NO BACKWASH WASTE STREAM
Conventional granular bed filters usually require a fluid backwash during regeneration as well as a "filter to waste" cycle. This uses a large amount of filtered water that must be disposed of or held for recycle. Membrane or micro filtration can have up to 50% reject water (water not pushed through the membrane) that must be disposed of or recycled. The Schneider pressure filter has a dry cake discharge with no liquid waste.

START/STOP OPERATION
Most DE systems require a filter regeneration in the event of a power failure or if the clean water storage reservoir is full. The Schneider DE filter is configured with horizontal filter elements that support the filter cake. This arrangement allows the filter cake to be held by gravity as opposed to other DE systems (vertical septums) which depend on a hydraulic force to hold the cake in place. Loss of this hydraulic force in vertical septum filters causes the cake to fall off the septum.

LARGE FILTER AREA TO INSTALLATION AREA
The filter elements and consequently the filter area are stacked on a vertical axis. This arrangement allows for the most filter area in the least amount of installation space.

FLOW RATES FROM 5 GPM TO 50 MGD
Our Model 85, rated as low as 5 GPM, to our Model 100, rated at up to 50 MGD, cover most applications. Flow densities from less than 1 GSFM (gallons per square foot of filter area per minute) to greater than 5 GSFM can be used.

DISPOSABLE FILTER SEPTUM AND MEDIA
Cut sheets of 100% cellulose paper are used as a septum. The filter cake (media) is formed on top of this septum and they are disposed of together. Both materials are inexpensive and easy to dispose of. The Schneider system renews the septum after every regeneration, which prevents the maintenance associated with other DE systems. Spent DE in other filters is usually in the form of a slurry that requires an open pit for disposal.

EASY TO OPERATE
Minimal operator input is the key to our successful design. Unlike conventional water treatment equipment that requires operators with extensive chemical experience, our equipment requires basic mechanical skills and no more than a Grade II license. Most applications for our technology require no pre-treatment and only a disinfection post treatment. Please see the operator's instructions that describes the extent of operator input.

AUTOMATIC OPERATION
The Schneider Filter System operates independent of operator intervention except for an alarm condition or during regeneration. In most cases the frequency between regenerations would be about 8 days and last about 30 minutes.

REGULATORY APPROVAL
Our filter system has been recognized by the USEPA and the California Department of Health Services, Office of Drinking Water as an approved technology in the filtration and monitoring of drinking water.

PROVEN 6-LOG REMOVAL
In a recent study, testing showed that diatomacous earth filtration provides 6-log reduction in the concentration of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Study Summary.