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Why is water treatment important?

Water is a necessity for our lives. Without water, we wouldn’t have the active, long lives we have today. There are plenty of diseases and illness inflicting our lifestyles today. With the various water treatment systems in place, we can eliminate additional diseases and damaging waterborne pathogens to ensure a healthier wellbeing.

How water quality impacts your health?

Water pollution is caused by chemicals, microorganisms, or some other contaminates get into a body of water, making it toxic to living things and the environment. Drinking contaminated water can affect our health with cancer, chronic diseases, gastrointestinal illnesses, and more. It can affect our nervous system and cause ill effects to our reproductive systems. Here are eight reasons why water treatment systems are important today: 

1 Water Quality Improved

Water treatment systems significantly improve the water quality by removing all kinds of contaminants and hazardous elements from our drinking water. 

2. Removes Lead 

Lead has been deemed as a major cause for children diagnosed with nervous disorders. Lead has also been deemed to cause severe health issues in adults like cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and hypertension. Water treatment systems can remove that lead, making the water safer. 

3. Money Saver

Water treatment systems are an investment that have an immediate ROI by eliminating the need for bottled water. With clean, healthy, safer water, it also minimizes trips to the doctor and the medications needed to live an active life.

4. Removes Chlorine 

While chlorine in the swimming pool is good, too much of a good thing is bad for the human body. Chlorine-free drinking water is essential to our health. Too much chlorine has been linked to breathing difficulties, chest tightness, and eye irritation, resulting in emergency room visits and doctor appointments.  

5. Keeps Carcinogens Out 

Like cigarettes, there are carcinogens in water through hazardous minerals and metals that can enter the body and has been linked to cancer. Water treatment systems eliminate those minerals and provide a safeguard to you and your family’s health. 

6. Healthier Skin

Water is essential to having healthy, youthful-looking skin by cleaning harmful toxins from our bodies.  Proper pH balance is necessary for that healthy glow and water treatment systems can provide that for you. 

7. Reduces Gastrointestinal Problems

Water is used in cooking and water treatments systems ensures the water is pure for cooking by keeping the minerals and vitamins needed in and removing the contaminants not needed. This may not seem to be important to gastrointestinal problems, but after a month of having cleaner water, you’ll notice the difference. 

8. Immunity Build Up 

To build a sound immunity, you need ample of water in your body for your cells to function. An adequate supply of water ensures that cells perform well, which causes to better immunity in the body. Simply put, clean water is a way to live long and healthy!

What is used to treat drinking water?

Where mass water treatment systems are concerned, chlorine is the main ingredient to cleansing our drinking water. Chlorine removes bacteria, parasites, and viruses that are harmful to us, and while small amounts of chlorine aren’t harmful, too much of a good thing can be harmful. 

Other methods of treating drinking water are boiling. This is the cheap way to make water safe for consumption. And distillation which works with the basic science of water having a lower boiling point than contaminants and diseases. As it is subjected to the heat source to reach the boiling point, it then vaporizes. The vapor is directed to a condenser and as it cools, the vapor reverses into clean water and the contaminants become sediment left in the container.

What is the best home water treatment?

Before choosing from the many different water treatment systems on the market today, you should have your water tested.  This will help pinpoint exactly what contaminants need to be filtered and removed. 

How is water quality tested? There are several ways this can be done, starting with Test Strips, where you do the testing yourself. If you have ever been in a public swimming pool, or had your own, this is the same process. Or Color Disk Kits is another method that will give you a reading on specific chemicals found in your water. And there are Digital Instruments, a handheld device where you can test your own water.  This is an investment, but if you feel the need for frequent testing, it is worth the cost. 

Or you can take a sample of your water to a professional lab. This will provide you the most thorough analysis, with several different testing can be done. At these facilities, they have advanced colorimetric comparison tests, photometric test kits, and spectrophotometers that measure contaminants in the water and the level.

For at-home water treatment systems, some of the most recommended and popular units are: 

• Best Overall: The APEC ROES-50 Reverse Osmosis System 
• removes up to 1,000 different unwanted contaminants.
• Best Faucet Attachment: The PUR Faucet Water Filtration System that mounts easily to your faucet without tools, it will remove a lot of common contaminants.
• Best Whole-House System: The Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System will clean the water before it gets to the faucets, shower, sinks, or tubs! 
• Best Small Pitcher: The ZeroWater 7-Cup Water Filter Pitcher h0olds six cups and doesn’t require much refrigerator space. 
• Best Large Pitcher: The Brita 12-Cup Stream Filter Pitcher filters as it pours. 
• Best Countertop Dispenser: The Pur Ultimate 18-Cup Water Filter Dispenser removes up to 99 percent of lead, and 22 other contaminants. 

