Access to clean water is essential not only for life but also for numerous household functions. However, a well water system often contains a variety of particulates, pathogens and other pollutants that can cause it to taste or smell unpleasant, damage or stain your laundry, harm your lawn and garden and may even compromise your family’s health.
Fortunately, this is easy to prevent. Here are three simple ways that you can improve your home’s well water quality.
Water Softening Systems
Hard water is a common problem in many areas of the country, typically those whose geology features large deposits of limestone. It can leave unsightly limescale buildup on your fixtures and can even damage appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers over time. In addition, it can cause skin problems and dry, brittle hair.
Water softeners use salt to reduce high concentrations of calcium and magnesium. They can make your skin and hair feel cleaner and softer, prevent spots on glassware and prolong the life of household appliances like coffee makers and dishwashers. They can also make showers and tubs easier to clean by avoiding the accumulation of soap scum and mineral deposits.
Home Water Filtration System
Filtration systems are a great addition to any water system. Well water can contain a number of potentially hazardous or unpleasant substances like heavy metals, sediment, bacteria, parasites and viruses, arsenic, rust and even herbicides and pesticides from agricultural runoff. While many of these occur naturally in groundwater, that doesn’t make them safe, and they can also make your water taste and smell bad. By installing a filtration system, you can effectively and efficiently remove these problematic substances from your family’s water throughout the entire house. These systems can even help extend the life of your well pump and other appliances since sediments and high mineral content can accumulate and damage the seals and mechanical parts over time.
These water filtration systems are especially important if you have little ones in your home. Many common water contaminants are particularly dangerous to small children whose bodies are still growing and can’t take as much. Some accumulate in the body over time and can cause neurological, skeletal and organ damage. Others can compromise a child’s developing immune system. Certain water pollutants have also been implicated in behavioral problems.
Pitcher Filtration Systems
Installing home-wide water filtration systems isn’t right for everyone, and some people simply want to ensure the quality of their drinking water. Fortunately, there are a variety of simpler options that allow you to filter tap water at the source. Pitcher-style filters are a popular and widely-used option and while they don’t remove as much as a whole-house filter system, they do remove some of the most common problem substances.
These filters typically employ activated carbon as a filter medium, which reduces the levels of things like chlorine, sediments, unpleasant tastes and odors and the volatile organic compounds that can come from water and air pollution. They are a very practical replacement for buying bottled water from both a cost and waste perspective.
However, they will not remove heavy metals, arsenic, chloramine or dissolved inorganic substances like pesticides. Furthermore, in order to maintain optimal effectiveness, you must be sure to replace the filters regularly. This can make them a bit pricey for how little they remove, and they’re not practical for use with showering, laundry or cooking. When you compare the long-term costs versus the benefits, the numbers usually show that a home system is a better investment depending on your needs.
If you want to improve the quality and safety of your home’s well water, there are many water filtration options available. To find out which type of home filtration system best suits your needs, please contact a home water specialist today.