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Basic Water Treatment

One of the things we take for granted nearly every day is clean drinking water. When we are looking for a new home or business building, we automatically assume that it will have clean, running water. While this is not faulty thinking, have you ever wondered where your water comes from and how it is processed to be ready for use and consumption? In this article, you will learn where your water comes from, how it’s cleaned, the differences between public and private water treatment and why good water quality is so important. 

water treatmentWhere does our water come from?

The first part of water treatment is collecting it. Natural or untreated water is collected from underground aquifers, like a well or from a surface source such as a lake or river. It then either flows or is pumped to a water treatment facility.  

How does water treatment work?

Once the water arrives at the treatment facility, it is pre-treated in order to remove larger debris like silt and leaves. After that, the water will undergo a sequence of treatments. These include filtration and disinfection. Filtration and disinfection occur using either chemicals or a physical process. These treatments eliminate any disease-causing microorganisms.  

 Once the water completes this treatment regimen, it travels through a labyrinth of pipes and pumps known as a distribution system. 

In-home Water Treatment 

water treatmentIf you decide that you want even more filtration for your household water, there are in-home water treatment options that you can have installed. Known as Point-of-Use treatment systems, they treat your water at the point of consumption. The typical POU devices include:

Point-of-Entry devices treat water intended for household uses such as laundry, dishes, showering, brushing teeth and flushing toilets. These  include:  

  • Activated Carbon 
  • Ion Exchange
  • Filtration

Public  Distribution Systems Vs. Private Distribution Systems

water treatmentWater treatment and delivery systems fall into two primary groups: public and private. The main difference between the two is who controls the treatment facilities. 

The city or town served by the public water treatment facility typically owns and operates the facility. The facility usually falls under the management of the city or town’s elected official, such as a mayor.  

private water treatmentPrivate water treatment facilities vary in size and service area. An individual well that is supplying a single household and a small corporation that provides water to a small group of homes are both private water treatment facilities. So is a large company or business that has its own water service divisions.  

Regardless of the type of water treatment in question, they both must adhere to the water quality standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  

Why is water quality important?

Water makes up 70% of the human body, making it vital to human life. The human body can go a month or more without food. Even a week without water, however, can be fatal. Not all water is beneficial, though. Drinking bad or unfiltered, untreated water can have severe health consequences, some even fatal.  

How does water quality affect humans?

water treatment

Giardia lamblia organism

The CDC states that the top causes of drinking water-related outbreaks are: 

  • Giardia
  • Shigella 
  • Norovirus 
  • Hepatitis A 

As scary as that sounds, that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what can happen when you drink untreated water. Studies have shown high levels of lead in drinking water may cause delays in mental and physical development. Lead is also linked to learning difficulties and short attention spans in children. Again, this is just a short list of what can happen if you consume untreated water.  

hard water = more detergent neededHow are appliances affected?

Treated water also improves the performance of your water-using household appliances. Point-of-Use or Point-of-Entry filtration devices soften your water. Although hard water is not as detrimental as untreated water, it is still not an economical option.  

Water softeners remove the harsh minerals that lead to buildup on your appliances, pipes, tubs, sinks, and dishes. 

Hard water decreases your soap’s effectiveness, increasing the need for more soap or detergent. Soft water is also easier on your clothing, leaving it feeling soft and fresh. Hard water, on the other hand, will leave your laundry feeling stiff and scratchy.    

Free from hard water buildup your showerheads, sink drains, tub drains, dishwasher and washing machine will be more efficient. This saves you money and leaves less of a carbon footprint. 

 EPA Guidelines and Regulations  

According to the CDC, every community water supplier must provide an annual report, called a “CCR” or Consumer Confidence Report. This report provides information on your local drinking water quality. 

Stay tuned for our next article when we’ll discuss homeowner options when it comes to basic water treatment.

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Water Softeners Part 2 How They Work

hard water spotsPart 1  Recap: Hard Water

In Part 1 of our series on water softeners, we discussed the effects of hard water on your pipes and appliances. We also noted how hard water reduces the effectiveness of soap and detergents and leaves chalky-white streaks and spots on dishes.

Of all the solutions we explored, water softeners provided the most efficient and cost-effective means of getting the unwanted minerals out of your hard water while still leaving it palatable.

 

Water Softener Componentshard-water-solutions, water-softeners

Three basic components comprise a water softener system.

