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Alphabetical List of Common Water Problems:
Home water supplies often contain dissolved minerals, gasses, bad smells, and unsightly appearances that are objectionable to the homeowner. Usually these problems can be easily corrected by the use of water treatment equipment. Common water problems, their causes and corrective treatments are presented here.
Frequently there can be several methods of correcting a given problem. The selection of the type of equipment and treatment depends on the severity of the problem, the amount of attention the homeowner desires to give the equipment, the cost of the equipment, and the amount of water available to assure proper equipment performance.
It is a very good idea to never under any circumstances select or install equipment on a private water supply without first obtaining a water analysis.
GLOSSARY OF COMMON TERMS USED IN WATER TREATMENT
Grains per Gallon (GPG) - A means of expressing the amount of dissolved minerals in water. One grain per gallon equals 17.1 parts per million (ppm).
Parts Per Million - a common term used in water analysis. One part per million (ppm) equals one pound per million pounds of water. Parts per million may be converted to grains per gallon by dividing by 17.1. One part per million is equal to one milligram per liter.
Compensated Hardness - Always used for determining water softener capacity. It takes into account the amount of iron present in the water as well as hardness content. To determine compensated hardness, add three times the iron content in ppm to the actual hardness.
Example: Actual hardness = 45 grains per gallon, Iron content = 3 ppm (parts per million, same as mg/L, or milligrams per Liter). Three times the iron content (3x3)=9 plus the actual hardness - 45 equals a compensated hardness of 54 grains per gallon.
Ion - Electrically charged ions form when any mineral is dissolved in water. (e.g. when common salt (NaCl) is dissolved in water it forms positively charged ions (NA+) and negatively charged ions (CL-). The positively charged ions are called cations and the negatively charged ions are anions.)
pH - This term is used to express the acidic or basic strength of water. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is neutral indicating a balance between acidic and basic elements. Values below 7 indicate increasing acid strength as the pH approaches 0. Values above 7 indicate increasing basic strength as the pH approaches 14.
COMMON WATER PROBLEMS AND THEIR CORRECTIONS
MUSTY, MOLDY, OR WOODY SMELL - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: N/A
Caused by decay of organic matter or non-harmful bacteria. Use a backwashable carbon filter to remove the taste, odor, as well as sediment. In sever cases chlorination of the well and piping system will be necessary.
A reverse osmosis system would serve well to clear up drinking water.
OIL OR GAS - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: Varied based on compound
Caused by natural elements in underground water or by leakage of oil or gasoline storage tanks. Activated carbon filters have been successful in many cases. However, because of the many constituents which might cause this type of taste and odor, results cannot be guaranteed.
If you have water that has absorbed petroleum products, please send a sample to us, we can have it analyzed and prescribe proper treatment.
ROTTEN EGG ODOR IN COLD WATER- EPA Maximum Contaminant level: N/A
Caused by hydrogen sulfide gas . This gas is very corrosive and will react with iron to form a black sludge of iron sulfide. Most sulfur waters contain from 1 to 5 ppm of hydrogen sulfide.
Use a chemical feed pump to feed chlorine (bleach) in to the line ahead of the pressure tank (3 ppm of chlorine is required for each ppm of hydrogen sulfide). Chlorine causes the formation of sulfur particles that can be filtered. Install an activated carbon filter following the pressure tank to remove the sulfur particles as well as any excess chlorine.
If it is your desire to have a non-maintenance, non-chemical solution, an aerator (up to 5 ppm of hydrogen sulfide) will solve your problem.
ROTTON EGG ODOR IN HOT WATER ONLY- EPA Maximum Contaminant level: N/A
Caused by sulfate reducing bacteria.
Since a magnesium anode in the water heater creates a condition favoring their growth, remove the magnesium anode. Drain and flush the water heater and chlorinate the water heater. Install a polyphosphate feeder on the cold water inlet to the water heater for corrosion protection.
SALTY OR BRACKISH TASTE - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 250 mg/L
Caused by high chloride or sulfate content. When the total of chlorides and sulfates exceeds 65 grains per gallon, the disagreeable taste will be noticed by almost all people.
Filtering by Reverse Osmosis is the best way to solve this problem.
