The Truth of Water - Answers

• 23Mar

  Pool Water Filtration

  health, microorganisms No Comments

  Ron from California writes:

  I am looking to have the safest and healthest pool water system that does not use chlorine?

  Hi Ron

  My expertise is in once through potable water systems. I don’t have much experience with pool water.

  I do understand that it’s very unusual to have pools without some sort of secondary disinfectant in it. This is because pools are open to the atmosphere and environment and without a residual disinfectant they would very quickly become cesspools of a very active ecosystem, including things like e.coli (very common to soil, think of your bare feet on your lawn and garden then introducing it into the water) and other micro organisms that could be a potential threat.

  I understand that some people can have a recirculation system through an ultraviolet disinfection device. I understand that systems like these drastically reduce the amount of disinfectant you add to your pool, but you still have to shock your system on occasion with a disinfectant, so biofilm doesn’t start growing on your underwater surfaces.

  I wish I could help you further, but as I’ve said I’m out of my element and don’t want to lead you down the wrong path.

  I encourage you to seek pool experts, either online or in your area. Perhaps you could go to your local pool store, see what he recommends, than ask for a list of references so you can call around and get the opinions of others who have pool and have used those systems.

  I hope I’ve been of help.

  

  Tags: chlorine, Filtration, pool, recirulation, ultraviolet

• 08Jan

  A basic guide to home water treatment

  Drinking Water, disinfection, health 4 Comments

  Many people are not on municipal water systems.  They rely on wells or other sources to supply their homes with water.  Some people are lucky enough to have good drinking water treatment systems, or have or know those who have the knowledge to put one together.  For others, searching for an appropriate water treatment system can be a nightmare, with the myriad of choices, technologies and companies to choose from.

  The following is a basic guide to help you understand what to do and your first steps when selecting treatment from your home.

  1.It all starts from the source

  The first rule for water treatment is having the best and cleanest possible source.  Choosing the best source will mean it will be less likely contaminants are in your supply, or are able to contaminate your supply. This means less treatment and it will be much easier on the treatment system that you have.

  If you have an older well, it may be time to upgrade.  Older dug wells are shallow and susceptible to microbiological contamination and surface water run off (which can carry E.Coli, pesticides, sodium, VOC’s and a whole host of other contaminants from the surface).

  Newer, drilled wells are the best solution.  Your well driller will know the optimum depth for your area to get the most and cleanest water.  As well, new drilled wells combine elements such as stainless steel screens, submersible pumps, well casings and an annular seal to ensure that surface water does not contaminate your ground water.

  If you’re unsure of the viability of your well, call your local well driller for a consultation.

  2. What’s in your water?

  Many companies that sell home water treatment will have you believe that anything and everything is in your well water, just to sell you equipment you may not need.  This is untrue.  It all depends on the type of well you have, the type of overburden (or bedrock) it’s in, how far down it goes, how close you are to possible sources of contamination and the geographical area you are in.

  Contact the local branch of the USEPA, a Ministry of the Environment if you’re in Canada, or your local municipality.  They will have an idea what to look for based on your local, and can point you towards the appropriate accredited drinking water laboratory. From there, most laboratories have water testing packages tailored to your locality and can give you a snapshot of what may be in your water that’s harmful and how much is there.  From there, you can go about selecting the appropriate treatment equipment.

  3. Health risks first, aesthetic problems second

  When you size up and design your treatment system, your first priority should be health risks.  Take care of aesthetic problems second.  Your treatment system should provide appropriate filtration for any sediment that might be in your water.  This can be simple or complex, depending on how dirty your water is.  After making the water clear, that’s when your disinfection processes can work. Both chemical and other (ultraviolet light) depend on clean clear water to work effectively.  A disinfection barrier is imperative to ensure you screen out any virus’s, bacteria, or protozoa that may be in your water or may find their way into your water supply.

  Any other issues your laboratory detects, such as chemical, can be dealt with as well. Once the safety issues are considered, then things such as hardness or taste and odour should be dealt with, as long as it does not interfere with the safety aspects of treatment.

  4. Don’t buy cheap crap.

  Just like anything else, you get what you pay for. If what they are selling seems too cheap, looks flimsy, and doesn’t give you a good feeling, don’t buy it. This equipment is meant to protect your drinking water, and needs to be of good quality and effective at it’s job.

