Introduction
This water purification system utilizes highly specialized ceramic elements to remove dangerous cysts and bacteria which can cause diseases such as Typhoid fever, Cholera and Dysentery. These unique filters are also filled with a silvered granulated carbon to reduce pesticides, chlorine, tastes and odors.
Follow these simple instructions, and your water filter will provide you with good, clean water for many years to come.
Assembly Instructions
(Please refer to the assembly diagram on the bottom of this page)
1. Remove the lid, two filter canisters, bag of parts and element(s) from their protective packaging, checking each item for damage. IF YOU HAVE SHIPPING DAMAGE, CONTACT THE SHIPPING COMPANY IMMEDIATELY! You may consider saving the packing materials for future storage of the filter system, they are designed to protect the filter and elements while in storage and transportation. Check the parts against the list provided and contact the factory if any are missing. Refer to the diagram when assembling.
NOTE: The number of elements supplied will depend on the model of filter purchased.
2. Extreme cleanliness is important. Wash all parts, except the elements, before assembly. Wash hands before handling the product and ensure that contamination of the components does not take place during assembly.
3. Fit the top knob and skirt (1 ) onto the lid (2) by inserting the screw (3) up through the hole in the lid and screwing on the knob, do not over tighten.
4. If you have purchased a Model 200 system, or you wish to operate the filter system with fewer than four ceramic elements installed, then press the small plugs (13) supplied into the holes from the INSIDE of the housing into locations where elements will NOT be installed. Check both sides of the plugs to be certain that they are fully seated into the holes. The "dome"shape of the plug must be on the inside of the stainless steel housing.
NOTE: improperly seated plugs may allow potentially dangerous water to drip into the lower filtered water container, contaminating your drinking water supply.
5. Remove the wing nuts (11) from each element (5) that is to be installed and check that the rubber sealing o-ring (10) is fully seated over the threaded part of each element.
6. Place the elements into the open holes in the base of the top section.
7. Secure the elements in place by screwing the wing nut onto the threaded part of the element, fully tightening the wing nut with moderate pressure.
8. Place the rubber washer (8) over the threaded part of the faucet (7).
9. Insert the threaded portion of the faucet through the hole in the side of the filter's bottom section (6). Secure the faucet in place with the nut (9) provided using moderate pressure.
10. Push the large non slip rubber base (12) onto the bottom of the lower section.
11. Place the top section (4) onto the bottom-section and set the lid (2) on top. The AquaRain Gravity Water Filter is now ready to operate
Water Collection
Proper water collection is a critical step in the operation of your AQUARAIN Gravity Water Filter. You should always collect the cleanest and purest water available. The cleaner the water, the less often the Filter system will need to be serviced and the longer the ceramic filter elements will last. Rivers, lakes, large ponds, streams and rain water cisterns can be used as water sources. In an emergency, even water from a swimming pool can be used.
Please keep in mind that the Filter system will not remove minerals such as salt, heavy metals such as lead, nor will the system remove nitrates. Avoid collecting water where these elements may be found, such as small cattle ponds, and creeks where water runs off of heavily fertilized land or industrial waste sites. A little care in the collection of your water to be filtered will extend the life of your filter elements and improve the overall quality of the drinking water your AquaRain Gravity Water Filter will produce.
Operation
1. Ensure the faucet handle is down and in the "off" position.
2. Fill the top section of the filter with raw water.
NOTE: It will require several hours for new filter elements to become wet and begin producing water.
3. Allow-the raw water to trickle through the filter elements and accumulate in the lower storage container. NOTE: We recommend that the first gallon of filtered water from new elements, or after the filter has been stored for a week or more, be discarded as it may contain loose material washed from the filter elements.
Water Production
The AquaRain Gravity Water Filter has finer filtration and removes more pathogens than any other ceramic gravity water filter available, our independent laboratory results prove that. Because the AquaRain" squeezes" your water through a thick ceramic wall to purify, it will take time for the water to slowly work it's way through the filter. New, dry elements will need several loads of water run through them before they are fully wetted and reach their maximum flow rate. In normal everyday use, water for filtration may be placed in the upper vessel in the evening and allowed to filter through overnight. In the morning, most of the water will have filtered through into the lower dispensing container.
