Bore water can contain suspended sediment, dissolved or particulate iron, manganese, hardness, salts and microorganisms. The right filtration system depends on which problem is present, the intended use and the flow and pressure available at the site. Tenselo connects those decisions to separate interpretation and sizing calculations.
Start with the intended use, laboratory results and hydraulic duty
A filter cannot be selected reliably from colour, taste, staining or a single headline result. Record what the water will be used for, then use a laboratory report and site duty that match that use. Household drinking, irrigation, livestock and process supplies can require different evidence and treated-water targets.
| Input group | Examples | Design effect |
|---|---|---|
| Source and use | Bore construction, drinking, household, irrigation, stock or process duty | Determines the questions the treatment train must answer. |
| Hydraulic duty | Peak and continuous flow, daily volume, inlet pressure and operating hours | Controls vessel, cartridge, pump, contact and backwash sizing. |
| Water analysis | pH, turbidity, iron, manganese, hardness, alkalinity, EC/TDS and relevant contaminants | Separates suspended solids from dissolved treatment problems. |
| Microbiology | E. coli, total coliforms and the required testing program | Determines whether the available evidence can support the intended use. |
| Operation | Backwash water, drain capacity, waste disposal, power and maintenance access | Establishes whether the proposed system can operate as designed. |
Use water-analysis interpretation software to preserve mixed units, non-detect qualifiers and missing tests before choosing equipment.
Match the measured bore-water problem to the treatment process
| Finding | Process question | Tenselo pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Sand, silt or particulate material | What particle size and loading must the filter retain, and how will it clean? | Screen, disc, media and cartridge filter sizing |
| Iron or manganese | Is it dissolved or particulate, and are oxidation, contact and catalytic media required? | Iron-removal filter sizing |
| Hardness and scale | Does hardness justify ion exchange, and what service flow and regeneration cycle apply? | Water-softener sizing |
| Dissolved salts or selected dissolved contaminants | Is a membrane process justified after pretreatment and recovery checks? | Reverse-osmosis design |
| Fine suspended solids or microbial barrier duty | Would ultrafiltration meet the target, and what backwash and cleaning allowances apply? | Ultrafiltration sizing |
| Microbiological risk | What source protection, pretreatment, validated disinfection and monitoring are required? | Treatment-process selection |
The stages must be assessed as a sequence. Oxidation can change particle loading; media and membrane systems need adequate pretreatment; backwash changes the peak supply duty; and residual chemicals must be compatible with downstream equipment.
Worked pathway from a bore-water test
The dated WTR-022 bore-water example uses 60 L/min (3.60 m³/h), 350 kPa available pressure, iron at 0.80 mg/L and total hardness at 250 mg/L as CaCO3. Manganese and microbiology were not tested.
1 · Interpret
Keep missing evidence visible
The calculation preserves the iron result and hardness basis and does not turn blank manganese or microbiology fields into zero.
2 · Select
Identify the stages requiring assessment
Iron and hardness need separate review. The missing results prevent a complete drinking-water assessment and can change the treatment sequence.
3 · Size
Run each duty independently
Use the measured chemistry, required flow, pressure and operating cycle in the relevant iron-removal, softener or other stage-sizing calculation.
Result: this pathway identifies the next calculations and missing evidence. It does not select final equipment or clear the water for drinking.
Check the complete system, not only the filter vessel
A practical bore-water filtration design also needs the pump duty, pressure loss through clean and dirty equipment, contact volume, chemical storage, control philosophy, backwash flow, drain capacity, waste handling and maintenance access. Confirm the seasonal source quality and supplier performance data before equipment is ordered.
- Check peak service flow and the lower flow cases at which control and dosing still need to operate.
- Confirm that the bore and transfer pumps can meet service, backwash and tank-filling duties.
- Allow for pressure loss through pretreatment, treatment vessels, valves and monitoring equipment.
- Provide suitable sampling points before, between and after treatment stages.
- Plan for consumables, media replacement, chemical handling and backwash or concentrate disposal.
The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines provide a management framework for drinking-water supplies. They do not replace local regulator requirements, a suitable testing program or competent review of the complete system.
Questions
What tests are needed before bore water filtration is selected?
Start with the intended use, peak flow, pressure and a laboratory analysis covering the contaminants relevant to that source and use. Seasonal variation, particle size, microbiology and backwash conditions may require further evidence.
Can a sediment filter remove iron from bore water?
A sediment filter may capture particulate iron. Dissolved iron commonly requires oxidation, contact and an appropriate removal stage. Laboratory results and site testing are needed to distinguish the forms and establish the duty.
Does bore water always need reverse osmosis?
No. RO is relevant when dissolved salts or particular dissolved contaminants control the target. Sediment, iron, manganese, hardness or microbiological problems can require different processes or pretreatment.
Can Tenselo approve bore water for drinking?
No. Tenselo supports preliminary interpretation, treatment selection and sizing. Drinking-water use requires a suitable testing program, a complete management approach, applicable requirements and competent specialist review.