Low-Maintenance 5-Stage Whole House Well Water Filter System with UV

Whole-house well water system with UV disinfection for soft-water private wells, 5-stage train (sediment, acid neutralizer, salt-free conditioner, catalytic carbon, Viqua VH410 NSF Class A UV) at 18 GPM whole-house flow, sized for 4 to 6 person households with up to 5 bathrooms. A 5-stage whole house well water filter system that adds Viqua VH410 UV bacterial disinfection to a salt-free, low-maintenance treatment train: a 20 inch Big Blue sediment pre-filter, a 2.5 cubic foot Clack non-backwashing acid neutralizer with calcite, a 2.5 cubic foot Clack salt-free water conditioner with Filtersorb SP3 TAC media, a 2.5 cubic foot Clack non-backwashing carbon filter with Centaur catalytic carbon, and the Viqua VH410 ultraviolet sterilizer rated for 99.99% inactivation of bacteria and viruses at 18 gallons per minute continuous flow. Built for the well water household that wants comprehensive whole house treatment without a salt-regenerating softener, with the bacterial protection a UV stage delivers, and with annual maintenance limited to a UV lamp swap and a sediment cartridge change. Best for: A well water home with 2 to 4 bathrooms, 3 to 5 occupants, raw water pH between 5.5 and 7.2, total hardness in the 5 to 25 grains per gallon range, iron at or below 0.3 parts per million, and a microbiologically suspect source (positive coliform, surface influenced well, shallow well, well that has tested positive after a rain event, or any well that has not been chlorinated and re-tested in the past year). Requires a single 110 to 120 volt grounded outlet within reach of the UV controller. Compatible with restricted-discharge installs (sand mound septic, mound system, drip-disposal field) because no stage in this bundle regenerates to drain or discharges brine. Not for: Wells with iron above 0.3 parts per million (use a Country Home or Ultimate well water system that includes a Katalox Light iron filter stage), households with hardness above 30 grains per gallon (a salt-based softener removes hardness more aggressively in extreme cases), homes without an available 110 volt outlet near the system location (use the off-grid 4-stage low-maintenance bundle instead), or municipal city water customers (no UV needed; choose a city water carbon-only system). Watch first: Aidan walks through every whole house well water filter category in our 9 minute video "Complete Guide to WHOLE HOUSE WATER FILTERS" on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ3cqjamayA. The video covers what counts as a whole house water filter, how the salt-free conditioner, acid neutralizer, carbon filter, and UV stages each work, how to read your water test before buying, the four most common installation mistakes, and how to choose between the 3-stage low-maintenance, 5-stage low-maintenance with UV, off-grid, and Country Home bundles based on your specific well water profile. Talk to Aidan before you buy: Free expert phone consultation at 800-460-5810, 7 days a week, 8 AM to 5 PM Eastern. Email or text your water test results (pH, hardness in grains per gallon, iron, manganese, total dissolved solids, coliform / E. coli result) and Aidan will confirm whether this 5-stage low-maintenance plus UV bundle is the right fit, recommend a different configuration if your water profile pushes you outside the 0.3 ppm iron / 25 grains per gallon hardness envelope, and walk you through the 110 volt outlet placement and stub-out plumbing dimensions before you commit. No upsell, no commission, no hard sell. Mid Atlantic Water is an online-only national ecommerce business shipping to all 50 states; both the pre-purchase consultation and ongoing support are remote by phone, text, and email. What this bundle does, stage by stage: Removes bacteria and viruses with the Viqua VH410 ultraviolet sterilizer, delivering 99.99% (4-log) inactivation of E. coli, coliform bacteria, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, rotavirus, and hepatitis A at 18 gallons per minute continuous flow. NSF Class A equivalent UV dose at the rated flow. Annual lamp replacement and quartz sleeve