If anybody is using quantum filtration, I suggest getting your water tested.
A friend of ours has a newer quantum filtration system professionally installed by a local installer. While selling their house, the water was tested during the inspection period. It tested positive for e coli coming out of the kitchen spigot. The test was performed by an EPA certified lab. Normally they add chlorine bleach to their poly tank, but were out of town preceding the test.
Wondering if maybe there was something wrong with the test (for example, the person gathering the specimen didn't wash their hands first, the tests were mixed up, etc) I tested the water myself. I'm not a EPA certified lab, but I was using an EPA certified test kit. It tested positive for coliform* a little after 24 hours. Very low levels of bacteria can take up to 48 hours, so the early positive isn't a great sign.
I researched quantum filters a few years ago and couldn't find any solid documentation on their efficacy one way or another. Most of what I read sounded too good to be true, so I've been continuing to replace my UV bulb every year and servicing the quartz sleeve as appropriate. It's possible quantum filters work great and this is a one-off event, but there are some red flags:
They keep their roof and gutters clean (way cleaner than ours)
They normally add bleach to the system
It was professionally installed (no DIY)
No vegetation on the sides of the house or tank
Closed poly tank
It's possible a single bird shit on the roof can deliver enough starter culture to contaminate an entire tank, so all the precautions in the world don't matter if the last stage of filtration doesn't effectively stop or kill pathogens.
The owners have reached out to the installer and are waiting to hear back from them.
* "Coliform refers to a broad class of Gram-negative, lactose-fermenting bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tracts of mammals, birds, and the environment. Their presence in water systems or on surfaces serves as a critical indicator of fecal contamination, suggesting that harmful, disease-carrying pathogens may also be present."
Again, here is the Hawaii Rain Catchment bible: https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawaiirain/Library/Guides&Manuals/HI_Guidelines_2020.pdf ("UV" appears 20 times. "Quantum" zero).
A friend of ours has a newer quantum filtration system professionally installed by a local installer. While selling their house, the water was tested during the inspection period. It tested positive for e coli coming out of the kitchen spigot. The test was performed by an EPA certified lab. Normally they add chlorine bleach to their poly tank, but were out of town preceding the test.
Wondering if maybe there was something wrong with the test (for example, the person gathering the specimen didn't wash their hands first, the tests were mixed up, etc) I tested the water myself. I'm not a EPA certified lab, but I was using an EPA certified test kit. It tested positive for coliform* a little after 24 hours. Very low levels of bacteria can take up to 48 hours, so the early positive isn't a great sign.
I researched quantum filters a few years ago and couldn't find any solid documentation on their efficacy one way or another. Most of what I read sounded too good to be true, so I've been continuing to replace my UV bulb every year and servicing the quartz sleeve as appropriate. It's possible quantum filters work great and this is a one-off event, but there are some red flags:
They keep their roof and gutters clean (way cleaner than ours)
They normally add bleach to the system
It was professionally installed (no DIY)
No vegetation on the sides of the house or tank
Closed poly tank
It's possible a single bird shit on the roof can deliver enough starter culture to contaminate an entire tank, so all the precautions in the world don't matter if the last stage of filtration doesn't effectively stop or kill pathogens.
The owners have reached out to the installer and are waiting to hear back from them.
* "Coliform refers to a broad class of Gram-negative, lactose-fermenting bacteria found in the gastrointestinal tracts of mammals, birds, and the environment. Their presence in water systems or on surfaces serves as a critical indicator of fecal contamination, suggesting that harmful, disease-carrying pathogens may also be present."
Again, here is the Hawaii Rain Catchment bible: https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawaiirain/Library/Guides&Manuals/HI_Guidelines_2020.pdf ("UV" appears 20 times. "Quantum" zero).