Water Testing & Treatment: Uncover What’s in Your Water and Take Control
Having clean, safe water in your home is essential for many aspects of daily life including drinking, cooking and bathing. Water quality is also an important factor in the longevity of appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines.
Water Quality Testing
While municipal water supplies are generally treated and regulated for safety, several factors can affect water quality before it reaches your tap.
If you have municipal water supply and have specific concerns like taste, color, odor or specific health-related concerns, water quality testing by a qualified professional is generally recommended once a year.
Water quality testing is especially critical if you have a private well and should be done once a year. More serious reasons to have your water tested include recurrent gastrointestinal illness in your family, you suspect your home has lead pipes, your home is near a high-use agricultural or industrial area, or a member of the household is pregnant.
If you are experiencing unpleasant tastes, smells and/or discoloration of your water, it’s a good idea to have it checked. A water quality test will look at:
pH
The pH level measures how acidic or alkaline your water is.
Total Alkalinity
Total alkalinity indicates the ability of water to neutralize acids, providing a buffer that helps stabilize pH levels. High alkalinity can lead to scaling, while low alkalinity can cause water to be corrosive.
Total Hardness
This measures the level of calcium and magnesium in your water, which can cause scale buildup in pipes and appliances and reduce soap effectiveness.
Total Iron
Higher levels of total iron can cause rust-colored stains on fixtures and laundry, along with a metallic taste and water discoloration.
Ferrous Iron
Higher levels of ferrous iron can cause staining, taste issues, and discoloration.
Ferric Iron
Higher levels of ferric iron can result in visible particles in water, leading to staining and clogging in plumbing.
Copper
Copper levels indicate the amount of metal from pipes and fittings that may be present in your water. Higher levels of copper can lead to pipe corrosion, metallic taste, and potential health issues with prolonged exposure.
Nitrites
Nitrites, similar to nitrates, come from fertilizers and other sources. High levels in drinking water can be harmful, especially to infants.
Nitrates
Nitrates, similar to nitrites, come from fertilizers and other sources. High levels in drinking water can be harmful, especially to infants.
Depending on the results of your water quality testing, you may want to consider having a water treatment system installed in your home.
Water Treatment Systems: Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a water purification system that filters out contaminants and sediments like chlorine, salt, and dirt from drinking water. A top-of-the-line water filtration solution, reverse osmosis removes up to 99.9% of contaminants and sediments. More effective than carbon filtration, reverse osmosis removes particles as small as .001 micron, meaning less scale build up in appliances such as kettles, coffee makers, and ice machines. This low-maintenance system is suitable for both residential and commercial uses, requiring a few filter changes per year. Even if your home or business uses treated municipal water, it can pick up contaminants or Total Dissolved Solids on its way from the water treatment plant to your home. With a Reverse Osmosis System, you can rest easy knowing your water is safe and healthy for your family to drink.
Benefits of Reverse Osmosis:
- Removes contaminants like lead, chlorine, nitrates, arsenic, and bacteria
- Reduces unpleasant tastes and odors, improving overall water quality
- Provides clean, great-tasting drinking water straight from the tap
- Improves taste of beverages and food made with tap water
- More cost-efficient and sustainable than buying bottled water
Whole-Home Sediment Filtration Systems
One way to ensure clean, sediment-free water throughout your home is a whole-home sediment filtration system. This essential upgrade protects your plumbing, extends the life of your appliances, and provides you with crystal-clear water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Say goodbye to impurities and hello to a healthier, more efficient home water system.
UV Light Water Treatment
Ultraviolet light, or UV light is often used to disinfect water and kill microorganisms such as E. coli. Water disinfection is different from water filtration and depending on your water quality, both systems may be needed. UV light disinfection is suitable for both residential and commercial uses. Even if your home or business uses treated municipal water, it can pick up microorganisms on its way from the water treatment plant to your home.
DS Home Services offers several water quality services to ensure your home’s water supply is clean and safe including water quality testing and installation of whole-home sediment filtration systems. Contact us today to learn more!