Additional water may then be added to the upper container so that a continuous process of filtration and subsequent use may be established. Keeping the upper vessel as full as possible, perhaps refilling every fifteen minutes, is essential for reaching the filter's maximum water production potential. To halt the production of filtered water, simply lift the upper container off of the lower and empty it. The stainless steel lid may then be placed on the lower container which may be used as a convenient and compact counter-top water dispenser.
Servicing
1. When the filter has been properly operated as described above, periodic cleaning of the elements will only be required when the production of filtered water becomes noticeably less than normal.
More frequent cleaning will be necessary when filtering cloudy or turbid water, so always use the clearest water available for maximum filter life. The filter elements are very hard and will endure many cleanings. When the surface has been abraded down after cleaning to the point that the plastic end-of-life gauge attached to each element can easily removed, the element has reached the end of its useful life and we recommend that it be discarded.. NOTE: When transporting the filter, remove and carefully pack the elements to prevent damage. Use the original/packing materials available.
To Clean the Elements:
1. Carefully remove the elements from the top section by unscrewing the wing nut. Keep contaminated water from entering the small hole on the threaded end of the filter element.
2. Hold the elements upright, and while taking care that contaminated water does not enter the threaded end of the element, lightly brush the ceramic portion of the filter downward toward the end cap with a stiff brush or scouring pad. Always brush away from the threaded end.
NOTE: Do NOT use soap or detergent. The use of rubber gloves when cleaning is suggested.
3. Check to see if the plastic end-of life gauge can easily slip over the ceramic element. The plastic gauge measures the remaining wall thickness of the ceramic and determines the end of the elements safe usable life. Please discard the element when the gauge can pass over the ceramic's circumference.
NOTE- Replace cracked or broken elements immediately as they will not provide protection.
4. Rinse the ceramic element after lightly abrading the surface. Again, do not allow contaminated water to enter the small hole at the threaded end of the filter element. If the inside of the filter element becomes contaminated, You MUST boil the element for 15 minutes and allow to cool.
NOTE: For maximum security, we recommend that the elements be boiled for 15 minutes and allowed to cool after each and every cleaning. When filtering water of unknown quality, boiling the elements periodically, perhaps weekly, will increase your level of protection.
5. Carefully clean and dry the stainless steel sections, keeping all surfaces free of contaminated water. NOTE: Do NOT allow the lower filtered water storage container to become contaminated, disease-causing pathogens may then be present.
6. Reassemble the filter elements into the upper section, taking care that the sealing o-ring is properly seated on each element and the wing nut is tightened with moderate pressure to form a secure seal.
Check all installed plugs for proper seating and seal.
NOTE: When storing the filter, or after 5 or more days of non-use, remove the filter elements and allow them to completely dry.
End-Of-Life Gauge
A very accurate plastic gauge has been attached to each Marathon ceramic filter element used in the AquaRain Gravity Filter. Each time the filter element is cleaned, a small amount of the ceramic surface is abraded away. The overall thickness of the ceramic element will gradually decrease after many cleanings.
The attached gauges measure the remaining wall thickness of the ceramic portion of the filter element, and will slip over the outer diameter of the element when the minimum recommended thickness has been reached. The minimum safe wall thickness has been determined by laboratory testing, so that the Marathon ceramic elements may be used with absolute confidence, all of the way to their life's end.
Please replace the element when the plastic gauge can easily pass over the ceramic. Several special plugs have been included with your AquaRain filter. These plugs may be used to fill unused holes in the upper vessel that holds the ceramic elements, allowing operation of the water filter with less than the full complement of four filter elements. Please refer to #4 in the assembly instructions for the correct installation of the plugs.
Additional portions of this page on filter service are
