Tag Archives: filter

Child drinking RO water

What’s REALLY in Your City Water?

Do you ever wonder what’s actually in your city water? Drinking water represents only 1% of the water treated by municipalities.  The other 99% is “working water” which is used to flush toilets, water lawns, shower, brush teeth, wash hair, do laundry, wash dishes, clean,  fight fires, etc. Is it reasonable to expect that “working water” be brought up to the level of pure drinking water? The cost would be prohibitively foolish.

We are fortunate that municipalities in US disinfect water to remove disease-causing agents like bacteria and viruses which cause serious gastrointestinal illnesses and other problems. However, Chlorine and Chloramine, chemicals used to sanitize city water, create by-products such as Haloacidic acids (HOACs) and Trihalomethanes (THMs) −several of which are proven to cause cancer.

Municipalities are required by the EPA to diminish the level of some of the contaminants in city water, but they are not required to completely eliminate them. Numerous new chemicals have been invented and have ended up in our water supply since the Safe Drinking Water Act was enacted in December 16, 1974. Therefore, no minimum standards for an overwhelming majority of these contaminants have been established to protect our drinking water. Many impurities like endocrine (hormonal) disruptors, pesticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, Chromium-6, and several others remain in city water.

Municipal water treatment plants do a great job at sending disinfection chemicals like chlorine into the water distribution system to protect the water.  However, on the way to our homes water can become contaminated by:

  • Leaching from pipe walls
  • Leaks in pipes
  • Repairs and replacements of pipes
  • Cross connection with waste
  • Corrosion from the water distribution system and from home plumbing
  • Biofilms, which are a collection of organic and inorganic materials (living and dead) in which cells stick together and adhere to surfaces regularly in contact with water such as water pipes.   Microorganisms in biofilms can include bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. Current research has revealed that viruses and parasites can get trapped in biofilms after a contamination event such as a break, leak, or repair in a water pipe.  There is concern for the potential of coliform bacteria growth in the pipe network.  Some microbes may separate from biofilm producing odor, color, or taste problems in drinking water.

Once the water reaches our home it is up to us to prevent our family and pets from ingesting contaminants that may pose a health hazard and to limit exposure to unpleasant odors, taste and color in the water.

Best Water Solutions offers complimentary in-home water testing and consultation to determine what is in your water, as well as water treatment options available to help you reach the goals you have for your family and home. We have practical, proven, cost-effective technologies that ensure your family drinks great tasting, contaminant free water.

Discover how to make your water SAFE and PURE Today!

Contact us:

Gainesville: 352-372-2707 Ocala: 352-369-1707

Schedule your FREE Water Analysis today by filling out this form!

Or Email us: info@BestWaterSolutions.com

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Tweet us: @BestWaterFL

Bacteria in a glass of water

Bacteria in Your Water

Bacteria, Viruses, and other Microbes in Water 

You can rarely detect microbes such as bacteria, viruses, cysts, amoebas, protozoans and parasites in water through sight, smell or taste. Consequently many people go years before realizing they have a problem in their water.

Most waterborne microbes are harmless; others like E. coli, Giardia and Cryptosporidium can cause stomach cramps or pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, gas, fever, flu-like symptoms and dehydration.

If your water comes from a well the EPA recommends that you test it once a year.

However, it is wise to test it more often if:

  • A baby, child, pregnant woman or an elderly person lives in your home
  • Someone in your home has recurring gastrointestinal problems
  • Someone in your home has a compromised immune system
  • Install new well or pump
  • Repair or replace old well or pipe
  • Purchase a new home
  • You want to find out if your existing water treatment system is working
  • Your water has had a change in color, odor or cloudiness

To Disinfect Water with Microbes Use One of the Following Types of Water Treatment Equipment

Ultraviolet (UV) Light

Ultraviolet does not involve chemicals.  It kills bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans and cysts that may be present in water by exposing water to light at just the right wavelength for killing microbes.  The light source must be kept clean and the UV lamp, pre and post filters, and  replace periodically. However, UV light cannot remove gases, heavy metals or particulates. If these are present in your water additional filtration such as Granular Activated Carbon may be necessary.

Ozone

To produce ozone you expose oxygen to a high-voltage current. It quickly destroys viruses, bacteria and any other microbes while also removing sulfur, iron and manganese.  Ozone decomposes rapidly and does not introduce foul odors, tastes or harmful disinfection byproducts into the water.  This water treatment method is more costly and energy consuming than Ultraviolet.

Chlorination-Dechlorination

In this disinfection method, add chlorine water to kill microbes and break down manganese, hydrogen sulfide and iron. However, chlorine will not typically kill Giardia or cryptosporidium in their cyst form.   A Chlorination System is a cost effective method that yields clearer, better tasting water.

Some people object to chlorine’s taste, odor and the harmful disinfection byproducts created when chlorine is mixed with naturally occurring compounds in the water.  These byproducts (THM’s) are  known to cause health issues, though you can be remove it with Granular Activated Carbon Filters.

Contact us today to learn more about your water and the Water Treatment Equipment that will protect the health of your family and give you the safe pure water you deserve.

Contact us:

Gainesville: 352-372-2707  Ocala: 352-369-1707

Schedule your FREE Water Analysis today by filling out the form on this link:  https://bestwatersolutions.comfree-water

Or Email us: info@BestWaterSolutions.com

Kitchen with Water Appliances and Soft Water

Difference Between Water Softeners and Water Conditioners

Salt or Potassium Based Water Softener

Through the ion-exchange process this system removes hard water minerals (dissolved limerock) from the water before the water enters your home. There is an exchange of hard water for salt or potassium ions in the water softener’s resin tank.  As larger volumes of water are softened, the beads become coated with hardness ions. The control valve draws salt or potassium from the brine tank cleaning the beads.  This causes the stripping of the limerock from the beads and then discharges with the excess salt or potassium, into a waste water drain.

Removal of the hard water minerals prevents the formation of unsightly water scum that adheres to surfaces in your home, skin and clothing.  With this Water Treatment system soaps and detergents will lather easily and work more efficiently.  You will use 80% less, which is easy on your budget and safe for your family.  Absence of hard minerals also extends the life of your water using appliances, and prevents your pipes from clogging with limerock scale.

Water Conditioner

In the salt-free process dissolved limerock remains in the water, but its form then changes so it will not cling to surfaces or precipitate into scale. Using Template Assisted Crystallization (TAC), it processes water through a catalytic media.  It then converts hardness minerals to hardness crystals, which do not bind to surfaces.

You do not need a back-wash control valve because the system works as a Conditioner not as a Softener. Since the system does not capture hard minerals it does not need to be purged.  It requires no chemicals, salt, potassium, or valve repair and is easy to install.

On the other hand you still have the dissolved limerock in your water, which means your body is still exposed to it.

In Summary:

A Water Softener REMOVES hard water minerals from the water.   A Water Conditioner only ALTERS the minerals, allowing them to remain in the water.

Now that you know the difference between a Softener and a Conditioner, which one would you choose?  Contact us today for a water test!

Gainesville: (352) 372-2707 – Ocala: (352) 369-1707 – Toll-Free: (800) 516-8962

Or Email us: info@BestWaterSolutions.com

Or complete our Contact Form