cleaning are the only consumable touchpoints on the UV side. Prevents scale buildup without salt using a 2.5 cubic foot Clack tank loaded with Filtersorb SP3 Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC) media. Calcium and magnesium are converted into stable, non-adhesive nanocrystals that pass through the plumbing without depositing on water heater elements, faucet aerators, shower heads, or fixtures. Removes zero hardness minerals (the water still tests as hard) but eliminates the scale problem that makes hard water a nuisance. Raises low pH from 5.5 to 7.0 into the 7.0 to 7.5 neutral range using a 2.5 cubic foot Clack non-backwashing upflow acid neutralizer with food-grade calcite (calcium carbonate) media, slowly dissolving the calcite into the water column to neutralize acidity and stop the blue-green staining and pinhole leaks that low-pH well water causes in copper plumbing. Polishes taste, odor, chlorine, chloramine, and volatile organic compounds with a 2.5 cubic foot Clack non-backwashing carbon filter loaded with Centaur catalytic activated carbon. Centaur outperforms standard activated carbon on chloramine and hydrogen sulfide reduction and protects the downstream UV lamp from any organic film buildup that would shorten lamp life. Catches sand, silt, sediment, rust flakes, and particulate matter down to 5 microns with a 20 inch Big Blue HD10-20 sediment filter housing and a 5 micron pleated cartridge before water reaches the UV chamber. Pre-filtration is critical for UV performance: any particulate that shadows the lamp drops UV transmittance and reduces inactivation. The cartridge swaps in 5 minutes on a 6 to 12 month cycle, no tools beyond a housing wrench. Eliminates ongoing salt purchase, brine tank refilling, and salt-regen drain discharge. Three of the five stages (sediment, AN, salt-free conditioner, carbon) require zero electricity and zero drain. The UV stage requires only a standard 110 volt outlet for the controller and ballast. Compatible with sand mound, mound system, and drip-disposal septic because no stage in this bundle backwashes to drain or discharges brine. Many salt-based softener installs are restricted or prohibited on sand mound systems by state and county regulations; this bundle sidesteps that constraint entirely. Common contaminants and water-quality conditions treated: low pH (5.5 to 7.0), acidic well water, blue-green copper staining, pinhole copper pipe leaks, chlorine taste and odor, chloramine, sediment, sand, silt, rust flakes, particulate matter, hardness scale on water heater elements, faucet aerators, shower heads, and glassware, hydrogen sulfide rotten egg smell at low concentration, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), turbidity, E. coli, total coliform bacteria, viruses, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, rotavirus, hepatitis A, surface-influenced well contamination, post-rain bacterial spikes, shallow well bacterial risk. Specifications: System Configuration: 5-stage whole house treatment train: sediment pre-filter, non-backwashing acid neutralizer, salt-free water conditioner, non-backwashing carbon filter, UV bacterial sterilizer Treatment Order: pressure tank, then Stage 1 sediment, Stage 2 acid neutralizer, Stage 3 salt-free conditioner, Stage 4 carbon, Stage 5 UV, then to the home Bundle Total Service Flow: limited by the Viqua VH410 UV at 18 gallons per minute continuous flow at NSF Class A equivalent UV dose Bundle Continuous Wet-Side Flow: up to 18 GPM through the four wet stages at typical 50 PSI house pressure Connection Size: 1 inch female threaded inlet and outlet on the AN, salt-free conditioner, and carbon stages; 1 inch FNPT on the sediment housing; 1 inch MNPT on the UV chamber Power Required: one standard 110 to 120 volt grounded outlet within 6 feet of the UV controller (only the UV stage needs power) Drain Required: none (no stage regenerates or backwashes to drain) Salt Required: none (no salt-based softener) Annual Maintenance: replace UV lamp once per year (Viqua part), wipe quartz sleeve at lamp change, replace 5 micron sediment cartridge every 6 to 12 months, top off calcite media