Diagnose Your Water

It sounds like you have Iron if your water.

When a rust-colored, orange-brown color is found in your drinking water it is most commonly the result of elevated amount of iron (> 0.5 mg/L). Iron can be present in drinking water many ways, but most commonly it will be in one of two forms. Ferric or “red-water” iron causes the water to be discolored from the moment it comes out of the tap. Even more common is ferrous or “clear-water” iron where the iron is initially in a clear, dissolved state. Once the water containing the dissolved iron sits and is exposed to the oxygen in the air the ferrous iron oxidizes, chemically changing to a rust-like particle, causing the orange/brown stains. Regardless of what type of iron is predominant in your water it usually requires a backwashing filter specifically designed to treat for iron. Because there is almost always some level of dissolved iron present it must first be oxidized in a controlled environment so that it will fall out of the water so and then can be physically removed. While other factors like pH or heavy sediment can complicate the equation often our Iron Curtain filter system is often a great solution.

Click here for more information our Iron Curtain Filters.

It sounds like you could have Hard Water.

Often when you find water spots or greyish white rings and build up on dishes and in fixtures it’s a result of calcium in the water; this is usually referred to as “Hardness” or “Hard Water.” Water is said to hard where there is an excess of calcium and magnesium in the water (> 100 mg/L). The term was coined by the soap industry because soap has a “hard” time working under these conditions. When you have soft water you can use much less soap and get the same results when compared to the amount of soap required when washing things in hard water. Aside from causing water spots hard water can also cause lime-scale buildup inside plumbing and appliances and reduces the efficiency of water heaters and dish washes. For more information of the benefits of soft water click here.

Hard water is treated with a water softener through a process called ion-exchange. Like its name implies, undesirable and problematic mineral ions in the water (like calcium) are exchanged with sodium ions thereby removing most dissolved minerals from the water. This is a very effective and time-tested treatment method for hard water and there is really no substitute for a quality water softener. For more information on our Promate Water Softeners please click here.

It seems you have City Water with Hardness.

Municipally supplied water is a beautiful thing. Having clean and safe drinking water available on demand is an amazing benefit of living in this great nation and one many developing countries can only dream about. Unfortunately by ensuring that the water that reaches your tap is safe to drink disinfecting chemicals must be added. To complicate matters further, the infrastructure that brings the water to your home is on average more than 50 years old which can contribute to unwanted materials in the drinking water. Old piping systems may contain lead or leaded solder while other piping may be deteriorating allowing outside contaminants in. Finally, not all water quality issues are addressed at the municipal treatment plant. Additionally, non-harmful contaminates are often left untreated leaving their removal to the homeowner; calcium is one of these contaminates.

If you have city water and find water spots or greyish white rings and build up on dishes and in fixtures it’s a result of calcium in the water; this is usually referred to as “Hardness” or “Hard Water.” Water is said to hard where there is an excess of calcium and magnesium in the water (> 100 mg/L). The term was coined by the soap industry because soap has a “hard” time working under these conditions. When you have soft water you can use much less soap and get the same results when compared to the amount of soap required when washing things in hard water. Aside from causing water spots hard water can also cause lime-scale buildup inside plumbing and appliances and reduces the efficiency of water heaters and dish washes.

Carbon filtration is an excellent solution to the negatives associated with city water. It provides basic sediment and debris removal in addition to removing the disinfectant chlorine as well as many heavy metals (like lead) and volatile organic compounds that may be present. Hard water is treated with a water softener through a process called ion-exchange. Like its name implies, undesirable and problematic mineral ions in the water (like calcium) are exchanged with sodium ions thereby removing most dissolved minerals from the water. The two technologies are combined into one amazing product with our dual-media Promate softener. This system combines the filtration benefits of a backwashing carbon filter with the water softening capabilities of a traditional softener. To find out more about how you can get the best of both worlds in one easy to maintain and cost effective piece of equipment click here.

It appears you have Acidic Water.

