Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for removing impurities from feed water comprising (A) a loading tank comprising a top, a bottom, and an interior, and further comprising (i) an inlet that conveys the feed water to a water distributor, (ii) a grid located above the water distributor, (iii) an outlet located at a level higher than the grid, (iv) an outlet at the bottom of the loading tank, (B) a regeneration tank comprising (i) a first inlet near the top of the regeneration tank, (ii) a second inlet at the top of the regeneration tank, (iii) an outlet at the bottom of the regeneration tank, (C) a pipe that conveys material from the bottom of the regeneration tank to the top of the loading tank, wherein said regeneration tank is located below the loading tank. Also provided is a method of removing impurities by using such an apparatus.