Sediment and Algae? Pre-filter, Carbon, UV

Get a three-stage setup: sediment pre-filter, then carbon block, then UV or reverse osmosis.

It’s not complicated when you break it down. High sediment and algae blooms are two different problems that need different treatments, but a good home system handles both if you get the order right.

First, the sediment pre-filter. If you’ve got visible particles or algae chunks, a 5-micron or finer sediment filter is non-negotiable. Skip this and you’ll clog your carbon or UV filter in a week. A spin-down filter works for sand and grit, but for algae you want a pleated cartridge. Change it when it turns brown.

Second, a carbon block filter. This catches smaller particles, improves taste, and – important for algae – it removes microcystins and other cyanotoxins that some blue-green algae produce. Boiling doesn’t destroy those toxins, so don’t rely on heat alone.

Third, UV light