What is Reverse Osmosis?

How can you turn Sea Water into Drinking Water?

What is the most practical way to demineralize water?

What is one of the best Multi-Barrier water treatment systems for your home drinking water?

How can you turn tap water into bottled water quality?

Reverse Osmosis

So - What is Reverse Osmosis?
 
If you have come across one of the various technical explanations available (Here's a pretty good one) , most people find the explanations too scientific and frankly don't read them.

I'd like to simplify what a reverse osmosis system (I'm going to shorten it to  RO for the rest of this article) does, and while it may not be 100% technically accurate, I'm hoping it will give you a clearer idea. 

When it comes to home systems, the RO unit will be part of a complete water treatment system.

The first stage is prefiltration that will remove dirt, particles, sediment etc. that is 15 times finer than a human hair. Prefiltration also removes chlorine and some organic substances. As well as improving your water, this helps to protect the RO membrane.

The next step is the RO membrane. It separates the water into 2 streams - good high quality drinking water in 1 stream and everything else in the other. This waste water is directed down the drain (or back into your plumbing system if you have a zero waste option). The good water is stored in a holding tank.

Before the water reaches the tap, it passes through a polishing filter. Then to your glass - great tasting, high quality drinking water.


Check out how 
"At Holmes Ecowater, We Make Your Home's Water - Better!"
 

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Is Hard Water Making You Ill?

We've always considered hard water to be an aesthetic concern. You know: hard to clean bathtub ring and film on shower tiles, dry itchy skin after bathing, dramatically higher cleaning costs, increased heating and maintenance costs due to scale build up.

But now, evidence is making us reconsider what that scale can actually do. 

Legionnaires Disease is far more common that we think.

The CDC estimates that between 8,000 and 18,000 cases are hospitalized with many cases going unreported. CDC Fact Sheet.

Any place moisture can build up may cause bacteria, such as legionella, to grow. The bacteria can grow in hot tubs, air conditioning systems (especially large commercial units), hot water tanks, plumbing systems and cooling towers. Limescale deposits in the water system allow water to pool when the fixtures aren’t in use. This pooling allows bacteria to grow and potentially infect those using or exposed to the system.

“By far the greatest risk lies within the humble hot and cold water systems, which deliver the disease through taps and shower heads. Legionella bacteria thrive in temperatures between 20-45 degrees Celsius; and if water is allowed to sit at these temperatures the bacterium can multiply into large numbers which can cause Legionnaires’ disease,” according to Simon French, a legionella expert and HVCA Service and Facilities Group member.

In another study, scientists tested shower heads. Tests revealed nearly a third of devices harbour significant levels of a bug that causes lung disease.

Levels of Mycobacterium avium were 100 times higher than those found in typical household water supplies. 

M. avium forms a biofilm that clings to the inside of the shower head, reports the National Academy of Science.

Lead researcher Professor Norman Pace, said: "If you are getting a face full of water when you first turn your shower on, that means you are probably getting a particularly high load of Mycobacterium avium, which may not be too healthy."  BBC Article

If you want a scientific article, here it is.

Gives you something to think about and another reason to appreciate your water softener.

If you don't have one yet - give us a call.

Clean your water cooler!

If you have a water cooler, it is important to clean it regularly. How often it should be done varies with recommendations from yearly, to every 6 months to Health Canada' recommendation of every time you change the bottle. Health Canada Bottled Water Page. 

How do you clean your cooler? These are the steps that we use:

1)     Unplug cord and allow the unit to come to room temperature. For Hot and Cold coolers, run some water out of the hot tap after unplugging to cool the water.

2)   Remove the bottle.  Empty the reservoir through the faucets. For Hot and Cold coolers, also remove the drain plug at the back of the cooler.  Replace after the hot tank is empty.

3)      Remove the lid of your dispenser.  No-Spill tops require a little extra effort to pull off and push on. Some have a locking pin. Some require a partial counter-clockwise turn before removing.

