Scale, spotting and dull fixtures are the visible half of the problem.
What causes scale deposits on my taps and dishes?
Scale is dissolved rock. Ground water passing through calcium-bearing formations such as limestone dissolves calcium and magnesium bicarbonates, and those minerals precipitate back out as a hard white crust on taps, kettles, shower doors and glassware. A whole home water conditioner removes the hardness minerals before they ever reach a fixture.
When natural ground water is exposed to calcium, like limestone in the earth, the water may dissolve some of the rock. The concentration and type of minerals dissolved are inorganic and determine the water hardness and composition. These minerals are typically calcium and magnesium bicarbonates, referred to as temporary hardness because they eventually precipitate out of the water as scale.
Municipal suppliers add chlorine to stop bacterial growth, and typical free chlorine in drinking water runs from 2.0 parts per million up to as high as 5.0 ppm. Chlorine is volatile, so it dissipates with boiling or standing, but a whole home carbon filter removes the taste and odour permanently.
Public water suppliers generally chlorinate water to prevent bacterial growth such as E. coli. Typical levels of free chlorine in drinking water range from 2.0parts per million up to as high as 5.0ppm. 1 to 5ppm is acceptable. The ideal level of free chlorine in a swimming pool is between 2 and 4ppm.
Adding chlorine through shock chlorination of a well or plumbing system produces a strong bleach odour. In some cases the added chlorine may interact with organic materials built up in the plumbing system and add odour to the water.
Chlorine is a gas at room temperature. In water it is a volatile solute, meaning its molecules are diffused in the water and will escape into the air over time. The time needed varies with air and water temperature: 15minutes of boiling, or about 2 to 5hours of sitting open, will dissipate the chlorine in tap water.
A rotten egg odour is hydrogen sulfide gas, detectable at just 0.2 parts per million. It is a weak acid in water and is corrosive to copper, brass and silver, usually turning them black. Sulphur removal is a whole home job and is common on rural and well supplies.
A rotten egg odour is hydrogen sulfide gas. Water that smells like oil or asphalt can come from manganese. Water that smells like cucumber or sewage is usually a result of iron or sulfur bacteria.
Hydrogen sulfide, often referred to as sulfur, or H2S, is easily detectable at 0.2parts per million and can be found in concentrations exceeding 10ppm or more depending on location. H2S is a weak acid when dissolved in water and can be highly corrosive to copper, brass, silver and other metals, usually turning them black. In high concentrations it will even penetrate and corrode electrical wiring and equipment. While rare, high concentrations can be flammable and are highly toxic to humans.
What causes rust and yellow stains on my fixtures?
Iron. It is detectable at levels as low as 0.3 mg/L, and above that it leaves red or brownish stains on fixtures and laundry plus a metallic taste. Tannins from decomposing vegetation cause a separate yellowish tint. Both are corrected at the point of entry to the home.
Iron in water is easy to detect at levels as low as 0.3mg/L. Inorganic iron is the second most common element in the ground and easily dissolves in water. Iron exceeding 0.3mg/L may leave unsightly red or brownish stains that are difficult to remove from fixtures and appliances.
Small amounts of iron affect flavour and often add a metallic taste to beverages. Iron can exist in four different forms in water depending on its overall chemistry, and its removal is very dependent on how it exists and in what concentration.
Tannins are formed from the decomposition of natural organic vegetative matter in the soil. Tannins can cause water to have a slight yellowish tint and may cause staining of laundry and fixtures.
Cloudiness is usually turbidity, meaning small solid particles suspended in the water, though trapped air under pressure looks identical at first glance. A turbidity filter fitted into a whole home system reduces it. If it only bothers you at the drinking tap, treat the water at that faucet instead.
Discoloration of water is another sign of impurities. In most cases cloudiness and discoloration is noticeable in bath water and at the taps where water is used for drinking. To clear up water used for bathing, treating water for the whole house or building is necessary. If it is only an issue for drinking water, it is best to treat water at the faucet where it is used.
Contaminants that cause cloudiness or discoloration can be reduced using a turbidity filter fitted and installed in a whole home system. Turbidity refers to the amount of small particles of solid matter suspended in water, measured by the scattering and absorption of light rays caused by the particles.
There is a difference between turbidity and air bubbles in water that is under pressure. To test this, fill a glass of water and place it where you can look through it. If after 15 to 30seconds there are many little bubbles on the side of the glass, it is just air. If no bubbles are visible anywhere on the sides of the glass, it is turbidity.
Corrosion is the gradual decomposition of a material by oxidation or chemical action, starting at the surface and moving inward. In plumbing it is driven by acidity, high mineral concentrations, stray current, dissimilar metals, dissolved oxygen and water temperature. Correcting the water chemistry protects the pipes you already have.
Corrosion of pipes and plumbing fixtures can cause a range of problems with your water. Corrosion is the gradual decomposition or destruction of a material by oxidation or chemical action, often due to an electrochemical reaction. It starts at the surface of a material and moves inward. Corrosion of iron or steel is commonly called rusting.
Ultraviolet light. UV irradiates the water and kills bacteria, doing a similar job to chlorine without adding anything to the water. Our UV systems include an hour counter so the element can be replaced at safe intervals. The unit requires power, so it needs a nearby outlet.
UV light irradiates the water and kills bacteria, doing a similar job to chlorine without adding anything to the water. UV is common in hotels abroad where local water carries disease risk for tourists, and it is increasingly seen in office water coolers, home systems and hot tubs. Our systems incorporate an hour counter so a new element (bulb) can be replaced at safe intervals. These devices require power to function.
