Nitrate Removal 3-stage 20"x 4.5" Whole House Water Filter System
3-Stage 20" x 4.5" Big Blue Whole House Nitrate Reduction Water Filtration System with 1" NPT Ports
Improve your whole-house water treatment with the Max Water 3-Stage Big Blue Nitrate Reduction System. This high-capacity system combines sediment filtration, nitrate-selective anion ion-exchange resin, and granular activated carbon to help reduce nitrate, suspended particles, chlorine, unpleasant taste, and odor.
The system uses full-size 20" x 4.5" Big Blue cartridges for greater media capacity, higher flow potential, and longer service intervals than standard slim-line filter systems. Its 1" female NPT ports make it suitable for many residential, cottage, office, and light-commercial plumbing installations.
Designed for Nitrate Reduction
Nitrate is a dissolved contaminant that may enter groundwater from fertilizers, septic systems, agricultural runoff, animal waste, and other sources. Because nitrate normally has no noticeable color, taste, or odor, laboratory water testing is necessary to determine its concentration.
The included nitrate-selective anion resin cartridge is designed to reduce nitrate ions from properly tested water. Cartridge life depends heavily on the starting nitrate concentration, sulfate level, total water use, flow rate, and other dissolved ions that may compete with nitrate for exchange capacity.
Understanding Nitrate Test Results
Water laboratories may report nitrate in one of two formats:
- Nitrate as NO3: The concentration is reported as the complete nitrate ion.
- Nitrate-Nitrogen as NO3-N: The concentration is reported only as the nitrogen portion of nitrate.
Three Stages of Whole House Filtration
- 5-Micron Polypropylene Sediment Filter
Part No. 104112 . Captures sand, rust, dirt, silt, and other suspended particles while helping protect the nitrate resin and carbon cartridges from premature fouling. - Nitrate-Selective Anion Ion-Exchange Resin Filter
Part No. 104139 . Uses anion ion-exchange resin to reduce nitrate from properly tested water under suitable operating conditions. - Coconut-Shell Granular Activated Carbon Filter
Part No. 104113 . Reduces chlorine, unpleasant taste, odor, and selected organic compounds while providing final taste and odor polishing.
Dual Pressure Gauges
Two vertical liquid-filled pressure gauges help monitor incoming water pressure and pressure after filtration. Comparing the readings can help identify increasing pressure loss across the cartridges.
A growing difference between the inlet and outlet gauge readings may indicate that one or more cartridges are becoming clogged and require inspection or replacement.
Nitrate resin exhaustion may not cause a noticeable pressure drop. Nitrate performance should be verified through periodic water testing, even when the pressure readings appear normal.
Key Features and Benefits
- Whole-house treatment: Filters incoming water before it reaches faucets, showers, appliances, and plumbing fixtures.
- Specialized nitrate reduction: Includes an anion ion-exchange resin cartridge designed for nitrate reduction.
- Three complementary stages: Combines sediment, nitrate-selective resin, and activated-carbon filtration.
- Clear first-stage housing: Allows visual inspection of sediment accumulation.
- High-capacity Big Blue design: Uses standard 20" x 4.5" replacement cartridges.
- 1" female NPT ports: Supports higher-flow plumbing installations when properly sized.
- Double O-ring housing seals: Help provide a secure seal when correctly installed and maintained.
- Pressure-relief buttons: Help release trapped pressure before filter maintenance.
- Dual pressure gauges: Help monitor operating pressure and filter restriction.
- Replaceable cartridges: Allow routine maintenance without replacing the complete filtration system.
Helps Reduce
- Nitrate under suitable water conditions
- Sand, silt, dirt, rust, and suspended sediment
- Turbidity caused by suspended particles
- Chlorine taste and odor
- Unpleasant tastes and odors
- Selected volatile organic compounds
- Selected pesticides, herbicides, and organic chemicals
- Particles that may contribute to staining or appliance buildup
Package Includes
- One 20" x 4.5" clear Big Blue filter housing with double O-ring seal and pressure-relief button
- Two 20" x 4.5" opaque Big Blue filter housings with double O-ring seals and pressure-relief buttons
- Two 60 mm liquid-filled pressure gauges
- One 5-micron polypropylene sediment filter
- One nitrate-selective anion ion-exchange resin filter
- One coconut-shell granular activated carbon filter
- One heavy-duty PVC ball valve
- One hex nipple fitting
- One filter housing wrench
- One heavy-duty three-stage steel wall-mounting bracket
- Installation hardware for the filtration bracket
- One-year manufacturer's limited warranty
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| System Type | Three-stage whole house sediment, nitrate, and carbon filtration system |
| Filter Cartridge Size | 20" x 4.5" Big Blue |
| Number of Filter Stages | 3 |
| Flow Direction | Right-side inlet to left-side outlet |
| Inlet and Outlet Connections | 1" female NPT |
| Sediment Filter Rating | 5 micron nominal |
| Recommended Sediment Filter Replacement | Approximately every 6 months* |
| Nitrate Resin Capacity | Approximately 2,500 grains* |
| Recommended Source-Water Nitrate Level | Less than 1 ppm, according to the original product specification* |
| Estimated Carbon Filter Capacity | Approximately 20,000–35,000 gallons* |
| Maximum Operating Pressure | 90 PSI |
| Recommended Operating Pressure | 20–60 PSI |
| Operating Water Temperature | 40–100°F / 5–38°C |
| Compatible Feed-Water pH Range | 4.0–10.0 |
| Maximum Feed-Water TDS | 2,000 ppm |
| Housing Pressure Drop | Less than 1 PSI at 20 GPM, excluding cartridge restriction* |
| Maximum Estimated Flow Rate | Up to 40 GPM with 1" inlet and outlet under suitable operating conditions* |
| Approximate Dimensions | 27.5" H x 24.5" W x 8" D |
| Approximate Weight | 48 lb. |
*Actual nitrate-reduction capacity, cartridge life, flow rate, and pressure drop depend on the nitrate reporting method, nitrate concentration, sulfate concentration, chloride, hardness, pH, competing ions, TDS = Total Dissolved Solids., daily water use, plumbing size, operating pressure, temperature, and cartridge condition. Maximum housing flow does not represent guaranteed nitrate reduction at that flow rate.
