Well Water Filtration and Health Benefits of Well Water

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In the distant past, majority of people drank water from a well. Water wells first surfaced some 10 centuries ago in the Neolithic era. Way back then, wells served as a reliable water source when surface water was not available.

Today, there are still wells in several properties. As a matter of fact, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 15% of Americans drink well water. That being said, most North American people today use water from established plumbing systems for drinking. Several people make an extra effort to have a well water filtration system installed in their home.
However, no one is really sure if modern well water is safe to drink. Also, some people say that drinking well water has its health benefits. In truth, there continues to be a debate concerning this. The following is the things people need to keep in mind:

When Is Water Safe?

People can be sure that when the water looks dirty it isn’t safe but how about if it looks clean. It is hard to tell if water is safe just by the way it looks. Except if they look through a microscope, the microorganisms and chemicals that make people sick cannot be seen. They can use water testing kits or get an expert to test their water supply. This can be expensive though and inconvenient as well.

People need to know a bit about the water purification history to fully understand the things that make water potable.

When did Water Purification Begin?

It was in the 1800s when well water was no longer supported. This was due to some factors that first revolved around the industrial revolution. People had been boiling water for centuries but advancement in technology and education let people be more aware of the way disease spread. Also, in the late 1800s, pasteurization has risen. Water could not be pasteurized but people became more aware of the possible dangers of bacteria.

Boiling water to be used was very inconvenient. So, people were looking for a new solution. The industrial era brought about rampant urbanization and communities became denser. Because of this, public water sources were more prone to bacteria and microorganisms that cause diseases. Plumbing systems became extensive with water traveling farther from the source and to the homes.

Jersey City in New Jersey was the first American community to routinely start disinfecting their public drinking water in 1908. Then, cities throughout the county followed after. By the 1930s, the rate of disease had significantly decreased. As a result, cholera and typhoid no longer existed.

Drinking well water may be beneficial to health. However, people have to see to it that it has no contaminants. Modern wells, especially the drilled ones may be less prone to contamination. Nevertheless, it is still important to test water regularly.

People should follow the guidelines of EPA. They should make sure that their wells are not built close to potential hazards. Meanwhile, older wells should be carefully tested. In case they are not sure, they should call a professional to evaluate the well, together with its history and surrounding area.

Looking for a specialist in well water Fort Worth? Get in touch with us today and let us know your drinking water Fort Worth concerns!

All you wanted to know about soft water

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Does soft water have any health risks?

If a typical diet consists of food rich in calcium and magnesium there are probably no health risks in consuming water that has low concentrations of such minerals. If a regular diet lacks some nutrients, taking calcium or magnesium supplements or a multivitamin may be sufficient for a person’s daily needs. Soft water may cause an issue for those who have high blood pressure since they are prone to the effects of drinking water that is high in sodium such as a raise in blood pressure.

Some individuals that have high blood pressure are advised not to use salt in their food so; they can also be advised not to drink soft water. It is more likely for soft water to capture lead from the inner portion of older water pipes that was not treated to block the draining of lead.

What are the advantages of soft water?

Soft water is the preference for cleaning because it doesn’t cause mineral stains and soap scum. It is more efficient in cleaning so more money is saved on the water bill since there is no need to rewash dishes and clothes or take longer showers to rinse completely and feel really clean.

How does a water-softening system work?

A water softener works by letting hard water run through a resin, which is a sticky substance from some trees and plants that is covered with sodium ions that have a positive charge. These molecules have a net electric charge. Sodium concentrations take the place of magnesium and calcium in water.

Water softeners need to be continuously maintained and sodium pellets should be added so the resin remains electrically charged. A number of systems use potassium pellets rather than sodium. Others use citric acid, magnets or other ways to reduce the  concentrations of calcium and magnesium in the water.

Are there any risks associated with water softening?

Bacteria and fungi can develop on the system’s resin that is why it is important to clean and maintain the equipment to keep water safe. Adding sodium to drinking water can be a bigger safety issue. People who are on a low-sodium diet should ask the manufacturer of the system about the amount of sodium that is being added to the water.

As an alternative, they can look for a system that makes use of potassium rather than sodium to soften drinking water. Those with other health concerns can consult a cardiologist to know how a water softener can affect blood pressure. Homeowners with an old and untreated plumbing system can have their water tested for lead, among other contaminants. A lot of public water utilities are willing to test home water for free or reasonable amount.

Conclusion

A lot of people drink hard/soft water without experiencing any side effects. Soft water with higher sodium levels can pose a risk for some people but this can be addressed by choosing a potassium-based softening system. For people whose concern is the sodium in soft water, they can drink bottled water and use soft water for other purposes like bathing, dish washing and laundry. Those who like to soften their water can look around and ask a plumber how the system will affect their home’s plumbing. Before getting one, they should understand how it is maintained.

