Systems and methods for purifying natural water for recreational swimming with modular filtration units

Abstract

Systems and methods for filtering unpurified water using modular filtration units are disclosed. According some embodiments of the invention the modular filtration unit may include a modular removable filtration cartridge with pressed non-woven geotextile fabrics and a frame assembly, and a filtration container. The filtration container holds the modular removable filtration cartridges and has walls that form a basin. A first wall has an inlet for receiving water into the filtration container and a second wall has an outlet for draining water out of the filtration container. The water is filtered by the modular removable filtration cartridges as it flows across the basin from the inlet to the outlet. The modular filtration units may be combined together to form a zoned filtration assembly, which may be inserted into the hull of a floating swimming pool. The zoned filtration assemblies may filter natural water as it fills the swimming pool.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A filtration apparatus for filtering water, the filtration apparatus comprising:
 a hull effective to hold filtered water and float on a body of impure water; and   a modular filtration unit effective to filter impure water from the body of impure water and deposit the filtered water into the hull, wherein the modular filtration unit comprises:
 at least one intake unit that is effective to create a reservoir of impure water, the intake unit comprising perforations in one or more walls that are effective to allow water flow; 
 at least one pre-filtration unit operably connected to the intake unit, the pre-filtration unit comprising one or more filters effective to remove impurities from water; 
 at least one filtration unit operably connected to the pre-filtration unit, the filtration unit comprising one or more filters effective to remove impurities from water than are not removed by the pre-filtration unit. 
   
     
     
         16 . The filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the impure water from the intake is transmitted to the pre-filtration unit, and the filtration unit, before being deposited in the hull. 
     
     
         17 . The filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the filtered water from the hull is returned to the body of impure water. 
     
     
         18 . The filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a heating element driven by a power supply. 
     
     
         19 . The filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the heating element is effective to maintain water temperature in the hull to at least 78 degrees F. 
     
     
         20 . The filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the filters comprise filtration intake screens effective to remove coarse particles and filtration membranes effective to remove fine particles and pathogens. 
     
     
         21 . The filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the hull is formed in the shape of a plus (+) sign and two or more modular filtration units are connected to the hull in a manner effective to stabilize or balance the hull as the hull floats on a body of impure water. 
     
     
         22 . The filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the filters comprise pressed non-woven geotextile fabrics comprise a blend of nylon and have a pore size less than 1 micron. 
     
     
         23 . The filtration apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the impure water passes through the filters of the pre-filtration unit and filtration unit.