Method and Apparatus for Eliminating Biofilm-Forming Bacteria in Water

A pressurized water treatment apparatus comprising,

• an inlet port, wherein the inlet port is configured to be connected to a pressurized fluid source;
• a check valve, the check valve being connected to the inlet port to prevent the flow of materials into the pressurized fluid source;
• a 4-cycle control valve, the 4-cycle control valve being connected to the inlet port, the 4-cycle control valve regulating the flow of fluid through the normal flow configuration, the backwash configuration, the air injection configuration and the rinse configuration;
• an air injector assembly, the air injector assembly being an integrated portion of the 4-cycle control valve;
• a one-way pressure sensitive valve, the one-way pressure sensitive valve being connected to the air injector assembly;
• a treatment tank body, the treatment tank body comprising an upper portion and a middle portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the treatment tank body being connected to the 4-cycle control valve;
• a compressed air pocket, the compressed air pocket being located within the upper portion of the treatment tank body;
• a copper-zinc media, the copper-zinc media comprising a plurality of particles of high-purity medium copper-zinc granules, the high-purity medium copper-zinc granules having a density of at least 100 lbs per cubic foot, the high-purity medium copper-zinc granules being located within the middle portion of the treatment tank body;
• a garnet gravel media, the garnet gravel media comprising a plurality of particles of garnet gravel, the garnet gravel media being located below the copper-zinc media within the lower portion of the treatment tank body;
• a riser tube, the riser tube being located within the treatment tank body, the riser tube being connected to the 4-cycle control valve, the riser tube extending from the 4-cycle control valve through the upper portion of the treatment tank body and through the copper-zinc media in the middle portion of the treatment tank body and the garnet gravel media in the lower portion of the treatment tank body;
• a combined strainer-distributor basket, the combined strainer-distributor basket being connected to the riser tube in the lower portion of the treatment tank body, the combined strainer-distributor basket being surrounded by the garnet gravel media, the combined strainer-distributor basket defining an inner volume and that inner volume being in fluid connection with the riser tube, the combined strainer-distributor basket comprising a plurality of apertures, the combined strainer-distributor basket having a total flow area between two and six times the riser tube flow area;
• and
• an outlet port, the outlet port being connected to the 4-cycle control valve, the outlet port connecting the 4-cycle control valve to a potable water plumbing system.