Filter balls instead of filter gravel for drinking water wells

Our extensive and well-grounded experience with the efficient use of natural resources has played an increasing role in our actions and decisions. Procuring water will represent a great challenge for the future, besides producing alternative energy sources.


We claim to be active in this field with our products and concepts. We have made a detailed examination of the use of glass beads as support and filter material in cooperation with an established well sinker, other specialists in this field, and universities. After two years of research, the results confirm that our SiLiBeads®, beads of soda-lime glass, have the characteristics most suitable for this application.


'Since 2007 over 150 wells were already equipped with SiLiBeads® glass balls in Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland in stead of gravel.

All Information

Compared to standard filter gravel the following advantages were discovered
SiLiBeads® glass beads have almost the ideal shape for a sphere with a smooth surface, which clearly minimises the build-up of incrustation and reduces the regeneration frequency of the well.


SiLiBeads® have a very high ultimate strength due to their homogeneity, which is higher in comparison to filter gravel by a factor of 10. When filling the annular space, thus created either breaks, undersized particles, or collimation particles.


SiLiBeads® have a very narrow grain size distribution and are available in all size distributions. This way, the bead size can be chosen according to the condition of the ground. This also supports the avoidance of collimation and reduces incrustation. The regeneration effort is lowered again through this. In addition, filling the well space with SiLiBeads® can prevent the development of harmful bridging formations.


SiLiBeads® soda-lime glass beads are free of impurities and heavy metals and do not display any concentrations of toxicological elements when used with acid-based regeneration substances.

Further advantages...

• GOING GLASS - Rehabilitation of a freshwater supply well using a high-strength low-alloy liner and glass beads WWJ 01/2015
• Quo Vadis "Glass" - Water filtration with glass beads 04/2014
• Development and scaling characteristics of glass beads and gravel packs - Findings for partial well design 11/2013
• Filter material made of glass 06/2013
• New construction of water wells with glass beads 11/2012
• Efficiency of glass balls in well construction 08/2011
• Comparison of selected material characteristic of glass beads and filter gravel for use in drinking water wells 01/2010
• Well ageing: Are glass beads an alternative to filter gravel according to DIN 4926 04/2009
• Glass beads instead of filter gravel used as borehole filter material 05/2008