  1. Mineral Tank-This is where the action is. The mineral tank constitutes the heart of the water softening system.  It contains the resin beads necessary in the ion exchange process that removes calcium and magnesium from your hard water.
  2. Brine Tank-The brine tank holds an aqueous solution usually containing a very high concentration of sodium. Sometimes the sodium is replaced with potassium, depending on the needs of the homeowner. The brine tank plays a key role in the regeneration cycle, which we’ll discuss in a later paragraph.
  3. Control Valve-This important component of the system determines when it is time to clean the resin beads that have been accumulating calcium and magnesium from the hard water flowing though the system. We’ll compare the different types of control valves and timers available in a later paragraph, also.

How Does It Work?

Calcium and magnesium in hard water create lots of problems. Water softeners remove the calcium and magnesium from the hard water and replace them with a mineral that doesn’t cause scaling. The minerals trade places through a process known in chemistry as ion exchange. We’ll talk about the process in common terms, but for those interested in the science behind ion exchange we found a You Tube video and a website that give a great explanation.

 

Ion exchange–trading scale-producing calcium and magnesium for non-scaling sodium or potassium.water softeners, sodium chloride

  • Polymer resin (like plastic beads) fill the mineral tank. These beads are covered with sodium or potassium  ions.
  • Hard water flows into the mineral tank.
  • Because of their electrical charge, calcium and magnesium ions in the hard water attach to the negatively-charged resin beads.
  • Sodium or potassium ions detach from resin beads and release into the water when calcium and magnesium attach.
  • Softened water circulates back into the household supply.

What happens when the resin beads “fill up” with calcium and magnesium ions?hard-water-solutions, water-softeners

This is where the control valve and brine tank come into play. Calcium and magnesium eventually saturate the resin beads. This means that the beads can no longer attract these ions. They need to be cleaned. Water softeners clean the resin beads in a three-stage process called regeneration. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Backwash

The control valve reverses the water flow. This removes all debris  from the mineral tank and flushes it out the drain.

Step 2: Recharge

In step 2, brine (very salty water) from the brine tank pumps into the mineral tank and flushes the resin beads. The high concentration of salt in the brine forces the calcium and magnesium ions to detach from the resin beads. Calcium and magnesium ions move back into the water. The salt (either sodium or potassium ions) then attaches to the resin beads. Finally, the salty water, now filled with calcium and magnesium ions, flows into the drain.

Step 3: Rinse

Water softening resumes once recharging finishes. The mineral tank fills with hard water and ion exchange begins. When calcium and magnesium once more saturate the resin beads, the control valve initiates the regeneration process.

As you can tell, the control valve manages the entire process. In order to make the best choice, you need to know what’s available for you. Homeowners have a choice of types of valves to use.

Types of Control Valves

water softeners, hard water solutions

Automatic water softener control valves fall into three categories.

Some use an electric timer. The timer flushes and regenerates the water on a regular schedule regardless of the ion concentration. During the regeneration phase with this kind of timer, softened water is not available.

Another type of timer uses a computer. The computer monitors how much water passes through the mineral tank. When the pre-determined volume of water is reached, the computer starts the regeneration process. Systems with a computer timer generally reserve resin beads. This means that some soft water is available during the regeneration phase.

The third type of automatic timer uses a mechanical water meter. The water meter determines water usage. This means no water is wasted and the mineral tank recharges only when necessary.  When you add second mineral tank to this system, you can have soft water even during recharging.

hard water solutions

Take Your Pick

Water softeners come in all shapes and sizes, but each one provides you with a simple solution to your hard water problems. Not sure what’s best for you? Give us a call. We have the water treatment experts who can determine the perfect system for you.

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Water Softeners Part 1 Hard Water

What is Hard Water?

hard water scale

Water Hardness scale by Danial David, image source courtesy: alchetron.com

Hard water is water that contains minerals. How do the minerals get into the water? As water flows through the ground it partially dissolves minerals through which it flows. Dissolved mineral particles, such as calcium and magnesium, then flow along, suspended in the water. Although calcium and magnesium are the most common minerals found in hard water, some water also contains ferrous iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide gas. Water treatment experts measure the hardness of water based on how many grains of contaminant are found per gallon of water.

Is Hard Water Really a Problem?

   The short answer?

YES!

calcium depositsHard water can cause a number of problems. Chalk-like calcium and magnesium leave residue on the insides of pipes known as scaling. Scaling will eventually clog pipes and cause serious plumbing problems.These minerals also reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents. Calcium and magnesium prevent soap and detergent from dissolving completely. They also bond with the undissolved soap and detergent to form a sticky coagulated curd.