  5. Don’t get complacent with Maintenance

  If you have a treatment system, it needs maintenance just like any other mechanical machine.  Many home treatment systems are designed to be low on maintenance, but it’s important you don’t skimp.  If you don’t know how or don’t have time to learn it, hire somebody on a service contract. Performing the necessary preventative maintenance will go a long way to ensuring your system protects your drinking water at all times, and lasts a long time.

  6. Ask around

  Your neighbors and friends in the area are in the same boat as you.  Find out what they have done and listen to them. They will have similar water quality to you and may have had experience with what treatment equipment to get and what not to get.

  When it comes to home treatment, knowing what to do can be a daunting task. But with a little foresight and seeking the right knowledge, getting the best system for you can be easier than you think.

  

  Tags: choosing systems, home water treatment, U.V., ultraviolet, water filter, well, well water

• 30Dec

  Lack of Minerals in Water - Dangerous?

  Drinking Water, health No Comments

  Anna from Wyoming Writes:

  Hi, we get our water from a well and we use a water distiller for our drinking water. I am totally confused if this is the best water for us or not, because I am concerned about the water not having any minerals in it. Right now I add colloidal plant minerals to add some minerals, but please let me know if you have any better suggestions, the internet makes me scared with all their claims that distilled water leaches minerals out of your body!

  Hi Anna, thanks for the question.

  Two things happen to water when it passes through an R.O. membrane or a distiller:

  1. The removal of minerals.  Water is the worlds most universal solvent, which is why you find naturally occurring minerals and metals in water.  Once these minerals are removed, it does allow for very fast ion transfer from a source of high ions (the minerals) to low or no ions (the “pure” water).   Think of it like heat - if you have one room at twenty degrees and another room of equal size beside it at ten, eventually both will be fifteen degrees.  This can suck dissolved minerals from your body and pass it into your urine, which can be a problem, assuming you have a major mineral deficiency in the first place.
  2. The formation of carbonic acid.  With the minerals gone, the H2O is free to combine with the carbon dioxide in your water, forming carbonic acid. This will bring the pH of the water down to around 6.

  The real question is will this do any long term damage.  The internet supports a lot of sensationalists that like to do fear mongering.  Fear mongering gets attention, and traffic, which is what webmasters like.  Creating this unfounded fear also drives sales for products that are not needed or just plain do not work, for the profit of these unethical business people.

  I have not run across any sufficient long term studies stating if this lack of minerals is truly harmful or not.  The concept of “pure” water being harmful is a relatively new one and long term study is required.  However, there is no doubt that pure water is in reality an fairly aggressive and effective solvent.  That is scientifically valid.

  My own personal thoughts are that if you are in good health, and have a healthy, balanced diet, there shouldn’t be any problems.  However, if you are very young (infant/toddler), very old, weak, infirm, or have or are at risk of having osteoporosis, than ingesting de-mineralized water might be a risk for you, a risk that you might not want to take.

  Personally, I drink and cook with the municipally treated tap water available from my taps.  As a member of the municipal treatment industry, I am familiar with local and federal regulations as well as industry wide standards and have every confidence that I am getting safe water.

  If you do feel that your distiller is no longer working for you, I would be happy to help point you in the right direction of other effective water treatments for your well water. But for now, happy drinking!

  

  Tags: distilled water, distiller, fear mongering, hype, minerals, pure water

• 05Dec

  Air in Your Water Supply

  Drinking Water, aesthetics, health No Comments

  Ais from Sydney, Australia writes:

  I have been living in a building which was built in the 20’s o r 30’s. Our tap water is sometimes very milky/cloudy looking when it is first poured and then settles down to normal appearance when left to sit in a glass for awhile. My partner seems to think that it is just air bubbles, but I am concerned that it may be something else as we live in such an old building.

  Any advice you may have would be greatly appreciated.

  Hi Ais, thank you for your question.

  Your partner is correct. This is indeed air.

  There could be many reasons for a milky/cloudy appearance to water, but if it disappears without leaving any sediment than air is the reason.  This milky appearance is caused by extremely tiny air bubbles and lots of them.

  Many people don’t know this but air plays a very important part in the complex dynamics of a water distribution system. It is impossible to keep air out of water mains, and without the appropriate air vent/intake valves placed along that main, the main would constantly break or collapse.

