Common Water issues

Municipal/ City Water

Municipal water treatment facilities do a good job of providing general purpose water that, according to the government, is safe. Safe means it meets the standards set forth by the U.S.E.P.A. However, it has been reported that 20% of systems in the U.S. are in violation of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Municipal/ City Water

A very small portion of the water the city treats is used for drinking water. But this is the most important because it is what goes in you. You always want to be sure you are drinking the best quality water. Many people who want to drink high quality water choose to install a “point of use” system with a faucet at the kitchen sink to provide purified, or high quality drinking water for cooking, drinking, making juice, coffee, tea, ice cubes, etc. Pets and plants love clean, purified water.

Solutions for Municipal/ City Water

Well Water

Water can come from a private well, and many cities also pump water from wells. Here in the southern half of the Twin Cities, most private well water comes from the Shakopee and Jordan Aquifers. City water generally comes from the Jordan Aquifer, but some city wells go very deep (around 1000 feet) into the Mt. Simon aquifer in order to find clean water.

Well Water

Most well water here in southern Minnesota contains hardness. Water hardness is a measurement of calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate in a water sample. Together they represent Total Hardness, measured in grains per gallon. Water hardness is undesirable because it builds up in the water heater making it much less efficient; build up on plumbing, fixtures, shower doors, sinks; shortens the life of water using appliances and clothing; requires more detergent for good cleaning results. It’s less expensive to buy a high quality water treatment system from a professional, than to have no system at all. In addition to hardness, there is the troublesome trio of Iron, Manganese and Hydrogen Sulfide. This trio can be quite a challenge to remove from private well water. There can also be contaminants such as arsenic, nitrate, fertilizers, pesticides, etc. that can be health concerns. Treatment requires a water analysis, equipment knowledge, and experience applying both. Water treatment in this context is part science, and part art – the art of water treatment. Sometimes people will try to cut corners with cost, or do it themselves. But if the finest quality water is what you desire, there is no substitute for an experienced water treatment dealer.

Solutions for Well Water

Surface Water

Besides wells, some cities obtain water from rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Some cities use a combination of well water and surface water. Look at the water cycle map to discover how contaminants can enter a surface water supply.

Surface Water

Solutions for Surface Water

Hard Water

Almost all water in Minnesota contains hardness mineral, whether it is from a private well, or from the city. The amount of hardness in the water will vary. Hardness mineral gets into the water from limestone deposits in the ground. Hardness minerals can cause problems in the home because it builds up on pipes, fixtures, appliances, water heaters, clothing, etc.

Hard Water

85% of homes in the U.S. have hard water according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Some people think they don’t have hard water, but they do. The build up can be seen on shower doors, sinks, faucets, and on glassware and flatware after being washed in the dishwasher.

It is not practical or cost effective for the city to remove the hardness mineral, although a few cities reduce the hardness level. Because only a portion of the water the city treats is used for bathing and washing in the home, (we call this “working water”.) Most of the water is used for street cleaning, fire fighting, factories, watering lawns and golf courses – water that does not need to be treated to the degree that the working water in your home needs to be.

Look down the detergent aisle at any grocery store. Almost all of the detergents are formulated for homes with hard water – they contain chemicals to “soften” the water. People are chemically treating their water to counteract the effects of hard water. When you install a mechanical water softener that uses a process called ion exchange, that physically removes the hardness ions from the water, you will not need harsh detergents for cleaning in the home. You will be able to use soap products formulated for softened water that contain little or no harsh chemical additives or detergents.

When water enters the home, most people, once educated on water quality, choose to have a “point of entry” water treatment system installed to treat all the water used in the home. This includes a water softener.

Solutions for Hard Water

Contaminated Groundwater

Historically, ground water supplies were thought to be free of disease-causing organisms because the soil naturally filters them out, But viruses and other microbes from contaminated septic tanks, landfill leaks, or inadequate disposal of animal wastes or wastewater can end up in water beneath the surface, according to Reynolds.

Contaminated Groundwater

If you draw your water from a private well, you need to study the water cycle diagram, and that will help you decide if you feel safe drinking your water. You should have your well water tested for nitrates and coliform bacteria. But with over 10,000 different possible contaminants, and each contaminant requiring a separate test costing between $20 and $100 each, many people decide it is more cost effective to invest in a high quality drinking water system that is certified to remove a variety of different contaminants. Some people simply choose to invest in a high quality water treatment system because they want better tasting water, and peace of mind. That is where your local water treatment dealer enters the picture.