Sand filtration has been used in water treatment for well over a century, and it remains effective. However, the media used in filtration systems has continued to develop, and activated glass is one of the more significant improvements to emerge in recent decades. By replacing conventional sand with specially processed recycled glass, filtration performance improves in several measurable ways without requiring changes to the filter vessel or backwash system.

Activated glass media is produced by processing recycled glass to create a material with a higher surface area and a different surface charge compared to sand. The negative surface charge of activated glass attracts and retains fine particles and microorganisms more effectively than sand, improving the removal of suspended solids and turbidity at lower filtration velocities. This results in longer filter runs, less frequent backwashing, and lower backwash water consumption.

The higher dirt-holding capacity of activated glass compared to sand means that filters can operate for longer between backwash cycles. This improves the overall efficiency of the filtration system and reduces the volume of backwash water that needs to be managed and treated. In water-efficient operations, this reduction in backwash volume is a tangible operational benefit.

Activated glass filters are suitable for water treatment plants, swimming pools, industrial process water, and wastewater polishing applications. In wastewater reuse applications, they are used as a tertiary treatment stage to remove residual suspended solids and turbidity from secondary or tertiary effluent before discharge or reuse.

The media is produced from recycled glass, which gives it a sustainability advantage over quarried silica sand in applications where the source of materials is a consideration in procurement decisions.