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COMMON WATER PROBLEMS, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENTS
Index
Hard Water
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Hard Water Hard water is easily spotted because it creates a bathtub ring. Hardness minerals and soap collect to form a scum that appears on shower walls, clings to hair, clogs skin pores and makes house cleaning difficult. Hard water also can clog pipes, cause water heaters to operate inefficiently, and increase maintenance on water-using appliances. Hard water is caused by water passing through rock formations and picking up calcium and magnesium. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon. Rx: Water hardness is corrected by the use of a water softener/conditioner. The hard water passes through a tank containing resin beads holding sodium ions. The calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium ions thus softening the water. When the beads have trapped all the hardness they can hold, the unit is regenerated (recharged) with salt brine to replace the hardness ions with sodium ions. The unit is then ready to soften water again. The number of grains per gallon are measured and combined with water usage statistics to accurately calculate and set equipment regeneration cycles. |
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Iron Iron stains on sinks, clothing and linens indicate the presence of iron in water. Iron can also form scale in pipes and water-using appliances, and make water and water-using beverages look and smell bad. Iron is measured in parts per million. A water-testing professional can determine how much iron is present in a home and what type of iron it is. Iron in water is caused by water passing through iron-bearing strata in the earth. It can also be caused, usually temporarily, by water standing in iron pipes. There are three types of iron that cause problems in the home: Clear water iron - Water is clear when drawn from the tap. It turns red after standing for a time as the iron mixes with the air and oxidizes. Red water iron - Water is red when drawn from the tap. The iron has already oxidized in the ground, well or water system. Bacterial iron - Water has slimy rust or yellowish globs in it. The cause is bacteria in the water that feeds on iron. While the bacteria is not harmful to the health, it is unpleasant to look at and can clog plumbing. Rx: Small amounts of clear water iron can be corrected by a water softener. Red water iron and larger amounts of clear water iron can be controlled by running water through a filter containing an oxygen-rich mineral. The mineral oxidizes the iron into solid particles that can then be trapped in the filter and washed down the drain. Extreme amounts of iron are best controlled by using a chemical feed system that puts chlorine into the water to oxidize the iron. To treat bacterial iron, the well and system need to be "shocked" with heavy chlorination and then maintained by a filter or feed system. |
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Acid Water Acid water cannot be detected by the water's appearance, feel or odor. Its symptoms, however, are very apparent in the home. Acid water, in conjunction with copper fittings and fixtures, can cause blue-green stains on plumbing fixtures, and eat away chrome faucets, fittings and pipes. It can etch china and glassware, and corrode water-using appliances. Acid water is caused by water passing through hard rock such as granite or marble. Water, by its nature, wants to dissolve something and when it passes through materials it can't dissolve, it comes into the home in a "hungry" state and starts eating away everything it touches. The degree of problems experienced will be determined by the pH scale which measures acidity on a scale of 1 to 14. With 7 as neutral, water registering above 7 is alkaline and below 7 is acidic. A water-testing professional can test for the degree of acidity in a home's water supply. Rx: Slightly acidic conditions can be controlled by running water through a filter tank containing a neutralizing compound. More extreme conditions can be controlled using a chemical feed system that injects a liquid state neutralizer into water. Also, a phosphate feeder can be used to coat all water-bearing surfaces with a film that helps eliminate acidic damage. |
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Turbidity Turbidity is simply dirt or other suspended materials in water. You can detect turbidity by visual inspection. In addition to being unpleasant to look at, turbid water can clog small water-bearing openings and cause wear on valves, seats and washers. Turbidity is caused by dirt and sand getting into wells, or by runoff of other organic matter into water supplies. Rx: Suspended materials in water can be trapped in a tank filter containing a bed of filtering media. Small amounts of turbidity can be handled with a cartridge filter. |
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Taste and Odor Tastes and odors in water do not normally cause physical problems in the home but can be very objectionable. Tastes and odors are caused by many things including chlorine, decaying organic matter, and dissolved gases or minerals. The presence of hydrogen sulfide, which tastes and smells like rotten eggs or sulfur, is caused by decaying vegetation and oil deposits beneath the earth's surface. Rx: Most tastes and odors can be easily treated by a tank filter containing activated carbon. The carbon absorbs the taste or odor. Minor problems can be treated by a single-faucet filter. Hydrogen sulfide is a different problem requiring a different type of treatment. Low levels of hydrogen sulfide can be treated with an iron filter followed by a water softener, while high levels require a chemical feed pump followed by a turbidity filter. |
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Contaminants Drinking water contaminants cannot be detected except by total dissolved solids testing or lab tests. Drinking water contaminants can be either naturally occurring or man-made. See the EPA Water Contaminant Chart(list section) for specific causes. Rx: Depending on the contaminant, there are various methods of treating water. Carbon filters, reverse osmosis drinking water systems and distillers are a few. |
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Water Testing
In-home The most common in-home water tests are for: hardness, iron, acid, chlorine, nitrates and total dissolved solids. Water suspected to contain bacteria must be tested by a laboratory.
Laboratory EcoWater Systems has one of the largest and best equipped labs of its type in the world. The facility has tested more than one million water samples from around the world and computerizes all testing information by zip code. The resulting database enables the lab to know approximate water problems and conditions by area by zip code. To receive information on sending a water sample to the EcoWater Systems lab, call 1.800.808.9899. For other water-related questions, call the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1.800.426.4791, weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. EST. |
How Water Problems Originate | Problems, Symptoms & Treatments | EPA Water Contaminant Chart
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