The beauty of Harbin's water supply is that it is drawn from local springs, with more than 50,000 gallons of mineral water flowing daily to our guests throughout our center. Our own Water Masters maintain the system of pipes, filters and holding tanks to assure an uninterrupted flow of water year round. In conjunction with independent laboratories, they also monitor the turbidity and purity of our water on an ongoing basis.
The spring water filling Harbin’s soaking and swimming pools arrives in its natural form, and is continually refreshed with a state-of-the-art ozone and peroxide-ultraviolet filtration treatment system. Harbin’s drinking water system also includes treatment and filtration to assure safe, delicious water from every tap on property.
So drink it up. Splash it around. Soak in it. Fill an empty bottle or two for the ride home. We're glad to serve some of nature's finest water at our humble retreat.
More photos of the Harbin pools on Picasa.
Where does Harbin's water come from?
Although there are numerous tiny springs all over the hills, several
primary springs are currently being used by our water system: two hot
springs feed our hot/warm pool complex; one cold spring feeds
the other pools; one high mountain spring supplies our drinking water. The spring water originates as
rainwater filtering down through the aquifer, a giant basalt cap
on Boggs Mountain. A "tail" of basalt curves down our
valley, providing a line of delicious cool water springing from
its lower edge.
How are
the pools heated?
According
to our pool system supervisor, two natural hot mineral springs
are the heart of the Hot and Warm Pool complex. These springs
arise from deep within the earth where volcanic action heats the
waters, with thermal convection forcing the waters upward.
We capture the springs just before they reach the surface, combine
and filter the water, and then pipe it into the Hot Pool at a
rate of about 14 gallons per minute... over 800 gallons an hour.
No man-made
heating system is required for these two pools. Although the water
has cooled considerably by the time it reaches us and fills the
Hot Pool, the resulting pool temperature remains at approximately 113°
F. The hot water overflow from the Hot Pool is fed to the Warm
Pool at about 14 gallons per minute, supplying both heat and water
refreshment. This maintains the Warm Pool temperature at 96°
to 98° F., depending upon the season.
The Heart
Pool, Cold Plunges and Swimming Pool, in contrast, are filled and
refreshed with pure cold spring water. The temperature in the Heart Pool is maintained
at 95° to 98° F. by an energy-efficient heat pump. The
temperatures of the Cold Plunge and Swimming Pool are adjusted as needed using cold and hot spring water.
How does the pool purification system work?
Soaking water is constantly being pumped from all pools and passed through a state-of-the-art treatment system. This system combines filters, peroxide and ozone (peroxone) injection, and ultraviolet sterilizers to remove all foreign matter and bacteria before recirculating the water back to the pools. Absolutely no chlorine is used as a residual disinfectant.
More than 250 gallons per minute are passed through this system from the Warm Pool alone, assuring that its water is completely cleaned and replaced every hour. The Cold Plunge water is also replaced every hour.
Peroxide is water with an extra oxygen atom (H202), and ozone is oxygen gas with an extra oxygen atom (03). When organics are encountered, the extra oxygen atoms detach themselves radically oxidizing them and leaving behind nothing but water and oxygen. No chemical additives such as chlorine or bromine are necessary.
Peroxide levels in the pool water are closely monitored. If the Warm Pool water appears cloudy at times, take a closer look. You will see thousands of tiny oxygen bubbles at work, keeping the water clean.
Our peroxone-ultraviolet system is on the cutting edge of modern pool technology, and exceeds health department pool-water standards. The high cost of maintaining this system -- over $100,000 a year -- is more than justified by our concern for health and naturalness. We hope you agree.
How is Harbin's drinking water treated?
Due to the application of stricter Federal and State regulations, Harbin is now required to filter and treat its drinking water. Our Water Treatment Plant includes state of the art membrane filters Pall Aria™ AP-Series Water 
Treatment Systems which are specifically designed to meet the drinking water treatment requirements of small communities. Pall Aria systems use uniquely designed Pall Microza membrane modules in a hollow fiber configuration to remove any turbidity, bacteria or cysts from the water. State rules mandate addition of small amounts of chlorine in our distribution system, which is removed through a system of filters at different locations. (Click here for details. Our natural hot springs and pools are not impacted by this treatment system, and we continue to use hydrogen peroxide as a pool water disinfectant.) Residents and guests have experienced no noticeable difference in the quality of our famous mountain spring water. Our intention is to continue to offer our guests the highest quality and safest water through the use of the best equipment and the most advanced water purification processes.
Where does Harbin's irrigation water come from?
The water utilized for pool-area hosing – as well as lawn and garden irrigation – comes from the lively little creek that flows through the mainside area.
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