For example, if you’re wondering how water quality impacts human health, some ways are: 

Microplastics Ingested

Your drinking water or any seafood you may eat can contain microplastics. This material has been discovered in beer, salt, and other foods. Microplastics can cause any of the following that could be minimized, even eliminated with additional water quality testing: 

• Inflammatory reaction
• Metabolic disorders
• Oxidative stress

Sewage Contamination

As many as two billion people are drinking water that is contaminated with fecal matter. Increased water quality testing can help catch the water that is contaminated with bacteria causing almost 300,000 children alone to suffer with: 

• Cholera
• Diarrhea
• Dysentery
• Hepatitis A
• Polio
• Typhoid

Chemical Waste

The ground and surface water we drink today often contain chemical pollutants like fertilizers, heavy metals, and pesticides. These are things that another level of water quality testing can check for to avoid possible health problems like: 

• altered brain function
• cancer
• hormone disruption
• Immune and reproductive system damage
• cardiovascular and kidney problems

Even everyday summer activities like swimming could be in contaminated water that causes:

• hepatitis
• pink eye
• rashes
• respiratory infections

What are the main indicators of water quality?

Water quality standards for drinking water are an important factor in our aquatic ecosystems to ensure the water available is safe for human use. The actions we have on land will always have a major effect on the water-based ecosystem. 

Therefore, this makes water quality testing so important. The following are indicators that are important in determining the quality and safety of our water. 

1. Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen: The temperature is an important factor that affects the water system because it can dissolve oxygen levels, biological and chemical processes, species compositions, stratification and water density, and the life of various marine organisms, which water quality testing can alert us to this issue.
2. Conventional Variables: The pH level, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Conductivity, and Suspended Sediment of conventional variables indicate how the aquatic environments like drainage basins and local environmental conditions are affected and changes in the weather daily seasonal.
3. Nutrients: Living organisms need nutrients for growth and survival, like copper, iron, magnesium, nitrogen, and phosphorus.  Water quality testing can advise us when these nutrients are insufficient, allowing us to adjust as needed.
4. Metals: Metals like copper, manganese, and zinc, are crucial for the biochemical forms needed in maintaining life. However, a high concentration can be toxic when animals and humans ingest them. Thorough water quality testing can signal when these counts are high and allow us to filter them accordingly. 
5. Hydrocarbons: Hydrocarbons are organic chemical compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen. 
6. Industrial Chemicals: Industrial chemicals from industrial waste can include PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), which threaten the aquatic ecosystems and humans that eat the fish contaminated by these chemicals. Water quality testing advises us when these are present, and the fish is unsafe to consume. 

What is considered good water quality?

Clean, pure, safe water is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. It is lacking impurities that are referred to as TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) as a measure of the ions in solution.  One way to determine if water is contaminated is if it is cloudy. While cloudy water doesn’t necessarily indicate a danger to human health, it does indicate there are chemicals or pathogens that could be unsafe. Water quality testing can confirm what pathogens and the level of those pathogens are in the water. 

The following are water quality parameters that are at an acceptable limit, along with any potential health effects and the possible sources of contamination.3

• Atrazine at 3 ppb is acceptable. Derived from herbicides in agriculture, when affecting groundwater it can cause heart and liver damage. 

• Benzene at 5 ppb is acceptable. This is a gasoline additive and affects the water supply from industrial uses, landfills, and accidental oil spills. Has been related to aplastic anemia and other blood disorders; immune system depression; and damage to the central nervous system, resulting in dizziness and headaches. Cancer is a risk with long-term exposure.

• Lead at .015 ppm is acceptable. This comes from batteries, lead gasoline, pipe solder, brass faucets, lead caulk, lead pipes, and lead soldering. It has been related to mental and nervous disorders in fetuses and infants, low birth weight, and blood disorders. 

• Nitrates at 10 mg/1 are acceptable. A by-product of fertilization, animal and human waste. Has been related to methemoglobinemia in infants from birth to six months. 

• Total Coliform at less than 1/100ml is an acceptable level. This has been linked to causing possible bacterial or viral contamination from animal manure and human sewage. It has been linked to diarrheal disease, cholera, and hepatitis.

• Radon at 300 pCi/1 is acceptable. A natural occurrence from gas formed in uranium decay in the ground that seeps into wells from the surrounding rocks then released into the air as it comes through the faucet. It has been linked to lung cancer, bladder, colon, and stomach cancers. 

How do you read a drinking water test?

The actual results of a water quality testing report are the most important information. The numbers indicate each water quality parameter of the concentration. Depending on how to get water quality tested, an at-home water quality testing kit will have instructions that will walk you through reading the results.  If you choose to have professional water quality testing done, the company will review the results with you and explain what the results show.

