeks in cases of intensive use. In the case of low quality glass sands the results are very varied as the grain sizes are uncontrolled and unreliable. For the same reason they tend to become compacted and lose filtering capacity.
Which total filtration performance does Nature Works offer?
Nature Works provides a total filtration performance of 99,64%. This data is taken from tests carried out by the French IFTS laboratories, which were performed under the supervision of a notary in order to guarantee the objectivity of the study. Retention capacity (or filtration performance) was tested by inputting a certain amount of contaminants in a circuit and observing the amount retained by the filter mass.
Efficiency, maximum performance with minimum consumption
Efficiency involves the highest possible retention capacity with the highest possible energy savings. It is no use having an excessively fine filter media if the pump will not be able to circulate the water through the installation and will increase energy consumption. Nor if the media becomes clogged in a few hours and forces us to carry out continuous backwashing. In other words, it is essential to find the right balance between filtration and savings.
What level of efficiency does Nature Works offer?
This technology also enables the number of backwashes to be reduced by 75%, from the usual weekly backwashes with other filter media to a single monthly backwash under the same conditions. Also, energy consumption is reduced to a 60% thanks to the clogging capacity of the media. These savings are particularly significant in large installations such as public and commercial swimming pools and water parks.
Filter media hygiene: it’s all about the source
Have you ever wondered where the glass from your filter media comes from? Their green or amber colour may give you a clue, as they are made directly from glass from the garbage. This glass, full of the contaminants you would expect in a bin, is barely washed, ground and bagged. The pool water will pass through the media, in most cases carrying away these contaminants.
What level of hygiene does Nature Works offer?
Nature Works is the only NSF European glass certified, and the only one listed as hygienically sourced. It is exclusively manufactured from clean glass of industrial origin, usually leftover from window manufacturers and other virgin flat glass. This source is the ultimate guarantee of purity from the source.
In order to identify and compare the purity level of Nature Works with other brands on the market, we went to the specialised Bioexam laboratories in Switzerland. Once again, they analysed the samples sent to them before a notary, and found that Nature Works offers the highest possible level of hygiene. Competing brands, which you can read about in the full report, had much less favourable results, which begs the question of whether it is professional to work with materials that have these levels of bacterial contamination.
In addition to these 3 aspects, it is important to consider others such as the number of layers required, the effective durability of the filter media and its safety in handling.
We hope that you have found this information useful, designed to help you choose the most suitable filter media for this season. Remember that these considerations are valid for filters of any size and application. If you have any questions or want to know more about Nature Works filter media, please contact us and we will be happy to help you.
