The Truth of Water – Answers

• 17Nov

  Response on Water Softeners, Discussed

  Conservation, Drinking Water, health No Comments

  Pau from California left a comment on the article Electronic Water Softeners – Misconception and Misdirection posted on November 10th.  He writes:

  The environmental issue with water softeners is not their effect on septic tanks, but the amount of water they waste and the effect of chloride on reclaimed water and agriculture. Do you realize that the Canandian WQA is the trade group for the softener industry? Cities and counties in Califoria have rebate programs to remover softeners (San Bernadino) and one city has succefully passed a law to have them removed (Santa Clarita) See the news article. http://www.wwdmag.com/California-Voters-Approve-Santa-Clarita-Softener-Ban-newsPiece17017.

  Even if the water to the sink is by-passed so it is not softened, what about the water in other faucets and the water that you shower in.
  Water softeners are not healthy and are bad for the environment.

  Thank you for leaving the comment, Pau.

  It is true that no one needs a water softener.  Hard water is an aesthetic concern only, and indeed does have health benefits to the user in the form of higher levels of needed minerals.  I encourage anyone who is considering having a softener installed instead purchase more soap, and live with hard water.

  California must have very hard water for the softeners to have that high of an effect on chlorides in natural water tables.  I do not know much of the hydrogeology of California.  I do understand that the water tables in most of the United States have dropped significantly, concentrating much of the naturally occuring (and some not so naturally occuring) contaminants in the water.

  I am familiar with the hydrogeology where I’m from.  The majority of chlorides and sodium come from the practice of road salting. Indeed, one of our well sites is experiencing elevated sodium that can be traced directly back to a salt storage yard upstream of it.  We have corrected that by building a new and leak proof storage shed.

  I do agree that softeners are a waste of water, due to their regeneration cycles.  I would comment though, that the way we use water in general is wasteful.  Our bathing practices, washing practices and industrial use of water is very high.  Even our low flow toilets use three times more water in one flush than the average third world African does in a day.

  In closing, I agree that there is no need for water softeners.  I would argue that stopping the use of water softeners is only a small step to reducing water waste and contamination of water supplies, but it is a step in the right direction.

  

  Tags: contamination, water softeners, water waste

• 12Nov

  Water Usage – Is it Too Much, and What of the Future?

  Conservation, Drinking Water 2 Comments

  Simone from Shanghai, China writes:

  What will happen in the future if we keep using water at this rate?

  Hi Simone, thanks for writing in.

  There is no question that the population of the earth is going up, and no question as to water being one of if not the most important resource to life.  The human body is mostly water, we need to consume it on a daily basis to keep up our metabolic processes. As well, water is vital to hygiene, to industry, to food production, and a whole host of daily activities as we go about our lives.

  As our population rises, the need for fresh, clean water goes up.  There is also no doubt as to the imbalance in availability. Those living in North America, Europe, and other first world economies have access to much clean treated drinking water, while others in third world economies are not so fortunate.

  Regardless of the current situation, our fresh water supplies are disappearing on a global scale.  Eventually, everyone will be desperate for water regardless of where they live.  In effect, water is soon to be the next oil.

  Water, of course, is finite.  There is a set amount on this planet and there is and will be no more, and no less then there ever was.  The issue the planet is facing is the availability of fresh (not salt) drinking water.

  Think of the water in the planet fitting inside a two liter coke bottle.  Out of that two liters, most of that water would be salt. Only a teaspoon of that is fresh, and only a drop from that teaspoon is readily available for human consumption.

  The vast majority of fresh water exists as ground water, and most of the planet relies on wells. Others use surface water such as lakes, rivers, and sometimes ponds for their supply.

  In the natural order of things, fresh water is continually supplied by the earths natural hydrologic cycle.  Water evaporates from the oceans, leaving the salt behind.  Precipitation deposits the fresh water back into ground and surface water aquifers, which eventually find their way back to the ocean.  On the way back, animals, plants, and humans use some of this water.

  The concern is that humans are taking fresh water many, many times faster than it can be replaced.

  What will happen in the future?  I don’t know for sure, and anything I say will be conjecture on my part.  However, we are running out of water, fast.

  There are two possible outcomes that I can see. The first is one more on a positive outlook.  Eventually we will start running so short water will become incredibly expensive.  Lifestyles and water usage patterns will change.  Less water will be wasted on unnecessary things, and conservation will become key. A move will be made to use treated, fresh disinfected water only for drinking and cooking.  Households will incorporate water recycling, rain water collection, etc. for use in things such as washing, bathing and other things.  A concerted effort will be made to take water from our struggling aquifers at a rate slower than they are being depleted, allowing them to recharge to where they once were.  A balance will be made and we will live in harmony with the natural water cycles.