Why do we need water filtration systems?

Properly installed and maintained water filtration services remove bacteria, contaminants, pesticides, and other particles that are harmful while improving the taste. The elderly, infants, and anyone with a poor immune system are naturally susceptible to adverse effects from water contaminated with these things. 

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the following are just some of the issues that can be caused by water that has not gone through any type of water filtration services: 

• Copper
• E. coli
• Hepatitis A
• Norovirus
• Salmonella

Serious health problems can be caused by the contaminants and heavy metals that most water filtration services remove. Among those health problems are: 

• Kidney issues
• Respiratory issues
• Reproductive challenges 
• Cancer

Other than these serious consequences, hair and skin can be harmed by polluted water, and depending on the water quality, certain values can be affected by the pH level as well. That typically leads to increases in corrosivity that dissolve metal, with that dissolved metal eventually becoming part of the water in our homes. 

Do water filtration systems really work?

If the lead in water can corrode the water lines and plumbing fixtures in your home, imagine what it can do to your body. And while chlorine is added to water systems to kill germs, this disinfection can also create a health threat – most notably, cancer. 

Yes, water filtration services will make your water smell and taste better by removing chemicals and compounds like chlorine and hydrogen sulfide. Though most models of water filtration services are quite effective in this, none of them can remove everything. 

Some are better at removing the bad-tasting contaminants and others are better at removing lead. It is important to have your water tested to see what it contains that is affecting the smell and taste before investing in any water filtration services. 

How do whole house water filtration systems work?

Whole house water filtration services are a point of entry system. They are installed where water enters your home at the main water line. At that point, they filter all the water that comes into your home. There are five main types of whole house water filtration services: 

• Water softeners: If your problem is hard water, this is the system you need to remove the high concentration of dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium.
• Ultraviolet purification systems: This is the system to choose if your concerns are bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, and other living organisms, common for those on well water. This is the best filter. 
• Sediment filters: These systems trap and remove a multitude of contaminants like clay, dirt, rust, and sand, common problems in homes with older pipes. 
• Carbon filters: Chlorine from water added to municipal water supplies for killing bacteria is removed with these systems. 
• Acid neutralizers: It should be noted that pH7 is the ideal level for healthy water. Acidic water has a lower level of pH ,which can damage appliances and pipes causing corrosion, green-blue stains, and leaks.

Are whole house water filtration systems worth it?

Yes, if you choose the proper filter for your home’s needs. Each of these water filtration services address different contaminants or issues. It is important to know what issues or problems you’re having in order to get the right filter system. 

Are water filtration systems easy to install?

An under-the-sink water filtration services system is the easiest to install. However, with help from the internet with videos, whole house water filtration services can be installed as well. So how are water filtration systems installed? A DIYer that has some basic plumbing experience should be able to install their own whole house water filtration services. The following are the basic steps: 

• Choose the Location

Whole house water filter systems will often have two filters: a sediment pre-filter and a filter unit. Choose a location that will be easily accessible for maintenance such as changing the filters. You need to choose a place that is close to the main water shut-off valve, keeping in mind that it will need to be installed in-line with the current plumbing in a horizontal run after the main shut-off valve and before it branches to other parts of your home. 

• Remove a Section of the Pipe

With the water turned off completely, mark a section of pipe you’ll remove for the water filtration services. 

• Install the Tees and By-Pass Shut-off 

Install shut-off valves to isolate the filtration unit and a by-pass valve that allows the water system to be used while changing the filters.

• Add Two Shut-Off Valves

Add a ball-valve to either side of the pipe with necessary fittings that connect to the filter unit with all parts dry-fit first. 5

• Solder all Connections

Clean and deburr all copper lines with emery cloth and then debur. Clean the inside of the fittings then apply flux to the inside of each fittings and the copper piping. 

• Add a Grounding Jumper Cable 

If you have copper pipes, this step is necessary. 

Do plumbers install water filtration systems?

Yes, and it is the recommended way to have whole house water filtration services installed! A licensed and experienced plumber will have all the experience and tools needed to do the job right and if anything goes wrong, they are there and ready! 

What water filtration system is best?

Reviews have shown that the best overall water filtration services are offered by the APEC ROES-50 Reverse Osmosis System. This system removes typical lead and other heavy metals along with bacteria and chlorine, up to 1,000 different unwanted contaminants using a five-stage filtering process. 

Just look at the amount of water these important components in the human body contains: 

• Brain and Heart: 73% water
• Skin: 64% water
• Lungs: 83% water
• Kidneys and Muscles: 79% water
• Bone: 31% water

The water that comes into our homes comes from a water treatment facility.  More often than we may realize, the water coming into our homes doesn’t smell or taste good. So we resort to bottled water, either home delivery service or by the case from our local stores. 

