Hard Water, Soft Water, Brown Water, Black Water, Smelly Water, Bacteria Water, Chlorine Water, Fluoride Water - Which is yours?
Hard Water Of the three, Hard Water is the most common. Years ago when we carried a bucket of water from the well we remember it’s fresh taste. The romantic notion of how good the water tasted is no illusion, because the water in the well was generally hard and that is the best tasting water you can get. Unknown to us, there were factors that contributed to that memory. In the past, wells were shallow open wells which allowed the water to breathe. Today, wells are mostly hundreds of feet deep. Water from these wells have come in contact with various natural minerals and gases leaving strange tasting water. Water from these wells can have a particularly high mineral content, the most common being Calcium and Magnesium (Hard Water).
In today’s high tech house with electric showers, washing machines, dish washers and complex heating systems, hard water will cause havoc. We can choose to continuously repair and replace such equipment and appliances (or have the water softened). It is important to note also that clothes are off-white and dull as detergent does not dissolve fully, therefore more is used. The same applies to shampoo, conditioner etc. Also, water containing these minerals can cause skin complaints for some people.
Water Softeners are an investment for life. They are not cheap, but where needed are a wonderful and rewarding investment. It is important to note that Water Softeners should not be confused with scale inhibitors as these cannot soften water or remove hardness. For clarification, please contact Waterteck 2000.
Iron This problem is associated with wells. Iron is one of the minerals which is common in the earth’s crust. Therefore when we drill a well in certain areas, we find that the water we take from the well contains various levels and types of Iron.
Some of those people with Iron problems may find that the water is clear at the kitchen sink, while at the bathroom the water turns brown. This indicates Iron in solution - dissolved Iron.
Unlike hard water, Iron comes in varied and different forms and requires specialist treatment as the type of treatment system must be determined by site and Laboratory analysis.
Bacteria As we become more civilised and hygienic, we require more water and at the same time we dispose of more rubbish. The result is that the quality of our water suffers, as it collects at the lowest point to settle with everything else, resulting in contaminated water. There are various systems to deal with Bacteria - most common are U.V. (Ultra Violet) and low micron filtration. Of the two, Ultra Violet is widely used, but is least effective, as it does not kill Bacteria - it simply sterilises the reproductive organs and does not allow them to reproduce. For more clarification, please ring Waterteck 2000.
Manganese This is also a natural mineral from the earth’s crust. It causes black stains when present in high levels. Manganese, unlike Iron or Lime is absorbed by our bodies and is not recommended, as high levels may adversely affect brain function. Please note that this is different to Magnesium which is part of Water Hardness.
Hydrogen Sulphide (Cold boiled egg smell - comes in form of gas). This is associated with deep wells and while small amounts can be tolerated by humans, too much is harmful. There are a number of filtration systems to overcome this problem. Please contact Waterteck 2000 for details.
Chlorine The next two problems are man made ones - Chlorine (sodium hypochlorite). This is used to control Bacteria in mains water supply. It is responsible for the horrible taste we have in tea, coffee and drinking water. The Water Authorities have no option but to use Chlorine to keep bacteria levels down. Of the various chemicals available, Chlorine is the most practical. However, it has been suggested that the prolonged use of Chlorine is now reputed to cause stomach cancer. Also a bacteria called Crypto Spyridium is not killed by chlorination but can actually breed in high levels. Chlorine, when added to water which contains organic compounds, e.g. lake or mountain water, causes a reaction known as THM (triahalomethanes). This is not recommended as it may have carcinogenic effects.
Fluoride This is added to our mains water supply to protect our teeth and improve our bone structure. But it is now suspected that long term usage causes damage to bone structure in later life. There are various systems to deal with these chemicals and you can contact Waterteck 2000 for clarification.
his is a place holder for the real FAQ page.