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The basic process is this: seawater is drawn from the ocean and pumped through a two-stage pre-filter to remove plankton and other small particles. The seawater is then pumped at high pressure and passed across the R.O. membrane filter. A percentage (up to 30%) of the water passes through the membrane filter to produce fresh water (product water) and the remainder of the slightly saltier seawater is returned to the ocean.

The product water is stored in a cistern or water tank and routed to the fresh water system in the house.

Great Water will design a water system for your home or business that will run as automatically as possible and we provide expert installation. The watermakers we sell monitor the flow rates and pressures to ensure proper and safe operation of the equipment. After an initial start-up, user maintenance is minimal - paper pre-filter changes, and an occasional adjustment of the pressure regulators.

How much water do you need? This is an important question to consider in getting the right sized system. If you are considering a watermaker, and currently have a water system, it's a good idea to keep track of water usage (if possible) over one or two weeks to use as a reference point. Be aware that once a reliable source of clean water is available, water usage will probably increase. Most machines can be expanded for added flexibility.

Great Water will provide a quick-start quide for operation, and support for the system throughout the year.

FCI Neptune Watermaker

The Keepers House,
Isle au Haut, Maine (pictured above)
5 bedroom bed and breakfast located on an island 6 miles offshore.

Situation: Jeff and Judy Burke have operated The Keepers House Bed & Breakfast for 24 years, and had always struggled with high levels of dissolved minerals in the well water. They made many attempts to improve the quality of their well water using conventional water-softening equipment with limited results. The bathroom and kitchen fixtures continually corroded, there were always spots on the laundry, and the water turned the cook's hands brown! All drinking and cooking water had to be carried in.

Needs: Lots of water for cooking, cleaning and showers. For guest comfort, the owner requested a minimal running time of generator and watermaker.
In place: dock and float, a boathouse with room equipment, and a large brick storage cistern in the basement of inn.

Solution: 4,000 gallon per day* modular FCI Neptune Watermaker. The machine is mounted on the side of the cistern. Feed water is drawn up from the sea off the floating dock. A pump located in the boathouse pumps the seawater to the machine for processing.

The system has been in place for two seasons. Jeff and Judy are extremely happy with the water production rate, low maintenance, and quality of water.

Keeper's House boathouse

family cottage

new pump house and watertank

Situation: The only water available was rainwater collected from the roof or swimming pool water delivered by truck.

Needs: A dependable source of household water, especially during peak visitor season!

In place: A 3,000-gallon brick cistern in basement.

Solution: 1,000 gallon per day FCI MaxQ watermaker, installed on a stand near the cistern. The watermaker fills the storage cistern, and the household water is drawn from the cistern.

A float switch is attached to one of the supporting pilings of the house. It senses when the tide is high, and turns the machine on if water is needed in the cistern.