Acidic water is what that has a low pH. pH is measured on a 14 point logarithmic scale with neutral in the middle with a value of 7.0; ideal drinking water is said to have a pH of 7.5. The lower you go on the scale the more acid the substance is, the higher, the more basic. Low pH substances would include vinegar, lemon juice and battery acid, while high pH items would include milk of magnesia, bleach and lye. The EPA defines the acceptable range for drinking water as 6.5 to 8.5 but unfortunately naturally occurring fresh water is often much lower than this. Spring water is notorious for have a very low pH, often 5.0 or lower and depending on the geology in your area well water pH can also be quite low. The real problems begin when the pH of the water dips to 6.3 or below as it is then so acidic it becomes hostile to plumbing. This is most commonly noticed with copper plumbing when the acidic water starts to dissolve the copper from the inside of the pipes and deposits it on your sink and fixtures in the form of a blue-green stain. This discoloration is oxidized copper, the same as the patina you might see on an old copper roof. This is a major concern for two reasons: first it’s destroying the plumbing in your home and will eventually lead to pin-holes that can cost 10’s of thousands in water damage and plumbing repairs. Second it creating a high level of dissolved copper in your drinking water which is a very real health concern. The EPA warns about the long-term effects of consuming too much copper and the damage it can do to you liver and kidneys.

The good news is that acid water is fairly easy to treat. In most cases low pH water can be naturally corrected to the near-ideal level of around a 7.3 with the use of a chemical-free neutralizing filter. These filters use a natural material called Calcite which is a calcium carbonate stone that has been crushed into a sand-like form. This media is then loaded into a neutralizing filter and acts as a natural sacrificial agent that raises the pH of drinking water by adding to it a small amount of calcium. Calcite is very low maintenance, self-regulates so it cannot over treat and also acts as physical filter media capable of removing debris and low levels of iron as well. For more information about our neutralizing filters please click here.

It seems as if there is gas like hydrogen sulfide dissolved in your water.

When foul odors are present in your drinking water conventional filtration methods often will not work. Because odors are usually a gas rather than a physical particle trapped in the water they cannot simply be filtered out. Gases like hydrogen sulfide (the gas usually responsible for the rotten egg odor) need to be oxidized before they can be removed. Once the unwanted gas is oxidized it precipitates, turning to a physical particle which can then easily be capture and removed from the water. This oxidation process can be accomplished a number of water from chemical injection system to open aerators but the simplest and most effective method we have found is by using and oxidizing backwashing filter like the Storm. These systems are chemical-free, extremely low maintenance, have a small footprint and are versatile enough to handle many of the odor causing conditions found in drinking water systems. For more information on the Storm please click here.

It seems like you may have a sulfur reducing bacteria causing the foul odor in your water.

When you have a foul odor in your water accompanied by a black stain or film this is usually a good indication of sulfur reducing bacteria or SRB. SRB is non-pathogenic or nuisance bacteria that it not harmful to people or animals. This unique group of bacteria “feed” on sulfate and other sulfur containing compounds, including natural organic materials, changing them to hydrogen sulfide gas. The treatment of this type of hydrogen sulfide is that same as treating for naturally occurring type but requires the addition of disinfecting agent to prevent further bacterial growth.

The odor in the water is caused by a gas rather than a physical particle trapped in the water and it cannot simply be filtered out, it needs to be oxidized before it can be removed. Once the unwanted gas is oxidized it precipitates, turning to a physical particle which can then easily be captured and removed from the water. As mentioned before this oxidation process must be accompanied by a disinfecting agent and options would commonly include a chlorine injection system or an ozone oxidizing filter like the IC Storm. This system is chemical-free, extremely low maintenance, and requires a much smaller footprint than chemical injection systems. For more information on the Storm please click here.

Your problem seems to be Sediment in your water.

In Western North Carolina the bedrock is composed mainly of granite and this stone is some of the oldest found on the planet. Geologists come from all over the world to study the granite in our mountains because of the clues to our history these very old rocks can provide. But like everything in this world as the granite ages it begins to decompose (albeit much slower than most things) and as a result some water supplies end up containing a heavy amounts of sediment. This sediment, when black in color, is actually decomposing granite being carried along in the aquifer and is often quite persistent. When your water source is burdened with high levels of this sediment small cartridge filters usually are not enough. This contaminant is easily dealt with when the right equipment is applied and a number of solutions are available. From high-capacity cartridge housing to more sophisticated centrifugal separators we have right solution for you. Please click here for more information on the Enpress ONE cartridge system or here for information on the SandMaster centrifugal separator.

It is likely you have elevated levels of Manganese in your drinking water.

