Once the siphon has been established between the filter and the sump, the pressure immediately above the filter bed is lower than the pressure in the backwash storage compartment. This causes water from the backwash compartment to flow down the through the effluent duct, into the collection chamber and upwards through the strainers, expanding the bed and cleaning it. The backwash water with the dirt it has removed from the filter bed then passes up the backwash pipe, over the U-Bend and out through the sump to waste. The backwash rate actually starts at a very high rate (around 48-49 m/h) and gradually slows down to around 15 m/h at the end. The performance of the various installed units has indicated that diminishing backwash rate satisfactorily cleans the filter bed. The high initial flow rate provides greater initial turbulence to wash the sand. The lower flow at the end of wash permits the bed to settle evenly and smoothly.
The backwash action continues until the level of the water in the backwash storage compartment drops below the end of the siphon breaker. When it does, air is admitted to the top of the backwash pipe and backwashing stops.
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