While that water goes through the treatment facility to clean and purify it, making it safe to consume by removing harmful contaminants, unfortunately, not everything is removed. Along the way from the water treatment facilities to our homes, the water can pick up other contaminants. These are the reasons why having drinking water treatment in our homes is becoming more popular. 

When we consider the body absorbs the bacteria and pathogens that can make their way into the water,  is a safety measure for your family’s health and wellbeing. Even if the area where you live has water that is 100% approved safe for consumption, it doesn’t always have a pleasant taste. In fact, most of us would say water shouldn’t have any taste in its purified and treated condition.

So, more homeowners are leaning toward having a drinking water treatment setup or system in the homes. What are the benefits and purpose of this? Here are four sound reasons to be considered: 

• Clean Water, Healthy Body – Over 2,000 toxins are removed at the public water treatment facilities. A drinking water treatment system in your home can filter out the contaminants that the facilities missed or that were collected on the way to your home. Toxins like excessive chlorine, lead, microorganisms, and others are known to have harmful effects. 
• Cost-Effective, Money Saver – On a daily average, over 170 gallons of water are used each day by Americans. This includes bathing, cleaning, cooking, toilet flushes, and drinking water.  Bottled water cost over $1.00 per gallon and filtered water from a home drinking water treatment setup or system is approximately twenty cents per gallon. 
• Better-Tasting Water = Better-Tasting Food – Filtered water tastes better than tap water to most people, especially those that like to cook.  Yes, water can affect how your food tastes, so better-tasting water leads to better tasting food. 
• Less Plastic Waste – Out of the approximate 50 billion water bottles that are disposed of by Americans every year, less than 40 billion are recycled. That is approximately $1 billion of plastic in the landfills or 17 million barrels of crude oil.

Is water leaving a treatment plant safe enough to drink?

The sources of our drinking water are subjected to various types of contamination. That is why the federal government has directed local municipalities to test and regulate local water sources to make the water safe for consumption.  With new drinking water treatment technologies utilized by the federal government and local drinking water treatment facilities, yes, the water from a treatment plant is safe to consume. 

How does water treatment make water safe for drinking? 

What are the steps of drinking water treatment? There are different methods utilized to make sure the public drinking water is safe.  Common steps in drinking water treatment used in community water systems include:

• Coagulation & Flocculation – Often, coagulation and flocculation are the first steps taken in the water treatment process. This includes adding chemicals to the water that have a positive charge that neutralizes any negative charge from dirt and other particles dissolved in the water. It does this by binding the particles to the chemicals, forming larger particles.
• Sedimentation – The “floc” created by the above step settles to the bottom of the tank holding the water, aka, sedimentation.
• Filtration – With floc settled to the bottom, the clear water on top passes through filters composed of charcoal, gravel, and sand in various pore sizes. This removes any dissolved particles like bacteria, chemicals, dust, parasites, and viruses.
• Disinfection – After these three steps, chlorine or another type of disinfectant is typically added to kill any remaining bacterial, parasites, and viruses. It also provides protection from germs that can be collected as the water makes it way into our homes. 

What is the best method used to treat drinking water?

If you have concerns that your water is contaminated and bottled water isn’t available, there are several methods to purify water. Each of those methods has merits and demerits, and filtering is good for removing chlorine and sediment.  However, the best drinking water treatment is reverse osmosis.

What are the different types of drinking water treatment?

When you need to make sure your drinking water is safe and reverse osmosis is not possible, there are four drinking water treatment systems for the home that will result in safe drinking water: 

• Boiling: Cheap and safe in removing germs, parasites, and other things that can make your drinking water unsafe. Boil the water, cover, and let it cool before consuming. 

• Filtration: An effective way to purify the water when the right multimedia filter is used. By way of chemicals and physical processes, water is purified, making it safe for consumption. Filtering water will eliminate large compounds and the small contaminants that are dangerous with possible causes of diseases. Filtration is considered to be the next best thing to reverse osmosis.

• Distillation: This water purification method utilizes heat and collects pure water from vapors. This method removes bacteria, germs, arsenic, mercury, and salts effectively. 

• Chlorination:  This is a powerful chemical, used for years in treating water in homes. It effectively purifies water by removing germs, parasites, and disease-causing organisms that are often found in ground water or tap water. 

What is water treatment with ozone? 

Ozone water treatment reduces the number of contaminants through oxidative strength, meaning it accepts the electrons of those contaminants. For instance, when iron becomes oxidized, it rusts. Water treatment with ozone creates an ozone generator, begins oxidizing the contaminants of that rust, and eliminates it from the water. 

Why is water treatment needed?

