In the quest for cleaner and safer water, science has given us a groundbreaking solution: Quantum ceramic media. This innovative ceramic catalyst boasts activated surfaces that enhance water quality without needing power, chemicals, or constant maintenance. Let's dive into the science behind Quantum ceramic media and explore how they're transforming water purification.

Activated Surfaces and the "Knife Effect"
At the heart of the Quantum ceramic media lies a revolutionary technology inspired by quantum mechanics. The ceramic media create active surfaces that are positively charged with electron holes, initiating a phenomenon known as the "knife effect." When microorganisms come into direct contact with the sharp micro-crystals on the QC media, they are instantly cut, leading to the loss of cellular integrity. This unique process, akin to using a microscopic knife, ensures that microorganisms like the non-pathogenic E. coli (strain 11775) cannot survive.

Efficiency
One of the most remarkable features of the Quantum ceramic media is their instant action. Microorganisms are removed on contact, eliminating the need for any contact time. This swift and effective process sets the Quantum ceramic media apart from traditional water purification methods, providing a quick and efficient solution to water quality concerns.

Environmental Friendliness and Certifications
Quantum ceramic media are not only effective but also environmentally friendly. Crafted from alumina, these ceramics are insoluble and odorless and contribute to a greener approach to water purification. Moreover, Quantum ceramic media has garnered certifications that attest to their quality and safety:

​- NSF Certified Component to NSF/ANSI 42 for material requirements in the USA (Certificate of listing #: C0292640-01)
- IAPMO Certified Component to NSF/ANSI 61 for material requirements in the USA (Certificate of listing #: W-10747)
- MOH Certified Component to GB/T 5750-2006 Standard for material requirements in China (Certificate of listing #: 2015KF2513)
- CSA Certified to CSA B4A3.1 (Certificate of listing # 80080986)
- IAPMO Tested to NSF/ANSI P231 - US Water Systems Report: AWRTCL/PRTR/14523/18-19


In a world where access to clean water is a growing concern, the Quantum media emerges as a beacon of hope. Their activated surfaces, unique "knife effect," and environmental friendliness make them a standout solution for water purification. With Quantum Crystals™ leading the way, the future of water quality looks brighter than ever. Say goodbye to contaminants and hello to a new era of clean, safe water!

​Mike Malone dedicated an impressive quarter-century of his life at the helm of a thriving photography and video production enterprise. Throughout this remarkable journey, he embarked on awe-inspiring globetrotting adventures that allowed him to contribute his creative talents to various sectors, including agriculture, nature, and various non-profit organizations. Each project undertaken by Mike was imbued with a singular purpose: to craft narratives that were authentic, compelling, and had the power to resonate with viewers, ultimately increasing their meaningful impact.
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Outside the professional realm, Mike eagerly pursues many passions and interests. He is an avid cyclist and scuba diver. He enjoys the diverse hiking opportunities on the Big Island of Hawai'i as often as he can. He is also a regular volunteer at Volcanoes National Park, contributing his time and effort to preserving this cherished natural wonder's beauty and ecological significance.
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​In his multifaceted role at Uncle Tilo's, Mike is the store manager and the creative force behind Uncle Tilo's digital content. His passion for storytelling and content creation finds a new outlet in this dynamic role, where he continues to utilize his artistic talents to help empower the community to harness the potential of rainwater harvesting effectively and responsibly.

Water, the elixir of life, is a fundamental necessity for all of us. But what truly defines "safe" water for household use and consumption? Let's dive into the essentials and explore Hawaii's unique world of water.


Safe Drinking Water: A Precious Resource
Safe drinking water isn't just about quenching your thirst; it's about ensuring the water you use and consume is free from biological, chemical, radiological, and physical impurities. In many places, municipal or county water sources go through rigorous processes: filtration, chlorination, and extensive testing to make it safe for the masses. This water is good to go for most, with only a few exceptions.

Rainwater Harvesting: A Unique Challenge
Now, let's talk about Hawai'i and the intriguing realm of rainwater harvesting. Unlike municipal water, no government agency checks your private rainwater system. It's your responsibility to ensure it's safe for household use and consumption.

Maintain, Monitor, and Treat
Here's where it gets interesting. To guarantee the quality of your harvested rainwater, you need to be proactive. Regular maintenance is the name of the game. Keep a watchful eye on your roof, gutters, and storage tank; they must be clean to prevent contamination.

The Magic of Filtration and Disinfection
A few vital tools come into play: First Flush Diverters, Leaf Eaters, sediment and carbon filters, and a disinfection system to tackle those sneaky pathogens. These are your guardians, ensuring your water remains safe and clean.

The Chlorine Equation
Chlorine, yes, the same household bleach, plays a crucial role.  Just ensure its disinfecting bleach. Water with up to 4 parts per million chlorine is considered safe to drink. As part of monthly maintenance, add a minimum of two ounces of bleach per one thousand gallons monthly and mix well. This keeps nature and organics at bay.