Do you  need a water softener installer Fort Worth? Are you searching for a water filtration installer Fort Worth that you can trust? Get in touch with us, we can help!

Are you preparing to buy a water filtration system?

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To those who live in the US, water quality is not much of a problem. Many of them just clean, cook and bathe with water that comes out from the tap. However, tap water can cause a number of issues due to several, different factors that include bad taste, foul smell and unseen, harmful bacteria. Homeowners who have reason to believe that there are some contaminants in the water from their well or municipal supply, then it is about time to consider having a water filtration system installed.

They need to watch out for some warning signs such as rust stains, scale buildup on bathroom and kitchen fixtures, among other signs that can be seen and touched. At times, there are some indications of poor quality as well. As an example, people who are showering have a hard time making a lather with soap. If this is the case, the water they are using contains impurities. Some of these are calcium, chlorine, iron, lead plus decaying organic compounds that people like to eliminate by means of filtration.

In essence, water filtration systems get rid of impurities in three ways. There are products that block contaminants from passing through with the help of a filter medium. Some use a chemical process in filtering water. Others filter water by means of ultraviolet light. Whatever their design, water filters are available in a stainless steel or plastic housing and while some of them last relatively for a longer time, all types lose their effectiveness later on and should be replaced from time to time.

Most people are familiar with pitcher water filters or those that are attached to a faucet. However, homeowners who have water issues might want to consider a better alternative. They can go for the most common point-of use filters, which are installed underneath the sink. These products enable single or multistage water filtration. Instead of being installed in a sink, similar in-line filters are hooked up to the water heater to let people use clean and pure filtered water for bathing. There are also water filters designed for appliances that have water and ice dispensers.

A whole-house filtration system, which is considered as the most comprehensive solution, is installed where water enters the home. Since water is intercepted just before it reaches a home’s plumbing, such a system goes a long way to protect pipes from the harmful effects brought about by hard water, scale buildup as well as the different chemicals and compounds including acids and tannins that can cause harm to the essential parts of a plumbing system.

There are different types of water filters that best address different types of water issues. For instance, an ion-exchange softener is best for hard water. Reverse osmosis systems are best for water that has sediments since these use a semipermeable membrane in preventing particles from moving past the filter medium. If the problem concerns water organisms, ultraviolet filers and chlorination filters sterilize viruses and bacteria. Activated-carbon filters or oxidizing are designed to improve taste and get rid of odors. The best choice for the majority is a multistage water filter that has a combination of different technologies.

If you ale looking for a reliable water filtration installer Fort Worth, we can help you. You can also contact us whenever you need an experienced water softener installer Fort Worth.

Common Problems and Solutions of Water Purifiers

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Unpleasant Taste or Smell of Water

When water has an unusual taste or smell, this is caused by a biofilm (organic and inorganic material that accumulate in the surface), which has built up in one filtration stage or more and that the contaminant level has increased. The fastest way to address this is by replacing the clogged filters/membrane to see if the taste and odor improves. It is a must to change filters once a year.

When using a Reverse Osmosis water purifier, if the water comes with a metallic taste because of the copper tubing used in its mechanism, this means a huge amount of chloride, sulfate and bicarbonates have dissolved in water and has left such a taste in water. Just the same, if the water tastes a bit salty, this means that salt as well as other solids have dissolved in it. In order to remove these particles from water, the RO purifier should function at its full potential. For proper maintenance, the purifier can be checked by a professional and cleaned every 6 months.

Slow Flow of Water

In the first years, when the purifier worked at its best, it would release water that is enough to fill a glass. Now, when it fills the glass halfway, water stops flowing from the faucet. This is probably caused by either low water volume or pressure. To operate efficiently, this requires an RO purifier to have a pressure of at least 40 to 60 pounds per square inch or psi. Also, there may be something malfunctioning in the water storage tank. The water tank has an air bladder, which works faster based on the amount of water stored in the tank. So , more water means more pressure.

When the bladder has a leak, it does not release much pressure, leading to slow water flow from the faucet. Another reason why there is no or slow water flow from the purifier is the water filter cartridges get clogged by the high level of sediments in water. In case the filters are clogged, they have to be replaced.

Noisy Faucet

Usually, after changing the filter cartridges, there may sometimes be a strange noise coming from the drain line or faucet of the water purifier. Actually, there is nothing wrong with the purifier so it does not have to be replaced. This often happens when there is a water pressure change in the system or air is being pushed out of the system. If the noise is still the same hours or days after the filter is replaced, a professional should check if the tubing is right. Also, the noise may be heard when the valve of the tank is not closed properly.

