What is Silica?
Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is a compound made up of silicon and oxygen. Silica is very common in the earth’s crust and is only slightly soluble in water. Things like sand, quartz, and granite are all made up using silica. Many animals and plants also use it to build their skeletal structures.
As New Zealand is a volcanic country, we have higher levels of dissolved reactive silica than other parts of the world. In many cases it is mistaken for hardness, as it can cause scale which looks very similar, but is extremely difficult to remove.
How does Silica get into my water?
Silica dissolves into water as it passes over rocks and minerals. It is far more common in groundwater sources than others.
Is silica in my water bad for me?
Silica is harmless to humans, and in fact, may even be beneficial. Supplements containing silica are becoming more widely available.
However it is a bit less kind to plumbing, particularly where water is heated or allowed to evaporate as a white scale will be left that can only be cleaned by abrasion.
This can cause blocking of pipes, damage to hot water cylinders and other water-using appliances as well as water spotting on shower glass and tapware.
How can I remove silica?
Silica can be removed by reverse osmosis or by strong base anion resin. However, there are a number of difficulties with silica removal.
It needs to be done for the whole supply, rather than at the tap as the pipework is where most of the damage happens. Strong anion base resin is rarely used in smaller commercial or domestic applications as it is regenerated with caustic soda, which is a dangerous chemical to handle and may be subject to disposal requirements.
Reverse osmosis is more commonly used to remove silica in domestic applications. If silica is a problem for you, chat to us today to find a solution to suit your needs.
