Category Archives: Water Quality

Is it Safe to Drink my Tap Water?

 

Having clean, safe water for drinking, showering and even cooking your food is key to ensuring a healthy lifestyle. Most people today unknowingly drink chlorine-treated water that still contains harmful bacteria, chemicals and other contaminants. Every person needs to have enough water each day for the body to function effectively, but how is that possible when only a small percentage of it is healthy to drink?

 

In recent years, we’ve seen cities like Flint, Michigan deal with high levels of lead in their drinking water. Situations like this have caused many to ask, “Is my tap water safe to drink?”

 

Tap Water Safety Guidelines

 

According to a study done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), this nonprofit identified over 260 contaminants that regularly turn up in public water supplies, yet more than half of those contaminants were unregulated chemicals. The Safe Water Drinking Act mandates the regulation of 91 contaminants, meaning the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not currently have safety standards for many contaminants.

 

Common hazardous drinking water contaminants that can be found in your water are lead, chlorine and nitrates. These contaminants are difficult to remove from drinking water and you need the right equipment to do it.  Also, the EPA has yet to regulate many other known contaminants that have been shown to be harmful to humans and animals.

 

Health Risks of Tap Water

 

With public health officials not having set safety standards in place for tap water, this leaves consumers susceptible to a wide range of health risks.

 

The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) cautions consumers, specifically “pregnant women, young children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses and those with weakened immune systems [that they] can be especially vulnerable to the risks posed by contaminated water”. If this applies to you then it is best to obtain a copy of your city’s annual water quality report and review it with your physician to ensure you are not putting yourself at risk.

 

Investigate your Water Supply

 

Public drinking water utilities are required to test their water regularly for toxic contaminants and to disclose the results to the public. You can  find these results by calling your local utility or visiting their website. You can also use the EPA’s Local Drinking Water Information website to search for reports by state regulators.

 

Point-of-use water filtration systems such as reverse osmosis or ultraviolet light can successfully remove a variety of contaminants. A UV water purification system can remove water-borne viruses, Giardia, Salmonella, Coliform, cholera and more.  A reverse osmosis system can remove arsenic, lead, nitrates and many other contaminants.  There are different types of water treatment systems that remove a variety of contaminants from water.  It is best to find out what’s in your water, then identify products that will address those issues. To assist you in identifying contaminants in your water and best ways to address them, you can contact a WaterTech dealer near you.

 

WaterTech water filtration and purification systems are sold exclusively through authorized and trained water treatment specialists throughout the U.S. Locate an authorized dealership near you.

 

find a watertech dealer

WaterTech Achieves IAMPO R&T Certification and Now Carries the Acclaimed UPC Symbol

 

If you’ve done any research on water softeners, you’ve come to realize that there are a lot of choices when it comes to selecting a water softener for your home. In making the purchase decision, you can be sure you’re getting a top-notch water conditioner that has gone through rigorous testing and meets industry standards when you see the UPC Symbol.

What does International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) R&T UPC Symbol Mean?

Read more

Ultraviolet Water Disinfection: The Final Barrier Solution

Ultraviolet Water Disinfection the Final Barrier Solution

Ultraviolet water purification has become the most widely-accepted form of “final barrier” water treatment because UV can destroy 99.99% of waterborne microorganisms.

The U.S. water supply is arguably one of the cleanest in the world. But recent studies have found that despite treatment at U.S. municipal water plants, contaminants are still being found in water entering homes. A 2009 report issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned that “threats to drinking water are increasing” and that “we can no longer take our drinking water for granted.”

Three Reasons Why Contaminants May be in Your Water Post Treatment

Even with the Safe Water Drinking Act and increased environmental awareness, millions of Americans still drink unsafe tap water each day unknowingly.

1. Aging Infrastructure: After water is treated at your local municipal treatment plant, water often travels through miles of piping before reaching your home. Leaching pipes and corrosion are common culprits in introducing contaminants to the water stream. The EPA estimates that to fix the problem by repairing or replacing the aging water infrastructure would cost nearly $335 billion. And this won’t happen anytime soon.

2. Lack of Regulation: There are 60,000 chemicals used in the U.S. Yet, The Safe Water Drinking Act only dictates regulation for 91 of those contaminants. This means any of those 59,909 chemicals (not on the EPA list) could show up in our water and be completely undetected–including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, herbicides, disinfection by-products, and more. A Harvard study conducted in 2016 found unsafe levels of industrial chemicals in the drinking water of 33 states affecting six million people.

3. Main Breaks and More: Each year, there are more than 240,000 water main breaks in the United States, not to mention power outages, backflow contamination or loss of pressure. When these incidents happen, contamination can occur and “Boil Water Notices” are issued. Unfortunately, boil water alerts are many times overlooked or residents simply don’t get word of the advisory.

The three above-mentioned reasons are enough to make many people concerned about what’s in their drinking water and to seek a purification solution.

 

The Final Barrier Solution: Ultraviolet Water Disinfection

Waterborne pathogens cannot be removed 100% of the time with conventional water treatment methods. Thus, solutions for “final barrier treatment” have become the topic of much discussion. In simple terms, a water purification system is used to provide a “final barrier” to protect residential and commercial drinking water prior to use or consumption.