  A much more ominous possibility may be expected.  As has been done with other resources in the past, and is being done even now, we may see conflict for our dwindling supplies.  Hoarding may occur, and fighting may break out.

  It may also be a combination of both.  Regardless, times will be different as our supplies dwindle.

  There is a possibility that new technologies may surface that will be able to cheaply and effectively desalinate ocean water.  Currently there are projects in Australia, and there have been several ddesalination plants built. However, the process is time consuming and extremely costly to do now.

  In any event, times ahead will be much different as we are careening full force into a serious problem of world wide water shortage.  Actions will have to be taken in the next little while, and I do predict we shall see very shortly exactly how we will deal with this.

  In the meantime, I’m currently working on an E-Book entitled “When the Taps run dry”.  It will be a guide as to how to obtain and treat water when and if the municipal taps turn off, and what to use it for and not to use it for.  Keep an eye out for it in the coming months on this website.

  I hope I’ve given you some of the information you were looking for.  Please feel free to write in again if you have another question or require further clarification to this one.

  

  Tags: water cycle, water shortages, water supply

• 01Nov

  New Softening Technology – Will it work?

  Conservation, Drinking Water, Other No Comments

  Erik from Baja, Mexico writes:

  I have a well and rather hard water – 24 grains per gallon. I would like to soften it, but prefer not to use salt (ion exchange) because of the sodium it adds to the water and the briny residual that is left over and is not green to dispose of.

  I have read about electronic “softeners” including this one – http://www.mpulse.com.mx/commercial.html – which a local dealer in my area carries.

  Some people claim that they work great, many people claim that they are snake oil and do not – and cannot – effect the water hardness at all.

  I’m looking for an unbiased, expert opinion. Can you offer assistance?

  Hi Erik, thank you for writing in.

  I have never seen a unit such as this, ever.  It must be very new or localized in your area.  Because of my profession, I’m privy to a whole host of water treatment magazines toting the newest of technologies and have not seen a device such as this.  Although to be fair, these magazines concentrate on large water system equipment, and softening is something that no large water purveyor does.

  I’ve reviewed the website you sent me for these electronic hardness removing devices.  What they are claiming to do is change bicarbonates into carbonates, and they claim the carbonates don’t form scale.  I’m not sure if this is true, as hardness is almost always measured in mg/L calcium carbonate. Also, if they do not remove the hardness, that means it is still there to interfere with washing.

  I don’t know if these devices will work or not.  By the description of the technology, they claim that there will be no scale forming calcium in the water. But it’s still there, so it probably will interfere with washing, which is the reason most people purchase softeners in the first place.

  Obviously there is doubt in your mind that this device will work, as you have talked to people, some who have said it works great and others have said it does not. I would think that perhaps this type of product is aimed at more commercial and industrial uses.  As a new technology, there are most likely some bugs to work out in the field as with any new technology.

  What you should to consider is that there is absolutely no doubt that conventional ion exchange works to remove the calcium from your water.  Your water is 24 grains hard, and at that level it may be best to go with the tried and true technology.

  Should you decide to go the ion exchange route, you do not have to use sodium chloride salt to regenerate your resin.  You could also use potassium chloride.  Potassium chloride will work with any softener, and it exchanges the calcium ions with potassium ions.  There are very little health concerns with potassium compared to sodium, and there is even some evidence it may be beneficial for you. Still, I would use un-softened water for cooking and drinking and soften only the water you use for bathing, laundry, and other washing activities.

  As with any softener, you should look for one that will make the most efficient use of your salt, whether you use sodium chloride or potassium chloride.  The best softeners incorporate timers and flow meters to time their backwash.  This creates a control that will do two things:

  1. Backwash only when your resin needs to be regenerated, saving salt and
  2. Ensure back washing is done only at a time convenient for you

  I hope I’ve been helpful to you. If you need further clarifications or would like to ask another question, please do not hesitate to write in again.

  

  Tags: electronic softner, ion exchange, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, water softener

• 28Sep

  Reverse Osmosis: A waste of water.

  Conservation, Drinking Water, Filtration No Comments

  Reverse Osmosis filtration is a favorite selling piece of public water treatment stores. Just as bottled water companies work hard to sell the perception that water from a bottle is better and safer than tap, filter companies advocate the same misconception that you need a reverse osmosis filter.

