Water Treatment FAQ's

The Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) states, “The consumer is ultimately responsible for the quality of water they consume.”  Did you know the EPA cannot guarantee the quality of our water?  Everyone expects the EPA to protect them from the environment, but water distribution is too large for the EPA to ensure protection, i.e., individual wells, common wells (less than 20 houses), small municipal wells, or large city systems.  There are just too many pollutants from various sources (ground water, rain water, road and agricultural run off, industrial pollutants, etc.)  The EPA expects each consumer to take responsibility for the quality of their own water. Educate yourself!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I really need to clean and filter my tap water?

Is chlorine really that bad?

How do I know if my water is safe?

How do I know if my water is hard?

Why would I want to soften my water?

How do I Choose a Water Softener?

If I want to remove chlorine and soften my water, do I need two systems?

Do softeners work on well water?

What’s the deal with magnetic water conditioning??

Can I just buy one system to do it all (reverse osmosis, ultra-violet, ozone, softening, etc.)?

What is the most universal system for well water?

Are any of these water treatment systems harmful to my septic or drain system?

How do I know when to replace my water filters?

What size reverse osmosis system do I need??

What is the best way to disinfect water?

How long does it take to install a system?

Is it cheaper to buy bottled water at the store?

What treatment systems does the C.E.O. of WaterChoices use?



Do I really need to clean and filter my tap water?
Yes!  Water is life…the better your water, the better your life!

Both city and well water have things in them that are not healthy for you.  Iron, sulfur, lead, arsenic, nitrates, chlorine, chloramines, M.T.B.E. and fluoride just to name a few of the hundreds of reasons to clean your water.
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Is chlorine really that bad?
Chlorine is a deadly poison. It is used almost universally in the treatment of public drinking water because of its toxic effect on harmful bacteria and other waterborne, disease-causing organisms. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that chlorine in drinking water may actually pose greater long-term dangers than those for which it was used to eliminate.  The effects of chlorine may result from either ingestion or absorption through skin.  Scientific studies have linked chlorine and chlorination by-products to cancer of the bladder, liver, stomach, rectum, and colon, as well heart linked disease and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), anemia, high blood pressure, and allergic reactions.  There is also evidence that shows that chlorine can destroy protein in our body and cause adverse effects on skin and hair.  The presence of chlorine in water may also contribute to the formation of chloramines in the water, which can cause taste and odor problems.  Since chlorine is required by public health regulations to be present in all public drinking water supplies, it is up to the individual to remove it at the point-of-entry in the home.
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How do I know if my water is safe
The only way to know for sure is to test your water.  Almost all city and well water is microbiologically safe.  In order to purchase the correct system for your water it should be tested to determine its contents.  You can purchase an inexpensive test kit or send your water to one of the independent testing labs.
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How do I know if my water is hard?
It’s all relative.  What is hard water to one person is soft to others.  The only way to know how hard your water is is to test it.  We have very inexpensive hardness test kits available.
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Why would I want to soften my water?
Softeners save money and energy.  Your skin feels smoother and less itchy.  Your clothes last longer.  Food cooks better.  Drinks taste better.  Water heaters last longer and are more energy efficient.  These are just a few of the many wonderful reasons to have a water softener.
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How do I Choose a Water Softener?
Softeners save money and energy.  Your skin feels smoother and less itchy.  Your clothes last longer.  Food cooks better.  Drinks taste better.  Water heaters last longer and are more energy efficient.  These are just a few of the many wonderful reasons to have your Qualified Plumber install a water softener.
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If I want to remove chlorine AND soften my water, do I need two systems?
No. With the KDF Media Guard added to your softener, you can remove all the chlorine that is in most city water supplies. Check out the Ultra Max IROCS Water Softener.
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Do softeners work on well water?
Yes and No.  If you have a high iron content in your water (above 2 PPM) the resin beads will become coated with the iron.  With well water you should always use a resin bead cleaner.  It will extend the life of the system.
           
There is, however, a softener designed from the ground up just to handle iron laden well water.  The “Sanitizer” series can handle up to 10 PPM of total iron.
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What’s the deal with magnetic water conditioning?
These devices play a very important roll in water treatment.  Although they do not remove any minerals from the water, they do keep the minerals suspended within the water allowing them to flush through your pipes and water heaters.  These devices also clean the hardness from the inside of your pipes.  See the “Hard Water Wizard” for more information.
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Can I just buy one system to do it all (reverse osmosis, ultra-violet, ozone, softening, etc.)?
No, sorry.  Reverse osmosis does the best at filtering ultra violet and o-zone does the best at disinfecting.  Softeners remove calcium and magnesium.  The closest we can get is to recommend a Whole House Reverse Osmosis System.
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What is the most universal system for well water?
We have had great success with the Ozone-Pure System.  This system removes up to 20 PPM in total iron, iron bacteria sulfur, hydrogen sulfide gas, manganese and it disinfects and filters your water faster than any other system and uses no chemicals.
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Are any of these water treatment systems harmful to my septic or drain system?
No. Chlorine is the most harmful chemical for any septic or drain system as it kills the good bacteria needed for proper digestion of the waste.  Our goal is to remove the chlorine.
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How do I know when to replace my water filters?
First, always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.  Second, if you notice a loss in water pressure, start with replacing the filters.  Third, visual inspections are good especially if you have a clear canister filter.  Fourth, if you bought a system from us, we will remind you via email based on time as per manufacturer’s recommendations.
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What size reverse osmosis system do I need?
That all depends on your water usage.  A 20 G.P.D. or greater is usually sufficient for a family of four, but if you are filling your aquarium, watering cats/dogs, filling ice trays, cooking or taking water on the road with you, you might want a 35 G.P.D. system.
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What is the best way to disinfect water?
Ozone or ultraviolet light.  With ozone, 0³, treatment, air is injected into the water.  For ultraviolet light treatment, UV rays are reflected into the water through a clear glass tube.  Both work equally well at killing any living organisms in your water.
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How long does it take to install a system?
Every system and installation configuration is different.  It’s best to ask your local installer.  The whole house reverse osmosis system has the longest installation time of approximately 16 man hours.
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Is it cheaper to buy bottled water at the store?
It might appear that way initially, but consider the facts:  a 16 ounce bottle will cost approximately $1.50 or approximately $12 per gallon.  A gallon of reverse osmosis water at your tap will cost 10¢ per gallon or less.  It can be even less expensive with a whole house system.
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What treatment systems does the C.E.O. of WaterChoices use?
Al and his wife use the Ultra Max water softener and chlorine removal unit with a PuroTwist 35 G.P.D. Reverse Osmosis system.
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If you have any questions that this site has not answered simply contact us, along with your question (or comments!), and we will do the best we can to provide you with a fast, correct answer.
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