VILLA DELICIAS

       As a means to that end, Senor Vazquez specified ozonation of the water in all five cisterns, as well as the home's swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Delta Marine International, Inc. designed and built a custom model of its exclusive Water Quality Assurance (WQA) system that is in operation aboard several large luxury yachts, and Research Vessels "KNORR" and "OCEANUS" for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

       The home has five cisterns. three of which have a capacity of 16,000 gallons each, and were intended for municipal, and/or reverse osmosis produced water. As these cisterns were intended for water that had already been treated, and was considered pure when it went into the cistern(s), the WQA system was designed only to maintain that purity during the time the water was stored. In this case, ceramic diffusers were the method of choice in getting ozone into the water. Ceramic diffusers were located in the center of the floor of each cistern. Convection currents created in the water by bubbles rushing to the surface from the diffuser ensured adequate mixing of ozone and water.

       Rain water on the other hand is another matter entirely. The two larger cisterns, of 22,000 gallons capacity each, are connected to the roof's rain water collection system. A roof, or other open-air rain water collection device, is subject to many forms of contamination. Senor Vazquez intended to use the rain water to supply the home which is common all through the islands. Therefore, the WQA system was designed to fill the role as a primary water treatment system.

       Complete and thorough mixing of the rain water was an absolute necessity if we were to accomplish the primary treatment role. Therefore, a stainless steel submerged pump was installed in each of the larger cisterns. The pumps were located so the intakes were in the cistern sumps. Venturi injector devices were attached to the discharge of both pumps, to which the ozone delivery tubing was connected. Ozone for each of the two rain water cisterns was thereby injected into the water as it passed though the venturi. The pump/venturi discharge was directed along one wall of each cistern in order to create a strong current of water. In this manner, the pool of water was made to rotate which created eddy currents throughout the entire mass of water. Another problem encountered with the rain water in this case was the cedar shake roofing material. As water runs across the roof, it leaches tannin from the shakes, a natural and unavoidable by-product of a cedar roof. Ozone is a very powerful bleaching agent, and is used in many industrial and professional laundry washing operations. Therefore, removal of the tannin did not present much of a problem provided the cistern water was agitated or circulated properly.

       Water is drawn from the cistern by two parallel high pressure pumps, and delivered to the distribution system at a pressure of approximately sixty PSI. Before entering the home, the water first passes through a large charcoal filter, followed by a UV sterilizer. A Chem-Free POE (Point Of Entry) water treatment system was installed to provide one final step in delivering the purest and safest water possible to the VILLA DELICIAS water system. The POE system injects ozone into the water stream which then flows through a contact chamber to allow complete mixing and contact of ozone and water. The ozonated water is then put back in the line before the charcoal filter and UV sterilizer, which remove all traces of ozone from the water before it is delivered to the home. The end result is bottled quality water for a few cents per gallon.

       There is also a Chem-Free ozone-based IAQ system operating through the seven air handlers in the home, as well as a small portable Chem-Free model U-11PF ozone generator. VILLA DELICIAS represents the most comprehensive home-based application of ozone anywhere. We are proud to have played a major role in ensuring the continued health and well-being of the Vazquez family and guests.