Both systems use the exact same arsenic-selective ion exchange resin (WQA Gold Seal certified, no arsenic dumping at exhaustion). The difference is the valve and the tank packaging. The metered 10 GPM system has a Clack 1" controller valve with a service reminder that tracks gallons used and alerts you when media replacement is approaching - it requires an electrical outlet and a drain line for the periodic backwash cycle. This non-backwashing system has a Clack C1190 in/out head with no controller, no power, and no drain line. Maintenance is by periodic water testing rather than a metered alarm. Choose this version when running power and a drain to the install location isn't practical (cabins, off-grid setups, well houses, basements without floor drains).

The arsenic resin is the same - that's most of the cost in either system. The savings come from a simpler valve (mechanical in/out head vs a programmable controller) and a slightly smaller tank. You're trading automatic gallon tracking for a simpler, lower-cost setup that you monitor via periodic water testing.

Annual arsenic testing of your treated water. Pull a sample from a tap downstream of the system, send it to a certified lab, and watch for arsenic levels rising over time. Because ion exchange resin gives consistent removal until it approaches capacity (then breakthrough happens fairly sharply), annual testing catches the change in time. If your raw arsenic is above 25 ppb, test every 6 months instead. We'll help you set up a schedule that fits your specific water.

Under ideal conditions, the arsenic-selective ion exchange resin reduces arsenate from 50 parts per billion (ppb) down to less than 10 ppb (the EPA's maximum contaminant level for arsenic in drinking water), and continues doing so for over 500,000 gallons per cubic foot of media. With 2 cubic feet of resin in this system, that's 1,000,000+ gallons of treatment capacity in typical residential conditions. Performance can be reduced by very high pH (above 8), high silica, high sulfate, or fouling from suspended solids. Because there's no metered alarm on this version, annual treated-water testing is the only way to monitor performance.

The resin is highly effective on arsenate (As V), which is the most common form of arsenic in well water with any oxygen present. Arsenite (As III) is a different chemical form that is not removed effectively by ion exchange resins in their native state. If your water test shows arsenite (or speciation isn't listed), we recommend pre-oxidation with chlorine or aeration to convert arsenite to arsenate before this system. Most aerated well water and city water is already in the arsenate form. Call us with your test results and we'll verify whether you need an upstream oxidation step.

Yes - especially on this non-backwashing system. Sediment, particulates, and debris can foul the arsenic resin and reduce its effective capacity. On a metered backwashing system, periodic backwash cycles help lift fines and break up channeling. This non-backwashing system can't do that, so keeping particulates out of the tank in the first place matters even more. A 20" Big Blue sediment filter installed upstream is inexpensive, easy to maintain (cartridge changes every 3-6 months), and protects the more expensive arsenic media. We sell the Big Blue kit separately.

No. Arsenic-selective ion exchange resin doesn't need a regeneration or backwash cycle to function. It captures arsenic by chemical bonding, and once the resin is exhausted you replace the media (you don't recharge it in place like a softener). Periodic backwashing on the metered version is more about lifting any sediment that's accumulated and breaking up channeling - useful but not strictly required if you've installed a good upstream sediment filter. That's why this non-backwashing config works well for installations where running a drain isn't practical.

Iron can foul the arsenic resin and reduce its capacity. If your water has more than 0.3 ppm of iron, install an iron filter upstream of this arsenic system. We carry several iron filter options. Send us your water test and we'll recommend the right combination of equipment and the correct installation order. The general sequence is: sediment, then iron, then acid neutralizer (if pH is low), then softener (if hard), then arsenic. Each step protects the next.

Yes. The plumbing is straightforward - 1" male NPT inlet and outlet on the bypass valve, no electrical hookup, no drain line. Most homeowners with basic plumbing skills can do this in a few hours. The most important things to get right are placement order in the treatment train and pre-oxidation if you have arsenite. Call or text Aidan at 800-460-5810 before you order and he'll walk you through your specific situation.

Yes. Always. We will not knowingly sell an arsenic system to someone who hasn't tested. The reason: arsenic systems require accurate sizing based on your arsenic concentration, your daily water use, and the presence of competing anions like silica and sulfate. They also require knowing the arsenic species (arsenate vs arsenite) so we can recommend pre-oxidation if needed. Order our <a href="https://midatlanticwater.net/products/well-water-test-kit">well water test kit</a> or use any NELAC/ELAP certified lab and send us the results. We'll personally review and confirm the right system for your situation.