If you are drawing water from a Private Well there many potential contaminants that can affect your water quality, including bacteria. Bacterial issues like E coli and Coliform are the most important to address to ensure safe drinking water. However, there are also many secondary contaminants that are not necessarily harmful, but are an inconvenience. These contaminates can cause stains, smells, and odor - and your home becomes overpowered by it. Following is a list of these contaminants and the signs of their presence:
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Iron. There are two different types of iron - Ferrous & Ferric. Ferrous iron is clear water iron and Ferric is red water iron. The presence of Ferrous iron cannot be seen by looking at the water however it leaves reddish/brown stains. With Ferric iron the water will appear red in color and leave stains. These secondary contaminates are not harmful to ingest.
When iron is present:
- It can cause reddish/brown stains in your tubs and toilets as well as affect your white laundry.
- Irrigating with water containing iron can cause staining to your sidewalks, walls, and fixtures.
- It makes cleaning bathrooms and fixtures difficult.
Sulfur. The clear indication of sulfur (hydrogen sulfide) presence is a "rotten-egg" smell to the water. When dealing with Sulfur it is important to eliminate the possibility of Sulfur Bacteria. General Sulfur can be removed easily with Aeration or Filox media oxidation. Sulfur Bacteria, however, is very resistant and requires continuous Chlorination.
The following are a few signs of each:
General Sulfur - the smell is the same on both the hot and cold water sides. The smell is slight and comes and goes from time to time.
Sulfur Bacteria - The smell is more prominent on the hot water side. The smell is very strong all of the time. There is a black slimy film anywhere water sits for a long period of time -- for example in the back of your toilet bowl. Sulfur bacteria can cause stomach problems for some people if ingested on a regular basis.
pH. A neutral pH level is between 6.8 - 7.4
LOW pH is considered acid water. Acid water can cause damage to pipes and appliances. If you have copper pipes you will see bluish/green stains in your tubes and toilets.
Drinking acid water is not recommended on a continual basis.
HIGH pH is considered alkaline water and there are no know harmful effects of alkaline water to date. In fact, recent research indicates there are some significant health advantages of alkaline water.
Hard Water. Hard water is an abundance of minerals including calcium, magnesium and can contain lime. The presence of hard water presents itself in the form of a off white hard scale build up on tubs, toilets, and other water fixtures throughout your home. This scale build up can shorten the life of your water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, faucets, pipes, and any other water using devices in your home.
Tannins. These are astringent, bitter plant polyphenol. The astringency from the tannins will cause a dry and puckery feeling in the mouth following the consumption. When Tannins are present in your water you will see a tea like color to the water and they leave yellowish stains in your tubs, toilets, and water fixtures.
The great news is you don't have to live with these secondary contaminates, there are treatment options available for all of them. At PuriTec, we have systems that are designed to treat several issues all in one application. Some situations may require more specific treatment and we can build a specialty application just for you.
It is highly recommended that you have the water tested to determine what is present and to know the level of each secondary contaminant. Having these results will ensure that you choose the correct treatment solution. Getting it right the first time saves money and frustration
There is great concern regarding the purity and safety of some of the world's major water supplies. Contamination can occur from industrial wastes, chemicals in the pipes, as well as by organic waste from humans and animals. Bottled water has become extremely popular due to its portability and convenience. It is also purported to be purer than tap water and considered healthy.
Recent research and claims have raised concerns that bottled water may be no more beneficial than plain tap water. Since bottled water is not regulated, it may contain some of the contaminants that consumers are trying to avoid by not drinking tap water.
Water treatment systems are available for in-home and personal use depending on the need. In home systems include whole-house systems. These systems are hooked up to where the water enters the home. This purifies the water through out the house including the bath, shower, toilet, and all faucets or points of use. A whole-house system may be in order if the home is large. Some whole-house systems may aid in purifying the air as well.
Point of use or faucet mounted water treatment systems are attached to the faucet. It only purifies the water that passes through that particular filter. Faucet-mounted systems are great if only the drinking/cooking water is to be treated.
Shower-head systems are attached to the shower head. Only the water that passes through it is purified. These water treatment systems can also be attached to a hand-held shower wand.
Countertop models are exactly that. They sit upon a counter and linked to the water supply. Under countertop/sink models are larger than countertop models. su arıtma They are designed to be installed out of sight.
Personal use systems can include water bottles with filters, pitcher systems, and straws with filters. These are available on the market and from the internet. They could in the long run be more economical than bottled water.
The type of water treatment system that may be chosen can depend on budget. They may also be chosen according to available space or lack of space. The type of system may also depend on whether only the drinking/cooking water is to be treated. The best system is the one that will treat the most water at a reasonable price.