The importance of water treatment is a matter of life and death when consumed and used by humans. Water treatment is needed to bring the water quality up to minimum criteria to remove the five contaminants considered most harmful: 

• Bacteria
• Chemicals
• Minerals
• Particulates
• Pharmaceuticals

This is done with various water treatment methods and through the use of technology, such as water treatment with ozone. 

What is water treatment technology?

One or a combination of the following water treatment technologies is used today in removing these harmful substances and making water safe for human consumption: 

• Sedimentation: This water treatment technology allows suspended material like clay, silt, and other particles to coagulate and decrease the pace of water so these materials are no longer found in the water. 

• Filtration: This water treatment technology separates fluid, gases, and liquids from solids with a medium that only allows fluid to pass. This removes any undesirable constituents by absorbing them with a film that has grown in or on the medium. 

• Chemical: Chlorination and flocculation processes are used with electromagnetic radiation and UV lights for getting rid of contaminants.

• Oxidation: This water treatment process removes organic contamination through biological processes. A range of reactive oxygen species make this happen through the use of electrical power, UV radiation, or solar light. This is the most expensive of all methods and technologies. 

Is ozone treatment safe?

For more than a century, ozone has been used and intensely studied. The results have been consistent, safe, and proven effective. Side effects have been minimal and have been found to be preventable. Ozone treatment is used in the medical industry for disinfection as well as treating diseases. 

When professionals know how to treat water with ozone, then yes, water treatment with ozone for home use is safe and beneficial, especially for anyone on a well system. It kills unwanted bacteria and eliminates odors while manganese and iron are oxidized. 

On the other side of water treatment with ozone, it is corrosive; therefore, it is advisable to have a corrosion-proof tank if you use water treatment with ozone. In a home with galvanized pipes, copper pipes, and pups, the ozone can corrode the elements. 

Does ozone treatment really work?

Yes – research has shown that water treatment with Ozone controls odor and, in some cases, can eliminate odor as well as color and bad taste. It does this by oxidizing iron and manganese into solid particles before filtering these elements out of the water. In fact, research found that water treatment with ozone was more successful than water treated with chlorine or ultra-violet disinfection for eliminating Cryptosporidium parvum Giardia lamblia. 

In Closing

Internal water treatment is the process of ridding water of the impurities found within a boiler system. Any consequences occur within the feed lines or in the boiler proper. Internal water treatment can be used by itself or jointly with external water treatment. 

While we should have confidence and trust in the county, city, or state officials in charge of our drinking water, it can be wise to take steps to further treat water before it comes into our homes. While water treatment with ozone is expensive, and often beyond the normal household budget, the water treatment industry is researching ways for this process to become less expensive and still be effective. Until then, water treatment with chlorination is still the most affordable and desirable water treatment method we have available today. 

More than ever before, treating our drinking water is important to the health of our families. It is wise to remember that contaminants in untreated water are not visible to the naked eye. Those contaminants can include: 

• Animal Waste
• Bacteria
• Fertilizers
• Heavy Metals
• Human Waste
• Parasite
• Pesticides
• Viruses

Human consumption of these contaminants in water can cause problems like cramps, diarrhea, pneumonia, and vomiting. Because these symptoms can also occur during the course of basic illnesses such as the flu or food poisoning, it is often difficult to isolate the problem to one’s water. It can take several rounds of illness by one or more household members before a medical professional can isolate a problem to one’s water. For more information, including learning about water treatment with ozone in Aledo and Fort Worth, TX, contact the Elder's Pure Water team by calling 817-901-7775 today. 

Main nutrient sources of these nutrients is from agricultural runoff, domestic sewage, industrial effluents, and burning fossil fuel atmospheric effect. In particularly susceptible are lakes and reservoirs to negative impacts from eutrophication and its complex dynamics. 

The importance of having water that is clean and readily available is for the public’s health. This is water that is to be used for domestic use,  drinking, food production and recreational purposes. 

When contaminated water is allowed to get into the main water system, from poor sanitation or other reasons listed in this article, it has been proven likelihood of disease are transported like:  

• Cholera
• Diarrhea
• Dysentery
• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid 
• Polio

This happens when there is an absence, inadequate, an inappropriate water management. 

What factors determine water quality?

To determine water quality, scientists measure the following properties, with each uncovering something distinct about the water body’s heath:  

• Temperature
• Acidity (pH)
• Dissolved solids
• Particulate matter
• Dissolved oxygen
• Hardness and suspended sediment

Samples are taken from the water that close point by measuring for acidity, color, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. These testing measures allow a water utility operator the water sources condition with a basic and general interpretation of the source’s conditions.

The samples are taken from Biota, or bottom sediment, and suspended materials. The samples are then taken to a laboratory  for chemical, microbiological, and physical analyses. Here, the concentrations of any metals, nutrients, pesticides, along with other substances.

