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Common Water Problems
Water is an indestructible resource; there is as much water on earth and in the skies today as existed 5,000 years ago. However, clean water is a precious resource fundamental to life as we know it. While our water supply remains constant, we are polluting it faster than nature can clean it. And, we are polluting it with more contaminants than ever before.
The Hydrological Cycle
Nature purifies water through a process called the hydrological cycle. In this process, water evaporates from streams, lakes, and other surface water rising to the sky as vapor. In this vapor state, water is in its purest form with all contaminants left behind.
When enough vapor has joined together in the form of clouds, it falls to the earth as rain, snow, or other precipitation. This pure moisture begins to collect impurities from the air on its journey down. When it reaches the ground, it continues to collect everything from minerals to pesticides. Because of this ability to collect or absorb other substances, water is often referred to as nature's solvent.
Man-Made Water Problems
In addition to natural contaminants, water absorbs manmade contaminants that cause significant water problems.
Modern society has made many scientific advancements, but in the process has also created many new by-products and contaminants. Thousands of chemicals and compounds have been invented in recent years, but effective methods for disposing of them after use have not kept pace.
Petrochemical spills and leaks from decades ago have seeped into the underground water supply. Pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers are washed by rainwater into streams, rivers, lakes, and wells.
Iron
A very common element often present in groundwater in amounts ranging from 0.01 to 10.0 ppm (mg/l).
Iron may be found in three forms:
In soluble form such as in ferrous bicarbonate; bound with a soluble organic
compound; and as suspended ferric iron particles. Iron above 0.3 mg/L is objectionable in water because of staining of laundry and plumbing fixtures caused by the oxidation and precipitation of ferric hydroxide and/or ferric oxide (ferric iron) into small solid iron particles. Iron can also give a metallic or distorted flavor to beverages.
Ferrous Iron
A divalent iron ion, usually as ferrous bicarbonate [Fe(HC03)2] which, when dissolved in water, produces a clear solution. It is usually removed by cation exchange water softening.
(Also called clear water iron)
Ferric iron.
Small solid iron particles containing trivalent iron, usually as gelatinous ferric hydroxide [Fe(OH)3] or ferric oxide (Fe203), which are suspended in water and visible as "rusty water." Ferric iron can normally be removed by filtration.
(Also called precipitated iron)
Iron Bacteria
Bacteria which thrive on iron and are able to actually use ferrous iron (as found in
water or steel pipes) in their metabolic processes, to incorporate ferric iron in their cell structure, and to deposit gelatinous ferric hydroxide iron compounds in their life processes.
Iron bacteria are found in several varieties including Anaerobic, Crenothrix, Lepothrix, and Gallionella. Iron bacteria can cause staining and plugging, and taste and odor problems in a water system.
Iron causes yellow/red stains and you will notice this in the tubs, sinks, toilets, and dishwasher if present. Laundry can also be stained so it is normally recommended if there are levels exceeding the limit that you not add bleach to your laundry.
Iron levels should not exceed .3mg/l.
Manganese
An element sometimes found dissolved in groundwater, usually in combination with-
but in lower concentrations than- iron.The color of staining from manganese is dark brown to black. If present, you will notice staining in the dishwasher and on your dishes. You might also notice staining in the toilet bowl. Laundry can also be stained.
Manganese levels should not exceed .05 mg/l.
pH a pH of 7.0 is considered neutral while a pH of less than 7.0 is considered acidic. A pH above 7.0 is considered alkaline. Your ideal pH range is 7.2 - 7.6. A measure of the degree of the acidity or the alkalinity of a solution as measured on a scale ("pH scale") of 0 to 14.
The midpoint of 7.0 on the pH scale represents neutrality--that is, a "neutral" solution is neither acid nor alkaline. Numbers below 7.0 indicate acidity; numbers above 7.0 indicate alkalinity.
It is important to understand that pH is a measure of intensity, not of capacity. That is, pH indicates the intensity of alkalinity or acidity in the same way temperature tells how hot something is but not how much heat the substance carries.
Acidic pH or low pH
A pH below 7.0 causes corrosion of the plumbing in the home. Signs of low/acidic pH are blue green staining particularly noticeable in the shower stall, tub and around the sink drains. Over time and without correction, damage to fixtures and pipes causing leaks will occur.
Alkaline pH or high pH
This causes minerals already present in the water to precipitate from solution to solid faster. Eventually you will notice clogging of water pipes especially hot water lines. Furnace coils and hot water heaters are affected.