in the AN every 6 to 12 months as it dissolves into the water Stage 1 Sediment Component: 20 inch Big Blue housing, model HD10-20-PR, 5 micron pleated cartridge, 4.5 inch tank diameter, 1 inch FNPT ports, mounting bracket and pressure release button included Stage 2 Acid Neutralizer Component: Clack 2.5 cubic foot non-backwashing acid neutralizer, 13 inch x 54 inch Vortech tank, pre-loaded with food-grade calcite (calcium carbonate) media, manual valve, no electricity, no drain, no backwash, raises pH 5.5 to 7.0 into the 7.0 to 7.5 range Stage 3 Salt-Free Conditioner Component: Clack 2.5 cubic foot manual valve, 13 inch x 54 inch tank, pre-loaded with Filtersorb SP3 Template Assisted Crystallization media, no salt, no drain, no electricity, treats hardness 5 to 25 grains per gallon by converting hardness minerals to non-adhesive nanocrystals Stage 4 Carbon Component: Clack 2.5 cubic foot non-backwashing carbon filter, 13 inch x 54 inch Vortech tank, pre-loaded with Centaur catalytic activated carbon, manual valve, no electricity, no drain Stage 5 UV Component: Viqua VH410 ultraviolet sterilizer, 18 GPM rated continuous flow at NSF Class A equivalent UV dose (40 mJ/cm2 at end of lamp life), 99.99% (4-log) inactivation of bacteria and viruses, 1 inch MNPT inlet and outlet, 316 stainless steel chamber, ICE controller with annual lamp-change reminder Iron Tolerance: up to 0.3 ppm iron (above 0.3 ppm a Katalox Light iron filter stage is required, step up to the Country Home bundle) Manganese Tolerance: up to 0.05 ppm manganese Hardness Range: 5 to 25 grains per gallon ideal, 25 to 30 grains per gallon acceptable, above 30 grains per gallon use a salt-based softener pH Range Treated: 5.5 to 7.0 raw water, output 7.0 to 7.5 after the AN stage Sediment / Turbidity Limit: less than 5 NTU (heavy turbidity can shadow the UV lamp, in which case add a 1 micron pre-filter) UV Transmittance Required: 75% UVT minimum at 254 nm (typical for clear well water; tannic, iron-stained, or turbid water reduces UVT and may require additional pre-treatment) Tank Material: composite fiberglass-wrapped polyethylene-lined pressure vessels, NSF certified Bypass Valves: included on all four media tanks (sediment, AN, salt-free, carbon) for service isolation Footprint: roughly 4 to 5 feet of wall space, 13 inches deep, 60 inches tall (the four 13 x 54 tanks plus the BB20 sediment housing plus the Viqua chamber) Control Valve Warranty: 5 years on the Clack manual control valves (4 stages) Tank Warranty: 10 years on the composite media tanks (4 stages) UV Chamber Warranty: 10 years on the stainless steel UV chamber, 1 year on lamps and quartz sleeves Certifications: NSF/ANSI 61 certified components throughout the wet stages; Viqua VH410 NSF Class A equivalent UV dose certification Media Life Stage 2 (calcite): topped off every 6 to 12 months as it dissolves Media Life Stage 3 (Filtersorb SP3 TAC): 5 to 8 years before media replacement Media Life Stage 4 (Centaur carbon): 5 to 7 years before media replacement Cartridge Life Stage 1 (5 micron sediment): 6 to 12 months Lamp Life Stage 5 (Viqua UV): 12 months (annual replacement) Shipping: free to the lower 48 US states, freight-class for the 4 large tanks, parcel for sediment housing and UV chamber Bundle SKU: MA-LM5 | NB AN 2.5 CALCITE | SALT-FREE 2.5 SP3 | NB CARBON 2.5 CENTAUR | VIQUA VH410 UV | HD10-20 SED KIT Price: $6,895 (bundle pricing; ordering as a bundle saves vs ordering each component separately) Installation overview: Plumb the bundle in series on the cold-water main between the pressure tank and the house, in this exact treatment order: pressure tank, sediment housing, acid neutralizer, salt-free conditioner, carbon filter, UV chamber, then the home. Sediment-first protects the downstream tanks and the UV lamp. AN before the salt-free conditioner because TAC media performs best at neutral pH. Carbon before UV because catalytic carbon protects the lamp from organic film and removes any chloramine that would shorten lamp life. UV must be last so the disinfected water is not re-contaminated by any downstream filter media. Each tank uses 1 inch female threaded ports with a