To learn more about safe rainwater harvesting check out our YouTube Channel and our Rain Water Harvesting Education Page.
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Our island's lush landscape, with its abundance of trees and diverse flora, presents a unique challenge when collecting rainwater. Many residents wonder whether pre-filtering their catchment water is necessary. As we'll explore, the answer is a resounding "yes." Let's delve into why pre-filtering your catchment water is so important and how something as simple as a nylon stocking can make a significant difference.

The Big Island's Unique Challenge
Hawaii's Big Island is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, from lush rainforests to rugged lava fields. However, this diverse ecosystem also means that rainwater collected from rooftops may contain considerable debris. The canopy of leaves, branches, and bird dropping can accumulate on rooftops, creating a potential challenge for rainwater harvesters.


Why Pre-Filtering Matters
Preserving Water Quality: When rainwater flows off your roof, it carries leaves, dry grasses, and other debris with it. The debris can end up in your gutter system, eventually entering your catchment tank. Without pre-filtering, the collected water may contain contaminants that affect its quality. Pre-filtering ensures that your water is cleaner and safer for whole-house use.
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Simplicity of Nylon Stockings: Pre-filtering your catchment water can be simple and inexpensive. A simple yet effective solution is to place a nylon stocking over the end of the inlet pipe leading to your tank. The nylon stocking acts as a barrier, catching all large debris, leaves, and twigs before they can enter your system.

One of the key advantages of using a nylon stocking as a pre-filter is the ease of maintenance. When it's time to clean your system, you can remove the stocking and replace it with a new one, and your catchment stays cleaner with minimal effort. This small investment of time and resources can pay off significantly in the long run.

To learn more about safe rainwater harvesting check out our YouTube Channel and our Rain Water Harvesting Education Page.

We are thrilled to introduce our new video series that delves into rainwater harvesting on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii. As we embark on this exciting journey, we aim to educate and foster a sense of community, responsibility, and the need for safe drinking water.

Protecting Our Rainwater Harvesters
Rainwater harvesting is a vital source of fresh water for countless families and communities on the Big Island of Hawai'i. However, we must also be mindful of the safety aspects involved in this practice. Our educational videos will emphasize the importance of protecting rainwater harvesters from potential hazards while ensuring this sustainable resource remains pure and uncontaminated.


Our Commitment to the Community
At the heart of our mission lies a deep commitment to the community. We believe in sharing knowledge and fostering unity among fellow Big Island residents. By offering these educational resources, we hope to empower our community to harness the potential of rainwater harvesting effectively and responsibly.


Addressing the Need for Safe Drinking Water
Safe, accessible drinking water is a global concern, and the Big Island is no exception. By exploring the world of rainwater harvesting in our videos, we aim to contribute to the solution. Rainwater harvesting, when done right, provides a safe and sustainable source of drinking water, reducing the burden on other resources and helping ensure clean water for all.

Our video series will cover a wide range of topics, including the basics of rainwater harvesting, system design, maintenance, and water quality.

Join us on this educational journey as we unlock the potential of rainwater harvesting and work together to protect our people and our environment. Together, we can create a more sustainable, resilient, and water-secure future for the Big Island of Hawaii. Stay tuned, and let's make a positive impact, one raindrop at a time.

​​Renee took us up on the offer for the greatest experience to learn best practices in a real Rainwater Harvesting community.  She went on the road everyday with Uncle Tilo to all his jobs, learning, asking questions, taking notes and photographs.  A real trooper!  Some of you met her as she was our guest speaker at the January 2023 class.  She shared her knowledge and book with everyone!  A student at the class had already purchased her book!!  It was a beautiful exchange.  

When we want something different we must do something different. There's a belief in the possibilities that Rainwater Harvesters are the movement towards self-sustainability and responsibility. 

Without water we can not be here.  Without Clean Water we will be ill. 

We must hold ourselves accountable to Mother earth.  These ideals approach the idea; Hawai'i as the Global Showcase.​

