Category: Water Consumption

 

The quality of water in our home is hugely important and very few of us consider the health effects and cost of have poor quality water. We often take for granted the fact that the water we get from the tap is clean, and undiluted by other materials. Whilst in Ireland we generally do have clean drinking water, which is almost perfectly safe to drink, very few of us know exactly what is in the water that we get out of the tap. Unfortunately, many of us live in areas with hard water. Hard water is water that is contains trace elements of minerals such as calcium and magnesium. Rainwater is soft or pure water, but as soon as the water hits the atmosphere it can collect gases and other impurities in the air. Most water in our systems is collected from groundwater hence it is obvious that the water we get in our homes is hard. Whilst these minerals are almost never harmful, they can have costly effects to our family and homes. It can be quite marked, especially among people who are vulnerable or still physically developing.

Benefits of soft water for children

You can rectify the problem of having hard water in your home by buying water filtering system, or water softening system. This has many benefits, but most of all it has benefits for children and adults alike. Children are at a crucial stage in the development, and they will grow more as a child than they ever do as an adult. That’s why it’s crucial that they get the right amount of minerals and vitamins, and they don’t get it from sources they shouldn’t. It is important that children get enough calcium, because it helps their bones, teeth, and general skeleton and muscular structure to develop.

You water can contain other minerals and chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine which can damage healthy teeth and bones. Hard water may also irritate the soft skin of children and adults and may cause serious skin and hair issues with prolonged exposure. That’s why having soft water at your home is important.  Mains water/Council water that is softened does not contain any minerals and is less irritable on children’s sensitive skin

Benefits of soft water for people with sensitive skin

If you have sensitive skin, then you know that it is very easy for you to get outbreaks of either dry skin, or inflamed skin, or whatever malady that you suffer from. It may also be difficult to understand where some of these outbreaks come from- Is it from the detergent you use. Is it something you eat? Or is it something to do with the quality of your water?

If you’re tried changing your daily products or any other methods suggested by your doctors, the cause may be hard water. Hard water may dry out your skin dry or leave rashes or other issues with prolonged use. That’s why it may be worth investing in a water softening solution if you have sensitive skin.

If you’re tried changing your daily products or any other methods suggested by your doctors, the cause may be hard water. Hard water may dry out your skin dry or leave rashes or other issues with prolonged use. That’s why it may be worth investing in a water softening solution if you have sensitive skin.
Water softeners also have many other benefits such as saving in costs, clean bathrooms and floor, increasing the lifetime of appliances and up to a 25% reduction in heating costs. Soft water can also break down existing lime scale within your home bringing your appliances and hot water tank back to normal within weeks.

For more information on how water softeners can benefit your home and visit https://www.ewtechnologies.ie/water-softeners-range or call 01 8855 055.

Iron Removal Iron Properties Iron, even in small quantities, can be one of the most troublesome elements found in water. As little as 0.3 ppm (parts per million) of iron can cause staining of fixtures, sinks, flooring, and also most anything else it comes into contact with. Concentrations below 0.3 ppm can still have profound adverse effects in manufacturing processes.

Iron affects the tastes of foods and beverages, can contribute to the block-age of pipes, and can cause many other unwanted problems. Since it has so many undesirable properties, iron removal is an important phase of water treatment. State Symbol Elemental, metallic iron Fe Ferrous iron Fe + + Ferric iron Fe + + + In underground strata, far from the oxidizing effects of oxygen in air, conditions usually favor the reduction of the natural ferric iron deposits to the ferrous state. Since the ferrous salts are highly soluble, ground water supplies frequently carry significant concentrations, and as this ferrous iron is in true solution, the water may be perfectly clear and colorless, with no visible evidence of the iron present. However, when ferrous iron is exposed to the atmosphere, oxygen from the air readily converts it to the ferric state. Ferric iron then reacts with the alkalinity in the water to form ferric hydroxide, the insoluble brown gelatinous matter which causes so much staining.

