Methods for hydrodynamic control of a continuous water purification system

A method for purifying a contaminated solution, the method comprising:

• receiving, via a contaminated solution feed, a contaminated solution, the contaminated solution including an untreated ratio of first ions to second ions;
• mixing the contaminated solution with purifying material;
• removing the first ions from the contaminated solution by co-currently transporting the purifying material with the contaminated solution so as to produce loaded purifying material and a product solution that includes a treated ratio of first ions to second ions, the treated ratio is less than the untreated ratio;
• separating the loaded purifying material from the product solution;
• discharging the product solution;
• counter-currently mixing the loaded purifying material with fresh regenerant so as to produce spent regenerant and purifying material that is regenerated;
• and
• transporting the purifying material that has been regenerated in the direction of the contaminated solution feed to enable the receiving, the mixing, the removing, the separating, the discharging, the counter-currently mixing to be continuously repeated.