Many US households depend on wells for their drinking water. Well water has a cost-effective edge over the public water supply system. However, due to the high concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and other metals, well water is often hard and unsafe for use.
A good household water treatment system is therefore vital to making well water safe for use. The CDC outlines the four ways you can treat your water. However, due to a lack of proper advice we often make mistakes when carrying out water treatment. That is why we are providing guidance on how you can avoid these 5 mistakes when treating your well water.
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Not Testing the Water Properly
The biggest failing many have when treating well water is failing to analyze the water first. Water analysis is key to finding out the most suitable treatment system and determining the kind of contaminants are present in your well water. If you have no clue about what to look out for, how then do you treat the water?
It is important to know the pH of the water as highly acidic water will prevent iron from being taken out by the treatment. Water from wells near industrial or agricultural sites or gas stations should be analyzed for chemical contaminants.
If septic tanks or livestock are kept in the vicinity, a bacteria test is recommended. It may also be necessary to carry out a general mineral testing for calcium, magnesium, iron, lead, and other minerals.
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Not considering the underlying problems
Know the root cause of the problems with your well water. By doing so, you can decide on the best water treatment method to address the concern long term. For example, the root cause of calcium and magnesium in your water may be due to your pipes.
In such a scenario, simply using a water softener without fixing the pipes will only treat the water without resolving the root cause. Always remember that each water treatment system is problem specific and will be unable to address every challenge. Determine the source of the problem before attempting to correct it.
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Overlooking The Water Pressure
Wells pumps have varying flow rates. In some homes, water is pumped from the ground and stored in a large tank before it is pumped into the house. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the exact pressure your well system is calibrated for.
Water filtration systems require a certain amount of pressure to push out the contaminants from the water. They also decrease the water pressure as the water flows through the equipment.
Therefore, knowing the pressure from the well pump before selecting a treatment system will help ensure you have decent water pressure inside your home.
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Not Choosing A Quality Filtration System
There are many cheap water treatment systems that may not be ideal for you. Picking a low-quality system in a bid to save money may be detrimental in the long run. As tempting as it seems, never compromise your safety and health by choosing an unsuitable treatment for your well solely because it’s cheap.
Always consider the capability of the treatment methods, what impurities they remove, and what water pressures they operate on. These will guide you to make the best choice.
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Using a water softener instead of demineralizer
Many well owners often mix the use of a water softener with a demineralizer and as a result fail to properly treat their wells. If you wish to treat for excess calcium and magnesium, then you need a water softener for well water.
However, contrary to popular opinion, it is wrong to use water softeners to address the presence of iron in well water. Though water softeners are affordable, they often leave behind some dissolved substances due to the mineral content in the water,
A better alternative for such extreme cases is the more expensive, demineralizer. Commonly used in factories, it is home friendly. So thoroughly test your well water to ensure that the minerals it contains cannot be counteracted easily with water softeners.
Summing Up
All wells are not the same. As a result, not all filtration systems will work for every well. Avoiding mistakes while choosing the right treatment system for your well water will ensure your home doesn’t receive contaminated water. Avoid the above mentioned 5 mistakes when treating your well water and spend the time, effort and money required for safe and healthy water. It is always worth it.