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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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Southern Baja area: Water Filtration
We're looking to place a whole-house water filtration system on our home's water.
We want a gross sand and rock filtration as the water enters into our cistern. As the water leaves the cistern for the house we want a series of 2-3
filters of varying grades that'll clean out fine sediment, bacteria and micro-organisms.
I know these systems are readily available stateside, but we're down here. We don't want a reverse osmosis system, btw.
Anybody in La Paz or even Cabo know if such a system is available for purchase down there?
[Edited on 9-13-2012 by Mulegena]
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Go to some place that deals with yachts and ask about a UV system........place some replaceable filter pre-treatment sediment filters in front of the
UV system.
If you can't find anything locally, try this:
http://www.waterfixercompany.com/model1000.html
Use this system at our place, works great.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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Yes, thank you, BajaGuy.
You've educated me about this wonderful system and I may buy it.
If we can find something comparable down here would be great.
Thanks for the tip about the yachties. 
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
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We have a person in San Bruno who just opened up a water treatment facility and sells fillings for garrafones, and he purchased all of his equipment
in Mexico. You might want to talk to him and get the information and even though he has a bigger system than you need, he could at least give you the
contact information. He took early retirment from the Gypsum mine on the island and invested in this system. He is just south of the Catholic
church in San Bruno.
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Osprey
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3694
Registered: 5-23-2004
Location: Baja Ca. Sur
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What's the bad stuff in the water? What terrible things happened to you and others in Mulege that came from the local wells?
Baja well water for village use has been, as far as I know, up and down the peninsula, pure enough that it supports a lot of homes without special
treatment. Do you have some issues because of the river that make the local well water there a problem for people if untreated, unfiltered? If so,
doesn't the village attend to that for everyone who has service? Purified water for drinking, in 5 gallon garrafones here, is 10 pesos -- that water
is treated 3 ways for us cheap-picky drinkers.
For almost 20 years now I haven't bothered to treat city water that runs through my 1500 gallon pila and it's just a big concrete box. No problems in
the house, the pipes or my personal pipes.
Just curious M'lady.
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Mulegena
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Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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Hey, Osprey, good to hear from you!
The town's well-water is au naturale, straight outta the ground into holding tanks then through the pipes and into the homes. The river water never
enters the water supply.
This is good and bad, as I see it. Good, 'cause its not chlorinated or touched by chemicals, but bad because there's the possibility of organisms.
People who do drink the water also go to the pharmacy and take a purge a couple times a year, just in case they've picked up hitchhikers. Also, kinda
bad, is the water is chockfull of sediment. White clothes never come out white, even with bleach, and colored clothes are always dingy. The bottom of
the washers all have dark sand in 'em.
So, those are my two concerns: micro-organisms and dirty shirts!
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
We have a person in San Bruno who just opened up a water treatment facility and sells fillings for garrafones, and he purchased all of his equipment
in Mexico. You might want to talk to him and get the information and even though he has a bigger system than you need, he could at least give you the
contact information. He took early retirment from the Gypsum mine on the island and invested in this system. He is just south of the Catholic
church in San Bruno. |
Thanks for that reminder, Pescador.
We can go look him up or see what the two companies in Mulege use.
I understand that reverse osmosis for home use is quite expensive to set up and uses alot of water; does this mean water is wasted? UV filtering is
good and economical but may not destroy all the micro-organisms swimming around as they can be hidden by sediment in the water.
Basically, we'd like a relatively inexpensive system that's effective. The price of 5-gallon garafon water has more than doubled and I find it hard to
lug around that much weight, too.
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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have you considered a Diatomaceous earth filter as used on swimming pools and hot tubs in the US and in Mexico. A pool company should be able to set
you up.
www.nesc.wvu.edu/.../diatomaceous_dwfsom39
Spanish term or phrase: filtros de diatomeas
En los filtros de arena se recomienda realizar un contralavado para evitar el apelmazamiento de la arena. En los filtros de diatomeas, hay que
realizar una lavado a contracorriente, eliminar las diatomeas sucias, abrir el filtro, limpiar los elementos filtrantes internos con detergente,
sustituir las partes rotas y dejar el filtro abierto.
Bob Durrell
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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water
the unit that baja guy posted is nice but your first (PRE-FILTER) IS GONNA HAVE TO BE A HELL OF LOT BIGGER THAN 5 MICRON !!! THAT SIZE IN MOST SYTEMS
WOULD GET PLUGGLED DAILY...JUST A SAYING !! BUT WE USE A LOT OF DIFFERENT SYSTEMS IN YACHTS...JUST DO A BIT OF WEB SEARCH....K&T
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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I use two whole house pre filters before the UV system. Those filters are cheap.
Water then goes through the UV system consisting of ANOTHER sediment filter, a charcoal filter then the UV light.....those pesky micro-organisims
don't have a chance once they hit that UV chamber!!!!
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Shimmer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 69
Registered: 11-29-2005
Location: Todos Santo BCS
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Mood: In the Question
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water filtration
www.aguadebaja.com
great system. 612 157 7695. Chris.
They are in La Paz, and offer several options... one includes a water softner aspect. Just put one in my personal home and one in one of my remodels.
I am more than pleased. these systems were designed specifically for southern baja hard water.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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Thank you, Shimmer, for your link.