 

hard water spots

This clumping of soap and detergent makes rinsing difficult. stained sinkHair washed in hard water eventually becomes dull and listless. Dishes, clothing, and even cars sport chalky-white streaks and spots.

Ferrous iron creates the nasty-looking rust stains in your sinks and manganese, often found with ferrous iron, leaves even nastier-looking black stains. Sometimes hard water also contains hydrogen sulfide gas. You’ll know your water has this problem if it has that characteristic “rotten egg” smell.

So, What Can You Do if You Have Hard Water?

hard water

You can deal with your hard water issue in a few different ways. 

Filters: Some people choose to use home water distillation or reverse osmosis appliances. Others install water filters either under the sink or on the faucet. While distillation and water filters can improve the taste of drinking water, they are far too expensive to be practical solutions household-wide.

hard water solutionsAdditives: Powdered chemicals such as Borax and baking soda, prove useful in reducing hard water problems in laundry. Even so, they make water undrinkable. They can be harsh on clothing and sometimes contain phosphates harmful to the environment. These issues also make them a non-reliable solution for treating hard water on a large scale.

hard water solutions

Descaling: Speaking of scale, descaling is another option many people choose for dealing with the damaging effects of hard water on pipes and fixtures. Descaling addresses the results of hard water on pipes, shower heads, and faucets. It uses industrial strength chemicals to “eat away” at the calcium, lime, and rust deposits. One problem with descaling is that once you add it into your main water line, you have to be sure to flush the whole system thoroughly before drinking water or bathing.  The other problem is that the chemicals can also potentially cause corrosion to your pipes themselves. If you want to descale your pipes, your best bet is to call a professional.hard water solution

Water Softeners: By far the most popular method of dealing with hard water is a water softener. They use a process of removing damaging minerals from the water without adding any corrosive chemicals. Water softeners come in a variety of sizes and styles to fit any situation. Easy to use, water softeners provide demineralization on a large scale and are unquestionably the most cost-effective means of dealing with hard water.

 

How to Know if You Have Hard Waterhard water test

This DIY test may give you semi-accurate results, but if you want to know for sure how many and which kind of minerals are in your water, you need to get it tested. Hardware stores and many online stores sell test kits you can use to test your water. Of course, your plumber can provide the most accurate testing — for free. If you do have hard water, you definitely want to talk to your plumber about options for dealing with the situation.

 

 

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8 Water Blogs To Visit Today

Waterworks is not just a piece of the Monopoly game board, but an actual industry that is quite complex. Water is a beloved topic to many because of its mysterious, but ever-present influence in our lives. Our bodies are made up of around 60% water and our hearts and brains, closer to 75%. Water will always be a highly studied subject and it’s for that reason, we’ve decided to compile this list of resources for anyone as in love with water as we are! Here are 8 water blogs and resources in the waterworks industry, and why you should check them out.

WEF WaterBlog – The Water Environment Federation

This WaterBlog is one of the greater resources of water information because it features interviews and information from water quality experts on the latest news, and ideas in the waterworks industry, while other blogs might focus on one or two specific water topics.

Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment

Another great resource for an abundance of scholarly information on all things water treatment, The Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT) is at the School of Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences at Fleming College, a research institution that’s committed to excellent research and education production and presentation. The organization is head by a number of scientists, faculty researchers, and technologists, as well as other members of academic, industrial, and private organizations.

Drink Tap – American Water Works Association

Drink Tap is a resource written by the very organization who set the guidelines for waterworks standards. The AWWA was established in 1181 and is the oldest, largest non-profit dedicated to safe and sustainable water practices. They’ve been responsible for many advancements of public health safety by uniting the community about important water topics.

Water Main Break Clock – Unibell (PVC) Pipe Manufacturer

Each day, 850 water mains break in North America. This site features a clock that shows you how many have occurred today alone! Corrosion, leaks, and water main breaks are responsible for the degradation of our water delivery and sewage treatment efficiency, so this topic is important, too.

Water.org – Water and Sanitation Advocates

Founded by Matt Damon and Gary White, Water.org is a non-profit dedicated to clean water and solving sanitation problems around the world. This organization has put pressure on the water industry to form new solutions, it’s financed these solutions, and emphasizes transparency and partnerships to further this movement. They hope that one day ALL people will have safe drinking water and the use of toilets.