The corrosion of iron or steel water lines may also add iron to the water. Metal corrosion, an electro-chemical process, converts the elemental metallic iron to the soluble ferrous state. In the absence of oxygen and other oxidizing agents, the ferrous iron may be simply carried away with the water. Where oxidizing materials are present, the insoluble ferric hydroxide forms readily. This, too, may be carried along with the water, or since it is quite insoluble and gelatinous in nature, may deposit and stick inside the water lines. This is true even when natural ferrous iron is oxidized inside of pipes. Ferric hydroxide which is deposited inside a water line has a tendency to lose water, particularly in hot water lines, according to the reaction: 2 Fe (OH)3 ————–> Fe2 O3 + H2O

This ferric oxide is the same rust which forms when an iron or steel structure is exposed to both air and moisture. During periods of high water flow, these rust particles may break free to cause rust stains on materials which comes into contact with water. Iron may also be present in water in combination with organic matter. Many natural and man-made organic compounds will react, particularly with ferrous iron, to form heavily colored compounds which can cause severe staining. These compounds are usually very stable, and tie up the iron so that it is not free to react as are other forms. The iron bounds into such compounds called “chelated” or “organic” and clearly present problems in water treatment. “Iron bacteria” is a term applied to a group of small organisms which appear to convert ferrous iron to the ferric state as part of their metabolism.

It is suspected that these organisms may even attack steel pipe to obtain iron, thus causing a form of corrosion. As the iron bacteria grow, they develop masses of gelatinous and filamentous organic matter, which physically trap the ferric hydroxide produced. Heavy growths of these organisms have been known to plug pipes completely, but it is more common for clumps to break away during periods of high flow to produce “slugs” of iron laden water, which can cause all of the previously described staining problems. Iron bacteria can be identified by a microscopic examination of the turbidity they produce, but the necessary laboratory facilities are not always readily available.

However, the presence of a brown, slime-like growth at the surface of the water in a toilet flush tank is a good indication of the presence of iron bacteria in the system. Iron Removal with Water Softeners More water softeners are used to remove iron from household water supplies than any other devices or systems. Many of these installations are successful and consistently remove both hardness and iron. At other installations, intermittent leakage of iron through the softener occurs, but the total water quality improvement is so great that the users are reasonably satisfied.

In still other cases, softeners fail to do a satisfactory job, passing iron continuously or in “slugs”, or gradually losing capacity due to fouling of the softener bed. Thus, we have several degrees of success with softeners in iron removal. On some iron waters, it is immediately clear that a softener should not be used. Dissolved organic-iron compounds may simply pass through a softener, unaffected by either ion exchange or the filtering action of the softener bed. Solid organic matter particles frequently contain quantities of precipitated iron, and the combined solids can lead to rapid fouling of the bed. Iron bacteria in water can rapidly foul softener beds, and worse, can grow and pass through the beds in slugs.

When such materials are found in the water, softeners should not be applied. Technically, industrial water softeners can remove dissolved ferrous iron by ion exchange, just as they remove calcium and magnesium. Further, precipitated iron can be removed by filtration. Problems arise, however, in getting the iron out of the softener bed during regeneration. Precipitated iron (ferric hydroxide), formed when soluble ferrous iron is oxidized by oxygen in air, is a gelatinous, sticky material which tends to adhere to the beads or particles in a softener bed. These strictly physical properties make it difficult to rid a softener bed of this material even with a thorough backwash, and it may gradually accumulate in the bed.

After a period of this accumulation, slugs of iron may appear in the softened water immediately after regeneration or after abrupt increases in water flow through the softener. Since the materials may also clog the pores of the ion exchange material in the softener bed, it can gradually reduce the hardness removal capacity. Both of these effects create obvious problems for the user of the water. Ideally, ferrous iron removed by ion exchange should be discharged with the hardness during the usual brine regeneration. In practice, however, it is usual for at least some of this iron to be converted to the ferric, insoluble state by oxygen in the regeneration water or brine. Thus, some of this iron is retained in the softener, and in time, may produce the slugs or fouling previously described above. Once a softener is badly fouled, it is difficult to clean it except by drastic methods, most of which are not practical. It is frequently more practical to replace the bed with new ion exchange resin rather than to attempt cleaning.