CARBON DIOXIDE OR CARBONIC ACID - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: N/A
Rain water as it is falling through the sky absorbs Carbon Dioxide to make Carbonic Acid. This acid when it comes into contact with limestone absorbs the calcium from the limestone and this chemical reaction is where hard water comes from. At times, the carbonic acid can't dissolve any substance in the ground, remains acidic, and waits until it gets into a homeowner's house before it begins to dissolve metal pipes and appliances. In certain parts of the country where this problem is prevalent, it is serious.
The solutions are several, but probably the most effective is feeding a solution of soda ash sodium carbonate (NA2CO3). The carbonic acid and the sodium corbonate react directly to form sodium bicarbonate. This method of treatment offers the advantage of not adding hardness to the water.
If Carbon Dioxide is acute, installing an aerator may be all that is necessary to raise the pH.
For less maintenance solutions, passing the water through a calcite feeder effectively neutralizes the carbonic acid and leaves the water slightly hard.
METHANE - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: N/A
Wells that contain methane are generally located in areas where gas and oil wells are common sights.
When water contains methane gas it is important to aerate it prior to use for either industrial or household purposes.
PHENOL - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: N/A
An industrial waste. In concentrations as low as 1 part per billion, this can cause an objectionable taste in chlorinated water due to the formation of chlorophenols.
This may be removed by a backwashable carbon filter.
LEAD - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 0.015 mg/L
At one time it was not generally known that Lead could be poisonous. Unfortunately, this was a time when many of our cities were beginning to provide underground plumbing to many neighborhoods. Lead was used as a soldering agent to fix pipes together. Lead can be extremely dangerous to small children and should be a priority to eliminate.
Certain carbon filters are good lead deterrents as well as a mixed bed de-ionizer.
TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 500 mg/L
Pure water is a good conductor of electricity, true or false? The answer might suprise you. Pure water is a very poor conductor of electricity, in fact, it is highly resistant to electrical impulses. Its the other stuff in the water that make it a good conductor of electricity, and the more stuff, the better conductor of electricity water is. The primary inorganic ions that make up TDS is Calcium Ca++, Magnesium Mg++, Sodium Na+, Iron Fe++, Manganese Mn++, Bicarbonate HCO3-, Chloride Cl-, Sulfate SO4--, Nitrate NO3-, Carbonate CO3--.
Reverse Osmosis is the best way to eliminate these wide varieties of total dissolved solids.
Algae, Diatoms, Fungus, Molds, Bacteria, Viruses, 30 micron worms, Protozoa, Nematodes, need we say more, nasty stuff.
Disinfection methods include distillation, Reverse Osmosis, UV Light, Chemical disinfectants.
CHLORIDE - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 250 mg/L
A natural forming mineral in seawater and sedimentary rock. The main problems with chlorides have to do with taste, corrosion to pipes, and chlorides is well known for being toxic to plants.
The best way to get rid of chlorides is through Reverse Osmosis.
FOAMING AGENTS - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 0.5 mg/L
Detergents, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides. At small levels, mainly has a negative aesthetic effect.
MANGANESE - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 0.05 mg/L
Naturally occurring metamorphic and sedimentary rocks, industrial contaminant. Taste is affected. Staining, scaling, and discoloration of water.
pH - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: <6.5, >8.5
Carbonates, bicarbonates, carbon dioxide, industrial contaminants. If highly acidic (less than 6.5) it causes corrosion to pipes. If highly basic (greater than 8.5) it causes staining.
Calcite Feeder for low pH, Dealkalyzer for high pH.
SILVER - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 0.1 mg/L
Natural mineral deposits, battery manufacturing, plating, medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Causes Argyria - discoloration of skin.
SULFATE - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 250 mg/L
Naturally occurring, gypsum, mine and industrial wastes. Gives off bad taste and has laxative effects.
ZINC - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 5 mg/L
Corrosion of plumbing materials, industrial contamination. Gives off a foul taste.
TURBIDITY - EPA Maximum Contaminant level: 0.5 - 1.0 NTU
Turbidity is caused by erosion runoff and discharges. It mainly has to do with measuring the light shining through a container holding water in question. The less the light, the more the turbidity, the more the light, the less the turbidity. Primarily, turbidity inteferes with UV light or Chlorine disinfection. For this reason it needs to be removed.
Turbidity can be removed by filtration.
COPPER EPA Maximum Contaminant Level: 1.3 mg/L
Caused by corrosion of interior household and building pipes. Causes stomach and intestinal distress. Wilson's disease.