I wish the company well. They have a good product and as you stated its geared to Baja's needs,
but wow! kinda pricey
[Edited on 9-13-2012 by Mulegena]
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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Shimmer
Junior Nomad
Posts: 69
Registered: 11-29-2005
Location: Todos Santo BCS
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Mood: In the Question
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water filtration
Its true... The price on the whole house systems is expensive. As a home builder and property manager, one of the problems we find here is the build
up of deposits in water heaters, valves, float valves, shower heads, dish washers, and copper pipes.... all needing to be serviced/ replaced in
unbelievable short intervals. The watersoftening aspect of the system over time will more pay its high price back, when you consider cost of labor
and materials to combat these perpetual malfunctions. I understand your feeling on the price it appears / is seemingly high without taking these
issues into account. I am told there are other systems in La paz for sale but dont know them. This one was referred to me, came with outstanding
references and I put them in. Persist and I am sure your product will be found.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
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Mood: Full Time Residents
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actually my neighbor tested the town water...
its clean
only dirt and sand ...NO bugs
the problem occurs when people store the water in black tanks without clorinating it OR covering it
the water at the pump is clorinated after its pumped
but not enough to store it
the water DOES have ALOT of calcium in it (its hard water)
your rock system will clog in 2 years because of the calcium
a diatamatious earth filter wont work either...
my diatamatious earth pool filter filters water...
but to clean water it has to go thru the filter several times
one time is NOT enough to clean water
every three months we have to take the filter apart and scrub the calcium off the grids
if not cleaned the grids will clog
personally...i think you are worring too much about the town water...
it's fine
i watch the town water come out of the pump every other day
its really clean
just get a clorinator for your storage tank and you'll be good to go...
or just get some clorine tablets and
throw one in once a week to keep the tank clean (standing water)
home depot in ensenada sells clorine tabs
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latina
Nomad
Posts: 210
Registered: 3-19-2011
Location: La Paz
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I second "Aqua de Baja" on Madero in La Paz. We put the whole house filtration system in over 3 years ago and are %100 satisfied. Besides the
obvious benefits, our faucets aren't clogging up monthly, we don't have lime stains on our tiles from floor washing and when you shower your body and
hair actually feel "squeaky clean" instead of slimy... As for cost, we have a similar system in our home in Canada and it was three times as
expensive....go figure...
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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
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I know many folks in San Felipe who drink the water from the tap without any filtration. The water comes out of the mountains above San Felipe, and
the water test show that the water is clean, however, my concern is the delivery method. Here in the USA we use back flow prevention devices. These
devices keep standing water from backing up into the water supply via irrigation systems etc. These are not used in Mexico, so even with clean water,
during the delivery process, it is possible that chemicals and raw sewage and find it's way into the water supply.
I actually put in a small water pump that I purchased on amazon that connects a long straw into a 5 gallon water bottle. I plumbed my ice make and a
water faucet in the kitchen to get clean bottled water. I haul 2 5 gallon bottles back and fourth from Fenix and refill them for about $1 per 5
gallons.
http://www.amazon.com/Flojet-BW1000A-Bottled-Dispensing-Syst...
Works great and I don't have to waste 2 or 3 gallons of water to get one gallon using an under sink RO system.
[Edited on 9-13-2012 by CortezBlue]
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oladulce
Super Nomad
Posts: 1625
Registered: 5-30-2005
Location: bcs
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Great question Mulegena and thanks for the info about Agua de Baja Shimmer.
I'm curious about the frequency of filter changes and Wooo has other questions-gonna contact them.
Dang it, BigWooo has installed a Water Fixer system in the new casa but he hasn't finished the plumbing or electrical yet so it hasn't been used. I
sure like the anti-scale feature on the Blue Angel treatment system and Mr. solar-Watt-monitor likes that it doesn't need electricity like our UV
set-up.
I don't know how our water in central BCS compares to the mineral levels in the South. I've never lined-dried laundry before we moved here- is it
normal for towels to be stiff as a board and jeans so taut you can stand them up after they've been on the line? If it's the water, it's scary to
think what our plumbing and kidneys are going to look like so the cost of the system might not be so bad in the long run.
We're lucky to have pristine, sweet water that comes straight from the well and delivered to our cisterna but the weak link is the delivery truck. Our
water guy is a wonderful man but his pipa has seen better days and i'd be afraid to look inside his tank. Watching the old truck with the hose coiled
up on the back bouncing down the dusty roads makes me wonder where else that hose goes between our tank fill ups. 
Mulegena, if we switch to the Agua de Baja equipment we might have an unused Water Fixer system available if you're interested.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Air dry
We air dry our clothes here in Carson City and also in Baja.....same stiff as a board in towels and denim fabric at both places, everything else is
OK.
If you want "fluffy" towels, the best option is a clothes dryer, but then, defeats the purpose
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Retired and Loving it
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Try these guys, they have an office in Cabo. Did good for me.
http://h2obaja.com/
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Marinero
Nomad
Posts: 419
Registered: 11-4-2003
Location: Los Barriles, BCS
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What is the objection to R/O? If mounted near the pila the excess water can be returned with little or no loss. The R/O water is sent to point of
use by small hoses after visiting an accumulator tank.
Si estás buscando la person que cambiará su vida, échale una mirada en el espejo.
Fish logo from www.usafishing.com, used w/permission.
But Oz never did give nothing to the Tin Man
That he didn't, didn't already have..... |
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