When dark brown to black to even deep purplish stains are found on surfaces in contact with your drinking water that usually indicates a high level of manganese in your water (> 0.05 mg/L). Manganese can be a very stubborn containment to contend with causing various ascetic problems as well as very real health concerns. The EPA warns that elevated manganese levels in drinking ware can act as a neurotoxin with even greater concern to developing brains and cause reproductive problems as well. Even at lower levels the staining that manganese causes can be some of the most difficult to remove potentially ruining toilets, sinks and clothing. In order to remove manganese you need a very strong oxidizing agent present and the pH of the water must be above neutral. One of the best and chemical-free approaches we have found for manganese removal is our ozone oxidizing filter system the IC Storm. Click here for more information.

For general city water filtration we recommend Carbon Block Filtration.

Municipally supplied water is a beautiful thing. Having clean and safe drinking water available on demand is an amazing benefit of living in this great nation and one many developing countries can only dream about. Unfortunately by ensuring that the water that reaches your tap is safe to drink disinfecting chemicals must be added. Additionally the infrastructure that brings the water to your home is on average more than 50 years old which can contribute to unwanted materials in the drinking water. Old piping systems may contain lead or leaded solder while other piping may be deteriorating allowing outside contaminants in. Carbon block filtration is an excellent solution the negatives associated with city water. Carbon block will provide basic sediment and debris removal in addition to removing the disinfectant chlorine as well as many heavy metals (like lead) and volatile organic compounds that may be present. Carbon block filtration is an effective and inexpensive method for treating municipal drinking water, it will not only make your water healthier but it will also make it taste better to drink. For more information about our Enpress carbon block filter system please click here.

It seems like you have city being supplied by compromised municipal infrastructure. We recommend a Backwashing Carbon Filter for your situation.

Municipally supplied water is a beautiful thing. Having clean and safe drinking water available on demand is an amazing benefit of living in this great nation and one many developing countries can only dream about. Unfortunately by ensuring that the water that reaches your tap is safe to drink disinfecting chemicals must be added. Additionally the infrastructure that brings the water to your home is on average more than 50 years old which can contribute to unwanted materials in the drinking water. Old piping systems may contain lead or leaded solder while other piping may be deteriorating allowing outside contaminants in. Usually when you experience discolored city water it as a result of a breakdown in the plumbing system between the municipal treatment plant and your home. A backwashing catalytic carbon system is equipped to not only remove the negatives associated with city water but handle the high levels of iron and debris. A backwashing carbon system will provide advanced sediment and iron removal in addition to removing the disinfectant chlorine as well as many heavy metals (like lead) and volatile organic compounds that may be present. Catalytic carbon filtration is an effective and low maintenance method for treating problem municipal drinking water, it will not only make your water healthier but it will also make it taste better too. For more information on a backwashing catalytic carbon system click here.

For whole-home Fluoride Reduction we recommend the addition our exclusive CCAM filter system.

Sodium Fluoride is the pharmaceutical grade drug used topically by the dental industry to promote healthy teeth and strong dental enamel. Unfortunately this is not the same chemical used to fluorinate more than 90% of our nation’s drinking water. Instead the sufficiently cheaper byproduct of phosphate fertilizer industry called Fluorosilicic acid is used and is unregulated by the FDA. Additionally 99% of this chemical never has the chance to be of a topical benefit because it is ingested, or flushed down the toilet or used for any of the other reasons water is used. While the risks of this chemical in water have not yet been thoroughly documented there is rather compelling evidence that it does little good. For those who would like to err on the side of caution we have a whole-house fluoride reduction system available. Carbonized Calcium Absorptive Media (CCAM) is a cartridge based system that is installed after a carbon block filter. It is capable of reducing fluoride levels by more than 95% house wide. For more information about our exclusive CCAM filter system please click here.

For a dedicated drinking water system we recommend a Reverse Osmosis system.

When faced with a wide variety of contaminants in drinking water there is no better solution then a reverse osmosis filter system. The same technology used in huge desalination plants reverse osmosis can be used to make almost any water source better. Our Millennium Drinking Water System provides you with proven technology and unmatched performance. You get healthy hydration, without the impurities generally associated with household tap water. We use multiple stages of filtration to remove virtually everything from your water that can affect its taste, smell and overall healthful benefits including Fluoride added to municipal water. For more information about a Millennium RO systems click here.