Lightly or moderately fouled resin may often be cleaned with a number of proprietary formulations on the market today. These include several mild acids, reducing agents, sequestering or dispersing agents, and blends of several of these materials. In some installations, large doses of these cleaning materials may be used at extended intervals to rejuvenate fouled beds. Alternately, relatively small doses may be applied with each regeneration in a preventative maintenance program. Some water softener manufacturers have developed automatic dispensers for cleaning agents and have them available either as standard components or as optional accessories. A number of elements of water softener design can further minimize iron fouling. These include sufficient freeboard above the softener bed to permit full expansion of the bed during backwash, adequate backwash time in the regeneration cycle, and large backwash outlet openings to permit the iron to pass from the softener tank easily. The use of more frequent regenerations with fully automatic softener valves helps to remove precipitated iron before it “sets”, and a fast downflow final rinse packs the bed and reduces slugs of iron into the softened water.

Many factors affect the ability of softeners to remove iron successfully; the form of iron and its concentration, softener design, the presence or absence of organic matter and dissolved oxygen, cleaning procedures, regeneration frequency, pH, temperature, and usage characteristics. Traditional Iron Removal Methods As discussed earlier, ion exchange may be used for iron removal, but the method works best when the iron concentration is low and when all or most of the iron is in the soluble state. When the iron in a water supply is largely precipitated, when the concentration is high or substantial organic matter is also present, when the iron is chelated or when iron bacteria are encountered, one of the following methods should be applied. Relatively high concentrations of inorganic iron, whether ferrous or ferric (dissolved or precipitated), may be removed with iron filters. They are similar in appearance and size to conventional water softeners but contain beds of media which have mild oxidizing power. As the iron-bearing water is passed through the bed, any soluble ferrous iron is converted to the insoluble ferric state and then filtered from the water. Any previously precipitated iron is removed by simple mechanical filtration. Several different filter media may be used in these iron filters, including manganese greensand, Birm, MTM, multi-media, sand, and other synthetic materials.

In most cases, the higher oxides of manganese produce the desired oxidizing action. Periodic backwashing is necessary to remove the precipitated iron from the bed, and less frequently, regeneration may be necessary to restore the oxidizing power of the filter media. With most media, this is accomplished by passing a solution of potassium permanganate through the bed and then rinsing, a process mechanically similar to the regeneration of a water softener. Usually about four ounces of potassium permanganate is used for each cubic foot of filter media. A special case exists when sufficient dissolved oxygen can be added to the water and the filter bed then simply serves as a catalyst to speed the reaction between the oxygen and iron. In such installations, the bed must still be backwashed periodically, but no chemical regeneration of the filter media is necessary.

As with water softeners, iron filters do have limitations. Since the oxidizing action is relatively mild, it will not work well when organic matter, either combined with the iron or completely separate, is present in the water and iron bacteria will not be killed. Extremely high iron concentrations may require inconvenient frequent backwashing and/or regeneration. Finally, iron filter media requires high flow rates for proper backwashing and such water flows are not always available. In those cases where neither ion exchange nor iron filters are applicable, chemical feed pumps and filters may be used in combination with great effectiveness. In such cases, a chemical feed pump may be used to introduce a solution of an oxidizing agent such as sodium or calcium hypochlorite or potassium permanganate, into the feed water. The oxidizing agent will then not only oxidize soluble iron to the insoluble ferric state, but will also attach any organic matter present. When either of the hypochlorites are used, the water will be disinfected at the same time.

These oxidizing solutions should be fed into the water line ahead of a mixing and contact tank to ensure complete reaction with the iron and organic matter and to allow coagulation of small particles into filterable sizes. In most cases, the pressure tank of a private water system fills this need, but occasionally, slowly acting forms of organic matter require additional contact time. In such cases, additional tanks or contact vessels must be provided. Following the mixing and contact, a filter is used to remove the precipitated iron from the water.

