H2O SOLUTIONS

When to consider a water filtration system

A couple days — or even a couple hours — of water service interruption is a vivid reminder of how much we rely on clean water every waking hour of our lives. Many homeowners struggle with water quality issues, including “hard water,” which contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. While safe water is the main concern, having water that’s not too hard on your appliances, plumbing, skin and hair is also important. 

Water quality problems
If you move into your new home and notice a residue in your sink or tub, you likely have a well with hard water. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “depending on the hardness of your water, after using soap to wash you may have felt like there was a film of residue left on your hands.” Soap reacting with the calcium in your water can lead to it being difficult to get your hands, hair or laundry clean. Others notice scale buildup on shower heads, faucets and glass shower doors. 

Orange or red staining in toilets or under any faucet with a slow drip is a common complaint for those using untreated well water. Likewise, you might encounter a greenish ring in your toilet bowl if heavy minerals are causing corrosion to your copper pipes. 

Municipal water suppliers can generally be relied upon to deliver an unlimited supply of purified water suitable for drinking, brushing teeth, cooking, bathing, watering plants and washing things. Their treatment facilities typically remove most of the impurities that might otherwise impart odor, taste and/or mineral-induced hardness — though sometimes not to the extent desired by all of their customers. Other homeowners draw water from private or shared wells and, for them, getting adequately purified water often necessitates in-home equipment designed to filter and treat their water to a suitable level of purity. 

For these needs, there are suppliers of water purification devices and systems eager to help. At the low end are cartridges for water-dispensing/ice-making refrigerators, single-stage under-sink cartridges that filter kitchen-use water and inlet-line filters that can be installed by a plumber or a competent do-it-yourselfer. Going this route is typically less than $100. 

Professional solutions
Water treatment companies can address more complex water quality problems. At Culligan.com, you can chat with an AI “WaterBot” referred to as “Cullie.” Cullie will attempt to guide you toward a solution tailored to your needs, probably suggesting a free on-site water analysis. This step helps to determine what contaminants you need to remove such as sediment, chlorine, heavy metals and rust. 

Some recently-developed softening systems, like the Aquasana Rhino, operate salt-free, meaning no more hauling 50-lb bags of softener salt out of the store and home to your basement. Aquasana also offers a four-stage filtration system designed specifically for homes that draw from springs and wells. Its series of cartridges hang unobtrusively on the wall near your water inlet pipe, providing on-demand purified and softened water. 

Leaf Home Water Solutions (leafwatersystems.com) claims their “Easy Water Iron Shield Plus” removes iron, magnesium, tannins, hydrogen sulfide, pesticides and industrial waste traces, thus preventing unpleasant odors, taste, smell and staining. They also tout an “Easy Water No-Salt Conditioner” to avoid scale buildup in pipes and water-using appliances. This solution uses wire wrapped around the water inlet pipe to, as their website states, “…electronically force minerals out of solution in a form that doesn’t stick to surfaces.” 

Another way to determine which water treatment system may be right for you is to engage a local firm that specializes in water conditioning. Most start with a complete water analysis. 

Many municipal water authorities offer free water testing as well, though there is usually a small charge to test for E. coli and total coliform bacteria since those tests need to be done by a state-certified laboratory. 

No matter what your water issue, start with some testing. Your skin, appliances, plumbing and health will be the better for it! ✦

*Author’s note: Potassium chloride pellets, though more expensive than salt, are a viable option for those on low- or salt-free diets.