Abstract: Systems and methods for treating wastewater or source water are disclosed. Water is directed through a filter assembly having a filter medium and is irradiated by a radiation assembly. In preferred embodiments, the filter medium may be microporous or finer; the radiation assembly may be arranged to irradiate water upstream of the filter medium of the filter assembly; and/or the radiation assembly may be arranged to irradiate water upstream of the filter medium of the filter assembly.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a device and method for activating and/or increasing the charge density of a polymer or polymer solution. Included is a reactor having a chamber capable of receiving and discharging polymer or polymer solution. The chamber may be configured in a vertical orientation. The chamber may also be torus or doughnut-shaped. A pulsar for imparting electrical energy to the solution in the reactor chamber is also provided. An inlet and an outlet which cooperate with the chamber to deliver and discharge the polymer solution may also be provided. The inlet may be located on the bottom of the chamber and the outlet may be located on the top of the chamber.

Abstract: An improved vertical filtration unit includes a bell-shaped lower end for the air-lift tube, an injection ring for introducing air into the air-lift tube at a considerable volume, and a washbox with a more efficient scrubbing arrangement for washing dirt particles from the filtration material. The bell-shaped lower end makes the transporting of a mixture of dirty filtration material and water to the top of the filtration unit more efficient than with the conventional straight tube bottom. The tube receives compressed air from two horizontally positioned inlets positioned 180.degree. from each other. The flat and round target plate makes the scrubbing of filtration material more efficient, while a baffle prevents the filtration material from being ejected from the washbox.

Abstract: An improved vertical filtration unit includes a bell-shaped lower end for the air-lift tube, an injection ring for introducing air into the air-lift tube at a considerable volume, and a washbox with a more efficient scrubbing arrangement for washing dirt particles from the filtration material. The bell-shaped lower end makes the transporting of a mixture of dirty filtration material and water to the top of the filtration unit more efficient than with the conventional straight tube bottom. The tube receives compressed air from two horizontally positioned inlets positioned 180.degree. from each other. The flat and round target plate makes the scrubbing of filtration material more efficient, while a baffle prevents the filtration material from being ejected from the washbox.

Abstract: A method for reducing contaminant concentrations in a fluid stream including the steps of forming a metal-complexed material having a surface suitable for exchange with the contaminant, contacting the fluid stream with the metal-complexed material, immobilizing at least a portion of the contaminant on the surface of the metal-complexed material, and regenerating the metal-complexed material so as to remove the contaminant from the surface of the metal-complexed material. The metal-complexed material is formed by the encapsulating of a core of ferromagnetic material with an ion exchange material. The metal-complexed material is magnetically affixed to a metallic mesh retaining surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for water softening using less than approximately 20 micron diameter fine mesh magnetized ion exchange particles in columnar operation. The particles are formed by encapsulating a core of magnetic material in ion exchange resin. The particles are magnetized and disposed in a column where they attach to magnetic mesh retention means such as stainless steel wool. The design of the column permits use of the fine mesh ion exchange particles and their properties of rapid exchange rates and efficient utilization of resin capacity while avoiding prior art problems of plugging, fouling, and excessive pressure drop.