Water quality is can also be done with biological testing that will determine if the sediment, or the water, is toxic. This type of testing can be done at the lake or stream where the water is pulled from or in a laboratory. 

Water quality is typically determined by testing for bacteria, germs, and other factors that can make water dangerous for animal and human consumption. We don’t realize the amount of and the type of substances that are in the air that affect rainfall which replenishes our water sources. 

Dust, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, other natural and volcanic gases, sulfur dioxide, toxic chemicals, and lead dissolve or become entrapped in rain. As that rain makes its way to the ground surface, the runoff then flows over the rocks, through the soil, dissolving other substances, and it all flows or seeps into the water. 

There are substances that farming, industrial, landscaping, and mining use that is left on the ground, washed over with the rain and into our water sources. Not all that is washed into our water sources are manmade though. There are large amounts soluble substances naturally too. 

Substances like limestone that has a high concentrations of calcium carbonate and other rock with high levels of ore bodies and other metals are seeping and washing into our water sources. 

It is because of these factors that the importance of water quality and treatment for public consumption can be recognized as an important thing in human survival. Unfortunately, there are many parts of the world that do not have the testing and purification processes. Even here in the United States, there are pockets where the testing is compromised for industrial gain. 

Even after the official testing as required by the EPA is completed, the water will still have contaminants collected between the testing and purification to the faucets in our homes. It is because of that small degree of uncertainty, water filtration for the home is recommended for improved water quality. Call 817-901-7775 today for your water quality testing needs in Aledo and Fort Worth, TX. 

Absorption is the key to how carbon filtration systems work. The carbon is like a sponge and absorbs the particles that make water taste funny and have an unpleasant odor. As the organic compounds stick to a carbon filter’s large and porous surface, the contaminants attract like contaminants. 

We can consider carbon filters a parking lot for contaminants, yet the clean water flows through pores that are smaller than microns. Because of these tiny microns in a carbon filtration system the flow rate is slow, giving the water more time to park the contaminants, letting through only cleaner water. 

Do carbon filters remove bacteria?

No.  A carbon filtration system only removes naturally occurring odor and tastes from water. For bacteria and chemicals to be removed, you would need a distiller system or a reverse osmosis system. 

The easiest way for bacteria to be removed from water, while disinfecting it is using chlorination or ultraviolet radiation. Because biocides are removed by some water filtering system, bacteria often reappears and keeps growing. Filtered water must stored in a cook, dark place in a sterile container to keep this from occurring. 

The filter pads in some water filters permit bacteria to proliferate in large amounts if regular maintenance isn’t practiced. This means that in many domestic household water filter systems, or ultraviolet treatment systems isn’t making water safer when it comes to amoeba. 

Will charcoal filters remove viruses?

A carbon filtration system with a charcoal filter can remove contaminants that cause bad odors and tastes from your everyday tap water. The carbon in these filtration system reduces 100s of contaminants and chemicals, like: 

• The by-products of chlorine and all 32 organic contaminants 
• Nitrates, pesticides, glyphosate, and all 14 listed 
• the 12 of the most common herbicides. 
•  

Other specific chemicals and contaminants a carbon filtration system with a charcoal filter removes are: 

• Chlorine 
• Chlorine bi-products
• Chloride (Cl-)
• Pesticides
• Herbicides
• Nitrate (NO32-)
• PFOS
• Phosphate (PO43-)
• Lithium (Li+)
• Pharmaceuticals
• Microplastics

How long does a carbon water filter last?

Activated carbon filtration system will keep effectively removing chlorine odor and taste, making your water safer to consume, for up to six months. Between 4 and 6 months, the filter should be changed so that some contaminants that were adsorbed, and other contaminants can’t be released into your water. 

Can I wash my carbon filter?

Charcoal carbon filtration systems absorb chemicals, debris, and particles that make water smell and taste bad. A charcoal filter isn’t meant to be use for long terms and  should be replaced not washed and reused. After the pores of the filter have absorbed these pollutants, the air and water flow is blocked. There is not cleaning that will unblock them 100%. 

If you’re concerned with the quality of the water in your home, do a Google search for “professional installation of carbon filter near me”.  The professionals of water filtration will test your water and determine what you need the most for the best results. Having clean, healthy, safe drinking water is important to the well-being of your family and shouldn’t be overlooked, depending on the powers that be to supply that water. Call 817-901-7775 today for carbon filtration and water purification in Aledo and Fort Worth, TX.

Following we have several questions about well water, water well and treatment, mostly about safety concerns. At the end of this article, there should be a better understanding of well water and how important well water treatment is for everyday use. 

Is it safe to drink well water?