Do you need help selecting a residential water softener? Or maybe you need a commercial water softener? Either way, we can help – get in touch with us!

How do you know which water filter is most appropriate for you home?

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There is a wide range of options for those who want to buy a water filter. Each is capable of removing contaminants in the water. However, some are efficient in eliminating a particular category of contaminants and are not too great at eliminating others.

Test the Quality of Water

In finding the best water filter for a household or establishment, the quality of water should first be tested. The following is a guide on how to go about it:

Checking Water with a Test Kit

Know the Type of Water

The term water quality refers to the concentration of water contaminants. Some of these are bacteria, viruses, chlorine, nitrates/nitrites, pesticides, hardness and heavy metals, among others. The pH level also has an effect on the quality of water so this should be tested as well. Though chlorine disinfects water, it gives a certain taste. Hard water can cause scale buildup. Pesticides plus nitrites/nitrates endanger heath and pose a risk to children. Acidic water tastes bad and can speed up the corrosion of pipes and fixtures.

Invest in a Water Quality Test Kit

Nowadays, there are lots of test kits so it will be easy to find one online or at retailers. Test kits come with test strips that change their color depending on the contaminants found in the water. It is best to purchase test kits that come with separate strips for hardness, bacteria, pesticides, chlorine, lead or heavy metals, nitrates/nitrites and pH. When it  includes only one strip, this will only test the pH.

Read the Instructions Found in the Test Kit

Test kits include directions and since they come in a wide variety,  the instructions may vary as well. The directions will show how long the strips need to be exposed to water before being read, how warm it should be and what the colors mean.

Test the Water

After reading the instructions, it is now time to test the water. The test strip needs to be submerged in water for a certain amount of time as per instruction. Thereafter, the strip is removed from water, shaking excess drops. Then, after waiting for the appropriate time, the strips can now be compared to the color chart.

Know the Quality of Water

There are different indicators in every strip and people have to see to it that they do the correct comparison. The colors will give an assessment whether the concentration of substance is satisfactory or risky. In case the outcome is at hazardous levels, it is best to do another test to make sure there are no errors.

Off course, you can always get professional help for these tasks from a water filtration installer Fort Worth. It’s safer, and you can be sure the results are accurate. So why not choose a trusted water softeners installer Fort Worth?

Then and Now – Home Water Systems

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Living in a world of evolving technologies, it comes as no surprise to find that water treatment has come a long way since the first use of ion exchange in the early 1900’s. More surprising than advancement, however, is the complete turn around in perception regarding home water systems.

It used to be that water softeners were considered a luxury product, while others felt that soft water was something they could not afford. It was common to taste chlorine in water and to have spots and etching on glassware coming out of the dishwasher. Results of poor water quality were so common place many people simply came to expect them.  This was especially easy to see amidst the appliance industry. Washing machines and dishwashers from less than 10 years ago used exponentially more soap and water/ than the water and energy efficient models we see today.

Fast forward to 2019… Television, radio, magazines and even social media posts contain advertisements for water conditioning and everyone from big box stores to local plumbers seem to have a system to fit your budget. Chances are, even if you do not have a home water system of your own, your friends or neighbors do.

How was this revolution of perception achieved? While to some extent it grew from a general increase of understanding, changes in regulations by the Department Of Energy (DOE) helped serve as a catalyst.

In compliance with new DOE regulations, appliances have drastically reduced the amount of water they use. With this change, the the quality of the water those appliances use has become increasingly important. Many major appliance manufacturers, G.E. For one, have disclaimers in their warranty information regarding incoming water quality.

Why would water affect appliance warranties you wonder? The simple answer is that it will damage the appliance by either dissolving components of it, or by clogging them with mineral build-up. Dissolved minerals in the water can also bind with cleaning reagents, resulting in poor surface cleaning, or spots and etching on glassware.

Just as poor water quality can damage and shorten the lifespan of appliances, the same is true for plumbing, toilets, faucets and shower/bathtub fixtures.

In summary, water conditioning is not an eccentric luxury, but rather a practical investment that will protect your appliances, plumbing and fixtures, as well as improve your quality of living.

While still not common knowledge, a basic understanding of water conditioning and its usefulness beyond merely safe drinking water is growing. More and more homeowners and municipalities alike are discovering the money saving powers of softeners, neutralizers and other home water systems, such as, reverse osmosis systems, etc.

Tap Water – To Drink or Not to Drink?

