WHAT IS OZONE? Ozone is nature's agent for cleaning and treating both air and water. That clean fresh smell in the air following a thunderstorm, the bright sky and brilliant colors of nature are due to ozone - created by lightning and the Sun's energy. Ozone (O3) is a gas that is created naturally in our atmosphere when oxygen in the air is exposed to high intensity ultraviolet rays or electrical energy. Both the sun and lightning create the ozone. Ozone is trivalent oxygen - O3 - instead of normal oxygen O2. The extra oxygen atom makes ozone one of nature's most powerful oxidizer with its natural by-product-oxygen O2. Ozone is also one of nature's best bleaching agents, restoring discolored water to its naturally clear state. As an oxidizer and microflocculant, it also helps reduce unwanted organic material from water, such as iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide. Ozone has been used in Europe and the United States since 1904. Today, there are over 2500 cities world wide using ozone. WHAT IS OZONE AERATION? Ozone dissolves in water ten times faster than pure oxygen and has a half-life of approximately twenty minutes (when dissolved in water) before it reverts back to oxygen. As ozone (O3) oxidizes and treats, it loses its highly unstable third oxygen atom. Ozone... 1. Reduces iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, and various other minerals by oxidation and microfloculation; 2. Reduces color and odors in water; and, 3. Reduces stains on clothing, bathtubs, toilets, showers and sinks. HOW BLUE DIAMOND USES OZONE? Blue Diamond uses ozone aeration to reduce the iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide in your water. In many areas of the world, wells are being drilled deeper due to the dwindling groundwater supplies. As a result, holding tanks are being used to store water. Typically, the quality of water coming from these water tables is getting worse as the water table gets lower and as we continue to pollute our ground and surface water supplies. Holding tanks, however, offer the unique opportunity to treat large quantities of water in a very efficient manner using ozone aeration. PROPERTIES OF OZONE? For more than 80 years, ozone has been shown to be helpful to treat water. Ozone technology is still in the pioneering stage, but is readily gaining acceptance and popularity because of its effectiveness and versatility in water treatment. Many small ozone water treatment systems use ozone aeration with proper filtration. Ozone must have the correct amount of contact time and filtration in order to effectively treat water. Based on our experience and research out in the field, utilizing ozone aeration of holding tanks has proven that small amounts of ozone can produce good and predictable results. The Water Filter offered here for sale is intended to reduce the levels of iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide in your water. Because treating water completely and effectively requires the testing, design, installation, and maintenance of qualified professionals experienced in water treatment, Blue Diamond does not consider the Water Filter a "drinking water treatment system" but merely a filter to reduce the iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide in your water. HOW OZONE REMOVES ORGANIC MATERIALS. Some of the most difficult water problems to solve are the rotten egg smell and taste of hydrogen sulfide. One of the least expensive and simplest treatments for this problem has always been aeration. The reduction of both the smell and taste of hydrogen sulfide using ozone aeration and filtration technology has proven to be successful. By adding an air compressor, diffuser and filter to an ozone generator and aerating the inside of the holding tanks every day, a reduction of both smell and taste of the hydrogen sulfide can be achieved. Another advantage of using a small amount of ozone in this treatment process is that ozone does not have to be stripped back out to protect the plumbing network. Iron and manganese are other water problems where holding tanks can play a big role in the treatment process. Ozone aeration and filtration are very useful in the treatment of both iron and manganese. Since high concentrations of ozone do not seem to be required when the water is aerated continuously, less complicated and reliable UV generators can be used. In addition, small amounts of ozone have other advantages. It is a very good method of pre-treatment for water softeners, media filters, RO systems, UV systems, distillation systems, etc. When ozone aeration is used as a pre-treatment tool, the water quality water delivered to these post-ozonation systems work better with less maintenance.