For any water treatment system, replacing consumables on time is essential to ensure stable operation, consistent water quality, and long equipment lifespan. A well-maintained system not only reduces unexpected failures but also avoids unnecessary operating costs.

As a company focused on full-process water treatment solutions, we believe that selling equipment is only part of the job—professional technical support and long-term service protection are what truly matter.

In this guide, we break down the replacement cycles of common consumables—including quartz sand, activated carbon, softening resin, PP filters, and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes—along with replacement criteria you can use to determine the right timing based on your actual operating conditions.

1. Quartz Sand

Quartz sand functions as the primary filtration medium in multi-media filters, removing larger suspended solids and particles.

Typical Replacement Cycle

8–24 months, depending heavily on raw water conditions. Poorer water quality shortens the lifespan.

When Should Quartz Sand Be Replaced?

• Pressure difference continues to increase: If the inlet/outlet pressure difference of the multi-media filter cannot return to normal after multiple backwashes, replacement is recommended.

• SDI > 5: If the SDI value of the produced water remains above 5 after several cleanings, the filtration medium may have deteriorated.

• Exceeded service life: Replace when the material has surpassed the manufacturer’s recommended longevity.

2. Activated Carbon

Activated carbon removes organic matter, iron, oxidants, and residual chlorine. It plays a critical role in protecting RO membranes from chemical damage.

Typical Replacement Cycle

8–24 months, depending on raw water quality and chlorine load.

Replacement Criteria

• Pressure difference remains high: If pressure differential does not return to normal after cleaning.

• Residual chlorine > 0.05 mg/L: When the chlorine value in the treated water exceeds safe levels after carbon bed reactions decrease.

• Passed service life: Replace once it exceeds the manufacturer’s recommended period.

3. Softening Resin

Softening resin removes calcium and magnesium ions to lower water hardness and prevent scaling on RO membranes and pipelines.

Typical Replacement Cycle

8–24 months, depending on raw water hardness and regeneration frequency.

Replacement Criteria

• Pressure difference abnormal and cannot recover after backwash or regeneration.

• Hardness > 3 mg/L: If the outlet water hardness remains above 3 mg/L even after resin regeneration, the resin has likely aged or oxidized.

• Exceeded recommended lifespan: Replace per manufacturer guidelines.

4. PP Filter (Precision Filter Cartridge)

PP cartridges prevent particles ≥5 µm from entering the RO system, reducing membrane fouling and protecting the spiral-wound membrane surface.

Typical Replacement Cycle

1–3 months, based on raw water turbidity.

Replacement Criteria

1. Increasing pressure difference between inlet and outlet.

2. Reaching recommended replacement time per manufacturer or internal maintenance schedule.

PP filters are relatively low-cost consumables, but timely replacement significantly reduces membrane maintenance costs.

5. Reverse Osmosis Membrane (RO Membrane)

RO membranes are made of high-polymer materials with micropores of 0.5–10 nm. They remove ions, organics, bacteria, viruses, and dissolved solids to produce low-conductivity water.

Typical Replacement Cycle

2–4 years, depending on upstream pretreatment quality and cleaning frequency.

Replacement Criteria

• Performance does not recover after chemical cleaning: Flow rate, rejection rate, or differential pressure stays abnormal.

• Physical damage: Membrane tears or irreversible fouling that affects system operation.

• Exceeded recommended lifespan by the membrane manufacturer.

6. Reference Table: Consumables Replacement Cycle

About PengXiang Huixing (Since 2005)

Founded in 2005, Shenzhen PengXiang Huixing has specialized in designing, developing, manufacturing, installing, and maintaining complete water treatment systems for:

• Natural mineral water

• Bottled drinking water

• Purified water

• Aseptic water for food & beverage

• Dairy processing

• Tea beverage production

To enhance the quality of service, we established a Class-1000 clean laboratory to support strict testing and quality control.

Certifications & Honors

• National High-Tech Enterprise

• “Specialized & Innovative” SME in Shenzhen

• AAA Contract-Honoring and Trustworthy Enterprise

• ISO9001:2015 Quality Management System

• ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management System

• ISO45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety Management

• 3 Invention Patents, 25 Utility Patents, 4 Software Copyrights

• 4 Guangdong Provincial Hygiene Safety Approvals for Drinking Water Products

Service Achievements

We have completed factory design and turnkey water treatment engineering for well-known brands such as:

Coconut Palm, C’estbon, Everest Glacier, Bama Spring, Yake, VVV, Runtian, Zhenming, Sunshine Spring, Dinghu Spring, Genki Forest, Mixue Ice City, Wahaha, Ganten, Jianlibao, Arctic Ocean, and more.

Over the years, we have successfully delivered 600+ water treatment production lines, gaining widespread trust and recognition from domestic and international clients.

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Pengxiang Huixing