Pump Aid – Water Treatment Pumps in Africa

Pump Aid is an organization that funds and installs water treatment pumps in Africa, to remove waste from existing water lines and provide the residents with cleaner water. Pump Aid is well-known for its “Elephant Pump”, named for its shape because it resembles a trunk and ears. Over 7,600 Elephant Pumps have been installed in Africa where residents once suffered from a lack of water.

Water World – News/Magazine Style Information Output

Water World is an easier read for water and wastewater info. Its website is an impressive online news platform that many engineers, managers, and constultants frequent for the most up to date, trending information on water and wastewater worldwide.

Water Chat – Water Strategist – Another Online Water News Source

The Water Strategist is another valuable news source for anyone working in or who is interested in the topic of water conservation, treatment, and waste solutions because it’s considered a community that is partnered with over 250 other organizations who contribute to the database that provides the latest news releases.

 

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Water Testing 101

Water testing is recommended for well owners, if the water changes in taste, appearance, or odor, once if you’ve moved into a new home or area of the city, if the septic system has recently malfunctioned or some other circumstances that would cause you to worry about contamination, recurring gastrointestinal illness in the family/residents of the home, if or when an infant is residing in the home, and to monitor the efficiency regularly of any at-home water treatment equipment you are employing.

If you don’t know when you should test your water beyond these suggestions, you can contact your local health and/or environmental agency for the recommendations for your area. At-home water testing kits are available, otherwise you can employ a professional like any other home service such as a plumber or electrician, or your water works company. If you do a home water test and you are unsure how to interpret the results, a professional can help you interpret them as well.

Some common markers to look for are:

Coliform Bacteria

This is the most common marker for bacterial contaminants. The presence of this element is an indicator of contamination of human or animal waste. Total Coliform is a broad category of bacteria and poses little threat to humans unless the number is incredibly high. The marker can also be caused by soil, vegetation, insects and others. This marker is important because it gives you a place to begin, so future water testing can indicate whether or not your water condition is worsening. If fecal matter is a concern, further testing can determine if it’s a matter in need of attention, such as the e-coli test.

Nitrates

Nitrates typically come from fertilizers, septic systems, animal manure, and sewer lines. It can also occur naturally in the breakdown process of soil and rocks. High levels indicate a health risk and additional testing will be necessary to check for other markers of bacteria and pesticides. This particular contaminant is especially harmful to babies and children and should not be used to mix with formula or food.

Other Natural Contaminants

As previously mentioned, your city or state may have guidelines for which testing will best suit your region. Some water-quality concerns in certain areas may include arsenic and radon testing. Arsenic ca occur in water that comes into contact with certain types of rock and soil and Radon is a colorless, odorless, and taste-free gas that comes from radioactivity of uranium in the ground. Areas that are at risk for Radon exposure have to test both the air and water, because they can be ingested into the body by both.

Other parts of home water testing including checking the PH balance and hardness, iron, manganese, and sulfides that can cause problems with plumbing, staining things it comes into contact with, the way the water appears, its odor, and how it feels on your body and hair. If your water appears cloudy or oily, your fixtures become visibly disturbed, or water treatment equipment seems to have malfunctioned, be sure to bring in a professional prior to consuming or using any more of the water.

 

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HOW A MUNICIPAL WATER DISASTER CAN HAPPEN

A municipal water disaster can present itself without warning. The potential for adverse health effects can be great. Contact your city’s municipal water department for the latest report on the safety and quality of your water. The following are examples of water disasters that took the residents of these cities by surprise.

Most recently the Flint Michigan water disaster comes to mind. Flint had switched using the Detroit water system to using the Flint River. Soon after, high levels of lead were detected in tested homes. The water from the river was corrosive to the city water pipes which leached lead into the water supply. Lead poisoning can cause organ damage. In children it can cause brain damage.

Our nations capitol Washington, D.C. faced a water crisis when it was discovered that their lead levels were unacceptable. It was found that the change from using chlorine to chloramine caused premature pipe corrosion resulting in lead leaching into the water supply.

Cryptosporidium, a parasite, lives in the intestines of infected humans and animals. Feces from hosts can enter municipal water supplies by farm runoff and storm water. Milwaukee Wisconsin had a cryptosporidiosis outbreak in 1993 which caused illness to 400,000 people. Of which at least 69 people died. This incident became the largest documented waterborne disease outbreak in U.S. History. Cryptosporidium oocysts are tiny and were able to pass through the water facility’s filtration system. Milwaukee has put in place practices that has improved water quality security including water monitoring equipment and updated filters.

