Water Filtration Starts Here!
PRIVATE & PUBLIC SUPPLY IN HOPKINTON, MA
The following discusses both private and town supplied water with regard to potential quality issues or concerns and the possible need for a filtration system or softener. For town water users, iron and manganese is more common.
COMMON WATER QUALITY ISSUES
The most common calls we get from Hopkinton residents with private wells is with regard to correcting low pH, which is corrosive, Iron, Manganese, Hard Water and High Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). These are common issues throughout New England.
Water Softener with Sediment Filtration
TESTING
As a home buyer or seller, there are always questions that come up regarding testing the water when a home is serviced by a private well. If you are buying, have bought or are selling a home that has a private supply in Hopkinton, you will need to make sure it is tested. Testing should be conducted by an EPA or Massachusetts state certified laboratory and should include minimally, an analysis for the parameters in the table below. If you are uncertain as to what to have tested and how to take a proper sample and get it to a lab, you should contact a lab or treatment professional for assistance. Typical items tested for are as follows, among others:
| Coliform bacteria | pH |
| Arsenic | Radon |
| Chloride | Sodium |
| Iron | Sulfate |
| Lead | Conductivity |
| Manganese | Nitrogen-Nitrate |
If the testing results for Radon exceed the current Massachusetts guideline of ten thousand (10,000) pCi/L in water, then the radon must be removed and it is recommended that testing the air for Radon is performed as well. It should be noted that New Hampshire requires action if radon is 2,000 pCi/L (pico curries per liter), Maine and Rhode Island are at 4,000 pCi/L, as is the EPA. A filtration system that will agitate and remove the radon gas by venting it outside will correct this issue. If the results for Arsenic come in at or above .01 parts per million, then a water filtration system for removing the Arsenic must be installed.
Sediment & Carbon Filtration
WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS
Filtration systems can be installed for the removal of any of the contaminants listed in the above table and more. Softeners are typically installed to remove hardness minerals, dissolved iron or manganese through a technology called Ion Exchange. Arsenic is removed with tanks containing a specific media that “grabs” the arsenic prior to flowing into the home. Removing radon from water requires a system which aerates the radon out, but then vents it outside. Other technologies and systems may be used to correct other issues. You should always start with a test before an informed recommendation can be made. To see a chart of common regional problems, symptoms and solutions, go to the link at /common-regional-problems/.
PUBLIC SUPPLY
If you are on the town water supply, the following is a link to the report, which is made available every year. See the link on the page: Annual Drinking Water Report.
H2O Care is an established water testing & filtration organization, formed in 1989 with offices in Stow & Middleton, MA. Articles published by the Company can be seen in Water Technology Magazines at H2o publications. Contact us at [email protected] or call us at 978-777-8330.