When your home has a private water well, treatment of the water for quality and safety are your responsibility. No matter what type of well water treatment you have, it will smell and taste different than water that cities provide their residents because of how it is processed and treated. 

Bathing, cleaning, and laundry can be affected differently when using well water versus city water. Being on well water isn’t as rare as many of us thing. There are over fifteen million homes in the United States on well water, treatment is done to keep make it safe for consumption and use. 

What are the benefits of well water?

Water wells are created by drilling a deep hole in the ground so that a pump can access an underground aquifer and send that water to your house. Once that water reaches your home you can expect two major benefits from well water: 

• No Water Bill: Because you are pulling the water your home is using from the ground through a private well, the only monthly bill you’ll see is the electric bill for the pump’s power. 
• Fresher Water: Well water comes through an underground aquifer, making it cleaner than the water that comes from run-offs or surface water. It has more healthy minerals and nutrients that are good for adults and children, and the mineral content makes the water taste better. 
• Protection: Well water is protected from most contamination possibilities  during natural disasters like floods. Or when the city’s water supply is disrupted, a water well is immune to those issues. 

There are some concerns about well water, well justified, but with regularly testing and proper well water treatment, those concerns are eliminated. Because it is private well water, treatment for things like bacteria, chemicals, heavy metals, and parasites needs to be performed on a strict routine. With that routine in place, and the addition of a whole house water filter, your well water will be just a healthy as city water, but fresher! 

Can you drink boiled well water?

While the water supply here in the United States is one of the safest in the world, various sources where water is pulled from can become contaminated. Arsenic along with other chemicals and minerals can make our water unsafe, especially well water. Treatment of city water versus well water is different, and with well water being the responsibility of the home and property owner, may not be treated as recommended. 

Because we cannot see those harmful bacteria, contaminates, and parasites with our eyes, we can’t see if the water is unsafe.  If you are unsure about whether well water treatment has been done or not, it is wise to take precautions. Boiling well water, even tap water, is a sure method to kill any possible disease-causing bacteria, parasites, viruses, or other organisms.

Can your well water make you sick?

Absolutely! However, tap water can make you sick too if treatment has been jeopardized. There is  well water treatment for bacteria and other contaminates like E-coli and other microorganisms that are known to cause disease and illness.  If you or anyone in your household is feeling any of the following symptoms, contact a water well company to test your water: 

• flu-like symptoms  
• fever 
• abdominal pain like cramps
• diarrhea and/or nausea 
• fatigue and loss of energy 

Sadly, these can be symptoms to many things, but with medical attention to check the symptoms, it can be narrowed down. Regardless of what the result of medical testing show, it is recommended to have your well water treatment reviewed and the water itself tested by a professional to assure there is nothing in the well water contributing to these issues. 

What is the best carbon water filter?

The following is a list of carbon water filtration, each being classified as best in a certain class and based on independent research by individuals.  Each family and individual may have different views of these suggested models and may find some that are not on this list to be the “best”. 

• Overall Best:  APEC Water Systems ROES-50, removes up to 1,000 contaminants.  
• Best Attachment to Faucet:  PUR Faucet Water Filtration System is easy to mount with no tools required and removes several contaminants. 
• Best Whole-House:  Aquasana Whole House Water Filter System gives your fresh water from every faucet, including the shower and tub. 
• Best Small Size Pitcher:  ZeroWater 6-Cup Water Filter Pitcher holds six cups and fits in the frig without taking up a lot of space. 
• Best Large Size Pitcher:  Brita 12-Cup Stream Filter Pitcher filters while you’re pouring so you don’t have to wait for it to give you clear water that tastes good. 
• Best Portable:  LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle has a silicone that is comfortable on the mount and the bottle is leakproof.

It is recommended and worthwhile to take the time to research these units more in depth along with others you may find. Ask questions and use the internet as a source of information.

Does carbon kill beneficial bacteria?

No, the activate carbon filter in a carbon water filtration will trap good bacteria, but not kill it. GAC (granular activated carbon) will absorb chemicals, organic and inorganic, to purify water. This process will improve the odor and taste.  by adsorbing organic and inorganic chemicals, making the odor and taste better. Nonpathogenic bacteria readily colonizes GAC and GAC has proven to be better after it has removed chemical disinfection.

Do charcoal sticks really filter water?

Charcoal sticks do more than that!  The benefits to your health are almost endless when it comes to Activated Charcoal, and the bottled water industry has picked up on that too. Today, bottled water infused with activate charcoal stick is the “hot” thing in well-being industry. 

Using charcoal for health and wellbeing isn’t new though. Since the 17^th century, the Japanese have been using it. They discovered it is effective in removing impurities, as good as chlorine does. The technical term for activated charcoal sticks, binchotan charcoal, including the charcoal in your carbon water filtration system.  This porous surface attracts contaminant in tap water, holding them in the carbon surface. 

