Water Problems

My water tastes like a swimming pool!

Our water municipalities use chlorine to kill bacteria and viruses out of our potable water. However, that leaves us with water that tastes and smells like a swimming pool. Chlorine not only smells bad, but it dries out your skin, hair and nails. Chlorine can be filtered out of your water through some water softeners and through a process called reverse osmosis.

Why is my water cloudy?

As water comes into your home, it can have a number of imperfections. Dissolved solids (clay, silt, etc.), bacteria and chemicals remain in the water and can cause what is called turbidity. These microscopic particles join together, causing the water to appear cloudy. Cloudy water increases the risk of bacteria and viruses to grow, leaving your drinking water at risk. You can clean your water through both water softeners, reverse osmosis and UV light treatments.

What is this white, crusty buildup on my faucets and shower heads?

The white “crust” you see is called scale. Calcium and magnesium in the water join together to form a white, crusty buildup. The evidence of these elements can be found outside on your hose bibs and inside on your shower doors, dishes, glassware, and faucets.

What you don’t see is the impact it has on your water-using appliances! Dishwashers and washing machines become less efficient as the scale builds up inside the appliances. Water heaters become coated in inches of scale, which makes it harder to heat the water. In turn, water heating costs increase. Coffee makers burn out faster, and other water using appliances stop working. Water softeners or conditioners can reduce the scale that enters your home, saving your plumbing and appliances. You can read more about hard water and the effect it has on plumbing and appliances below under the Frequently Asked Questions about Water Treatment.

What is that rotten egg smell?

Water that tastes or smells like rotten eggs can be the result of hydrogen sulfide or a buildup of various bacteria in the system. Hydrogen sulfide is the result of the decay of organic material that has made its way into the drinking water. Hydrogen sulfide isn’t considered dangerous by water municipalities, but can corrode plumbing over time. Reverse osmosis and whole home water filtration will address both bacteria and hydrogen sulfide.

Why Does Our Water Taste Salty?

Chloride (salts) occur naturally in water, dissolving as it moves through our water sources. High concentrations of chlorides can cause a salty taste and will increase corrosion of plumbing and appliances. For those on sodium-restricted diets, the removal of natural salts in the water is paramount. Reverse osmosis and whole home water filtration can effectively remove salt from your potable water.

Why does my water have a metallic taste?

Water that has a metallic taste could have higher than normal amounts of iron, zinc and manganese. Zinc is usually present as the result of the corrosion of galvanized plumbing; iron and manganese are natural elements. As a result, water has the tang of a metallic taste. Water that contains these elements will:

• Darken your water – how black is your tea or coffee?
• Stain your appliances, laundry and plumbing fixtures
• Build-up in your water heater, which can require more than the recommended annual maintenance

You can reduce the amount of iron and manganese with water softeners; reverse osmosis will reduce zinc, and whole home water filtration will effectively reduce all three elements.

My Drinking Water Tastes Bitter Or Medicinal…

There are generally two culprits for water that tastes bitter or medicinal: copper or high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS). Higher levels of copper can cause stomach ailments, turn your hair a greenish tint and can be toxic to aquarium fish. High levels of copper in the water generally come from the corrosion of copper pipes.

In Arizona, we commonly see high TDS levels, which can be another reason for medicinal tasting water. Total dissolved solids – dissolved minerals – will taste medicinal if they are mainly comprised of sulfates such as Epsom salts. Cumbersome and poor tasting, they generally do nothing more than to act as a laxative to people unaccustomed to drinking the water.

You can remove TDS and copper from your water through reverse osmosis or whole home water filtration.

Frequently Asked Questions About Water Treatment

How Do Water Conditioners Work?

A water conditioner changes the molecular structure of the incoming water. Rather than using a resin to attract the molecules from calcium and magnesium, the water is passed over a granulated carbon. The introduction of carbon is the first of two steps in the process, and will help to reduce chlorine, poor taste and smells, color and organics from the water. After the water passes through carbon, it will be passed through an anti-scale media that changes the molecular structure of calcium and magnesium. The molecules are changed into nano-crystals, which are more stable than a regular calcium or magnesium ion. Because the molecules are stable, they will not attach to plumbing and appliances, and are so small they simply wash down the drain.

Incoming water is run through a series of sediment filters to remove dirt, silt and sand. Water then runs through a carbon filter to remove chlorine and improve the taste and odor. Water is then passed through a semi-permeable membrane, which removes up to 99% of the remaining toxins.

Purified water is then stored in a pressurized tank for use on demand. No longer do you have to impurities, toxins or chlorine in your drinking water!

How Does Reverse Osmosis Work?

Incoming water is run through a series of sediment filters to remove dirt, silt and sand. Water then runs through a carbon filter to remove chlorine and improve the taste and odor. Water is then passed through a semi-permeable membrane, which removes up to 99% of the remaining toxins.

Purified water is then stored in a pressurized tank for use on demand. No longer do you have to impurities, toxins or chlorine in your drinking water!