Health & Safety for the Public and our Environment

There have been several major public health issues regarding companies passing off crushed glass as equivalent to AFM, please be advised that AFM and crushed glass  are completely different and should not be confused.  AFM is a registered Trade Mark and Patented product that has been through a major research and development project  with the European Commission and the UK Government authorities and has been tested for almost 20 years. AFM is  certified under Regulation 31 of the UK Drinking Water inspectorate, AFM is compliance with European Water Directive (98/83/EC) & (80/778/EEC) and is manufactured under ISO9001-2008 quality  in accordance to and certified to BSEN12902 and BSEN 12904.   Dryden Aqua actually wrote the UK   PAS standard from glass as a recycled product as a raw material for further processing by different industrial sectors, it can not be used as a standard for filter media.

If it's not AFM it's not activated or safe to use and this is why   AFM  crushed glass AFM®   is manufactured by Dryden Aqua and the process is certified under ISO9000 : 2008 to insure a quality product X hypodermic needles, biohazard and toxic chemical risk,  (not a risk concern with AFM) X Drinking water approval full certification checked by WRC-NSF X Surface activation gives AFM®   a high zeta potential and redox potential, greatly enhances performance X AFM®   rejects bacterial growth and activation process makes it self sterilizing X Activation removes micron and sub micron particles as well as organics that make up 80% of the loading swimming pool systems X The leading manufactured filter media for the swimming pool industry in Europe X Risk Analysis conduct by one of Europe's largest independent water consultant organisations  ENTEC report concludes AFM®   is safest media X 15 years track record 100% success in pools & spas X Backed by 1.2 million Euro  research program  with European Commission and water companies Protected by Dryden Aqua Patent and backed by our continuing product improvement by Research & Development X X   Filter media Type Risk Associated with filter media scale 0 (best) to 4 (worst) Risk Score   Risk to the supplier or the installer Risk to the public Risk to the public if filter laterals fail     Dust / silicosis / cancer Water quality, disease and parasitic infection air quality, respiratory disease building structure, stress corrosion cracking Eye damage, ingestion, abrasion contamination issues & toxins or human pathogens   AFM®   1 0 1 1 0 3 0 5 crushed glass2 1 3 3 3 5  3 18 good quality sand3 2 2 2 2 2 1 11 economy sand4 3 4 3 3 2 2 17 zeolites 5 4 4 4 4 3 1 20 activated carbon6 1 1 to 3 2 to 4 2 to 4 1 3 to 4 10 to 17 Risk range Risk implications 0 to 5 best possible mechanical filtration media 6 to 10 very good filter media for all applications 11 to 15 acceptable filter media should give good results  >15 Considered a public health risk and should not be used

1. AFM®   is manufactured by Dryden Aqua by very strict quality control procedures under  ISO 9000 : 2008 procedures with independent regular audits to insure compliance
2. Crushed glass can not be regulated or certified, there may be everything  from organic toxins to  heavy metals, hepatitis or AIDS contaminated syringes
3. A good quality filter sand is actually a very good filter media for pools and drinking water,  but AFM® will provide up to 80% better solids and dissolved organics removal performance
4. There is huge variability in the quality of sand available,  if you use sand then only use the best available sand.
5  Dr.Howard Dryden completed a PhD on zeolites and is a leading authority on zeolite filtration systems in Europe, Dryden Aqua also supply zeolites but not for swimming pool applications
6. Activated carbon,  if small carbon filters are used and changed on a regular basis then they can improve water quality. The above table relates to activated carbon in  recycle loop, when used properly it will give good results, but if left in the filter for months or years it will cause risk associated issues.  The risk is therefore associated with how the product is used, and when used properly the risk is low.