Drinking Water
How can I protect myself and my family from lead in drinking water?
Drinking water generally contracts lead from plumbing that has been connected with lead solder (outlawed in 1986) or from outdated water distribution lines. There are a number of things you can do to reduce the risk of lead in your drinking water:
Some sources suggest running your tap water for a couple of minutes before filling a glass to flush any accumulated lead from the water line (lead dissolves into standing water over time). This isn't a foolproof solution, however, since there is no way of knowing whether all of the lead has been removed and since lead can still dissolve into running water.
Never use hot tap water to prepare drinks or meals. Hot water attracts more lead than cold water does. If you need hot water, heat cold tap water on the stove or in a microwave.
In their informational brochure, "Living Lead Free," the American Water Works Association recommends having your water tested for lead to find out whether you should take action.
Use a carbon drinking water filter or reverse osmosis system that has been certified to protect your drinking water from lead. Check that the manufacturer's claims have been verified by the Water Quality Association or NSF International; not all systems are certified for lead reduction.
I prefer bottled water. Is it the best alternative to my tap water?
Bottled water is a good alternative if you would like better tasting water for drinking and cooking, but it can be expensive and a hassle to carry from the store. Because it is inconvenient to do so, you may not use it for everything you should, including drinks and recipes.
It's generally less expensive in the long run to use a home drinking water system. Drinking water systems are convenient and provide you with high quality water in your own home when you want it, at prices per gallon that are considerably lower than bottled water.
There are many options available. Check to see that the system you choose is certified to protect you from a wide variety of contaminants and that the manufacturer's claims have been verified by the Water Quality Association or NSF International.
Don't water filters remove important minerals from my water?
Studies have found that minerals in your drinking water essentially make no contribution to your health and may even be present in forms your body can't absorb. Unfortunately, the myth that drinking water with minerals is healthy is perpetuated by companies that promote "mineral water."
In fact, the Water Quality Association, the trade association of the water treatment industry, prohibits health claims in any of its members' literature and advertising.
Hard Water/Soft Water
It feels like I can't get the soap off when I wash with soft water. Why does soft water feel "slimy" when I wash my hands in it?
When you wash in soft water, you feel your skin the way it's supposed to feel, clean and silky smooth. According to the U.C. Berkely Wellness Letter, when you wash in hard water, the soap you're using reacts with the hardness minerals in the water "to form an insoluble residue that's difficult to wash away." The "squeaky" feel/sound many people associate with being clean is, in fact, your skin sticking because of this residue.
Soft water rinses your skin and hair more cleanly than hard water and doesn't leave a soap or shampoo residue behind. People that use soft water consistently enjoy the "truly clean" feeling they get when washing with it.
Won't soft water corrode my plumbing?
According to the US EPA's Thomas J. Sorg, softened water does not increase lead and copper leaching in household plumbing systems. As long as your water has a neutral pH, softening it will not make it corrosive. Water that does not fall into the neutral range should be neutralized even if it is not being softened. If it isn't neutralized, it will typically cause corrosion, whether it's hard or soft.
Is soft water bad for my septic system?
According to a report issued by the Water Quality Research Council, water softeners do not have any detrimental effect on septic systems and may actually enhance their performance in certain situations by encouraging the growth of additional bacteria.
In fact, the flow from the softener is typically less than the waste water discharged from an automatic washing machine. The studies credited the high levels of calcium and magnesium present (in the flow that results when the softener cleans itself) with improving soil percolation in many instances.
The studies were conducted by scientists at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and the National Sanitation Foundation.
Doesn't my city supply me with soft water?
Your city water supplier is not required to provide you with soft water. Many municipalities reduce the amount of hardness to some degree. But according to the U.S. Geological Survey, 85 percent of American homes are still supplied with hard water. Your city is required to provide you with water test results that show water hardness; just call the number on your water bill. Compare the figure they give you to the Water Quality Association hardness classification system to see if you have hard water.
Many people that use city water choose to soften it to save money on soaps and cleaners, protect their plumbing systems from scale buildup, protect their water using appliances from hard water scale, provide better water for bathing and eliminate hard water spots, among other things.
Problem Water
What's causing these ugly orange stains in my sinks and bathtubs?
Iron in your water is the most likely culprit. It stains faucets, sinks, bathtubs, countertops, appliances and even clothing. You can usually remove the iron with a home water conditioner.
In some instances, iron is present in such large amounts that a multi-stage filtration system is necessary to remove it. But don't fret; your problem may appear worse than it really is. Iron in even small amounts can cause staining.
My tap water smells like rotten eggs. What causes that? Can it be fixed?
It smells like you have a problem with Hydrogen Sulfide in your water. Water absorbs this gas as it passes through the ground. When you turn on your faucet, you actually vent the gas from your tap water.
Hydrogen sulfide can be treated with oxidation and filtration. Oxidation turns the gas into elemental sulfur which can then be removed via filtration. Normally, an aeration system injects air into the water to oxidize the gas. The water then passes through a filter that removes the sulfur. The result is water free of the "rotten egg" smell you describe.
About Water Treatment Systems
Does a Water Treatment System add to the resale value of my house?
47% of consumers surveyed said that if they were in the market for a new home, they would be more likely to purchase one with a water treatment system.
Why are separate systems required to soften water and treat drinking water?
It all boils down (no pun intended) to the quality of the treated water. What's more important to you, the water that goes "on you" or the water that goes "in you?" Most people would answer that the water they consume is more important. That's why most people that choose to purchase water treatment equipment further refine their drinking water with a separate system.
Typically, a water conditioner is placed at the point where the water enters the home so it can soften (remove dissolved hardness minerals from) all the water distributed throughout the house. That's how a water conditioner protects your water heater, water-using appliances, plumbing, sinks, bathtubs, faucets and other things.
A drinking water system normally services a special faucet at the kitchen sink and further treats (reduces a large number of dissolved solids in) only the water you use for drinking and food preparation. It would be a waste to refine all of the water used in the home to drinking water quality. Treating drinking water at the point of use reduces the cost of the system.
Combination systems that address both kinds of water treatment needs are available. They typically offer the two systems in one complete, compact package.
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