Cities and states are required by law to treat the water that goes into businesses and residents homes. That treatment has to meet certain criteria and cities are required to test their water on a regular basis and submit the report to the state. 

However, if the water doesn’t meet your personal liking or standards, it may still smell or taste funny, you should invest a quality carbon filtration in water treatment process for your home. This is especially recommended for homes with small children as the contaminants safe for adults are not for children. Need water filtration for your home in Aledo and Fort Worth, TX? Call 817-901-7775 today.

How long do water storage tanks last?

Are you setting up a water tank storage for that garden you started for those times  when there isn’t any rain? Or is this water storage tank for emergency human and animal consumption in case your current water source is cut off? These are things that can decide what type of water tank you need and then how long it will last is the next concern. 

Annual maintenance is needed for any type of water storage tank and pump to keep it in proper condition and the water safe. If your water storage tank has a rubber bladder and pump inside, the air pressure has to be correct or the pump will short cycle, meaning it will repeatedly start and stop, then burn out. 

Additionally, when the inside air pressure is inadequate, the water tank bladder will be stretched in directions and manners that it isn’t designed to stretch, causing it to tear. Once the bladder is torn, the water storage tank isn’t any good. 

It is those two reasons why a regular routine of maintaining your water storage tank is so important. With proper maintenance, a water storage tank will last twenty years or more. How and what maintenance does water tank storage need, and how often should water storage tanks be cleaned?

Your water storage tank should be considered an important investment, this means taking care of the unit so that you have healthy, safe, potable water if and when the time comes that you need to use the contents. To ensure that the water inside your water tank storage is safe, care, inspection, and maintenance are essential. By following these four steps, you can be sure that the water inside your water storage tank is ready to use: 

A Maintenance Plan: Before purchasing your water storage tank, you need to review the different features and options available and choose the one that is right for your needs. These are things that will determine what type of maintenance is required to keep the tank clean. For example, if you choose a plastic water storage tank, it needs to be kept out of direct sun.  Sunlight promotes algae growth which can be detrimental to animals and humans. A plastic water storage tank should be made of complete block out color to eliminate penetration of the sun.

Filter the Water: The water needs to be filtered before going into the water storage tank, especially where rainwater collection is concerned. A diverter is recommended as well for water that passes through downspouts as rainwater washes off contaminants and dirt from the roof. A water tank storage should include a screen that filters debris like leaves, sticks, etc. and keep the screen clean and clear so the opening doesn’t become clogged from the debris it collects. 

Routine Regular Maintenance: Proper routine maintenance will ensure the water inside the water storage tank is safe from contamination. Some items included in this routine maintenance are: 

• Make sure water storage tank is always covered with a tight fit that keeps animals, debris, insects, organic waste, and sunlight out. 
• Clean and remove debris regularly, checking for any damage and make repairs or replacement of all the screens.
• Keep the gutters and roof clean, keep tree branches trimmed back from the roof to keep animals off. 
• Clean and remove any sediment and sludge on the water storage tank bottom once a year. 
• Test the water inside the water storage tank tested for purity. You can hire a professional to perform the test or purchase a DIY test kit.

Clean and Disinfect:  Your water storage tank should be cleaned and disinfected thoroughly annually. The size of the tank and how accessible will determine the process and steps to do this, but the process will typically include using  water storage tank cleaner that you can purchase or create your own with a bleach and water mixture. This will kill any bacteria and remove any debris.

Two times a year, it is recommended to sanitized sanitize the water so that contamination is inhibited. This can be done by pouring one of water bleach mixed with water for every 500 gallons of stored water into the fill pipe. This regular maintenance routine and schedule will properly protect  your water storage tank, minimizing any contamination chances so that you have a safe water for your family’s usage. 

How do you kill bacteria in a water tank?

The basics to disinfect and shock chlorinate the contents of a water storage tanks is a mixture of one gallon of non-scented NSF-approved household bleach of 5.25% chlorine in the reservoir for every one-thousand gallons of water. On a smaller scale of water storage the mixture would be one quart of bleach to 250 gallons of water.

How do you treat a water storage tank?

For every five hundred gallons of water in the water storage tank, add one to one-and-half ounces of non-detergent chlorine bleach of a 5.25 concentration to a clean quart container half filled with water directly into the water storage tank.

Next, clean the inside of the tank with a power washer to make sure all the detergent is gone then fill with hot water and let the tank sit for 6 to 8 hours. Drain the water with a portable pump so any dirt and rinse water is removed. Need a water storage tank in Aledo and Fort Worth, TX? Call 817-901-7775 today!