Water treatment and FIltration

ECA® – Expanded Clay Aggregate transforms water treatment filtration by addressing both operational inefficiencies and environmental sustainability. In traditional systems, clogging and decreased flow rates lead to increased maintenance costs and energy consumption. Our aggregate’s unique structure provides an optimized medium that enhances hydraulic performance.

When we speak of Hydraulic Conductivity (Hydraulic Conductivity refers to the ease with which water can flow through a material in simple terms, it measures a material’s ability to allow water passage in a given time under pressure), our aggregate boasts an exceptional value of over 150 cm/hr. This ensures that water flows smoothly through the filter media, reducing downtime and prolonging system life.

By facilitating smoother water flow and improved contaminant capture, ECA® supports water treatment operations with reliability and efficiency. Its robust chemical stability ensures consistent performance even in highly variable water conditions, making it ideal for municipal and industrial applications.

Physical and tertiary filtration stages are critical in ensuring that even the smallest particles are effectively removed from water. ECA®’s engineered structure creates a labyrinth of interstitial spaces that trap impurities without impeding water flow.

The aggregate’s Porosity (Porosity is a measure of the void spaces in a material essentially, it shows how much space exists that can hold water or air) stands at over 40%, ensuring an optimal balance between filtration efficiency and structural integrity. This characteristic minimizes the need for frequent system shutdowns while delivering superior removal of fine sediments and pathogens.

Enhanced durability means that ECA® performs consistently over time, reducing operational costs and minimizing environmental impact. With fewer system interruptions, water treatment facilities can operate more sustainably and cost-effectively.

Filtration systems that use multiple layers of filter media face the challenge of maintaining flow while capturing a wide range of contaminants. ECA® provides an ideal solution for multimedia filter layers by combining high permeability with excellent structural stability.

The Permeability (Permeability is the property that allows fluids to pass through a material simply put, it determines how easily water moves through a filter) of our aggregate is engineered to facilitate multi-stage filtration processes, enabling each layer to function at peak efficiency. Each layer, enhanced with ECA®, works synergistically to trap particles ranging from large debris to microscopic pathogens.

This layered approach not only elevates water clarity but also extends the lifespan of the filter media, reducing replacement frequency and overall maintenance costs. The engineered durability of ECA® ensures that each layer continues to perform even under demanding operational conditions.

For applications requiring rapid water flow with minimal resistance, high porosity is essential. ECA® – Expanded Clay Aggregate offers superior porosity levels, making it a critical component in filter media designed to maximize water throughput.

Its Void Ratio (Void Ratio indicates the proportion of empty space relative to the total volume in practical terms, it’s a key measure of how much water can be accommodated within a material) of over 0.5 ensures that water passes through quickly, while contaminants are effectively trapped within the aggregate’s structure. This high porosity contributes to reduced energy consumption and enhanced system performance vital for high-demand industrial applications.

Incorporating ECA® means your filtration system operates efficiently even under high flow rates, ensuring that water quality is maintained without sacrificing performance.

Backwashing, while necessary for cleaning filter media, often disrupts system performance and consumes significant resources. ECA® minimizes this need by maintaining a consistent level of filtration even during prolonged periods of operation.

The aggregate’s unique physical properties reduce the accumulation of suspended solids, which in turn decreases the frequency and volume of backwash water required. Sedimentation (Sedimentation refers to the process by which particles settle out of a fluid simply, it is the method by which contaminants are removed from water) is enhanced, leading to a self-regulating system that remains efficient over extended use.

Fewer backwash cycles translate into lower water waste, reduced energy consumption, and improved overall system uptime. This innovation is especially beneficial for facilities that require continuous operation with minimal interruption.

Infiltration basins are critical in recharging groundwater supplies, but they often suffer from clogging and inefficient water distribution. ECA® enhances the performance of these basins by providing a durable, porous medium that supports rapid infiltration and effective water dispersion.

The aggregate’s Hydrophobicity (Hydrophobicity is the tendency of a material to repel water in everyday language, it describes how resistant a material is to water absorption) is engineered to balance water retention with swift drainage. This balance ensures that water is effectively absorbed into the ground without causing surface runoff or saturation issues.

By improving water distribution and reducing maintenance demands, ECA® helps create sustainable, long-term solutions for water management in urban and rural settings alike.

One of the most challenging aspects of water treatment is the simultaneous removal of sediment and oil contaminants. ECA® – Expanded Clay Aggregate is engineered to address both issues through its advanced adsorption and mechanical filtration properties.

With a Surface Area (Surface Area is a measure of the total area available on the surface of a material in simple terms, it’s the space where chemical reactions or adsorption processes can occur) exceeding 0.9 m²/g, our aggregate provides extensive contact with water, capturing oil droplets and sediment particles effectively. This dual-action capability minimizes the need for secondary treatment processes, saving time and operational costs.

The result is a cleaner, more sustainable water treatment process that meets the highest standards of purity while ensuring environmental safety.

Harvested water represents a valuable resource that must be processed efficiently to be reused safely. ECA® enhances filter media for harvested water by providing robust performance even in variable water quality conditions.

Its Chemical Stability (Chemical Stability indicates how resistant a material is to changes when exposed to chemicals simply, it describes a material’s durability in different chemical environments) ensures that contaminants are effectively filtered without degradation of the aggregate. This is crucial for systems where water quality can fluctuate based on source variability.

By integrating ECA® into harvested water filtration systems, operators benefit from lower maintenance costs, improved water quality, and a more sustainable resource management strategy.