How the technology works

Silver, put to work by electrolysis, doing what it's done for centuries.

Silver's antimicrobial effect isn't new, it's been understood for hundreds of years. What's new is dosing it electronically, at a precise and constant low level, straight into the water flow. No chemicals are added, stored, or topped up.

The process

Four steps, no chemicals added

Every Silverflow Technology system, regardless of size, works on the same underlying mechanism.

STEP 01

Electrolysis generates silver colloids

Low-voltage pulsed direct current passes across high-purity (99.99%) silver anodes, releasing microclusters of silver colloids directly into the water flow.

STEP 02

Colloids disperse through the line

Electronically controlled dosing keeps concentration constant, calibrated to 20–50 μg/L, well within WHO and Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (100 μg/L).

STEP 03

Bacteria are neutralised on contact

Positively charged silver colloids bind to thiol groups in bacterial cell walls, disrupting membrane transport and stopping replication.

STEP 04

A residual charge keeps protecting

Unlike chlorine, silver colloids don't off-gas or evaporate. That "depot effect" keeps static water and low-flow lines protected for up to 180 days.

The engineering behind it

Built for low-flow, high-dwell-time water, not instant kill

Silver colloids need contact time to penetrate a bacterial cell wall. That makes it fundamentally suited to static storage, overnight stagnation, and low-flow systems, rather than high-flow environments like cooling towers that need an instant kill.

Self-cleaning by design

In hard water, mineral scale can build up on any electrode over time. Silverflow Technology's controller firmware automatically reverses polarity every 120 minutes, shedding that buildup before it becomes a problem, without any manual descaling.

A pre-filter is all it needs

High suspended solids in raw water can absorb active silver colloids before they reach the bacteria. A standard 5-micron sediment pre-filter on the incoming supply line is the only preparation required.

Technical snapshot

Silver dosing range20–50 μg/L
WHO / ADWG safety ceiling100 μg/L
Anode purity99.99% silver
Power draw3.5–12W (12V/24V DC)
Residual protectionUp to 180 days
Self-cleaning cycleEvery 120 minutes
Recommended pre-filter≤5 μm sediment
Why it holds up over time

Built to be left alone

A system that needs constant topping up or monitoring isn't really solving the problem. Silverflow Technology is designed to keep working quietly in the background.

No off-gassing

Silver colloids don't evaporate or degrade in warm temperatures, unlike chlorine, which loses effectiveness within days.

Zero taste or odour

Operates well below drinking water safety limits, with none of the chemical taste that comes with chlorine or peroxide flushes.

Non-corrosive

Completely inert on polyurethane tubing, rubber seals, copper, brass, and fibreglass, so fittings last longer.

Off-grid compatible

Ultra-low power draw makes every model solar and battery-compatible where mains power isn't practical.

Common questions

On safety and toxicity

The most common concern raised about silver-based systems, addressed directly.

Is silver in water safe to drink?

Yes. Silverflow Technology systems are hard-calibrated to 20–50 μg/L, less than half the WHO and Australian Drinking Water Guidelines safety ceiling of 100 μg/L. Independent lab testing confirms dosing stays within this range at all times.

Does it cause argyria (skin discolouration)?

Argyria is associated with prolonged, very high-dose silver exposure, orders of magnitude above drinking water levels. At the micro-doses Silverflow Technology uses, this isn't a realistic risk, and it's the reason every system ships with lab certification.

Will it affect the taste of my water?

No. At these concentrations, silver is imperceptible to taste, which is part of why it suits environments like dental practices and food production where chemical taste is a genuine problem.

What happens in hard water areas?

The controller's automatic polarity reversal handles mineral scale build-up on its own, every two hours, so hard water doesn't require any extra maintenance step from you.

See it applied to your industry

The mechanism is the same everywhere, but what it solves looks different in a dental chair versus a cooling tower.

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