Water filtration media by contaminant: filter sand, gravel, anthracite and zeolite for solids, Greensand Plus, Birm and Filox for iron and manganese, activated and catalytic carbon, activated alumina for arsenic and fluoride, KDF and ion exchange resins. Request a quote.
Media: clinoptilolite zeolite | Mesh: 14×40 (0.4–1.4 mm) | Density: 55 lb/ft³ | Filtration: <5 µm nominal | Capacity: 2.6–2.8× sand
Water Filtration Media
50/50 organoclay + coconut GAC | 8x30 mesh | Iodine ≥1150 mg/g | Density 43-45 lb/ft³ | pH 4-10 | 50 lb
Granular activated alumina | Al2O3 93% | Surface area 330 m²/g | Bulk density 48 lb/ft³ | Mesh 14x28 & 28x48
Iron-enhanced activated alumina | Surface area 280 m²/g | Bulk density 66 lb/ft³ | Mesh 14x28 & 28x48 | NSF/ANSI 61
Cu-Zn redox alloy | ~15 gpm/ft² service | 10-15% bed expansion | pH 6.5-8.5
Effective size 0.30-0.35mm | 2-12 gpm/ft² | pH 6.2-8.5 | NSF/ANSI 61
Effective size 0.48mm | 3.5-5 gpm/ft² service | pH 6.8-9.0 | max 100°F
#1 ES 0.6-0.8mm | SG 1.6 | 5 gpm/ft² service | AWWA B100-01
Siliceous support gravel | >99% SiO₂ | washed & screened | ~100 lb/ft³ | 3 graded sizes | 1/2 cu.ft. / 50 lb bag
Effective size 0.45-0.55mm | UC <=1.6 | SG 2.65-2.75 | AWWA B100-96
75-85% MnO2 | 12x40 mesh | 6 gpm/cu.ft | pH 6.5-9.0 | NSF/ANSI 61 | 0.5 cu ft / 57 lb
Mixed bed SAC+SBA | H+/OH- regenerated | ~1:1 equiv | 425-1200 um | UC max 1.7 | DI/ultrapure | 1 ft3/bag
SBA gel | quaternary ammonium | Cl- form | cap 1.3 eq/L | 300-1200 um | pH 0-14 | max 100C(Cl)/60C(OH) | 1 cu ft / 43 lb
Coconut shell GAC | chlorine/taste/odor | max 110°F | max 125 psig | min 30 psig inlet
SAC gel 8% crosslink | 16x50 mesh | cap >2.0 eq/L | 2-5 gpm/ft3 | pH 0-14 | NSF/ANSI 61 | 1 cu ft / 52 lb
Catalytic coconut shell | 12x40 mesh | iodine min 1000 mg/g | BET 1060 m2/g | hardness min 98% | 1 cu ft ~29 lb
Zeolite | 14x40 mesh | 5 micron nominal | 12-20 gpm/sq.ft | bed 36-48 in | NSF/ANSI 61 & 372
Coconut-shell GAC | Iodine ≥1000 mg/g | Hardness ≥97% | Sizes 8x30, 12x40 & powder
Filtration media is the granular material inside a pressure vessel or filter bed that removes contaminants by straining, adsorption, catalytic oxidation or ion exchange. ERE supplies media for each job: graded filter sand, support gravel, anthracite and zeolite (RhinoSand™, Micro-Z) for suspended solids; Greensand Plus, Birm and Filox for iron and manganese; granular activated carbon and catalytic carbon for chlorine, chloramines, taste, odour and organics; activated alumina for arsenic and fluoride; KDF; and cation, anion and mixed bed resins.
Tell us the contaminant, the flow and the vessel size, and we will recommend the media and the quantity.
Start from the contaminant. Sand, anthracite and zeolite strain out suspended solids; catalytic media remove iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide; activated carbon adsorbs chlorine, taste, odour and organics; activated alumina targets arsenic and fluoride; and ion exchange resins soften or demineralize water. Our water filtration media guide walks through the choice.
All three remove dissolved iron and manganese. Greensand Plus works between pH 6.2 and 8.5 and also reduces hydrogen sulfide and arsenic; Birm, which is not consumed, needs pH 6.8 to 9.0 and dissolved oxygen in the water; Filox, with 75 to 85% manganese dioxide, oxidizes and filters iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide in one pass. See Greensand, Birm and KDF compared.
Standard granular activated carbon adsorbs chlorine, taste, odour and organics. Catalytic carbon adds a catalytic surface that also removes chloramines and hydrogen sulfide. ERE's carbons carry iodine numbers of 1,000 mg/g or more; see our activated carbon media guide.
It depends on the vessel and the service flow each medium allows: Greensand Plus runs at 2 to 12 gpm/ft² and Birm at 3.5 to 5 gpm/ft², while Filox is rated at 6 gpm per cubic foot. Send us the vessel diameter and bed depth, or the flow rate, and we will work out the quantity.
