Why
do my sinks and fixtures turn yellow?
One of the most common
water treatment problems found in well water is iron. Iron
can be found in 3 different forms.
-
Ferrous
Iron (Dissolved) – Although not visible it is
the most common type of iron. Later when oxygen is mixed with
ferrous iron it stains sinks, toilets and laundry especially
when bleach is added. To reduce levels of ferrous iron, softening
and or filtration is performed.
-
Ferric
Iron (Suspended) – Ferric iron or brown
water iron is oxidized and forms particles. Normally these
particles can be seen once settled down, the particles
can be seen in a glass of water. Sometimes these particles
are to small to be seen and very difficult to remove.
-
Iron
Bacteria – Iron bacteria is a general term
given to iron that can leave a slimy growth or build up in
toilet tanks and sometimes clogs filters, softeners and pipes.
These bacteria are not harmful, but are considered a nuisance
bacteria because of their difficulty in removing.
Why is my dishwasher stained brown?
Brown or black stains found in the dishwasher are usually from high levels
of manganese. Manganese that is dissolved in water can stain when the level
is above .05mg/l. The dishwasher is a perfect mechanism to oxidize it because
it heats it, agitates it and mixes the water with air. Manganese can also
stain clothes in the washing machine, due to the same reasons. If bleach
is added staining is worse.
Why does my water leave blue green stains?
This indicates that the water is corrosive and usually acidic. Acidic water
can leach metals from pumps, piping and fixtures. If left alone without treatment
it can cause leaks in copper pipes and fixtures. Acidity is measured on a
scale of 0-14 with 7 being neutral, less than 7 is acidic and above 7 is
basic.
Why does my water smell like rotten eggs?
Hydrogen sulfide gas is a naturally occurring contaminant, which gives water
a disagreeable rotten egg odor or taste. This usually indicates the presence
of some form of non-harmful mineral reducing bacteria in the well. Testing
is very difficult because it is a gas and it comes out of solution very quickly.
There are no known health effects; however hydrogen sulfide can also make
the water somewhat corrosive.
What
is nitrate?
Nitrate is a naturally occurring compound that is formed in the soil when nitrogen
and oxygen combine. Small amounts of nitrate are normal, but excess amounts
can pollute supplies of groundwater.
Where does nitrate come from?
Common sources of nitrogen in the soil are fertilizers, livestock waste, and
septic systems. Excess nitrate in the soil is most often found in rural and
agricultural areas.
How does nitrate get into my well water?
Nitrate travels easily through the soil, carried by rain or irrigation water
into groundwater supplies. Wells that tap groundwater may be affected. Shallow
wells, wells in sandy soil, or wells that are improperly constructed or maintained
are more likely to have nitrate contamination.
What are the health effects of consuming nitrate?
For most people, consuming
small amounts of nitrate is not harmful. Nitrate can cause health
problems for infants, especially those six months of age and younger. Nitrate interferes with their blood's ability to transport
oxygen. This causes an oxygen deficiency, which results in
a dangerous condition called methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby syndrome." The
most common symptom of nitrate poisoning is bluish skin coloring,
especially around the eyes and mouth. Infants six months of age and younger and pregnant
and nursing women should avoid consumption of water high in nitrate. Cattle,
horses, sheep, and baby pigs, are also susceptible to nitrate poisoning.
My water doesn't taste good, yet it tested out O.K. What does this mean?
There are two types
of water problems: Primary problems — the dangerous
sort of problem and Aesthetic problems — things that affect the
taste, look or smell of the water. Strange as it may seem, you could
have an aesthetic
problem (such as iron or manganese) that will not pose an actual health
risk.
Why
does my drinking watersometimes look cloudy?
Once in a while you get a glass of water, and it looks cloudy; maybe milky
is a better term. After a few seconds it miraculously clears up! The cloudiness
is due to tiny air bubbles in the water. Like any bubbles, the air rises
to the top of the water and goes into the air, clearing up the water. The
water in the pipes coming into your house might be under a bit of pressure,
and gases (the air), which are dissolved in the pressurized water, will come
out as the water flows into your glass, where is under normal atmospheric
pressure.
What is a part per million (ppm) or a part per billion (ppb)?
Most of the chemical data that is reported for water is expressed as a concentration:
One-Part-Per-Million can be thought of as one inch in 16 miles or one cent
in $10,000.
One-Part-Per-Billion can be thought of as one second of time in 32 years.
It is EXTREMELY MISLEADING to interpret these analogies to minimize the
magnitude of the risks. Even miniscule amounts of certain contaminants
can poison water.
Why do I feel slippery when bathing in soft water?
The "slickness" felt after a soft water shower is just the "real" you!
Hard water does not easily rinse off the residue from cleaning products.
When bathing in softened water, the use of less soap is desirable.
Use sufficient
water to rinse the skin thoroughly and your skin will feel softer and
much smoother than it did with hard water bathing.
What type of salt should I use?
Any type of clean salt can be used. Water Right recommends the use of either
block or solar salts. These two types of salt seem to be the cleanest and
will cause the least problems in the brine tank.
Water
Right at no time recommends the use of iron cleaner additives or ”iron
fitting type salts” with the use of its equipment. These cleaners
will be harmful to the media in the Sanitizer Series of equipment
if used. Please consult with your local dealer or contact us for
proper salt
usage.
Can I use potassium type salts? Yes,
any water softener will work with potassium chloride salts,
however some loss of capacity between regenerations can
occur. Please consult with your
dealer. If your reasoning for using “potassium salt” is
for health concerns remember that potassium chloride is also a
salt. Consult
with your doctor whenever there is a health concern about your water.