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It is not unusual for many people to have qualms about the quality of the water supplied to their homes. Filling up a glass of water straight from the kitchen sink and drinking it just like that is not a comfortable thought for many. If you have worries about the quality of water, you should consider installing a water filtration system such as one from Kinetico. Such water filters are available in a wide-range of sizes, employing different mechanisms for filtration. Then, there is the issue of how eco-friendly the filtration system is. Here are some points to consider when selecting a water filtering system:

Generally, tap water is very safe

It is imperative to know the facts concerning drinking water to assess the type and size of water filtration system to be used. Over ninety percent of the water supply systems in the US meet the standards of quality of tap water, as defined by the EPA. Actually, the water supplied by municipalities is better regulated, compared to bottled water, as far as testing and safety goes. Companies manufacturing bottled water have been propagating the idea to the public that it is not healthy to drink water supplied through your home’s taps. The reasons for doing so are not difficult to guess! Nevertheless, mostly, the consumption of tap water is completely safe for regular use, and is economical too.

It might be safe to drink tap water, but what about its taste?

Safe water doesn’t necessarily stand for tasty water. Many consumers like to use filtered water as it removes lasting minerals, resulting to an improved taste of the water supplied through taps. There is another factor prompting people to prefer bottled water. Water filtration systems installed by municipalities in certain areas are too old to remain efficient and supply perfectly safe water. There is another category of consumers who use water from wells and filter it before using it for drinking or cooking purposes.

What type of water filtering systems should you choose?

At the outset, you need to assess the type of water filtration system you’ll need. If your water quality comes out to be all right, you might just decide on a water softening system if you live somewhere that has hard water issues. This is possibly the greenest decision. Regardless a water filtration system will offer your home the cleanest, safest water and allow you to control the overall quality of water your family drinks on a daily basis.

How do I choose a filter type?

If you insist on having the best water filtration system money can buy, other than the eco-factors, you will also need to take into consideration the kind of pollutants present in your municipality’s water supply. Unless you send samples of your water for testing at a lab, you can’t know the pollutants it has. The specifications and type of filtration system you require will depend on the impurities contained in the water you may be using.

The options presented here are the some of the baseline points for determining the best water filtration system for your home. For the best results, consult with your local water filtration expert from Kinetico.

Understanding a Water Softener System

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You may have noticed some thick, scaly lines appearing on some of your home’s appliances. These deposits can also be found inside your home’s water pipes and as a result, you can hear a gushing sound when opening your water taps. These are symptoms of a supply of hard water to your home. Hard water doesn’t mean something strong or powerful. Water containing excessive minerals such as calcium, magnesium and manganese is classified as hard water.

If your home is supplied hard water, you’ll need a system to soften it. A water softening system essentially removes those excessive minerals, leaving soft water behind. A water softening system is composed of many components that harmoniously work together to remove excessive minerals, while at the same time adding some salts to restore the balance of ions in the water to be used at home.

How does a water softener work?

The principle operation of a water softener is known as ion exchange. Simply put, the softening of water involves the replacement of extra magnesium and calcium ions with sodium ions, resulting to the softening of water. To have an understanding of the water softening arrangement, let’s first get familiar with its different components.

Mineral Tank: Most of the action takes place in this tank. When entering this tank, magnesium and calcium ions in water, carrying a positive charge, get attracted by beads having a negative charge.

Brine Solution: The mineral tank on its inside has another layer, known as the brine tank, which holds a brine solution having a concentration of potassium or sodium ions. In exchange of calcium and magnesium ions, the softer provides these ions to water for maintaining an ionic balance.

Control Valve: To regulate the flow and pressure of water entering or leaving the tank, a control valve is included in the system. After the completion of the process of ion exchange, excessive minerals are kept behind, whereas soft water gets discharged through the pipes.

The process of water softener regeneration

Water softeners can be considered as filters or devices that are incorporated in water pipes of a plumbing system. Since the replacement of ions inside the tank necessitates the presence of salts plus minerals, we need to regularly regenerate the water softener to maintain the concentration of brine solution. Moreover, the tanks need to be cleaned without interrupting the delivery of soft water. Generally, the process of regeneration is automatic after you have setup the time limit. Most often, the maintenance of water softeners is carried through at night because it is convenient to temporarily stop delivering soft water. At the end of each service, the system resets for proper functioning once again.

The Different Types of Water Softeners

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Water softeners use methods that reduce the magnesium and calcium content present in the water. There are other water softeners that also reduce iron and manganese. These minerals are known to cause hard water, which is undesirable to most people due to various reasons. Though hard water may not be harmful to a person’s health, it can cause problems when it comes to cleaning surfaces. Softening your home’s water may address this problem.