In 2014, the Toledo , Ohio metropolitan area residents were under an order not to drink or cook with the water. Samples taken from a water treatment plant indicated a toxin call microcystin. This toxin was a result of a large bloom of algae on Lake Erie. Microcystins form with the conditions of warm stagnant water and oversupply of nutrients. Fertilizer runoff from cropland contributing to the process. Ingestion of this toxin can cause liver damage.

It is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to have an emergency supply of water in an event of a water crisis. Your water supply should include one gallon of water per person for three days. Ideally This water should be commercially bottled and sealed to ensure its safety. Rotate out bottles with close expiration dates. Include extra water if you have pets.

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Water Softening 101

Water softening is the process of dealing with a hard water issue. “Hard water” is the term used when your water contains more minerals than is usual. Hard water is usually made noticeable by the way your shampoos and soaps do not dissolve in the water. This is because of the calcium and magnesium content. Water highly concentrated with calcium and magnesium can cause your pipes to clog and the inability to wash your hair adequately. It also, through clogging pipes, makes household appliance efficiency diminish such as in hot water heaters, washing machines, and any appliance water is sent through. This makes water softening important at home, but it’s also an applicable solution for certain industries. Having the right water supply, often a delicate balance of positive or negative ions, is important to breweries, water treatment facilities that make drinking water, soda companies, and more.

The best solution for the problem is to install a water softener directly to the water supply coming from the outside well or street. The water softener removes ions from the water, the positively charged calcium, magnesium, and sometimes iron as well.

How does it work? A water softener collects the hard water in what is called a conditioning tank where it meets an iron exchanger, a technology that removes the positively charged ions and replaces them with sodium and potassium salts. The water softener will also drain its waste. Water softeners can last you many years. A water softener installed in the 1980s may still work and only require the salt all water softeners require. There are 3 types of salt sold: rock salt, evaporated salt, and solar salt. Really the consideration for what type of salt you need to use will depend on the type of softener you have, how old it is, and how often you want or need to clean the technology. Salt level is kind of like keeping oil in your car. It needs to be filled half way at all times and should be checked monthly.

How much does it cost? If you are replacing a water softener, you have a lot of options to choose from and you can pay a premium for new technology. Many water softeners are electric, but some now operate on water power. After you have a working water softener, the real operating cost is only the salt you need to put in it. The operating cost is likely less than 10 dollars per month.

Is it safe to drink? Because only minerals that make the water hard are removed like calcium and magnesium, the water is usually perfectly safe to drink and may only contain 3% more salt than it did prior. All the elements you need to have in your drinking water will still be in it.

If you have additional questions concerning your water softener or the use of one, you can call a trusted local water treatment professional for assistance. They can test your water and recommend any necessary adjustments or replacements so you can drink and use the best water possible for you, your family, your plumbing, and your appliances!

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Top 5 Reasons To Drink Adequate Water Daily

Because our bodies are made up of between 55-75% water, it’s essential we care about the quality and amount of water we drink daily. You can test the quality of your water by inviting a local water treatment company to your home. After you receive the results, you’ll better know if you need to treat your water to be ingesting more pure water with the necessary mineral profile for optimal health. More importantly, the most common recommendation is to drink half your body weight in ounces of water per day. Here’s why.

  1. It Reduces Fatigue

If you’re feeling tired, there is a good chance you might be dehydrated. Feeling less energized is often the first sign of dehydration because the lack of water causes the heart to work harder and all the other systems of the body work less efficiently.

  1. It Improves Mood

Studies show that even a small amount of dehydration can affect your mood and your ability to think clearly. A good indicator that you are well hydrated is a light yellow or clear colored urine. If you are slightly or severely dehydrated you’ll have yellow to dark yellow colored urine.

  1. It Minimizes Headaches and Constipation

A huge contributor to headaches and migraines is lack of water consumption. Drinking water when you first feel a headache coming on should take effect immediately. When the body is dehydrated your body will pull moisture from your stools to make up for the lack of hydration and cause you to become constipated. Drinking your daily water intake will aid your digestion and prevent constipation and its associated discomfort.

  1. It Aids Healthy Weight Loss

For many reasons changing your water drinking habits is the very first step toward healthy weight loss. Often when we think our body is hungry, the fact is we’re often only thirsty. You’ll find that drinking 1-2 glasses of water before a meal can suppress that false hunger. Drinking water also promotes fat burning and elimination within the body.

