Water treatment

1. An apparatus for treating run-off water, the apparatus including:

a) a mechanical-sorption filter for removing particulate and colloidal material; wherein the mechanical-sorption filter includes polypropylene flakes;

b) an ion exchange filter for removing positively charged ions, wherein the ion exchange filter includes a zeolite filter material; and,

c) a sorption filter for removing at least one other soluble contaminant, wherein the sorption filter includes a laterite filter material capable of removing both negatively charged ions and positively charged ions; and,

d) wherein the apparatus is arranged so that run-off water passes first through the mechanical-sorption filter, followed by the ion exchange filter and then the sorption filter.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical-sorption filter is for removing at least one of:

a) oil;

b) grease;

c) organic particulate material;

d) inorganic particulate material;

e) Organic colloidal material; and

f) Inorganic colloidal material.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the ion exchange filter is for removing heavy metals.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the zeolite filter material is clinoptilolite.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the zeolite filter material includes particles having a size of approximately 1 to 3 mm.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the zeolite filter material is chemically conditioned before use.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the chemical conditioning includes exposing the filter material to a salt solution.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the salt solution is a sodium chloride solution.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the zeolite filter material is capable of removing at least one of:

a) NH 4 + —N;

b) copper;

c) zinc;

d) lead;

e) Nickel;

f) Cadmium;

g) Mercury;

h) Vanadium;

i) Chromium;

j) Platinum,

k) Palladium; and

l) Rhodium.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laterite filter material is treated to increase the laterite filter material surface area, before use.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the laterite filter material is capable of removing at least one of:

a) arsenate;

b) arsenite;

c) heavy metals including zinc and copper;

d) Nitrates; and

e) Phosphates.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a body containing the filters.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the body includes a number of meshes defining filter regions, each filter region containing a respective filter material.

14. The apparatus according to Apparatus claim 13 , wherein the filter regions have a substantially annular shape.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the filter regions are arranged concentrically, with the ion exchange filter and sorption filter being positioned radially inwardly of the mechanical-sorption filter.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the sorption filter is positioned radially inwardly of the ion exchange filter.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the body includes a head coupled to the outlet, and wherein in use, water flows into the body, through the filter regions, and into the head, before draining from the housing via the outlet.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the body is supported relative to the housing, thereby allowing the filters to drain when not in use.

19. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the housing includes an opening having a removable cover for providing access to the body.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the body is a removable cartridge, allowing the body to be removed via the opening.

21. The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the opening allows removal of filter material from the body, thereby allowing the filter material to be replenished.

22. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the apparatus includes a housing including an inlet for receiving water and an outlet for supplying filtered water, and wherein the body is coupled to at least one of the inlet and the outlet to thereby filter water flowing from between the inlet and outlet.