4)      Mix a cleaning solution by adding 1 tablespoon of household bleach to 1 gallon of fresh water. Thoroughly wipe inside of reservoir with cleaning solution and a clean cloth or paper towel.

5)      Fill reservoir with cleaning solution. For Hot and Cold coolers, open the hot faucet until water comes out and top up the reservoir with solution.

6)      Spray a diluted solution of bleach and water inside the faucet spouts.  Let stand for 5 minutes, and then drain through the faucets. For Hot and Cold coolers, also remove the drain plug at the back of the cooler.  Replace after the hot tank is empty.

7)      Fill the reservoir with fresh water. For Hot and Cold coolers, open the hot faucet until water comes out and top up the reservoir with fresh water.

8)      Drain through the faucets. For Hot and Cold coolers, also remove the drain plug at the back of the cooler.  Replace after the hot tank is empty.

9)      Repeat steps 7 & 8 once more.

10)  Remove the air filter from the top.

11)  Clean the top in a clean sink filled with fresh water and a mild bleach solution.

12)  Rinse the top with fresh water, and dry with clean paper towel.

13)  Replace air filter

14)  Replace cooler top.

15)  Replace bottle.

16)  Open faucets one at a time until water runs from each.

17)  Plug unit back in.

18) Water should be chilled and hot, if so equipped in about 1/2 hour.

Just look at the top benefits of drinking water!

Drinking plenty of water each day prevents dehydration, cleans out the body and promotes healing processes.
A steady diet of 8 glasses of water a day (ideally, half your body weight in ounces of water), when it’s pure and free of contaminants, will:

• Improve your energy
• Remove toxins and waste products from your body
• Allow for proper digestion
• Increase your mental and physical performance
• Help you lose weight
• Reduce headaches and dizziness
• Keep skin healthy and glowing

There is a difference between drinking pure water and beverages that contain water. Coffee, soft drinks, tea and fruit beverages may contain substances that are not only harmful, but actually contradict some of the positive effects of the added water.

For each cup of coffee you consume, your body needs 3 cups of water to compensate for the water loss that occurs due to coffee’s diuretic effect.
Other caffeinated beverages, such as soft drinks and tea, also stimulate the adrenal glands and act as diuretics, robbing your body of necessary water. Soft drinks contain phosphorus, which can lead to depletion of bone calcium, and various acids, which can cause erosion of the enamel on your teeth. A 12-ounce can of regular soda contains the equivalent of 10 teaspoons of white sugar and loads of empty calories.

Fruit beverages or drinks such as PowerAde, Gatorade, lemonade, etc. may be fortified with vitamins or calcium, but usually has 10% or less real fruit juice. Sugar is the added sweetener. If you are drinking too much of these beverages daily, you may be unknowingly adding extra unwanted pounds to your waistline.

Reservoir Tips

Reservoirs must be properly maintained to ensure the best possible water quality. Treatment of reservoirs may harm fish, and care should be taken. 

Poorly maintained reservoir

These procedures are based on our experience with reservoirs since 1968 and are our recommendations. They should be used as a guide only. Please remember to take all necessary precautions when using chemicals.

Aeration
Dugout aeration will tend to inhibit algae growth, and will lessen the odour problems associated with anaerobic decomposition.

Taste, Odor, Color
The foul taste, odour and colour in reservoir water usually results from algae or water plants. Decomposing algae and plants on the bottom of the water produce hydrogen sulfide gas, which gives the water a "rotten-egg" taste and odour. By the end of winter, water may become black. Control of algae and plants during the spring and summer will reduce these problems.

Controlling Aquatic Vegetation
All preventative and mechanical methods should be considered prior to chemical treatment.

Preventative Methods 
Deeper dugouts with steeper slopes reduce the shallow areas where plants grow rapidly. Limit nutrients:  

• Flood diversion dikes with gated culvert inlet.
• Grass the water course and the area around the dugout.
• KEEP LIVESTOCK OUT!

