Water Filtration Options
This reviews the town water supply and private wells in Plymouth, MA, along with water quality issues and potential solutions through a water filtration system, water softener or other methods.
The Town of Plymouth’s municipal water supply consists of two aquifers and 12 gravel-packed wells at 10 locations throughout Plymouth. The Plymouth water system serves the entire northern section of town between Federal Furnace Road and the Kingston and Carver boundaries; Plymouth Center, Chiltonville, Manomet, and Cedarville areas east of Route 3 south to the Bourne town line. If your home gets its water from the town’s water supply, you can get information on its latest Annual Water Quality Report at Plymouth Annual Water Quality Report. While the town does its job of ensuring the safety of the water, certain minerals such as Manganese and Iron, naturally occurring, can potentially cause aesthetic issues such as staining of showers, bath tubs, dishwashers, sinks and even laundry discoloration. If you are experiencing any of these problems and wish to eliminate them, a properly designed water filtration system or water softener can effectively handle this.
Water Softener & Sediment Filter
PRIVATE WELLS USUALLY NEED SOME WATER FILTRATION
If you have a private well in Plymouth, the most common water quality issues you may face are low pH (acidic, corrosive water) and elevated levels of manganese and iron. The iron and manganese levels should be no surprise based on what the town experiences in its own water treatment processes. Regarding pH, the following table is a good chart to give you an idea of what neutral is versus the various potential levels of low or high pH.
DISCOLORATION & STAINING
Dissolved Iron Staining
Discoloration and staining can be caused by many things in the water supply. In Plymouth, MA, the source is likely to be elevated levels of manganese and iron, minerals that are common in Massachusetts water supplies. Additionally low pH can cause bluish/green staining in sinks, tubs, showers as well as it dissolves copper piping into the water. Over time, low pH can cause enough corrosion of piping to create pin-hole leaks which will require replacing the pipes, an expensive proposition.
Dissolved Copper Staining from Low pH
Aging pipes can accumulate these minerals on its inner surfaces over time and release various amounts in the water supply as pH and temperature levels change. In addition to this, natural levels exist in the water which will also make its way throughout the water distribution system.
Particulate manganese and Iron can be removed with water filtration systems designed to remove sediment, while dissolved iron and manganese can be removed with a water softener. pH can be neutralized with a system that introduces enough calcium carbonate into the water to bring pH levels back toward neutral. For more information on manganese or iron and proven water filtration and water softener solutions, see the link at https://h2ocare.com/pub/ for the link to “Iron So High it was Almost Frightening” and “Manganese, The Good for You, Bad for You Mineral”.
H2O Care is an established, Massachusetts based water filtration system installation, service and testing firm, formed in 1989 with offices in Middleton & Stow , MA and a service depot in Plymouth. Articles published by the Company can be seen in Water Technology Magazines at www.h2ocare/pub. Contact us at [email protected] or 800-539-1100.