EWT recommends seeking a qualified water treatment provider under the following circumstances:

• If your tap water doesn’t taste good
• If your tap water doesn’t smell good
• If your water doesn’t lather properly when mixed with soap
• If your water leaves scale or spots on surfaces
• If you’ve had laboratory testing done and aren’t sure how to solve the problems

A water treatment professional can help you sort through the options because water is complex, has may potential contaminants, and there is no “one size fits all” solution to water problems. Often the best solution involves the following four steps:

• Investigate your options for treatment at the faucet level (point-of-use solutions)
• Investigate your options for treating the entire building (point-of-entry solutions)
• Find the right people to help you with your water quality issues
• Find the right products to treat your water quality issues

Anti Fluoride campaigner and Journalist Adrienne Murphy, discovers an alternative solution to removing fluoride from her families’ drinking water.

Adrienne Murphy with her two boys Fiach and Caoimh

As a health-conscious person, I’ve never felt great about drinking Irish tap water. I knew that contaminants were the reason for the water’s bad taste and smell. It was an effort encouraging my children to drink tap water, and my dog frequently turned his nose up at it, preferring to drink rainwater instead.

When I began my journalistic investigation into water fluoridation for Hot Press magazine in February 2013, I became seriously concerned about the safety of  tap water. A year later, my investigation is still going strong, and is a crucial plank in the current Irish campaign to end the 50-year mandatory practice of dumping hyrdrofluorosilicic acid (‘fluoride’) into the public water supply. The notion that we must be force-feed an uncontrollable dose of fluoride via our taps ‘because it’s a safe and effective way to prevent dental decay’ is ethically unacceptable, and has been scientifically debunked. It is now known that fluoride acts on the teeth topically, as opposed to systemically – hence there is no need to expose every tissue in the body to fluoride through the tap water. There is also an ever-increasing amount of scientific research linking fluoride in our water to serious adverse health effects.

The Hot Press fluoride investigation is the most extensive of its kind ever to be undertaken internationally. Having researched and written more than 25 articles on this subject, I can say with absolute certainty that consuming fluoridated water is detrimental to health, and in many cases, it is downright dangerous. Responsible doctors are now warning that pregnant women and infants should not be exposed to any fluoride through tap water.  Other high-risk groups are people with thyroid dysfunction and kidney disease.

Of course fluoride is not the only contaminant in Irish tap water. Chlorine, lead, heavy metals, dangerous bacteria and a host of other nasties are also present.

We’re each made of at least 75 per cent water. Drinking plenty of water is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body, your mind and your overall well-being. But it’s only healthy if the water you’re consuming is healthy. And Irish tap-water is a far cry from healthy.

Alarmed by my research into our water quality, I quickly moved to reduce my family’s exposure to fluoride and the other contaminants in tap water. I started buying large quantities of bottled water to use for drinking and cooking. I felt a huge relief to be off tap water, and began to see improvements in my children’s health and my own. But it’s a hard job lugging around that much bottled water, plus it’s time-consuming and environmentally-unfriendly dealing with all that plastic. Also, when I unexpectedly ran out of bottled water, I’d be loathe to even brush my teeth in the tap water, since I know that fluoride is a neurotoxin and an endocrine-disruptor.

After a couple of months on bottled water, I threw in the towel and started looking for an under-the-sink Reverse Osmosis (RO) filter. Counter-top filters do remove some contaminants, but they don’t take out fluoride. The company I chose to supply and install my RO filter was EWT. EWT was Irish Business of the Year in 2011; it has the highest number of certified water quality association employees; it is currently supplying filters to the HSE and Leister House; and it has the advantage of being 12 years in business.

The RO filter was fitted under my sink no problem, and I found the EWT guys who installed it very pleasant to deal with. It’s a relief to be able to wash my salad leaves, and even rinse out the kids’ flasks, in the pure water coming from the  EWT G5 RO tap at my kitchen sink. The water tastes much, much better, and I feel so much happier steaming and boiling our food in it. Another advantage is that my kids are now drinking a lot more water, simply because they like the taste.

Drinking plenty of clean pure water is fundamental to good health. And installing an RO filter into your kitchen at home is one of the most positive steps you can take towards good health for you and for your family. It’s an investment worth making.
If you are concerned about any of the information in this article or would like more information of EWT’s G5 RO system call 01 8855 055 or visit www.ewtwater.ie

What is water softening?

Water softening is the removal of calcium and a few other minerals that can cause our working water to damage household property. When it deposits as scale, calcium carbonate (limescale) is an abrasive rock like mineral.