Ultraviolet (UV) water purification is the most widely accepted form of “final barrier” treatment. Even if corroding pipes introduce contaminants or your neighborhood is on a boil water alert, a whole-house ultraviolet system is one way to ensure your water is safe from harmful microorganisms, and give your household peace of mind.

What Can UV Remove?

UV is a safe, chemical-free way to treat water and is effective in destroying 99.99 percent of harmful microorganisms, including:

  • BacteriaUltraviolet Water Purification
  • coli
  • Viruses
  • Giardia
  • Typhoid Fever
  • Polio
  • Cryptosporidium
  • Coliform
  • Salmonella
  • Cholera & more

 

Nine Benefits of Ultraviolet Water Purification

1. Cost Effective: water treatment can be expensive. But UV is a cost-effective way to have safe, bacteria-free water in the home.
2. Low Maintenance: Changing the UV lamp once a year is typically all that is required.
3. Powerful Filtration: A UV water disinfection system destroys 99.99% of viruses, bacteria and cysts.
4. Energy Efficient: Only uses as much power as a 40-watt light bulb.
5. Entire Home Treated: A UV system will treat all the hot and cold water entering your home.

6.Quick: Some filtration methods require time for chemicals to work or holding tanks. UV purifies the water instantly as water flows under the UV light.
7. Taste & Odor: Chemical disinfection methods change the taste and odor of water, but ultraviolet does not.
8. Clean & Safe: With UV, there’s no handling of chemicals.
9. Reliable: UV works around the clock, 24/7 to consistently keep your water safe.

To learn more about UV final defense barrier and get pricing on a system for your home or business, let us put you in touch with an authorized WaterTech dealer near you.

find a watertech dealer

 

How Often Should a Water Softener be Serviced?

How Often Should a Water Softener Be Serviced? Service softener annually

Besides adding salt to your softener and occasionally cleaning out the brine tank, most water softener manufacturers recommend that you service your softener annually.

4 Reasons to Annually Call A Professional

The annual service visit is important for a few reasons:

  1. Cleaning & Upkeep:

    During the annual service call, a water treatment professional can recharge your resins and clean out your brine tank. They can also check for salt bridging in the brine tank and sanitize your system, when needed.

  2. Settings Optimization:

    Having your water softener serviced annually ensures the valve settings are optimized to save you money. For example, if your family size has changed because a child went away to college, you probably are now using less water. Your local water treatment specialist can adjust your valve settings so that your softener regenerates less frequently. Note that the valve on many water conditioners, including WaterTech’s Reionator, calculates and regenerates based off of consumption, so there may not be a need to adjust settings.

  3. Needed Maintenance:

    Like any appliance, your softener has moving parts and o-rings that wear out with time, and need replacement. Your softener’s valve may also need servicing or maintenance.

    When you install a softener, you invest financially to have great water and you want to protect your investment by maintaining it properly. Proper maintenance will enable you to enjoy the benefits of soft water for years to come.  Remember, a softener saves you money by reducing detergent and soap usage, as well as protecting water-using appliances in your home like your hot water heater, dishwasher and washing machine.

    A professional can keep your system in top shape which will help extend the life of your water conditioner.

  4. Water Assessment:

    In addition to the above, a water treatment professional can test your water to make sure that the constituents in your water have not changed in the past year. Even if you receive your water from a public water suppier, changes at your local municipal plant can alter the water coming into your home. Based on water test results, a professional can modify your system settings, install a prefilter, or whatever is needed to ensure you continue to have outstanding water flowing into your home. And for well water, storm runoff and farming herbicides can seep into groundwater, thus, annual water testing is highly recommended.Free Water Test

Water Softener 9-1-1

Call Your Water Treatment Professional Right Away If…

Find a water specialist near you on Angie’s List, Yellow Pages, or WaterTech’s “Find a Dealer” tool.

find a watertech dealer

 

 

When Scary Isn’t Cool: Scare Tactics in the Water Treatment Industry

Scary isn't cool blog header

When it comes to water, there is plenty of scary news about water-related issues. For example, in May 2014, 670,000 Oregonians were advised to boil their water after testing revealed the presence of E. coli. Then a few months later, more than 400,000 residents in Toledo, Ohio were told not to consume, cook with or even boil their water after a toxin called microcystin was found in the water supply.

Some in the water treatment industry pounce on these scenarios, using “scare tactics” to sell their systems. Here are four ways to avoid being pushed into a purchase when it comes to water treatment products.
Read more

Do You Know What’s in Your Tap Water?

Is Your Water Spooky Blog Header

Is Your Water Spooky? Do You Know What’s in Your Tap Water?

Halloween might be right around the corner, but no “tricks” here. We want to talk seriously about the aesthetics of your water. Perhaps your senses have alerted you that something is amiss in your H2O?

It’s nothing life threatening. But you are wondering why you’re seeing “floaties” and “suspendies” in your water? Or you’re smelling something similar to rotten eggs? Or you’re noticing red staining in the sink?

First off, rest assured that all municipal water systems in the United States that serve more than 25 customers must comply with federal Safe Water Drinking Act regulations. Your water municipality is required to regularly test the water to ensure potentially harmful contaminants are not passed on to customers.  At the same time, your water may still not taste, smell or look the way you want.  Let’s discuss some issues you may have.
Read more

1 2 3