If you’re looking into how water treatment systems work, you’re probably having some issues with your water. We specialize in the installation and maintenance of home water treatment systems for homeowners and commercial interests in the Kingman and Lake Havasu and surrounding areas.
If you’re interested in learning more about a home water treatment system for your home or business, call Plumbing by Jake at (928) 377-5910 to speak with one of our service experts today.
Well Water and Public Water Treatment Systems
If you are on the public water system, it should meet national water safety standards. The public entity treats the water for any contaminants before it enters your home. Your water system is required by law to produce yearly water quality reports. Those are usually available on their website, and they may mail the report out to customers as well. You should know that just because the water meets certain safety standards, it may not meet your standards. Pay attention to those reports.
If you use a well to supply your water, you are responsible for regular water testing to confirm the safety of your drinking water. You should also have your well inspected periodically.
Water treatment systems can improve the quality of your water in a number of ways by:
- Reducing health hazards such as bacteria, chemical pollutants, and other contaminants
- Removing odors
- Softening water
For our purposes today, we will be talking about water treatment systems for the whole house or commercial building, rather than smaller systems you might just install under your kitchen sink.
Whole House Water Filtration System
A whole house water filtration system is especially useful for homeowners who depend on a well for their water. A water filtration system does just what the name implies — it filters out contaminants.
Physical Contaminants
Well water may contain physical contaminants such as dirt or flakes of metal from corroding pipes or a cracked well casing. A whole house water filtration system filters those particles out before they ever make it to the water faucet.
Bacteria, Viruses, and Chemical Contaminants
The same water filtration system can filter out smaller contaminants through a process called reverse osmosis (RO). A reverse osmosis system reverses the flow of water in a natural process of osmosis so that contaminated water passes through a semipermeable membrane to become a more diluted solution. Filters are often used along with the RO membrane itself.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an RO system will remove:
- Sodium
- Chloride
- Copper
- Chromium
- Lead;
In addition, an RO system may reduce:
- Arsenic
- Fluoride
- Radium
- Sulfate
- Calcium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Nitrate
- Phosphorous.
And reverse osmosis systems have proved highly effective at removing protozoa, bacteria, and viruses from water.
Whole House Water Softener System
A water softener system uses ion exchange technology for chemical or ion removal. This reduces the amount of hardness (calcium, magnesium) in the water. In our area of Arizona, a lot of us have hard water. You know the signs: white scale buildup on faucets and showerheads, white rings on cookware and glassware, and soap scum buildup. While hard water isn’t dangerous, it can be a nuisance. It can be costly as well, as the mineral buildup can damage your appliances like your dishwasher and hot water heater. You also have to use nearly 50% more soap and detergents to get things clean when you have hard water.
In addition to removing calcium and magnesium, some water softener systems also remove:
- Iron
- Manganese
- Heavy metals
- Some radioactivity
- Nitrates
- Arsenic
- Chromium
- Selenium
- Sulfate.
A water softener system does not protect against protozoa, bacteria, and viruses.
Combined Water Treatment Systems
If you need the water filtration, and you have hard water as well, there are combined water treatment systems available that will take care of all your water problems at one time. We can help you determine which system is right for your location and water issues.
If you have had a recent water test done, it would be helpful for us to see that to help ensure you get a system that does all it should to ensure your water quality.
Call Plumbing by Jake for Water Treatment Solutions
If you’re looking to improve the water quality at your home or business, we can help. Call Plumbing by Jake at (928) 377-5910, and we’ll diagnose the issue and let you know your options. Your water will feel better and taste better in no time! Be sure to ask about our plumbing maintenance plans!
