Silver-Residual-Water-Treatment-
General Information

info@eco-nex.com
Water Treatment That Lasts!  Up to 12 weeks residual action in deadlegs & Storage Tanks.    


Silver Residual Treatment uses the "Trojan Horse" Anti-Microbial Technique.  A silver ion is invisible to the human eye.  Yet at ionic level, silver ions are food sized particles for microbes.  Microbes allow the silver ions through their defence shield.  The silver ions then destroy the microbes from within.
Silver has been used as an anti-microbial treatment by man for millenia.  Before the birth of modern day science, man has always sought to provide the leaders of their clan with silver drinking and eating utensils.

In the modern World, scientists have proven the scientific reasoning behind silver's anti-microbial properties.  Today, silver is still the material of choice for eating/drinking utensils in all European Royal Households.  Silver is now used in hospitals for sterlising wounds, and can be found as a water treatment solution on NASA space shuttles.

Silver water treatment is a very effective non-chemical technology.  It is proven to prevent/control legionella and many other potential pathogens.  As the technology is non-chemical and is ingested by a microbe, a microbe cannot build an immunity to silver.  In an age where chlorine and pasteurisation are becoming useless against legionella, silver water treatment is becoming increasingly important.

KEY FEATURES:

• SILVER IONS KEEP ON KILLING MICROBES FOR UP TO 12 WEEKS, LONG AFTER CHEMICAL BIOCIDES HAVE BEEN USED UP OR EVAPORATED.  NO OTHER TREATMENT ON THE PLANET PROVIDES SUCH AN INCREDIBLE RESIDUAL.
• NASA CHOSE SILVER FOR WATER TREATMENT AS IT IS NON-TOXIC TO HUMANS (UNLIKE MOST CHEMICAL TREATMENTS)
• DEAD LEG PIPEWORK IS INEVITABLE WITHIN MANY LARGE BUILDING COMPLEXES.  ONLY SILVER IONS CAN WORK THEIR WAY IN TO DEAD LEGS VIA CAPILLARY ACTION AND KEEP PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR UP TO 12 WEEKS.
  

Silver Residual Treatment FAQs

What is Silver Residual Treatment?

In layman's terms, this is a drum of water containing tiny particles of silver.  This silver water is injected in to water systems.  Silver is a natural anti-microbial technology.  Microbes detect a tiny particle of silver and mistake it for food.  Silver is toxic to microbes and harmless to humans, animals and the eco-system.

How does Silver Residual Treatment work?

The simple answer - is, tiny particles (ions) of silver are released in to the water from a pre-mixed solution.  These ions use the Trojan Horse attack method.  Microbes mistake silver ions for food and are poisoned.  Silver is non-toxic to humans, animals and the eco-system.

The efficacy of silver as a natural anti-microbial technology has been known for thousands of years.  In recent years, many scientific research papers have been written on silver as a biocide.  For further data ask for our science papers.  This research was based on anecdotal evidence over centuries where sailors tossed a silver coin in to a ships water supply before leaving port.  It is also where the old saying “born with a silver spoon in their mouth” comes from.  All discerning Royal households use silverware for good reason.

Some organisations have worked on colloidal silver as a potential health benefit.  At present, the author is not aware of any scientific evidence to support any health benefits of drinking colloidal silver.  The size of the colloidal particles is considered by most current scientists to be too large to assimilate the metal in to the bloodstream.

Silver Residual Treatment uses silver particles at ionic level.  An ion is the next size of measurement up from an Atom.  Single ion particles are so small that they cannot be seen by the naked eye.  Concentrated particles can be seen as a fine mist in water.  The accepted rate of dose to kill microbes is 20-80ppb (parts per billion).  At this level, silver cannot be seen with the naked eye.

According to research scientists, the molecular mechanisms of silver ions to inactivate microbes is proven.  Silver Ionisation is an accepted treatment method in many countries.  It is accepted as a water treatment to combat legionella in the UK under Health & Safety document L8.  Silver Ion Treatment is not accepted as a treatment method in a number of European Countries including Germany, where the government accepted rate for any additive is very low.  The majority of German scientists accept the method as a proven technology but Facilities Managers must not use it in Germany.  This is the main reason why  hpS Technology (which adds nothing) is popular in Germany.

