Solutions To REGIONAL WATER QUALITY ISSUES

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Below is a break down of common regional water problems with descriptions of symptoms and solutions for each. The initial step in determining a course of action is getting a water test. An analysis of this information will identify the contaminants present and at what levels they exist. While there are sometimes more than one approach to solving a water quality issue, a water treatment professional will determine which is best for your specific situation.

Are you experiencing any of these problems below? Click to jump down to that section to read about potential causes and solutions.

Staining in your sink, tub, appliances, dishes, or laundry

If you’re experiencing staining in sinks, tubs or showers, it’s most likely due to iron or manganese:

Iron

Iron is a naturally occurring mineral that can be present in your water in 2 forms: dissolved (invisible) or suspended as particulates (visible).

sink and faucet with rust stains from iron oxidation

Symptoms

  • Orange or brown staining in sinks, tubs, faucets, appliances, or laundry
  • Metallic taste
  • Low water pressure

Water Quality Issues

  • Excessive iron can cause plumbing issues and clogging
  • Not harmful in low quantities, but iron may carry bacteria that can be harmful
  • Shortened lifespan of water appliances

Solutions

  • Water softener
  • Oxidation & filtration

Manganese

Manganese is another naturally occurring mineral that’s harmless at low levels, although it’s potentially toxic at very high levels.

Symptoms

  • Water has brown coloring or unpleasant odor or taste
  • Brownish-black staining on fixtures, laundry, or appliances

Water Quality Issues

  • Can be a health risk at high enough levels, particularly for children
  • Can cause scaling and other plumbing issues
  • Will react with chlorine bleach, which intensifies staining

Solutions

  • Water softener
  • Oxidation & filtration

Scaling & corrosion in your pipes, showers & other fixtures

Scaling is a buildup of calcium and magnesium minerals in your pipes. Left untreated, scale buildup can clog your pipes and hurt your water pressure. It can also shorten the lifespan of your hot water heater and other water-using appliances.

Hard Water

Effects of hard water on pipes
Effects of hard water on pipes

Symptoms

  • White scale buildup on pipes and fixtures
  • Difficult to make soap suds and clean

Water Quality Issues

  • Clogged pipes or low water pressure
  • Can significantly reduce lifespan of all water appliances
  • Rougher on your skin and hair

Solutions

  • Water softener

Low PH

Symptoms

  • Green or blue staining on sinks, tubs and fixtures due to dissolved copper from pipes
  • Pin-hole leaks in piping distribution system
  • Corrosion of water using appliances

Water Quality Issues

  • Low pH means your water is more acidic than it should be
  • Can leach lead and other metals in the plumbing system into your water
  • Shortened life for water appliances

Solutions

  • Acid neutralization
  • Corrosion inhibitor
  • Aeration
Low pH water

Saltwater Intrusion

How salt water intrusion happens

Symptoms

  • Salty tasting water
  • Heavy corrosion and salt buildup

Water Quality Issues

  • Usually occurs in wells dug near marshy or coastal areas
  • Highly corrosive, not drinkable and generally unusable
  • Can be purified into a high-quality water supply

Solutions

  • Whole-home reverse osmosis

Bad Odors & Taste or Color

Whether on a private well or city water supply, there are many potential causes of bad odors, tastes and off color. There are methods for dealing with any type of odor, taste or color issue. The most common of these are identified below.

Rotten Egg Odor (Hydrogen Sulfide)

Symptoms

  • Smells like rotten eggs
  • Silver tarnishes easily

Water Quality Issues

  • Usually caused by dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfide-reducing bacteria
  • Can be corrosive at high levels
  • If you’ve been in a house with this issue, you likely won’t forget it

Solutions

  • Ozonation (for higher levels)
  • Activated carbon filtration
  • Aeration

Fishy, Musty or Oily Taste or Odor

Symptoms

  • Odd taste or odor
  • Oily emulsions or “film” on water surface

Water Quality Issues

  • Usually caused by volatile organic compounds (think decaying fish or aquatic plant life)
  • Can be harmful in higher concentrations
  • Sometimes caused by algae buildup in the warmer months

Solutions

  • Reverse osmosis
  • Activated carbon
  • Ozonation

Turbid Water

Symptoms

  • Cloudy, discolored water
  • Faucet screens may clog frequently

Water Quality Issues

  • May contain harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites that attach to suspended particles in the water
  • Will also hamper disinfectant solutions mixed with turbid water (e.g., chlorine)

Solutions

  • Sediment filtration
  • Coagulation
  • Reverse osmosis
  • Activated carbon
What is water turbidity

Health threat contaminants

The most common health threat contaminants found in our region are shown below. Arsenic and radon are more likely to be found in private well water. Trihalomethanes are found in public surface water supplies, and PFAS chemicals have been found in both private and public supplies.