  It is possible that your building is located at a high point along the main where air can collect, introducing air into the apartmant buildings service lines on occasion.

  But more likely the air in your water is due to occasional changes in water pressure due to increased demands else where in the distribution system.

  Water naturally contains 2%-3% air by volume, being held in the water.  The higher the pressure you put in the water, the more air it can hold.  When the pressure is lowered, water can no longer dissolve as much air and the air is released from the water, forming air bubbles.  The same is true for temperature. Changes in temperature can effect how much air water can hold.

  You may want to pay attention to when this is happening. Perhaps it’s first thing in the morning, when most people are taking showers and getting ready for work. Or maybe it’s later in the evening, when some industry ramps up it’s use of water, filling storage tanks for the next day’s processes. It could be seasonal, or the water pipes in the building could run parallel to heating/cooling duct work, changing the temperature.

  Regardless, air in your water is normal and will not cause you any harm.

  I hope I’ve helped answer your question. If you have any other questions or require further clarifications, please don’t hesitate to write in again.

  

  Tags: air, milky water appearance, water

• 01Dec

  Health effects of Reverse Osmosis Water

  Drinking Water, health 7 Comments

  Mark from California Writes:

  For many years I’ve used a sediment/carbon/ro/DI filter, to take my 390 PPM city water to zero PPM for drinking. Been drinking it for a decade, water indoor plants with it, feed it to pets, cook and drink with it, and have no problems. Now i read all over the net, the dangers of drinking ultra-pure RO/DI water.  We like the taste, and have had no health problems we know of.  Is ultra pure water safe - if one has a multivitamin daily?

  Hi Mark, thank you for the question.

  I’m not a health professional so I cannot tell you specifically how it’s affecting you, based on the amount you drink, your multivitamins or your current diet.  I am a water professional, and I can tell you the properties of DI/R.O. water and why it is considered dangerous to your health.

  For many years, DI/R.O. was considered the best water for you.  The rational was that if nothing was in the water except water itself, then this must be the best for you.  Nothing but water and nothing could hurt you.

  Today we know this is not true for two reasons:

  1. Natural water is a perfect source for vitamin and mineral absorption by the body
  2. Ultra pure water is actually a very aggressive chemical.

  I’d like to deal with the first point, of course, first.  One of my areas of expertise is the precise addition of chemicals to water.  If a dosage is called for, I get it there down to the tenth of a mg/L.  In order to precisely dose a chemical, to have it best integrate, mix, and dissolve in the water, it must be in a liquid format.  This is true to the point where if I have to deal with a powder or other solid chemical or a gaseous chemical, I dissolved it into a liquid solution with make up water before dosing it into the process.

  In the same way, the minerals already dissolved in natural water supplies integrate far better into the body than do your multivitamins in pill form, and that is because of point two.

  Water is called a universal solvent for very good reason.  It will dissolve just about anything over time. That’s why it has needed minerals dissolved in it like calcium, magnesium and Iron.  By removing those minerals and bringing it to an ultra pure state, you are creating a corrosive chemical.

  Think of ultrapure water like a sponge. This water needs and craves minerals, and will get them from wherever it can.  Water likes to be in whats known as an “ion balance”.  The ions in the water that is in your body will move to fill the void by the new water without ions in it.  The result will be a lower amount of ions in the water in your body as a whole.  This works just like heat, which will move from higher heat to lower heat, leaving the whole reduced in temperature as a whole.

  This also works in reverse. If your body has a lower concentration of dissolved ions, water with a higher concentration will impart some of it’s ions by this ion balancing process.

  What all this means is that DI/R.O. water can be a problem, but it is not an acute problem, like high doses of arsenic in your water or certain pathogens would be. It is a chronic problem and can affect you when taken regularly over longer periods of time.  This is especially true for women who are at risk for or are suffering from osteoperosis.

  I hope I’ve helped you understand why DI/R.O. water is considered a chronic risk.  I understand your liking of the taste, that is a personal preference that you share with many people. I encourage you to seek a medical professional to discuss this with them, and to see if your multivitamins and diet can help you keep the proper amount of minerals in your body.

  If you need further clarification or want to ask another question, please don’t hesitate to write in again.

  

  Tags: D.I., health, minerals, r.o., water

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