Why soften your water?

Calcium that is dissolved in water forms deposits that:
• Abrade and fray the threads in clothing
• Stick to clothing and other household products and appliances (You can feel the difference between towels that are new and those that have been repeatedly laundered in hard water. Those laundered in hard water ones are rough, the result of rock encrustations embedded in the fibers.)
• Spot dishes, faucets, sinks, toilets, cars, in fact all surfaces, with a microscopic film of limescale.
• Deposits buildup inside water pipes, heaters, and bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
• Gas water heaters used 29% less energy to heat water and electric water heaters used 21% less energy when operated on softened water according to a study done by New Mexico State University.

How can water be softened?
Presently there is only one practical way for homeowners to soften their water and that is through an ion exchange water softener, including portable exchange devices. Briefly here is how it works: Ion exchange water softeners are filled with millions of tiny resin beads that attract and hold on
to calcium. As the water passes through this resin “bed” the calcium is removed so it cannot harm your household goods.

What happens when the resin beads are full of calcium?
The resin bed is rinsed with dissolved salt, usually table salt. The dissolved salt scours the calcium from the beads which prepares them to remove more calcium. This rinsing process takes place every few days, usually at night.

Are there other alternatives that remove calcium from the water?
Not that we are aware of at this time. Some other technologies can remove calcium but an very high cost in energy or wasted water. Ion exchange water softening is the most cost efficient method to remove calcium.

What is product certification?
Product certification is usually referred to as Conformity Assessment. This term is used to describe steps taken by both manufacturers and independent third parties to determine fulfillment of standards requirements. It involves testing products in a laboratory according to a standard procedure and it also involves periodic audit inspections of the manufacturing facility to insure that the product that was tested conforms to the ones currently being manufactured. The Water Quality Association is an organization that is certified by the American National Standards Institute for conformity assessment.

What is the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and what is its role?
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has served in its capacity as administrator and coordinator of the United States private sector voluntary standardization system for more than 90 years. The Institute recognizes the competence of bodies to carry out product or personnel certification in accordance with requirements defined in International Standards. ANSI’s accreditation programs operate in accordance with international guidelines and have been verified by government and peer review assessments. ANSI’s program for accrediting third‐party product certification have experienced significant growth in recent years, and the Institute continues its efforts to obtain worldwide acceptance of accredited certifications performed in the U.S. One of the best indicators of the strength of the U.S. system is the government’s extensive reliance on, and use of, private sector voluntary standards. Pursuant to OMB Circular A119, federal government agencies are required to use voluntary standards for regulatory and procurement purposes when appropriate. State and local governments and agencies have formally adopted thousands of voluntary standards produced by ANSI, and the process appears to be accelerating.

What is the Water Quality Association’s Gold Seal and what does it mean to consumers?
The WQA Gold Seal is awarded only to products that have passed laboratory tests, literature review, materials assessment, and have been submitted to periodic audits according to ANSI NSF Standards (NSF stands for the National Sanitation Foundation, a standards writing body the conforms with ANSI standards.)

What do the seals mean?
Each technology is tested according to a different standard. Look at the seal to see which standard the product was tested for. (See the picture of the seal with the references to the different standards)
To avoid confusion here are the basic standards with some clarifying notes:

• Standard 42 Drinking Water Treatment Units Aesthetic Effects. These products are certified only for taste or odor or staining. No health claims have been certified for products tested according to this standard.
• Standard 44 Cation exchange water softeners. These products are certified for the removal of hardness (calcium). Some manufacturers have also had their softeners certified for the removal of barium and radium.
• Standard 53 Drinking Water Treatment Units Health Effects.These products are certified for the removal of specific health contaminants. Look for the manufacturer’s listing of the contaminants that were tested. Certified contaminant removal claims can only be made for the listed contaminants on the literature.
• Standard 55 Ultraviolet Microbiological Water Treatment Systems
• Standard 58 Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment Systems
• Standard 61 Drinking Water Treatment Components Health Effects. This standard insures that the product itself does not impart health contaminants to the drinking water that comes in contact with it.  The other standards all require this kind of testing as part of their certification. These are 42, 44, 53, 55, 58, and 62. Standard 61 testing does not include any performance testing.
• Standard 62 Drinking Water Distillation Systems
• Standard 171 Shower Filtration Systems Aesthetic Effects

A full listing of all products that have been certified by WQA can be found on the WQA web site www.WQA.org.

