revised August 2006

The ME-4 is designed to remove iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, sand, and silt from ground water sources without the use of toxic chemicals. The ME-4 uses natural processes such as cascade aeration, precipitation, and mechanical filtration through gravel media to accomplish these removals.

System Requirements
Source water pH should be neutral. If pH is low (<7.1) and aeration doesn’t bring it up, correction with calcium carbonate should be used to enhance iron removal. The ME-4 uses a float valve to regulate flow through the filter. Your well pump needs to have a pressure tank, pressure switch or other means of turning on and off by pressure in line from well to filter. The ME-4 may also use a float switch (optional) to turn the supply pump on and off. An electrical line 12, 24, 120, or 240 volt should be run from the supply pump to the filter and in series with a similar float switch in the storage tank.

The ME-4 uses low filtration rates and long retention times in the filter to achieve high efficiencies. The filter produces water up to 4 gpm, for a total of 5,700 gpd.

Site Preparation
The site for the filter should be level and smooth. A concrete slab, compacted soil, or pea-gravel is a suitable foundation for the filter. Sand should be avoided as a foundation material because it can wash out, leaving voids under the filter that can lead to structural problems. Figure 1 illustrates placement of the ME-4 in relation to tanks and house sites.

Installation
Carefully examine the ME-4.
1) The inlet fitting is where your well water enters the filter. It is the 1” fitting near the top of the aeration tank.
2) The outlet is where the filtered water exits and flows into storage. This is a 1” fitting located 6" below the top edge of the filter tank.
3) The filter downwash valve is used to clean accumulated material from the filter gravel. It is the 1.5” ball valve on the leg of the “tee” connection between the two tanks.
4) The pump switch is the grey electrical fitting emerging near the top wall of the aeration tank. Hook it in parallel with your storage tank float switch (see figure 3).

Assembly instructions
1) Remove outer packing material and carefully pull aeration tank out of filter tank. Place them side by side on the site where they will be installed. Remove packing materials from inside of filter tank. Remove filter lid from filter tank.
2) Hookup cross shaped underdrain in filter tank as shown below.
3) Hookup connecting grey manifolds as shown below. Making sure that valve on longer pipe goes next to air tank.
4) In systems with an optional electrical float-switch, check filter switch, attached to the grey electrical fitting. This fitting is a curved sweep or ell emerging from the aeration tank. Make sure this fitting is pointing down. Adjust the length of float switch tether so that you hear it click off below the top of the filter tank. (Otherwise pump will overflow the filter tank, wasting water).
5) After media is loaded and startup is satisfactorily completed, attach lid of filter tank with screws supplied. We recommend a screw every 6" around lid to provide max strength and keep insects out.

Making Plumbing Connections
The raw water supply plumbs into the 1/2” bulkhead fitting near the top of the aeration tank.
1” PVC pipe is connected between the filter and the inlet to the storage tank. A float valve or float switch should be installed in the storage tank and wired in series with the float switch in the ME-4 and to the supply pump control. When the tank is full, this will automatically shut off the ME-4.
The manifold with the two valves connects the aeration tank and the filter tank. The tee end without a valve goes to the filter tank (see figure 4).
This completes hookup of the filter.

Loading Media
Remove the screws from filter tank lid where it attaches around the edge to the filter tank, and carefully remove the lid. Add gravel and or sand until the level is just below the outlet fitting. Replace the lid and screw it down to the filter tank using supplied screws every 6" all the way around lid.

Start-Up

Gravel media from aggregate suppliers usually needs to be washed before the filter is put in to service. You can do this by turning the supply pump on and filling the system, As soon as the water in the filter tank approaches the outlet level, open the downwash valve and drain the filter to remove suspended material. You may need to do this several times until the water is emerging from the gravel clear.

Periodic Maintenance
To work properly, your ME-4 needs to be maintained on a regular basis. The main task is regular down-washing of the media.

Downwashing
Close the ball-valve nearest the aeration tank where the aeration and filter tanks are joined. Open the valve on the branch and drain the filter tank. To properly clean the filter, it should be completely drained. However, draining until the water starts to clarify will bring the filter back to operational status.

Periodic Cleaning
At some point, typically 8 to 14 months into operation, the filter will not backwash easily or will need backwashing frequently. At this point, more thorough cleaning may be necessary. This can be accomplished in two different ways.

Method 1) Open the drain valves as for downwashing. Using a 3’ steel pipe with hose-adaptors attached to a pressure hose, push the pipe with pressurized water running through it deep into the filter bed repeatedly and over a various points across the whole filter bed. Make sure you reach the lower points of the filter. Continue this operation until water coming from the drain-valve is clear.

Method 2) Use a 3' section of galvanized pipe with a nozzle on one end and a hose-adaptor on the other. Hook this to a hose connected to your pressurized clean water system. Remove the lid of the filter. Close the valve from aeration tank. Open the downwash valve. Turn the water on to the nozzle as you probe deep into the gravel layers until water runs clear from downwash valve. Return to operation.

Troubleshooting
1. Aeration Tank overflows from vents: Check to make sure the float switch is not stuck or entangled.
2. Insufficient output or float switch cycles well pump frequently: Filter needs down-washing or more thorough cleaning. Alternately, valves may not be completely open.

Media Specifications

ME-4
2"-3" rock (covering assembly in bottom of filter vessel):
7 cubic feet

3/8 inch pea gravel (placed on top of rock):
14 cubic feet

Pea Gravel Sieve Analysis:
Nom. Sieve mm Cumulative passing% +-
#3/8 9.52 100 0
#3 6.7 88 15
#1/4 6.35 84 19
#4 4.75 17 4
#6 3.35 5 3
#8 2.360 1.3 1

Technical Service

Blue Future Filters, Inc., 360-756-0071, hb@bluefuturefilters.com

Warranty Statement

Blue Future Filters, Incorporated (BFFI) provides warranty coverage to the purchaser that all products are reliable and free from known defects. BFFI will, without charge, repair or replace defective parts that fail due to manufacturing defect. BFFI will provide warranty coverage for filter tanks for a period of up to five (5) years from the purchase of the filter-system. BFFI will provide warranty coverage for all valves and fittings for a period of one (1) year from purchase of the filter-system. Although BFFI provides technical support before, during and after installation, BFFI will not be held responsible or extend a warranty for operational failure or interruption that may be due to incorrect installation or maintenance. BFFI will not provide warranty for damage to system components caused during or after installation, or through failure to follow installation instructions. Given the variability in each filtration system and in source-water conditions, BFFI will not provide warranty for filtration performance based on water-quality parameters (including climatic changes, raw-water quality, turbidity, etc.). Any unauthorized alteration to the equipment as supplied or to BFFI filter designs as specified void the warranty.