Silver Residual Treatment uses a pre-mixed solution of silver in water at a concentrated level.  The concentrate is dosed in to the system relational to flow rates of water and the correct dilution rate.

Microbes seek nutrition from ion-sized particles in the water.  A silver ion is mistaken by microbes for a nutrient.  Once ingested via osmosis through the cell wall, the silver prevents respiration and duplication.  In short, the silver ion acts as a toxin to microbes.

In scientific tests throughout the world over the last decade, there has not been any record of a microbe building an immunity to silver.  Hence, like the hpS Technology, Silver Residual Treatment works hand-in-glove with nature and man to provide a long-term future-proofed anti-microbial technology.

Does Silver Residual Treatment remove all microbes?

The simple answer is YES.  Most harmful pathogens in water that could cause a problem can be controlled using silver ions.

Water Treatment is a complex subject, ranging from producing ultra-pure water (completely sterile and containing no contaminants) through to producing raw water for cooling towers or irrigation.

This site concerns water in the built environment and focuses on treating bathing water through to cooling systems.  Evidently one would not use silver ions to produce ultra-pure water for micro-chip production, as silver is a contaminant (Ultra-Pure water people see hpS Technology).  For hot/cold water systems in buildings through to cooling systems, air-conditioning systems, etc, Silver Residual Treatment is ideal.

When dealing with the systems covered by this website, one is concerned with the question of how many microbes in a given amount of water are an acceptable limit.  For example, drinking water must contain <1cfu/ml of certain microbes.  Whilst eco-nex are happy to work with and advise water bottling and water supply companies, our remit on this website is to discuss water for bathing through to water for commercial and industrial systems.

A ballpark acceptable limit for most hot/cold water systems used forr bathing purposes is <100cfu/ml.  A ballpark acceptable limit for most cooling towers is <10 cubed cfu/ml.  One is not looking for sterility within such water systems.  One is seeking to make sure that microbial leevels remain within acceptable limits.  For these situations, silver residual treatment can be the ideal control tool. 

Who else uses Silver Residual Treatment?

The simple answer - is many organisations across the World have been using silver ion treatment for almost a decade.  This ranges from Olympic swimming teams in the USA who want minimal chlorine in a pool, through to the Eden Project tropical gardens in the UK.  The author has installed silver ion technology in Hospitals in the UK and was one of the UK pioneers of successful silver ion treatment projects in the 1990s.

Why use Silver Residual Treatment instead of chemical treatment?

The simple answer – is that many cheap chemicals such as chlorine are not effective against modern diseases such as legionella.  Silver Residual Treatment is effective against most modern water-borne diseases.  A second major point is that chemicals dissipate very rapidly in a matter of minutes.  Silver Residual Treatment can stay active in a water system for up to 12 weeks.  Only silver ions can provide this incredible residual killing effect.  Thirdly, silver is drawn in to Dead-Legs via capillary action.  This is the only treatment process that can actively control microbial growth in Dead-Leg pipe work.

For many years, chlorine revolutionised sanitation across the World, preventing diseases like cholera.  Over the last century, microbes have mutated and new strains have formed that are now tolerant or immune to chlorine.

Silver at ionic levels of 20-80ppb is considered to be a non-chemical environmentally proven alternative to chemicals.  When used in swimming pools, bathers can benefit from chlorine at very low levels.  One does not need to be an olympic swimmer to know that the red-eyes and dry-skin caused by large amounts of chlorine limit time spent in a pool.  Similarly, in spas, jacuzzis, hot tubs and therapy pools, using less chlorine and more silver makes a far mor enjoyable experience.  Not surprisingly, health clubs and discerning hotels are moving over to Silver Ion Treatment for their members and guests.

Facilities Managers are beginning to understand why silver ion treatment is ideal for Dead-Leges to prevent a legionella outbreak.  Hospital Estate Mangers are generally faced with an antiquated pipe-work system that may have been in existence for over 100 years.  Somewhere along the line, demands have been made on managers to re-plumb systems over and over again on ridiculously short time limits and budgets.  The result is taht few realistic water-schematics remain for many properties.

Coupled with these problems are sites such as hospital-wings/hotels/office-blocks where opening and closing to meet demands can happen sporadically or seasonally.  This leaves an array of Dead-Legs, which if left untreated, are generally the source of a legionella outbreak.  Silver ions with a 12-week residual are the only realistic answer.  Via capillary action, the particles of silver slowly work their way along Dead-Legs, providing a protective coating on pipes.

