Water Quality & Treatment

Taste - At the moment, there is no definitive water test for taste.  Taste is extremely subjective and changes from person to person.  If you have a persistent taste in your water, it is probably traceable to one or more of the following:

 

Geosmin & 2-MIB - These compounds have a earthy, murky smell and are produced by several classes of microbes, including cyanobacteria (blue-gren algae) and actinobacteria; they are released when these microbes die. The human nose is extremely sensitive (around 7 ppt). Chemtech-Ford can analyze for these compounds down to 2 ppt.

 

Chlorine - Your water company may have increased the dosage of chlorine to counteract a possible bacterial issue. A charcoal filter will help remove the chlorine taste.

 

Algae - The reservoir water source may be experiencing a blue-green algae bloom.  This usually happens in the warmer part of the summer.  Occasionally, underground piping develops an algae growth and will need to be flushed out to correct the problem.  Sometimes a charcoal filter will help remove some of the offensive taste.

 

Iron - You will notice reddish-brown staining in your shower and sinks.  A water softener will usually remove the iron in the water. The problem may be with iron and sulfur bacteria

 

Hydrogen Sulfide - This problem is accompanied by a rotten-egg smell.  Your nose is sensitive to 1 part per billion sulfide, so it doesn't take much to be offensive.  Remediation of this problem will require professional advice from a water treatment company. See iron and sulfur bacteria

 

New Water Source - During peak demand periods, your water company may employ a new water source that may change the taste of your water.  The difference will disappear as soon as demand allows the additional source to be shut off.

Sediment Filters

Sediment filters remove large particles by trapping them in a replaceable paper or fabric cartridge as the water flows through. They ignore microbes, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, and metals. 

Ozone Filters

Ozone filters remove most microbes and organic compounds. They ignore inorganic compounds and metals. 

Ultraviolet Filters

Ultraviolate filters remove most microbes. They ignore organic compounds, inorganic compounds, and metals. 

Carbon Filters

Carbon filters are good at helping resolve some of the problems associated with taste.  They generally are made of activated charcoal and remove organic compounds and chlorine. They ignore bacteria, most inorganic compounds and metals. They will not soften water. 

Water Softeners

Water softeners are very helpful in preventing hard water and iron stains around your sinks, tubs, and showers and giving you water that feels good in your bath.  They will also help preserve your plumbing from corrosive action if your water is very hard. They ignore organic compounds, and many inorganic compounds. Bacteria may or may not be eliminated by the high salt content in the exchange unit. 

Most softeners work on a sodium replacement principal.  In other words, they replace the calcium and magnesium in the water (the hardness element) with sodium.  The more calcium and magnesium your raw water contains, the more sodium the softener will add back into your water.  You should be aware that drinking softened water could add significant amounts of sodium to your diet.

Most water softener companies will by-pass the kitchen sink and ice-makers and leave those areas hooked to the original raw water. 

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis or "RO" provides a good product.  Most units can effectively removemost metals and most inorganic compounds by using a system of special membranes through which the water is moved using pressure differentials.  RO units alone will ignore microbes and organic compounds. Usually the system will contain an organic filter and a UV sterilization unit to compensate. The systems are somewhat expensive, ranging in price from $700 to several thousands of dollars.  They also require some maintenance by the homeowner or company representative involving changing out the filters.

It is very expensive to treat all of the water to be used in a home or business with RO, so usually a single tap is provided with a small 2 to 4 gallon reservoir under the sink.  Homes that desire or need all of the water in a home treated will usually opt for a combination of a  water softener and an RO unit.