You will know if you have iron in your water when your kettle is brown on the inside, white clothes especially come out stained after a wash and shower units, taps and fixtures have a brown discolouration.

Iron in water supplies is primarily linked to those homes or farms on a well supply.  Because iron is such a common element accounting for a minimum of 5% of the earth’s crust almost all water supplies whether they be ground water or surface water contain some amount of iron.

There are 4 forms of iron that you may find in your water supply and this generally varies depending on the geographical area you live in.

Water with iron particles over 0.2 parts per million is classified as requiring treatment under EU guidelines on drinking water. For this reason it is important to test water for iron and ph levels before deciding on what method of treatment to use.

• • Ferrous iron is dissolved iron in water. The contribution of high carbon dioxide and low dissolved oxygen levels contribute to the formation of this colourless clear form of Iron.
  • Ferric iron or insoluble iron can be seen as a brown discolouration in your water supply. This form of iron is most often the type seen in kettles, shower heads and toilet fixtures. It is often referred to as rust or red water.
  • Organic Iron, also known as iron bacteria can cause pipes to clog. It can also be recognised due to its foul-tasting smell.
  • Colloidal iron gives a red-pink colour to your water and the iron appears to float on the top of the water. This type of iron stays suspended in the water.

What should I do if I have iron in my water supply?
Removing Iron from my water

Due to different of varieties and levels of iron in water supplies it can be quite difficult to recommend one particular type of equipment for its removal so the water test should be analysed first.
However with approximately 90% of iron issues in Ireland primarily due to Ferric iron with levels below 5 parts per million or less EWT would recommend the E611 Iron removal unit. For well supplies it is also advisable to put additional treatment such as UV and Reverse Osmosis onto the drinking water supply to prevent bacterial infection in well water from entering the home and drinking water supplies.

For more information on the removal of Iron in your water contact EWT on 01 8855 055, email culliganhome.support@culligan.ie or visit our website www.ewtechnologies.ie

Chlorine in its gas form has a greenish yellow colour. It is part of the halogen group of elements.  Most people associate chlorine with the strong smell from swimming pools or metallic aftertaste we get from drinking mains tap water. As a gas chlorine can cause respiratory irritation and in liquid form it will burn skin. At only 3.5 parts per million in our water supplies humans will be able to smell chlorine  At concentrations of 1000 parts per million or more Chlorine gas can be fatal if inhaled.

Advantages of using Chlorine to disinfect our water

The main reason why Chlorine is added to our public water supplies is because it is a highly effective disinfectant which helps to kill disease causing bacteria such as cholera that would otherwise be transported through our pipe network. Chlorine attacks microorganisms and bacteria in the water, killing the cells and leaving them harmless.
Many house hold cleaners contain chlorine bleach which is used to kill germs, whiten clothes and even sanitise wells.

Disadvantages of using Chlorine to disinfect our water supply

When Chlorine reacts with other naturally occurring elements in our water supplies it forms a toxin called Trihalomethanes which have been linked to a wide range of human health issues such as heart disease, eczema and asthma.
Over exposure to high levels of chlorine (IE swimming pools and showering in chlorinated water) can cause dry, porous hair and skin. Hair that has been previously coloured or lightened is especially vulnerable and more likely to absorb chemicals and discoloration as a result.

How do I remove Chlorine from my tap water?

The easiest way to remove Chlorine from your drinking water is to install an activated carbon filter which generally come with a separate tap and can be fitted underneath your kitchen sink. If you are concerned about bathing in chlorinated water you can put a larger activated carbon vessel on your incoming mains supply. Activated carbon has strong attraction forces and will absorb excess chlorine in water supplies.  EWT recommend the G1 filter for the removal of chlorine from drinking water.
For more information on water treatment visit www.ewtechnologies.ie

In recognition of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s first-ever Septic Smart Week (Sept. 23-27),EW Technologies (EWT) is highlighting a recent independent study, which found that water softeners—when set with appropriate salt efficiency—do not harm septic systems, but actually help them.

