Why We Treat Water
It is easy to take the quality of your home water system for granted. After all, it was most likely there when you moved in, and you might attribute certain negatives from the water to other home or hygienic issues. However, once you are aware of the benefits that custom home treatments such as reverse osmosis systems or water softening yield, it can be eye-opening.
In this guide to home water treatment, we’ll go through the types of system installations, the cost-benefit analysis of luxury filtration, and when you might need to opt for water protection in your home. Knowing the health, happiness, and household benefits might just make that sooner than later.
Water Pollution
When it comes down to it, the biological health of your drinking and bathing water is the number one concern within your system. If there are dangerous bacteria, alkaline imbalances, and sediment and minerals that cause issues to you or your home, they must be resolved right away.
In typical city or community water treatment plants, they use a four-step conventional method of water treatment. These are:
- Coagulation and Flocculation: The removal of negatively charged particles coming from dirt, clay, and organic matter via binding and mixing.
- Sedimentation: This is the removal of the suspended pathogens from step one, and is typically done continuously in community water treatment.
- Filtration: The process of passing water through physical particles such as carbon, sand, or gravel in order to remove bacteria and contaminants that cause gastrointestinal disorders among other health concerns.
- Disinfection: This step involves adding a disinfectant such as chlorine or chloramine to the water supply. This will oxidize the water and eliminate most remaining harmful organic matter such as parasites, viruses, and bacteria.
These steps are wonders of modern technology, and do a great job to protect you and your home from baseline issues in drinking and home-use water – but they don’t necessarily cover all the bases. There are additional bacteria and contaminants that can contribute to health issues, hard water, and even unsightly blemishes on your appliances.
Water Quality
We’ve all been there – you pour water from a tap and it is murky or cloudy. While this can and should be a red flag, it is often ignored or overlooked because ‘that’s just how the water is here’. That may be the case; there can be newly installed water filters that have air-based cloudiness that will subside as the water settles. However, if you’re seeing this, it is important to look further into the quality of your water.
If there are other warning signs such as foul odor, metallic taste, or build up on your showers and sinks, then this is a distinct issue that needs to be changed immediately. Often, people will attribute these things to not cleaning well enough or other household issues, when it is more likely because of hard water or bacteria-laden systems that can cause illness or degrade your appliances.
Additional purification via reverse osmosis or water softening can help fix these issues, and the benefits extend much further than just the look of the water. Often, the biggest changes that people notice in water quality are the feel of their clothes out of a washer and dryer, the taste of the water from their tap, or less soapy residue on dishes or showers. This is because of the hard water that is full of mineral and sulfate deposits.
Water Resources
Most simple water treatment technology processes ensure that your supply will not be toxic and is moderately effective. Thus, the methods of treatment such as a reverse osmosis system or water softening do have an element of luxury to them. However, these high-end systems have significant long-term benefits that will help to contribute towards covering the cost of installation.
For example, if you find yourself re-cleaning dishes, sinks, or bath tubs due to soap scum or lime and rust buildup, this is not just a matter of inconvenience. It becomes a quality of life issue, as well as something that can cost significant money if it goes unchecked. Your time, money, and – let’s be honest – pride can be affected by having gross-looking sinks, toilets, and showers. Pure water can help you avoid this, and it’s not just vanity.
If your shower is running water that is gritty, murky, and doesn’t allow for a true wash, you will immediately notice the benefits of a change. Your hair will be smoother and healthier, as will your skin. You might even notice that acne or flaky skin will subside, or that you might smell better. Once more, this is a bi-product of advanced water systems that people may not have even known was an option.
Finally, with reverse osmosis and water softening, you can be sure that your tap water will be fully filtered and potable all the time. This is much better for your health, but also for the environment – disposable filters or bottled water is both expensive and wasteful. Simply put, using your water supply in its full intent is much better for homeownership, as ease of use and access to quality water should be given in a household.
How to Get Your Water Treated
If you have realized that your water supply may be contaminated or hard, the next step is to figure out which solution is best for your home. This can be done through an assessment from a water filtration specialist, who can tell you whether you need an RO system, water softening, or other non-invasive options.
Most of these installations are same-day, quick, and the results will begin to take place nearly immediately. From there, it’s a matter of enjoying cleaner drinking water, dishes, and stronger immune health.
If you’re looking to improve the quality of your water and life in one fell swoop, Deer Valley Plumbing is your one-stop-shop for all things water. We’d love to help you improve the quality of your water at home.