Contaminants and Constraints

Water-cleaning machines fail when the design ignores what is actually in the water. Start by classifying the source, then choose treatment stages that target the relevant loads.

Major Contaminant Classes

Class	Examples	Typical consequence	Common responses
Gross debris	leaves, sand, fibers, trash	pump wear, clogs, false sensor readings	screens, settling, sump design
Suspended solids	silt, clay, rust, organic fines	turbidity, fouling, shortened filter life	settling, hydrocyclones, cartridge or membrane filtration
Biological load	bacteria, protozoa, algae	health risk, slime formation, odor	disinfection, fouling control, storage hygiene
Dissolved organics	tannins, oils, industrial residues	taste, odor, membrane stress, uncertain toxicity	activated carbon, specialized media, source-specific analysis
Dissolved salts and metals	hardness, arsenic, lead, nitrate	chemistry limits not solved by simple filters	source-specific treatment such as ion exchange or membranes

Constraints That Change the Machine

The right treatment stack depends on more than contamination alone:

• available power and duty cycle
• target flow rate
• allowable maintenance interval
• operator skill level
• local availability of replacement parts
• whether the output is for wash water, process water, or potential drinking use

Source Characterization Checklist

• identify the water source and collection method
• record visible solids, color, odor, and seasonality
• estimate expected flow range
• note likely upstream contamination sources
• define the use case for treated water
• decide what must be measured at minimum

Warning

Do not assume "looks clear" means "safe." Visual improvement and microbial safety are separate questions.