  1. It Flushes Toxins

Having adequate supply of water within the body let’s the body sweat and release toxins through urine. Water supports proper liver and kidney function, essential filtering organs. If you are predisposed to kidney stones, water dilutes the salts and minerals that form kidney stones. If it’s safe to say water promotes your health, it’s probably safe to say it prevents illness as well. On top of preventing kidney stones and constipation, other illnesses that can be prevented by getting adequate water are bladder infection, asthma, colds, yeast infections, sleep disturbance, skin issues, high blood pressure, heart disease and more.

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Reasons To Call A Water Treatment Professional And What To Expect

The loudest indicator you may want to get your water checked out is if it contains a funny taste, color, or odor. There may not be anything wrong with the water, just like seemingly clean water may have unwanted contaminants. Water that smells might have high levels of hydrogen sulfide or sulfur bacteria. Taste and color can vary along with many properties found in water. All these things can easily be explained with quick and simple testing.

If you’ve moved into a new home, especially if you’ve purchased a home, it’s a great time to test your water and make any adjustments necessary to optimize your water supply. If over time you realize that your water use appliances are working less efficiently or have residue build up, this is another indicator that your water levels should be checked and optimized for the life of your appliances, as well as other fixtures around the home. Another instance you may want to call a professional is if there is a resident in the home with a compromised immune system and you want to take the most precautions possible.

If you’ve found yourself in any of these situations, you can find yourself a local water treatment professional and make an appointment for them to come to the home and test.. Another option is to take a sample of the water yourself and mail it to a qualified laboratory for testing. If done in the home, the test only takes but ten minutes. Some of the things being tested for are the following: bacteria, micro-organisms, hardness, PH, acidity, alkalinity, sulfur, nitrite, nitrate, metals, chlorine and pesticides.

Once the results are obtained, you or your water treatment professional will be able to compare what you’ve got against the recommendations for safe levels of each element. From there you will be given the appropriate suggestions to modify your home to eliminate or balance any issues. This may include installing water filters (of many sizes, placements, types and purposes) or a water softener, and further water testing appointments in the future!

Somewhat common and potentially poisonous elements that could be found in your water include fluoride, chlorine, many types of pesticides and gasoline additives. These things can cause serious damage to vital organs with long term exposure. Testing is an excellent first step and beyond that, you may decide to just use the water for certain purposes and purchase drinking water you know is pure. A simple test is worth the time and expense if you aren’t already aware of what kind of water you are working with!

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Suspect hard water? There’s a test for that.

Different Ways Of Conducting Hard Water Test

knoxville-water-testing-in-homeWater is very important to us. You will realize that we normally use it for drinking, cleaning and so on. You need water on a daily basis. Water can be hard or soft. You will realize that hard water normally takes time to lather with soap. Hard water can actually frustrate you. It can make your dishes to be spotty and even affect your skin. It can make your skin to be dry. It can also affect other appliances in your home. If you spot any of these signs, you are living in a hard water zone. You will realize that very few people normally have water softeners. Most homes in the United States have hard water. This is the reason why you should test whether your water is hard or soft.

Testing your water’s hardness will go a long way in finding the best solution for your home. There are many ways of testing whether your water is hard or not. Some of those ways include:

1. Review your yearly consumer confidence report.

This confidence report is normally sent by July 1 from your water supplier. This report basically has details of where your water comes from and what’s in it. You can actually call your water supplier if you do not receive your confidence report on time. He or she will send it to you. If the water hardness level is not indicated in the annual report, you can contact your local water municipality.

2. Carry out some tests at home.

Put some water in a clean water bottle and add a few drops of basic soap. A good example is Castile. It is normally free of dyes and perfumes. Once you are done, shake the bottle vigorously for a few seconds. If you see milky water that lacks fluffy bubbles, it shows that your water is hard. You will realize that soft water normally has an abundance of bubbles.

3. Use hard water test strips.

You can actually buy these strips from any store or through an online retailer. These test kits normally cost between $5 and $20.These test kits can actually help you determine whether your water is hard is hard or not.

4. Use a third-party lab

You can actually send some water samples to a third party lab for more analysis.

5. Hire the services of Knoxville Water treatment.

We are professionals in this field. We can help you determine whether your water is hard or not. Once you hire us, we will come and do hard water test for free.

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