The Water Quality Research Foundation commissioned Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University to conduct independent and scientific testing on the issue in 2012. Nearly $100,000 was invested for this 18-month study, which included many site visits and the work of numerous trained professionals. According to its authors, the study demonstrates that “efficiently operated water softeners improve septic tank performance, while the use of very inefficient home softeners may have a negative effect on solids discharge.

” This 2012 study, and similar reports, point to the importance of consumers using “demand- initiated regeneration” (DIR) unit softeners to discharge the regenerate into septic fields. DIR units are the most commonly sold devices today, and are very efficiently operated in the amount of salt and water used. To find out more about the study and to seek local water treatment professionals, consumers can visit wqa.org.

Dedicated to consumer education and public awareness, the Water Quality Association is a not-for-profit trade group of businesses that provide treatment solutions for safe, clean water throughout the world – in homes, schools, commercial and industrial settings, and more. WQA promotes best practices for superior products and environmental sustainability with the guidance of respected, independent standards. Its labs conduct rigorous testing and certification, and training programs promote professionalism and ethics. Learn more: www.ewtechnologies.ie SepticSmart Week: Efficiently Operated Water Softeners Improve Septic Performance, Independent Study Says

Kieran Fitzgearld of EW Technologies joins the Water Quality Association (WQA) and the National Groundwater Association (NWGA) in encouraging the citizens of (state or city or county) to protect public health and the health of the environment by protecting groundwater beginning on Protect Your Groundwater Day, September 10.

“It is crucial for well owners to test their water regularly to ensure its quality,” said Kieran Fitzgearld .

Nationally, almost 45 percent of the population regularly depends on groundwater for its drinking supply. 1000s of irish residents are served by privately owned individual wells.

For household water well owners, how they manage their well systems and property can make a difference in their water quality. People who do not use household wells also can make a difference in groundwater quality, for instance, by how they store, use, and dispose of hazardous household substances, or how well they maintain their septic systems.

WQA offers certification for trained professionals to help give consumers confidence about the knowledge of local dealers, through “Find A Water Professional” at wqa.org.

Additionally, the Gold Seal on a product means it has been tested and certified for effectiveness. WQA uses independent standards established by NSF International/American National Standards Institute

(NSF/ANSI). Products that have passed testing can be found at wqa.org.

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WQA is a partner in Protect Your Groundwater Day, which is sponsored by the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).

The reason why high and low PH values are important in water supplies is due the corrosive effect an extreme of either can cause to you hot water tanks, bathroom fixtures and hot water appliances.

You may notice this as a green staining on bathroom fixtures, corrosion of copper pipes, brass fittings and fixtures in your home and workplace. Very high PH can cause pitting of aluminium fittings.

The best way of determining whether or not your water supply is corrosive is to test your water for PH levels. You can then determine if your water is aggressive or acid in nature, resulting in the corrosion problems above.
Neutral water is water with a PH of 7 while acidic water has a PH reading of below 7 and alkaline water has a PH read of above  7.

What causes my water to become corrosive/acidic?

The main reason for low PH in water supplies is the presence of Carbon dioxide.  Well water supplies pick carbon dioxide from decaying vegetation. Mains or town water supplies like lakes and streams pick up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
When the carbon dioxide mixes with water it creates a weak acid called Carbonic Acid which in turn reacts with the copper, brass and aluminium causing these materials to corrode over time.

When Iron pyrite is oxidised in water sulphuric acid is formed which can be another reason for low PH levels in your water.

How do I treat low pH water?

EW Technologies recommend firstly that you test your water for PH levels before deciding on what method of treatment to install in your home or office. There are two common methods for removing low ph:

1.       By adding a chemical solution
2.       By passing the water through a filter bed.

EW Technologies recommend the installation of a CALCITE MEDIA VESSEL.  This media does not over correct the PH value of your water and will raise it evenly to a level of approximately 7.2 PH under proper operating conditions when temperatures and pressure flow rates are sufficient.

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