--Neighbor Island water partners join Kaua`i to host 'Make a Splash'--

LIHUE – Water partners from the neighbor islands along with Kauai-based water agencies joined the Department of Water (DOW) to host the state’s largest and only water education festival, the Make a Splash with Project WET (Water Education Today) Festival at the Vidinha Stadium soccer field in Lihue on Friday, Sept. 15th.
“This event is an inspiring demonstration of teamwork, educational connections and the value of water,” said Jonell Kaohelauli’i, DOW’s Information and Education Specialist and Project WET Hawaii's state coordinator. “Water agencies from across the state come together to help teach and inspire students, offering them the knowledge and experience that promotes critical thinking to make informed decisions about how they can contribute to wise water use and environmental stewardship."
DOW hosted 562 fifth grade students and included more than 240 volunteers over a 2-day period at this year's festival. Participating volunteer groups included representatives from their neighbor island offices and state agencies from Kaua`i, Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii island.
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‘Make a Splash’ brings together parents, students, teachers, government agencies, local water organizations and businesses to raise awareness for water education and conservation. Students participate in dynamic hands-on activities, games and educational exhibits and learn how this vital natural resource affects water-dependent activities including agriculture, recreation, groundwater, local industries and wildlife habitats. The festival features activities from Project WET, an award-winning curriculum of water education activities, in addition to partner-sponsored activities from local organizations. This year, DOW featured 8 Project WET activities and 3 partner-guided activities from Aqua Engineers, Inc., Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
DOW would like to thank the following water partners for their commitment to water education and their commendable efforts towards making this year’s ‘Make a Splash’ a success: Aqua Engineers, Inc., American Water Works Association-Hawaii Section, Bowers and Kubota, LLC., Carollo Engineers, Inc., DLNR – Aquatic Resources, DLNR – Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department of Health- Safe Drinking Water Branch, East and West Kaua`i Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Grove Farm Land Corporation, Hawaii Rural Water Association, Hawaii Water Environmental Association, NOAA – Marine Animal Rescue Program, Kapa’a High School JROTC Program, Kaua`i Bus, Kaua`i Farm Bureau, UH-CTAHR, Kaua`i Community College – Early Childhood Education Program, Kodani and Associates Engineers, LLC., The Nature Conservancy, Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water, LLC. and participating DOW staff and retirees.

Here's why:  The effects on rainwater harvesting (for domestic use) are significant for those living downwind of the eruption.
​Increased levels of acidity for rainfall events are mainly due to the elevated sulfur emissions (presenting as sulfuric acid) as well as additional concentrations of carbonic acid. Acidic rain will eat through brass releasing lead into the water.

When pH measurements for rainfall are on the order of 4-5, neutralizing the acid levels can be handled with the addition of baking soda monthly at a rate of about 1 pound dissolved for every 3,000 gallons of water in a catchment tank (raising alkalinity 20 ppm). Monitoring of the alkalinity levels should be used to maintain acceptable water quality in the range of 40-80 ppm. If using pH test strips, a good rule of thumb would be to maintain a pH lever greater than 6.5.

So, what should you be concerned about when it comes to your health?

Acid Rain by far is the highest concern due to the leaching of heavy metals from plumbing components into your water supply (copper, lead, cadmium, zinc, iron, etc.)

Sulfate Levels – baking soda converts this into a soluble salt similar to Epsom Salt. If left untreated, high sulfate levels promote bacteria growth resulting in a distinctive rotten egg smell.

Concrete Tanks – if you rely on a concrete tank to neutralize your rainwater without extra treatment, think again. Maintaining an alkalinity level of 80-120 ppm in concrete tanks is recommended to prevent structural damage.

NOTE: You’ll need to test the pH levels each time it rains to know how much more baking soda to use or add Uncle Tilo’s Acid Rain Mineral Pack which dissolve continuously.  It may take up to a week to regulate the pH, during this time you may need to add baking soda along with the Acid Rain Mineral Pack.
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Scroll down on this link to learn more about Acid Rain Mineral Pack: https://www.tiloscleanwater.com/products.html

original post from April 2020

(original post April 2020)

Fyi--- Uncle Tilo's seems like a really good company with integrity. Though I have not hired him myself I did recently meet him as him and his partner (I forget her name) have decided to begin running the Pahoa Entrepreneur Meetups (on alternate months that the Hilo SBDC is not running them, which they only do quarterly).
So Uncle Tilo (Todd?) and his partner run these meetings to help educate and offer support to other small businesses in the area.
They seemed really helpful, kind and genuine when I met them last month. If I needed a catchment service I would definitely call them based on my interaction with them.
Best wishes!!

"When we share requirements for maintenance, upgrades for performance, best practices for water conveyance, and what is required for pathogen free water for household use and consumption, Tilo & Archer have accomplished their goal – Empowerment through Clean Water Education.

Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water team have offered 70+ Free Clean Water Classes at their storefront in the Pahoa Marketplace as well as around the island.

The quality of your water is a direct link to the quality of your health. Clean Water = Healthy Communities! Water is the foundation of all living things. Without Clean Water eventually all infrastructure will fail.

Uncle Tilo’s Clean Water team publishes in the Tribune Herald, Ka’u Calendar, Facebook and Water News on our website monthly education tips for Rainwater Harvesters. They have received Best of Best East Side Hawai’i for 4 years running. The Education tab on their website is a great resource for Rainwater Harvesters to also start."

If you need test strips or Acid Rain Mineral Pack call Mike at the storefront at 808.965.1026
for availability before making the drive as these items are selling quickly.

The more you know the safer you and your family's water supply will be.
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TilosCleanWater.com

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Uncle Tilo's Clean Water LLC is dedicated to educating and inspiring Rainwater Harvesters about how water is essential, invaluable, and needs investment.

Our approach to messaging is that it should be simple, flexible, and effective and to reach audiences outside the Hawaiian Islands. 

​It is important to talk about water in a way that helps people connect water to their daily lives.