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Troubleshooting Your Drinking Water Issues

While many people are buying water these days, water issues still cause inconvenience in the home. When harmful chemicals or excess minerals are absorbed through the skin while showering, it can lead to health problems. Contaminated water also affects the clothes we wash in it.

Let's look at some of the most common drinking water problems, and potential solutions.

Hard Water
Too Much Iron & Iron Bacteria
Too Much Manganese
Chloride In Water
Natural Gases in Water
Hydrogen Sulfide
Corrosive Water

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Hard Water

When magnesium and calcium from bedrock dissolves into our drinking water, it can lead to hard water.

Signs: gray-white film on dishes, tubs and dishes; less sudsy laundry; malfunctioning water-using appliances.

Solutions: Install an ion-exchange water softener.

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Too Much Iron & Iron Bacteria

Mines and other industries nearby can cause iron from bedrock to dissolve into your water supply. Sometimes, the water can contain iron bacteria.

Signs: Water appears clear, but tastes metallic and results in orange, red or brown stains. In the case of iron bacteria, there will be an opaque or orange film on the surfaces, and you will note a musty odor.

Solutions: Install an oxidizing filter or a water softener. Consider incorporating a manganese concentration. In the case of iron bacteria, shock chlorination might be a solution, combined with carbon filtration.

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Too Much Manganese

Industries and mines can also lead to manganese dissolving from bedrock into the water supply.

Signs: Greyish appearance in standing water (such as the toilet tank); metallic tasting water, black stains or specs.

Solutions: If the level is high, install an oxidizing filter and consider pH adjustment, or for lower concentrations, install a water softener.

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Chloride In Water

Local activities, such as gas drilling brines and road salt can cause chloride from bedrock to dissolve into the water supply.

Signs: Metal corrosion and a salty taste.

Solutions: It is hard to remove chloride from water, so if you can't develop a completely new water source, consider installing a distillation system or reverse osmosis filter at each individual faucet.

Natural Gases in Water

Ethane, carbon dioxide or methane can dissolve into water from natural sources, as well as from industrial causes.

Signs: Spurting faucets, bubbling or gurgling noises, and white gas bubbles.

Solutions: Concentrations should be kept below 7 mg/L, so continuous monitoring is necessary. If it is below this level, install a vented well cap. If it is much higher, also install an aeration system.

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Hydrogen Sulfide

When sulfides or sulfate reducing bacteria enter the groundwater, it is often present in the hot water only.

Signs: Black greasy stains and rotten egg odor.

Solutions: In milder cases, you can use activated carbon filtration. For more severe cases, consider shock chlorinating the well, and installing an oxidizing filter. If the smell is in the hot water only, remove the anode rod from your hot water heater and replace it with an alternate metal rod.

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Corrosive Water

Low pH levels can be caused by mining activity or by copper leaching from your plumbing system.

Signs: Metallic taste in the water, corroded fixtures, pinhole leaks, and blue-green stains in your tubs and sinks.

Solutions: Install an acid neutralizing filter, a soda-ash injection or replace your existing metal plumbing components with approved plastic components.

These are some of the most common drinking water issues you may encounter as a homeowner. Indeed, the signs can be sci-fi like, but trust Anta Plumbing to restore your drinking water by calling us the moment you notice anything odd with your drinking water.

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Written by Anta

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