  Because reverse osmosis filters can remove almost all of the dissolved minerals in water, these companies tout the water as “purified”, “better for your health” and “a necessity for drinking and cooking”. In fact, plain H2O is extremely corrosive and will suck much needed minerals from your body just as a dry sponge sucks up water. Over time, this can lead to ill health.

  Indeed, looking at the minerals dissolved in ordinary tap or spring water, you will find some of the same things that are on the label of your multivitamin. We evolved drinking nature’s water, and nature provides us with many of our needed minerals in natural water sources.

  If you are at all concerned about our water supplies, no doubt you are doing everything you can to conserve water. Low flow toilets, taps and shower heads are among the many things that you are doing to protect this most natural resource. But did you know that reverse osmosis wastes water too? As much as fifty percent of the water going into an R.O. filter is rejected and poured right down the drain, wasted.

  A reverse osmosis filter is a membrane, similar to a rubber sheet. Unlike other membrane technologies, this membrane does not have tiny holes in it to allow the water through and provide filtration. Instead, it relies on the molecular structure of the rubber itself to filter the water.

  This technology requires the water to already be exceedingly clean before entering the filter; otherwise it will clog very quickly. That is why most manufacturers sell R.O. filter systems with as many as four pre filters, to filter tap water that is already potable!

  Water does not go in one side of the filter and out the other. Rather, it smacks up against the side of the filter, flowing side stream to it. Water molecules that can pass through via osmosis do, and those that cannot are simply rejected, they go down the drain. Perfectly good water is being wasted.

  Remember, when you are conserving water, every little bit helps. Not only is reverse osmosis unhealthy at best, it wastes half of the water that it filters.

  If you have municipal tap water, an R.O. filter is absolutely not needed. Many water stores will sell you an R.O. filter after selling you a water softener, simply because of the sodium the softener adds to the water. If you have very hard water, the softener can impart a salty taste, not to mention its bad for people with hypertension or other heart problems. Instead of simply advising you to plumb a water line that’s not softened to your kitchen sink for cooking and drinking, a reverse osmosis unit is insisted on, because this makes them more money.

  If you have a well or other source of water, reverse osmosis is an absolute last resort. Your first action should be to ensure the security of your water source. This will go a long way to providing safe and healthy water for you and your family for years.

  Remember, water is our most precious natural resource. Every little bit helps when trying to conserve this for us and for future generations to come. When purchasing home water treatment, ensure that your choice will waste no water. If you’re not sure, ask someone who knows. Remember, if the salesmen insist that you have to have a reverse osmosis filter no matter what, if you get the hard sell, always get a second opinion.

  

  Tags: filteration, r.o., reverse osmosis, softener, water misconceptions

• 24Sep

  Featured Site – Nuprana.com

  Conservation No Comments

  For some of us, it seems hard to believe that fresh clean drinking water is precious and in short supply.  This morning, I awoke to a thick layer of dew wetting the ground and fogging up my car’s windows.  The mist was so heavy that I couldn’t see one hundred meters ahead of me.  I drove over our local river, so gorged it filled it’s banks with white froth, and just last week I went fishing far out on Lake Ontario, rolling waves five feet high and nothing but water to be seen in the distance.

  Yet, water is our most precious resource.  We cannot survive without fresh clean water daily and for the majority of the world, this is a very hard thing to come by.

  Looking at our planet from space, it is so full of water it is blue.  But let us put things in perspective.  If all the worlds water could fit into a two liter soda bottle, only a teaspoon of that is actual fresh water. And of that, only a drop of that water is readily available to the human population.

  If you are reading this now, you have an internet connection and it is very likely that you live in first world conditions, so I’d like to put things further into perspective.  Many of you who are already concious of water conservation have installed low flow toilets in your house.  Indeed, many local, state and federal laws prohibit the manufacture of anything but.  One flush of a low flow toilet takes six litres of water, which is four and a half more liters than the daily average that most African people use.

  And water is drying up all over the world.  We are using it faster than nature can replenish the resources, at an alarming rate.  Even in places like where I live, with a seemingly inexhaustible supply.

  The people at Nuprana.com are all to aware of how precious water is and how serious conservation action needs to be taken, and taken now.

  Their site features news and articles on the worlds plight on it’s water resources.  They offer real information on a real problem, and what we can all do to help with this most important of causes.

  And if you really are serious about implimenting effective change to your water consumption, they offer a line of affordable water conservation products designed to keep your house functional and water conciensious.

  The impending lack of water is everyones problem.  Visit www.nuprana.com to learn more about what you can do.

  

  Tags: Nuprana, water conservation

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