Recommended Applications
- Residential whole-house nitrate reduction
- Well water with laboratory-confirmed nitrate
- Cottages, rural homes, and vacation properties
- Offices and small commercial buildings
- Prefiltration before compatible reverse osmosis systems
- Prefiltration before compatible UV water-treatment systems
- Equipment and appliance protection
- Selected manufacturing and process-water applications
- Filtration of compatible low-viscosity process fluids
- Selected recycled-water filtration applications
Installation and Maintenance Information
- Test the untreated water before installation to confirm nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, chloride, hardness, pH, iron, manganese, and microbiological quality.
- Confirm whether the laboratory reports nitrate as NO3 or nitrate-nitrogen as NO3-N.
- Install the system on the main cold-water supply line after the pressure tank, when applicable, and before the water heater.
- Connect the incoming water to the right-side inlet and the filtered water line to the left-side outlet.
- Confirm the directional flow markings before completing the plumbing.
- Support the system securely using the supplied steel bracket and suitable mounting hardware for the wall structure.
- Leave sufficient clearance beneath the housings for cartridge replacement and maintenance.
- Use suitable thread sealant or PTFE tape on NPT connections. Do not overtighten plastic ports or fittings.
- Shut off the incoming water supply and release system pressure before opening any filter housing.
- Lubricate O-rings only with food-grade silicone lubricant. Do not use petroleum-based lubricants.
- Flush the sediment, nitrate, and carbon cartridges according to the product instructions before placing the system into service.
- Test the treated water periodically to determine when the nitrate cartridge requires replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do I know whether my water contains nitrate?
A. Nitrate normally has no visible color, taste, or odor. A certified laboratory water test is required to determine whether nitrate is present and at what concentration.
Q. What is the difference between nitrate and nitrate-nitrogen?
A. Nitrate as NO 3 measures the complete nitrate ion, while nitrate-nitrogen as NO 3 -N measures only the nitrogen portion. The numeric values are different, so the reporting method must be confirmed before interpreting the result.
Q. Can the pressure gauges tell me when the nitrate resin is exhausted?
A. Not reliably. The gauges can help identify clogged cartridges, but nitrate resin may become exhausted without causing a noticeable pressure drop. Periodic treated-water testing is required.
Q. Does this system reduce nitrite?
A. This system is specifically designed to reduce nitrate using a nitrate-selective ion exchange resin. While the resin may reduce some nitrite under certain conditions, the manufacturer does not provide a certified nitrite reduction rating. We recommend testing your water for both nitrate and nitrite before selecting a treatment system.
For the best performance, the source water nitrate concentration should be less than 1 PPM. The supplied nitrate resin has an approximate capacity of 2,500 grains. If the nitrate level is higher than 1 PPM, the resin will become exhausted more quickly and will require more frequent replacement or regeneration. The actual service life depends on the nitrate concentration, daily water consumption, and overall water quality
Q. Does this system soften hard water?
A. No. This system does not replace a water softener. Hardness minerals require a properly sized softening or scale-control system.
Q. Does this system reduce TDS = Total Dissolved Solids?
A. The nitrate resin targets selected anions, but this system is not designed for broad TDS reduction. Reverse osmosis or another specialized treatment process is typically required when substantial dissolved-solid reduction is needed.
Q. How often should the nitrate cartridge be replaced?
A. Replacement frequency depends on the starting nitrate level, sulfate, competing ions, daily water use, and resin capacity. Test the treated water regularly and replace the cartridge before nitrate breakthrough exceeds the required treatment target.
Q. Is this system suitable for high nitrate concentrations?
A. High nitrate concentrations may exhaust a disposable cartridge very quickly. A larger, automatically regenerating nitrate-removal system or a properly designed reverse osmosis solution may be more appropriate for high concentrations or heavy water usage.
Filter Replacement Options and Alternatives for Item Number:103067
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