Why use Silver Residual Treatment instead of pasteurisation?

In short, the best technology to replace pasteurisation is hpS technology for the main system, coupled with Silver Residual Treatment for Dead-Legs.             

This will reduce carbon emissions, reduce the risk of scalding, reduce lime-scale deposition on plant and equipment, reduce the breeding ground for bacteria, and reduce the risk or heat-resistant microbes.

Is Silver Residual Treatment expensive?

This simple answer to this question is NO.  As a general anti-microbial treatment Silver Residual Treamtent destroys microbes such as legionella.  Using cheap chemicals such as chlorine or heating water via pasteurisation are generally considered ineffective against legionella.  Silver ion technology is the only method of providing protection for up to 12 weeks.  Silver Ion technology is the only method of treating Dead-Legs via capillary action.  Silver Ions provide quality water in swimming pools, therapy pools, spas, Jacuzzis and hot tubs without the red eyes and dry-skin.  No other treatment method has all these benefits.

Silver Residual units are a capital purchase followed by shipment of drums of silver water as required. Compared with expensive chemical alternatives over a 5-year treatment programme, Silver Residual Treatment is similar in price. 

Pasteurisation is often seen as cheap solution to combating microbes in water.  Many pathogens are becoming heat-resistant.  For further details why pasteurisation is an outdated and potentially harmful process see Why use hpS Technology instead of pasteurisation?/Why use Silver Residual Technology instead of Pasteurisation?

Chlorine is cheap and readily available.  Yet chlorine does not kill many pathogens such as legionella.  There is little point in purchasing a chemical that will not protect one from water-borne disease.  For further details read Why use hpS Technology instead of chemical treatment?/Why use Silver Residual Technology instead of Pasteurisation?

How do I know if the Silver Residual Treatment is working?

This can be achieved on-site using eco-nex rapid test equipment; by our systems surveyors working with testing laboratories; or via your own in-house laboratory or external water consultants.

It is common practice for some water treatment companies to base the efficacy of their chemicals on the amount of chemicals in your system.  This fallacy is based upon laboratory experiments for the kill rates of chemicals against specific microbes under specific conditions.  Any Facilities Manager worth his salt will tell you that the laboratory and real life are two different things.  In short, how can one make a realistic determination of microbial control without actually taking microbial readings?  The only real way to determine whether any anti-microbial technology is working is to undertake regular microbial tests (See Consultancy).

Eco-Nex are equipment suppliers and Consultants.  We appreciate that some customers may simply wish to purchase Silver Residual Treatment products.  Any competent in-house engineer or competent external supplier can provide microbial surveys.

In some circumstances, tests can take up to two weeks before receiving the results.  This time-lag can be a concern to Facilities Managers.  A few legionella bacteria entering a system on day1 can multiply to a potential outbreak by day3.  Hence why eco-nex supply rapid test equipment that we can deploy, or easily train your engineers to use.

Can I purchase Silver Residual Technology cheaper elsewhere?

This simple answer is NO.  eco-nex work directly with the manufacturer.  We do provide commercial, trade and wholesale discounts for purchases of 5 or more units or agreed values of drums.  Buyers or resellers purchasing 50 or more units per annum or an agreed value of drums are appointed an account manager and the appropriate rate of discount.  Contact us today for further information.

Can I try Silver Residual Treatment before I buy?

The simple answer is YES.  Eco-Nex have a number of customers who wish to purchase multiple Silver Residual units and commitment to drum quantities, who have not used Silver Residual Treatment to date.

It is standard practice for some organisations to perform a pilot study prior to roll-out.  In such circumstances, eco-nex will require a written letter of intent to purchase the total quantity of units and drums subject to meeting the conditions of the pilot programme.  A nominal fee for renting the appropriate units and drums will be charged and must include a Consultancy Package at the standard charge rates.

Why should I buy Silver Residual Liquid instead of a Silver-Ion Machine?

The simple answer is that Silver Ions only work with a minimum of 20ppb silver whilst 80ppb of silver is the legal upper limit for most countries.  These are tiny amounts and it is very difficult to dose the right amount from an ion machine.  Silver Residual is a pre-mixed concentrate, which makes the correct dosing straightforward.  The author has designed/installed/marketed both systems.