The Truth of Water – Answers

Rachael from Alaska writes:

Hi! I was reading some answers on your website, and have a question. We recently purchased a home on a well. We have a water softner with salt, but do not know the last time it was filled. My family has been experiencing “sulfur burps” since we moved in. Our water smells fine, but I am worried that we are drinking something that is not agreeing with our stomachs. Could there be a way that we can fix this by getting a water purifier on our sink for drinking water?

Hi Rachel, thanks for writing in.

Water softener resin is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.  This is especially true if left to sit or run without salt, or proper maintenance.  If using a water softener, it is a good idea to have a kitchen tap as non softened water for drinking and cooking with.  This will prevent excess salt from the softening process potentially harming you, and prevent contamination from bacteria.

Ground water commonly has sulphur reducing bacteria.  This usually departs a ‘rotten egg’ smell in the water when they are in the ground. It is possible that these bacteria are growing in your water softener and you are ingesting them.  Sulphur reducing bacteria reduce minute quantities of sulphur compounds to create hydrogen sulphide, which they may be doing in your guts. This is however consistent with the processes of the bacteria, as the hydrogen sulphide they produce is a gas, which may be why you’re getting these “sulphur burps”.

I wish I could give you more information on the particular processes of these bacteria or if this is even the case, but I am not a health care professional. I do know that sulphur reducing bacteria are not considered a health problem and hydrogen sulphide is considered only a nuisance.

I would be careful of counter top water purifiers like Brita or other carbon filter based products. Most of these products are only for improving the aesthetic quality of already potable water, and in fact could foster further bacteria growth (carbon, like softener resin, is considered ‘housing’ for bacteria).

To protect your water supply it needs to be disinfected.  My advice is to ensure that you do have at least one kitchen tap free of softened water for drinking and cooking.  You may want to invest in a sediment filter and a whole house U.V. system.  I currently operate twenty small systems with U.V., and use the U.V. Pure product. I feel it is an excellent product and a top notch company, and has served me well for the 5 years I’ve had their product installed. This particular product has built in alarms that assures proper does for inactivating micro organisms, and if the proper U.V. dose drops too low, it will shut down your water and issue and alarm. You can visit them at http://www.uvpure.com.  They should be able to point you to a distributor in the area.

If you continue to have these ‘sulphur burps’, I would encourage you to visit your local health care professional for a diagnosis.

I hope I’ve helped. Please do not hesitate to write in again for further clarification or to ask another question.

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.