Hard water contains metal ions that react when used with soaps by preventing them from making more lather and letting them leave a noticeable ring on surfaces, usually seen in the bathtubs that use hard water. Magnesium and calcium alike form deposits on areas where hard water is used for a long time. These deposits can also accumulate on things made from metal, like pipes, sink faucets, shower heads, pots and pans, and inside coffee pots. Extreme cases can even allow build-up to destroy equipment, since it acts as a thermal insulator that can possibly overheat metal tools.

Some of the most common forms of water softeners used in households are devices made from ion-exchanging resin. Water softeners are available in 3 main types, depending on the salt that they use, namely: hydrogen, sodium and potassium. They consist of a resin bed through which water flows. Since the resin has a negative charge, it binds to the metal ions with a positive charge found in hard water. Hydrogen, univalent sodium or potassium are particularly used in the resin, which exchanges with divalent elements such as calcium and magnesium ions. This means that when calcium and magnesium are removed from the water, they are replaced by hydrogen, sodium or potassium.

In the long run, these water softeners will get used up because they release the hydrogen, sodium or potassium molecules into the water as it flows through. However, the resin can be restored by allowing some brine to pass through the resin. There are different kinds of brine that can be used, based on the type of resin – like hydrochloric acid refreshing hydrogen, sodium chloride refreshing sodium and potassium chloride refreshing potassium resin.

After these brines have been used, they can result to problems in the environment when discharged in large quantities. For this reason, several regions need huge water softening plants to retrieve the brine so it can be properly disposed. Resin water softeners have this one side effect, which is, they allow water to be loaded with sodium, especially when the water is very hard from the beginning. During the process of water softening, they can add until 250 mg of sodium/liter to extra hard water.

There are three ways of regenerating water softeners: by means of a meter, using a timer or doing it manually. The most popular and most efficient type of water softener is meter regeneration. This is done by tracking the amount of water being used. Once it is set, the meter depends on the number of people using the water and the hardness of the water. Timer regeneration works on a set schedule, like for example, once a week. Though timer systems are cheaper than meter systems in terms of set-up, they are less efficient in using salts. On the other hand, manual regeneration is done by letting the user regenerate the softener whenever needed. It does not make use of any automated tracking device. While this type of softener is both cheap and efficient, it is only suitable for softening small amounts of water.

Top 7 Methods of Water Treatment

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By nature, water is known to be pure as it is composed of strongly bonded atoms of hydrogen and oxygen. However, the water supply across the globe has to share space with other things such as organic materials, minerals, chemicals and manmade pollutants. This brings about an undrinkable solution, since it can contain deadly bacteria and viruses, among other disease-causing agents. Luckily, mankind was able to develop different water treatment methods to allow our water supply to be safe to drink. While there are some methods that are not effective on a larger scale, all of them make untreated water potable for human consumption.

The process of treating water may have slight differences at various locations, based on the plant’s technology as well as the type of water that needs to be treated. Nevertheless, the basic principals are the same. The following section talks about the standard processes of water treatment.

Coagulation / Flocculation

Coagulation is adding liquid aluminum sulfate or alum and/or polymer to raw or untreated water. The resulting mixture causes the dirt particles in the water to coagulate or stick together. Then, the groups of dirt particles attach together, forming larger particles named flocs that can easily be removed via filtration or settling.

Sedimentation

When water and flocs undergo the treatment process, they go into sedimentation basins. Here, water moves slowly, making the heavy floc particles settle to the bottom. Floc that accumulates on the bottom is known as sludge. This is carried on to drying lagoons. Direct Filtration does not include the sedimentation step and the floc is just removed by filtration.

Filtration

In filtration, water passes through a filter, which is made to take away particles from the water. Such filters are composed of gravel and sand or sometimes crushed anthracite. Filtration gathers together impurities that float on water and boosts the effectiveness of disinfection. Filters are regularly cleaned by means of backwashing.

Disinfection

Before water goes into the distribution system, it is disinfected to get rid of disease-causing bacteria, parasites and viruses. Chlorine is also applied since it is very effective.

Sludge Drying

Solids that have been gathered and removed from water via sedimentation and filtration are transferred to drying lagoons.

Fluoridation

Fluoridation treats water supplies of communities to adjust the concentration of free fluoride ions to an optimal level so that dental cavities can be reduced. It is compulsory for Hunter Water to perform water fluoridation to conform to the NSW Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act 1957.

pH Correction

To adjust pH levels, lime is combined with filtered water. This, also, stabilizes naturally soft water so corrosion can be minimized in the water distribution system and plumbing of customers.