Water Problems
Water problems can have a variety of causes.
Hard water is created when water passes through soft rock formations, such as shale and limestone, and picks up calcium and magnesium. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines hard water as “Alkaline water containing dissolved salts that interfere with some industrial processes and prevent soap from sudsing”.
Hard water is easy to spot: it leaves bathtub rings made up of hardness minerals and soap. This scum collects on shower walls, clings to hair, and clogs skin pores. It can lead to dry skin, soap that does not lather well, clothing that is not as white (colors become dull after washing), rings in toilets, spotting on dishware and around the sink – and it is especially noticeable on stainless steel sinks (the spotting and white flaky rings are not necessarily due to poor housekeeping!). The calcium builds-up on heating elements causing them to fail prematurely, it causes water heaters to operate inefficiently (i.e. costs more money to operate), clogs coils and showerheads, and generally increases maintenance on water-using appliances.
Iron water is created when water passes through iron-bearing rocks. Because iron accounts for 5% of all the earth’s crust, it can be found in most of our water supplies. And if you have galvanized pipes in your home, the staining can be caused when water sits in your pipes. Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral that can cause black staining. Arsenic is also naturally occurring and is detectable through testing. Lead can either be naturally occurring or caused by use of lead pipes.
Drinking water standards fall into primary (health-related) or secondary (nuisance-related) standards. Limits for arsenic (.010 parts per million or ppm) and lead (15 ppm) fall under the EPA Primary Drinking Water standards. Iron (0.3 ppm) and manganese (.05 ppm) fall under the EPA Secondary Drinking Water standards. For iron, water above 0.3 ppm causes staining on fixtures and laundry, makes water smell and taste bad, and can even clog pipes and cause pressure loss. It can also be detected by orange stains in your white laundry, fixtures, sink, toilet, a metallic taste in the water, or an orange film at the bottom of the glass if the water stands overnight.
The cause of hydrogen sulfide is sulfate-reducing bacteria in groundwater, which produces hydrogen-sulfide gas as a by-product. And unlike most other contaminants, sulfur levels can change regularly as rainfall and barometric pressure changes. Sulfur water is typically found in areas with a lot of shale. It is critical that the solution is sized accordingly and even better if it is adjustable. Stagnant water in pipes, like in bathrooms that are rarely used, can also cause the gas to concentrate and make the smell even stronger. Besides the foul odor, a black stain is usually present and sulfur can make the water corrosive. In extreme cases, the gas will tarnish metals throughout the house.
Chlorine can make water smell and taste bad. Chlorine is a powerful oxidant and is commonly used as a disinfectant in municipal water supplies to manage bacteria levels. Chlorine in drinking water can kill other potentially harmful organisms that seep into lakes, rivers, streams and ground water. Chlorine, even at acceptable levels, can contribute to dry eyes and skin irritation as well as make conditions such as eczema worse. It can bleach or fade color in clothing over time. Chlorine is hard on rubber seals, such as those found in faucets, toilet flappers and most valves, which can causes leaks as the chlorine degrades the rubber in the seals over time.
Toxic chemicals include Volatile Organic Contaminants (VOCs), Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCs such as pharmaceuticals), TCE, PCB, THM, PCE, benzene, insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, etc. These chemicals commonly enter the drinking water from leaking underground storage tanks, industrial run-off, leaking landfills, toxic dumps and spills, or were used in farming before they were known to be harmful. Many are water-soluble and known to cause cancer when humans encounter them. These chemicals can be ingested in your drinking water, inhaled in the shower, or absorbed through your skin when bathing. Testing for these contaminants are often performed only in the laboratory and testing for a long-list of contaminants can be very expensive (extra charges would apply). See the EPA water contaminant chart for more information.
Pharmaceuticals may enter our drinking water when people flush medications down toilets or take medications and, as not all of the medication may be absorbed into the body, the remainder passes through the body and into the sewer system. Wastewater treatment processes do not completely remove the pharmaceuticals during the treatment process and some of these pharmaceuticals are passed back into drinking water. Pharmaceuticals may include antibiotics, anti-seizure medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, antibacterial drugs, hormones, mood stabilizers, oral contraceptives and other drugs.
Bacteria may be in your water if your water is cloudy or discolored, has a foul or musty odor, or an unusual taste. Wells that aren’t properly sealed or treated can be more susceptible to bacterial contamination. Bacteria in water can cause gastrointestinal, skin, ear, and respiratory illness caused by the ingestion or contact with contaminated water. The most significant risk comes from fecal contamination, which can introduce dangerous pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella into drinking water, leading to severe stomach cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, which may be especially problematic for children, elderly, and those suffering from immunity-related issues.
Nitrates can cause your blood to lose oxygen and have been linked to blue-baby syndrome. The legal limit in water is 10 ppm and is typically caused by use of fertilizers that run-off or seep into the groundwater.
While not as common as the other problems mentioned in this site, methane gas can occur naturally in some aquifers. It can be identified through odor and usually makes the water effervesce (seen as a fine stream of bubbles) as it comes out of the faucet and causes the water to be flammable. In extreme concentrations, it could be dangerous.
Cloudy or discolored water can be caused by a variety of sources including corroding iron pipes or sediment stirred up during maintenance, mineral accumulation, water main activity, bacteria, hard water, and water heater sediment. Contact us to properly diagnose your water issue and available solution(s).