Prime Water International NV (formerly known as Prime Membrane Technologies NV) has its roots in membrane development and production since 10 years; originally in membranes for medical applications. In close cooperation with the Flemish State Research Institute (VITO) in Belgium this know how was applied in developing a new generation of low pressure membranes for point of use water purification. PWI produces capillary micro- and ultra filtration membranes as well as membrane cartridges. PWI is a company of Prime Water Holding GmbH in Germany.
By using a unique blend of polymeric and mineral compounds, Prime Water Systems succeeded in creating micro- and ultra filtration membranes with ideal features for point of use application.
Water Saver
Residential RO systems have not realized their full market potential because of the removal of beneficial minerals, resulting in dull tasteless water. In addition, these RO systems waste large amounts (as much as 80%) of water during the process.
The Water Saver UF System, featuring the new Ster-O-Tap® low pressure ultra-filtration membrane by Prime Water Systems, now offers a sensible alternative to RO.
It improves the water’s natural taste, does not remove the water’s mineral content, does not waste water and meets the microbiological purifier standards, as outlined in the EPA ‘Guide Standard and Protocol for testing Microbiological Water Purifiers’.
Using the familiar configuration of a RO system, the patented Ster-O-Tap® low pressure ultra-filtration membrane, replaces the RO membrane. An automatic, timer controlled, 3 way valve regulates a backwash cycle with a small amount of sterile water from the tank and flushes the membrane cartridge with regular intervals.
Dual Stage Filter
The versatile PRIME WATER – DUAL STAGE filter system insures that these problems will not affect your water quality. The core of the system, the Dual Stage Filter, combines the best of two technologies in a unique two step approach.
- The special, high performance, carbon shell removes sediment, bad taste and odour and other organic compounds.
- The Ster-O-Tap® micro filtration membranes stop all bacteria and cysts and prevents them from reaching your faucet.
- Because all particles larger than 0.15 micron are removed from the water, the Ster-O-Tap® reduce the amount of oxidized iron as well as the scaling potential of the water. Although the water still contains dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium, the lack of particles keep these minerals from precipitating and sclae forming is thus prevented.
Micro 10
The Micro Filtration System for commercial post treatment and other applications, requiring high flow rates, has some outstanding features:
- The Ster-O-Tap® micro filtration membranes stop all bacteria and cysts and prevents them from reaching the faucet.
- Because all particles larger than 0,15 micron are removed from the water, the Ster-O-Tap ® membranes reduce the scaling potential of the water. Although the water still contains dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium, the lack of particles keep these minerals from precipitating and scale forming is thus prevented
Post RO
In this day and age of water quality concerns it is quite appropriate to recognize that RO tanks are a potential bacteria hazard.
The PRIME WATER - POST RO™ filter kit insures that such problems will not affect your water quality. The STER-O-TAP® micro filtration membranes stop all bacteria and cysts and prevent them from reaching your faucet.
This unique Post RO™ filter is particularly appropriate for people with weak immune systems due to age or other health problems.
Table Top Purifier
Produces crisp, clean refreshment. Something new and unique that makes buying bottled water superfluous. Providing quality bottled drinking water at a fraction of the price of bottled water complete with micro-biological protection using advanced water treatment techniques, the Prime Water® Purifier turns tap water into great tasting "bottled water quality" drinking water, free of chemicals and metals and by means of the Ster-O-Tap ultra-filtration membranes also free of all bacteria and viruses. Unlike all other water filters it can be used with tap water of questionable quality and meets EPA water purifier requirements.
Anti-Legionella Shower
Legionaires disease (or Legionellosis) is an infection caused by the bacterium Legionella Pneumophilia. The disease in its mild form simply causes fever, but its severe form includes pneumonia with fatality rates of about 15%.
To cause an infection, contaminated water must be vaporized and inhaled into the lungs which can easily happen when a person showers. The higher the bacterial level in the vaporized water, the more likely an infection will occur. It has also been demonstrated however that the risk of infection is much greater at lower levels for the elderly and people with compromised immune systems.
The Legionella bacteria occur naturally in surface waters and are frequently found in shower plumbing, air conditioning cooling towers, humidifiers, whirlpool spas etc. A survey, carried out in the UK, demonstrated a prevalence of Legionella Pneumophilia in above applications varying from 5 to 12% (Prevalence of Legionella Bacteria in Building Water Systems, by J. M. Hodgson and B. J. Casey).
The Legionella bacteria (0,5 – 0,7 micron in size) can reproduce themselves to high levels in warm stagnant water, as found in the plumbing of large buildings such as apartment buildings, nursing homes and hospitals. Regular flushing of the plumbing in these buildings has proven not to be very effective in removing these bacteria as a chlorine resistant coating protects them.
Filtration at the point of use seems to be the best way to protect against this pathogen. However filters that flow fast enough to be used in showers are not bacteria proof and filters that are bacteria proof flow too slowly to be useful in showers.
The solution to this problem is offered by the Prime Water® Shower, containing Ster-O-Tap® special, high flow, capillary micro-filtration membranes. The wall of each capillary has very tiny pores that are several times smaller than the smallest bacteria. When water flows through these pores, an unparalleled removal of > 99.999999% of all bacteria is achieved without slowing the water flow.
