In our previous post, we talked about the prevalence of chlorine in the municipal water supply and how it can be harmful to the household. For homeowners who obtain their water from a well, there are three common issues that they may experience:
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Hard Water – This means that the water contains excessive calcium and magnesium, which leads to white crusty residue on fixtures. This is mostly visible as hazy spots on dishes, glasses, the shower wall, and chrome fixtures. There are usually no negative health effects from consuming hard water because the body regularly processes calcium and magnesium.
Hard water does, however, negatively affect the fixtures in the home. It also requires you to use more soap, and it removes much of the moisture from skin. Soft water keeps the skin feeling silky smooth and soft. It can also cut the amount of detergent needed by half. There is the potential for significant savings in terms of cleaning products used in the house.
Iron in Water – Most people recognize the distinct taste of iron if they have been in an area that has iron in the water. Aside from an odd flavor it also leaves behind a rust-colored residue, especially on white fixtures. There are often homes that can’t do white laundry without it becoming a light pink color due to the high iron content in the water. The consumption of small quantities of iron does not have a negative health impact.
Acidic water – Well water is often slightly acidic, slowly eating away at the inside of plumbing fixtures.
The first step in determining what (if any) issues are in the water supply is to call Boulden Brothers to perform a test. The test resembles a high school chemistry kit, and it uses tried and true technology to determine the quality of the water. We can easily detect how much iron, hardness, or acidity the water contains. From there, we can recommend one of the many options that would best suit your situation.
Water softeners will remove the calcium and magnesium, along with low levels of iron. If the level of iron in the water is high enough, we will need to install an iron removal system. In most cases, however, the softener will be adequate. For acidic water, we would likely recommend a pH neutralizer. A neutralizer actually introduces a small amount of hardness to the water, so the water will travel through the neutralizer first, and then through the softener. A reverse osmosis system will remove everything from the water, so it is a great option for people with specific medical needs.
The downside to installing a reverse osmosis system is additional water consumption. Since the water is being forced through a reverse osmosis membrane, water that cannot be pushed through the filter is wasted and sent down the drain. Additionally, a reverse osmosis system can make the water slightly acidic. People who deal with heartburn, ulcers, or other similar conditions may prefer an alternative that does not introduce acidity to the water.
Overall, the professionals at Boulden Brothers will be able to give you a range of solutions to improve your household’s water quality. If you would like to learn more about the treatment options available for your well water, give us a call today.