WHERE DOES YOUR WATER COME FROM?
WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM OPTIONS
Per the Sudbury Annual Water Quality Report, Sudbury’s public water supply comes from nine gravel packed ground wells located in three separate aquifers; these aquifers are known as Raymond Road, Hop Brook and Great Meadow. There are four storage tanks located throughout town with a storage capacity ranging from 0.35 to 3.0 million gallons and totaling 6.35 million gallons.
As there are variations in the water quality among the nine sources, treatment systems are designed to specifically address the type and amount of contaminants present at each site. Following treatment, water is pumped to elevated storage tanks for distribution to your home. When tanks are full, the pumps at the wells shut off and water is fed to customers from the tanks. As soon as demand brings tank levels to the “start” level, the pumps restart and the cycle begins again. In order to perform scheduled and emergency maintenance operations, the specific wells selected to be in service at any time will vary. Therefore the water delivered to your home does not necessarily originate at a single point but rather is a blend of a number of our wells.
Damaging hard water scale build-up-in pipes
Due to this switching among the nine wells, you may see variations in the water quality as you turn faucets on in your home at different points in time. You may see some evidence of hard water scale on plumbing fixtures, iron/manganese staining or bluish green stains (from low pH) in sinks, tubs, etc. All of these are correctable situations with the properly designed water filtration system or water softener installation. Due to the changing water quality as described above from various water sources, it is particularly important that any water filtration system is designed with this in mind.
Staining From Dissolved Iron in Water
Blue/Green Staining from Dissolved Copper due to low pH of water
For the full Annual Water Quality Report, see the link at http://sudburywater.com/my-water/water-quality/2015-water-quality-report/
Water Filtration Systems and Water Softeners
A water filtration system can be installed for the removal of any of the potential causes of symptoms you may be experiencing. A water softener is typically installed to remove dissolved iron or manganese in the water through a technology called Ion Exchange. To remove particulate iron or manganese, a properly sized sediment filter is required. Hydrogen Sulfide is evidenced typically by a rotten egg smell in your water, however this may also be caused by high Manganese levels in the water as well. A water filtration specifically for this problem is effective in correcting this. Chlorine can be removed with a water filtration system containing activated carbon to remove bad taste and odor.
Water Softener With Sediment Filter Installed in Basement
Any water filtration system or water softener recommendation should start with a water test before an informed decision can be made. To determine what type of water testing to have performed and how to take a proper sample, call a water treatment professional or a state certified laboratory.
In summary, controlling your home’s water quality is attainable through proper water testing and equipment specification with today’s available water filtration technologies at a reasonable price. Proper on-going maintenance is also critical to maintaining a consistent level of great water quality.
H2O Care is an established, Massachusetts based water filtration and testing firm, formed in 1989. Articles published by the Company can be seen in Water Technology Magazine or linked through the website publications section at http://h2ocare.wpengine.com. NOTE: New Hudson, MA office opened on 439 Main St. (rte. 62) in May, 2017