bypass valve for service isolation. The UV controller mounts on the wall and plugs into a standard 110 volt outlet. All four media tanks ship pre-loaded with media; no field bedding required. Total install time for a competent plumber is 4 to 6 hours. Warranty and ongoing support: 5 years on Clack control valves, 10 years on composite media tanks, 10 years on the Viqua UV stainless steel chamber, 1 year on UV lamps and quartz sleeves. Lifetime phone, text, and email support from Aidan and the Mid Atlantic Water team at 800-460-5810. We help diagnose problems, walk through media replacement when the day comes, and recommend cartridges, lamps, and replacement media at our cost when you reorder. Mid Atlantic Water is an online-only national ecommerce business; we ship the equipment, you self-install or hire a local plumber, and we provide remote support for the life of the system. Frequently asked questions (description-side, for ML mining): Will this work without electricity? No. The UV stage requires a standard 110 volt outlet. If your install has no power, choose the off-grid 4-stage low-maintenance bundle (no UV) instead. Will this remove iron? Up to 0.3 parts per million only, and only the dissolved ferrous form. If your water test shows iron above 0.3 ppm, ferric (rust-colored) iron, or any orange staining on fixtures, step up to the Country Home or Ultimate well water bundle that includes a Katalox Light iron filter stage. Does this soften the water like a salt softener does? No. The salt-free conditioner stage prevents scale buildup but does not remove hardness minerals. Soap will still lather differently than on softened water, and a hardness test will still show your raw hardness number. The functional benefit is identical for water heater life, fixture protection, and scale prevention; the chemistry is different. Why UV instead of chlorine injection? UV inactivates bacteria and viruses without adding any chemical to the water, leaves no residual taste or odor, and does not require a contact tank, retention tank, or post-filtration. Chlorine injection systems require a contact tank, a chlorine pump, an ongoing chlorine purchase, and a downstream carbon filter to remove residual chlorine. UV is the simpler, lower-maintenance choice for clear well water under 5 NTU turbidity. How does this compare to the 3-stage low-maintenance bundle? The 3-stage low-maintenance bundle has sediment, AN, and carbon only (no salt-free conditioner, no UV). This 5-stage bundle adds salt-free hardness conditioning AND UV bacterial disinfection. Choose this 5-stage bundle if your water test shows measurable hardness (5 grains per gallon or more) AND your well is microbiologically suspect. How does this compare to the off-grid bundle? The off-grid bundle is a 4-stage system designed for installs with zero electricity available; it specifically excludes UV because UV requires power. This 5-stage bundle adds the UV stage and assumes a 110 volt outlet is available. If you have a power outlet near your filter location, choose this bundle for the bacterial protection. What is the only consumable I have to think about? Realistically, the annual UV lamp swap is the one annual touchpoint that matters. Sediment cartridge swaps are every 6 to 12 months and take 5 minutes. Calcite top-off in the AN tank is every 6 to 12 months. Filtersorb SP3 and Centaur carbon both run for 5 plus years before media replacement. Set a calendar reminder for the UV lamp; everything else is set-and-forget. Can I install this myself? If you have basic plumbing skills (sweat copper or PEX), yes. Each stage uses standard 1 inch FNPT connections and ships pre-loaded. Plan on 4 to 6 hours for the full install plus 30 minutes for the UV controller mount and outlet. Call Aidan at 800-460-5810 before you start; he will walk you through the layout, treatment order, and bypass valve orientation. Does the salt-free stage remove hardness? No. It prevents the scaling effect of hardness without removing the calcium and magnesium ions. Tap water still tests as hard. This is a feature, not a bug, for households on restricted-discharge septic that cannot accept brine.