Mechanical Methods

• Hand pull plants
• drag a heavy chain or harrows across the bottom to cut plants

Polydex

Polydex is a mineral based bacteriostatic algaecide liquid concentrate that can:

• Reduce algae, bacteria and associated toxins
• Improve colour, taste and smell in the water
• Reduce suspended solids
• Reduce organic film build up in lines

It is easy to apply and quickly disperses. Initial treatment is 1:60,000 followed by periodic testing with maintenance dosages at 1:500,000

Copper Sulphate (Bluestone)
Copper sulphate can be an effective treatment for algae. It is more effective if used before the algae population becomes heavy. To apply, it may be placed in a burlap sack and dragged around the reservoir, or the water filling the
reservoir may run over the sack. The dosage is 1 to 2 pounds per 100,000
gallons.

If heavy blooms of blue-green algae develop, use caution. Another source of
water should be used for 2 weeks after treatment. Copper sulphate is toxic to fish. If you must treat a dugout containing fish, treat 1/3 at a time and space the treatments 24 hours apart. Water usage should be avoided for 24 hours.

Turbidity
Reservoirs that become turbid (muddy) will usually clear by themselves. Be
careful not to confuse colour caused by decaying algae or organic matter with
turbidity, as treatment is different. If turbidity persists, Alum may be used. The alum should be dissolved in water 1/2 pound per gallon) and spread evenly over the surface. The dosage is 10 to 20 pound per 100,000 gallons.

Reglone A (Diquat)
This chemical is used to control aquatic plants. Treated water should not be used by humans or animals for 2 weeks. Contact your supplier for correct dosage.

Granular Chlorine
More effective than Copper Sulphate for organic matter and algae is granular
chlorine. It may be simply broadcast over the surface. The dosage is 4# per 100,000 gallons. In severe cases, it may be necessary to repeat treatment in a week.

Copper sulphate treatment may be
applied at the same time for enhanced
results.

Gravel Filters 
Gravel filters installed in or beside the
dugout are not recommended. 

Floating Intakes
During the summer, 80% of the impurities are close to the bottom. A floating intake, 3 feet from the surface willcollect the best water. During winter, lower the float to below the expected ice level.

Floats may be constructed by 16' of 1 1/2" pipe coupled in a ring, or 3' of 3" PVC or ABS pipe capped at each end.

Blue Green Algae
Blue—Green Algae can be toxic. Please follow this link to Alberta Environment
information:

http://www.environment.alberta.ca/documents/Blue-green_algal_FS.pdf

Should you drink soft water?

One of the most common questions that we hear about water softeners is whether we should drink the water. It's a great question and one of the first things that I wanted to know when we started.

A water softeners purpose is to remove the hardness minerals from water. Hardness minerals cause:

• Bathtub ring and film on shower tiles
• Excess soap usage in bathing, laundry, dishes
• Laundry to wear out faster
• Scaling in your water appliances, reducing life
• And a lot of other problems that we have covered in an earlier post  

But really, if you think about it - this is really the "Working" water in your home. A Water Softener is designed to improve the working water in you home.


So now I better get to the question.


The way that a water softener works is called "ion exchange" but really that just means that it trades the hardness minerals for the sodium in your water. The amount of sodium that a water softener will add to your water depends on the hardness, but normally here it works out to about 80 milligrams of sodium in a liter of water. A single slice of bread is 125 - 150 milligrams. 

So really, if you are not on a sodium restricted diet, the answer is normally yes. Here's some information from the Mayo Clinic.


What can you do if you have a water softener and don't want to dringk the water?

1. If the plumbing lines are accessible, you can bypass a tap for your drinking water
2. You can use potassium chloride to recharge your water softener. A couple of brands are Nature's Own or Softtouch. This product is about 5 times the price of salt, but then you will be getting potassium instead of sodium.
3. You can drink bottled water.
4. Many people are deciding that they want better drinking water. Reverse osmosis systems can provide the best drinking water and remove the sodium.