Hardness
A common quality of water which contains dissolved compounds of calcium and
magnesium and, sometimes, other divalent and trivalent metallic elements. The term hardness was originally applied to waters that were hard to wash in, referring to the soap wasting properties of hard water. Hardness prevents soap from lathering by causing the development of an insoluble curdy precipitate in the water; hardness typically causes the buildup of hardness scale (such as seen in cooking pans). Dissolved calcium and magnesium salts are primarily responsible for most scaling in pipes and water heaters and cause numerous problems in laundry, kitchen, and bath. Hardness is usually expressed in grains per gallon (or ppm) as calcium carbonate equivalent.
The degree of hardness standard as established by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (5-339) and the Water Quality Association (WQA) is:
Terminology: grains per gallon or gpg, milligrams per liter/parts per million or ppm. Soft Water = less than 1.0 gpg or 17.1 ppm. Slightly Hard Water= 1.0 - 3.5 gpg or 60 ppm. Moderately Hard Water = 3.5 - 7.0 gpg or 120 ppm. Hard Water = 7.0 - 10.5 gpg or 120 - 180 ppm. Very Hard Water = 10.5 gpg or 180 ppm and above.
If the water is hard, you will notice white spotting on the glasses, bath tub ring, white to gray film in the shower stall. Hardness will cause dry skin. It will also cause hot water furnace coils to plug up and electric hot water heating elements to burn out. It also inhibits the sudsing action of your soaps and detergents so homeowners compensate by using more.
Hardness levels should not exceed 150 mg/l or 8.5 gpg. Standards are not usually enforced.
Bacteria
It is not as uncommon to find bacteria in the water as you might think. Bacteria may be free
living organisms or parasites. Bacteria (along with fungi) are decomposers that break down the wastes and bodies of dead organisms, making their components available for reuse.
Bacterial cells range from about 1 to 10 microns in length and from 0.2 to 1 micron in width. They exist almost everywhere on earth. Despite their small size, the total weight of all bacteria in the world likely exceeds that of all other organisms combined.
Some bacteria are helpful to man, others harmful.
Color
A shade or tint which is imparted to water by substances which are in true solution
and thus cannot be removed by mechanical filtration. Color is most commonly caused by dissolved organic matter, but it may be produced by dissolved mineral matter such as iron or manganese.
Recommended maximum 15 units.
Turbidity
(Discolored or cloudy water)The amount of small particles of solid matter suspended in water as measured by the amount of scattering and absorption of light rays caused by the particles.
Turbidity blocks light rays and makes the water opaque. Turbidity is measured in nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). Potable water should not exceed 0.5 NTU.
Turbidity cannot be directly equated to suspended solids because white particles reflect more light than dark-colored particles and many small particles will reflect more light than an equivalent large particle.
This can also indicate the presence of ferric or red water iron which will not normally be detected in the iron test done by the laboratory.
USEPA limit is 5 units.
Odor
You shouldn't have any odor in the water but it is not uncommon for the water to have an odor. Odor has many possible sources including iron and sulpher bacteria, petroleum and organic matter.
Recommended maximum 3.
Sulfates
If present in sufficient amounts, sulfates can have a cathartic effect on humans. It can also be a contributing factor to hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor).
There is no maximum contaminate level, but nuisance conditions can exist at 250 ppm.
Nitrate
A natural nitrogen compound (N03-) sometimes found in well or surface waters. In
high concentrations, nitrates can be harmful to young infants or young livestock.
Nitrite
An excess of these nitrogen constituents can indicate contamination from animal or human waste. Water with nitrate levels in excess of 10 mg/l can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and should not be used for infant feeding or nursing mothers.
Maximum allowable for Nitrate 10.0 mg/l.
Maximum allowable for Nitrite 1.0 mg/l.
Sodium
The presence of excess sodium can be harmful to persons on a salt-restricted diet. Recommended maximum 28 mg/l.
Chloride
The presence of high levels of chloride in your water can indicate contamination from road runoff, salt storage piles, backwash from a water conditioner or sewage.
Maximum allowable 250 mg/l.
Chlorine
A gas widely used in the disinfection of water and as an oxidizing agent for organic matter, manganese, iron, and hydrogen sulfide. Chlorine is known to react with organic matter in the water to form trihalomethanes (THMs), a suspected carcinogen.
Radon
A colorless, odorless, short-lived radioactive gas which is produced by decay of the uranium/radium series and is soluble in water. Radon is considered carcinogenic when inhaled by humans. Radon can be removed from water by aeration or activated carbon.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
Organic chemicals that turn into vapor at relatively low temperatures. Common VOCs found in water are fuel oil or gasoline.
If your water test indicates any of the problems listed above, we have solutions available. For a free in-home water test (minerals only) and estimate, give us a call or fill out the information section in our Free Home Water Analysis Section.
For an analysis of your laboratory test and recommendations for treatment by a Water Quality Association certified water treatment specialist (internet only) fee applies. Ask the Water Specialist.
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