Arsenic

Arsenic Water Testing

Symptoms

  • Impossible to detect without certified lab test
  • Arsenic is toxic to humans and dangerous at high levels of exposure. Physical symptoms of exposure to high levels of arsenic include the following:
      • Stomach pain
      • Vomiting
      • Diarrhea
      • Impaired nerve function (pins & needles, numbness or burning)
      • Darkening skin and wart- or corn-like growths

Water Quality Issues

  • Usually originates from deep wells that tap into bedrock or groundwater containing arsenic
  • Can be a serious health threat at higher levels

Solutions

  • Aeration
  • Activated carbon can be used at low levels

Radon

Symptoms

  • Impossible to detect without certified lab test

Water Quality Issues

  • The greatest concern is radon gas releasing into your indoor air while showering, doing laundry or washing dishes.
  • Prolonged radon gas inhalation carries a very high risk of lung cancer. Radon is the #2 leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.

Solutions

  • Aeration
  • Activated carbon at low levels
  • A radon detector is also a good idea
Test for Radon in Water

PFAS (Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances)

Man-made chemicals now emerging with contaminants being found around the country.

Symptoms

  • Impossible to detect without certified lab test

Water Quality Issues

  • Negative effects on the immune system.
  • Reproductive and developmental disruption
  • Potential carcinogen

Solutions

  • PFAS removal resin
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Activated Carbon

Trihalomethanes (THMs) & Haloacetic Acid

By-products of chlorination mixing with organic material (typically surface water supplies)

Symptoms

  • Impossible to detect without certified lab test

Water Quality Issues

  • Negative effects on the liver, kidney and central nervous system
  • Reproductive disruption
  • Potential carcinogen

Solutions

  • Activated Carbon
  • Reverse Osmosis
No haas

Paul Guarracino

H2O has provided the best service from proposal to installation. Steven did a great job identifying our water issues and proposing a solution. Completely satisfied with H20 and would highly recommend them for any water treatment needs

Dennis Hart

Great experience with H2O Care. Ryan came out to look at the job and didn’t try to upsell us. We were offered exactly the system that we needed. The installers arrived right on time at 9:00 AM and were done within 4 hours. I would highly recommend their service if you are looking for a whole house water filtering and softening system. It looks and works great!

Grace Cohen

GREAT experience from start to finish with H20 Care, Inc. I reached out to them a couple years ago when we bought our house and we decided to install a new water filtration system (as well as a reverse osmosis faucet) a few weeks ago. I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about water in my life, but it feels wonderful to have an efficient system in our house – especially in an area where we have super hard water.

Jamie was excellent throughout the installation process – he was friendly, mindful of the pets in the house, professional, and explained things clearly. Also props for all our old, bulky equipment also being hauled away by H20. Steve has also been great with any questions that we have had about the new system. Thrilled to be customers. Thanks again!

Chad Onofrio

The team at H20 installed a water softener and a water filtration system at my home. They did everything they said would do. They were professional, polite and very knowledgeable. The install team communicated what they were doing and why, and were very clean. Our water instantly felt “softer” and no longer had the “rotten egg” smell we had been dealing with. Everyone we dealt with at H20 Cares was pleasant and very helpful. We highly recommend H20 Cares to anyone looking to improve the quality of their water.

Caitlin Chaloux

I had an excellent experience with H2O Care! Steve and team installed a water filtration system for a home I just moved into with well water. Steve was fantastic right from the start in helping me determine what the best solution would be for my home. He gave me all the information I needed to be sure I was making the right decision. He then fully explained the system that would be going in, how it works, and what the installation process would be like. The installation itself was done very professionally, and we’ve been happy with the results!

Everyone I spoke to throughout the process was knowledgeable and helpful with any questions I had, which I really appreciate. Of course when dealing with having clean, safe water, I wanted to make sure I was working with a company we could trust, and that was definitely the case with H2O Care!

I highly recommend them!

Sean Hegarty

H2O care great to work with. The sales rep Steven T was knowledgeable and detailed oriented. Answered all my questions. The install techs were clean and did excellent work. They minimized the space needed and explained the operation of the unit clearly. The difference in the water quality is awesome. Highly recommend H20 Care!