Aquios® - Blogs on Water Softener System

Clean, safe drinking water is essential for our health and well-being, but in recent years, concerns have arisen over the presence of harmful chemicals in our water supply. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFOS and PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals found in numerous products and linked to adverse health effects. Fortunately, carbon filtration is proving to be a highly effective method to reduce and eliminate PFOS and PFAS chemicals from our water.

What are PFOS and PFAS

PFOS and PFAS are chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products, including firefighting foam, non-stick cookware, and water-repellent fabrics. Due to their widespread use, these chemicals have found their way into water sources, posing potential health risks.

Are these Chemicals Dangerous

Studies have linked PFOS and PFAS exposure to various health issues, including developmental problems, hormonal disruptions, and an increased risk of certain cancers. As a result, there is a growing concern about

Water is a precious resource, and ensuring its quality is essential for both our health and the longevity of household appliances. Traditionally, water softeners have been the go-to solution for addressing hard water issues. However, the excessive use of salt in these systems has raised concerns about environmental impact and health considerations. In response to these concerns, salt-free water conditioning has emerged as an innovative and eco-friendly alternative. In this blog, we will explore salt-free water conditioning and the different types used to improve water quality without the need for salt.

Understanding Hard Water

Before talking about salt-free water conditioning, it's important to understand the concept of hard water. Hard water is water that contains a high concentration of minerals, primarily calcium and magnesium. These minerals can lead to various issues, including scale buildup in pipes and appliances, reduced soap effectiveness, and increased energy consumption in water

Introduction

Clean and safe drinking water is essential for human health, and the role of effective water filtration cannot be overstated. Among the various materials and techniques used in water treatment, activated carbon stands out as a versatile and efficient tool. This article explores the benefits and uses of carbon in water filtration, highlighting its pivotal role in ensuring access to high-quality drinking water.

1. Adsorption of Contaminants

Activated carbon possesses a unique ability known as adsorption. This process involves the attraction and binding of impurities and contaminants to the porous surface of the carbon material. The high surface area of activated carbon, characterized by countless microscopic pores and crevices, makes it particularly effective in trapping a wide range of pollutants.

2. Removal of Organic Compounds

One of the primary benefits of carbon in water filtration is its exceptional capacity to remove organic compounds. It effectively captures substances

WHAT ARE HYDROGEN SULFIDE AND SULFATE?

Hydrogen sulfide is not considered either a primary nor a secondary contami­nant in the Environmental Protection Agency’s current drinking water stan­dards, but if the concentration of hydrogen sulfide in water is more than 0.5 parts per million (ppm), it will:

• Have an unpleasant odor (rotten egg)
• Corrode iron, steel, copper and brass in well casing/plumbing/bathroom fixtures
• Tarnish or discolor silverware, copperware and brassware
• Stain laundry and bathroom fixtures yellow or black
• Discolor beverages
• Alter the appearance and taste of cooked foods

Sulfate is listed as a secondary contaminant with a secondary MCL (Maxi­mum Contaminant Level) of 250 ppm. High levels of sulfate above 250 ppm:

• Impart bitter taste
• Have a laxative effect
• Cause dehydration
• Can be especially detrimental to the health of infants and young animals

There are several treatment options for removing hydrogen sulfide and sulfate from household water. The type of treatment will depend

UltraViolet (UV) water disinfection is a completely safe, chemical-free way to treat water. Even chlorine-resistant microorganisms are made harmless through UV exposure. Lack of chemicals means no harmful chemical byproducts are going back into the environment, and the taste of your water is not affected in any way

UV systems sterilize water quickly and effectively. UV disinfection deactivates 99.99% of living organisms in the water. They are designed to run constantly to guarantee the water you use is always safe. As a result, all of your water that runs through a UV is purified.

Water is disinfected as it runs through a stainless steel chamber containing a UV lamp. As water flows past the lamp, illness-causing microorganisms receive a lethal dose of UV light that attacks their DNA and eliminates their ability to reproduce. Harmful bacteria and viruses are deactivated, and your family is safe. 

More importantly is what it removes:

• Cryptosporidium
• Giardia
• Dysentery

Chloramines, which are disinfectant compounds made from the combination of chlorine and ammonia, are being used more and more by water utilities across the country.

Many water utilities across the country are moving toward a total conversion from chlorine to chloramines in the next year. Chloramines are preferred because they last longer in the water, making them more effective at eliminating biological and organic contaminants, but that leaves an important question for the consumer; how can one remove chloramines from the water we drink and bathe in?

One option available for reduction of chloramines is something that many people already use. Activated carbon is a very common substance used to filter water at both the point-of-use (faucet-mount carbon filters or pitcher filters), and the point-of-entry (full house water filtration systems). Under normal applications, activated carbon would have been considered effective for filtering water, since chlorine has been the primary disinfectant

VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) – What Are They?

VOCs as defined by Wikipedia are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature. An excellent example of this is formaldehyde, which evaporates from paint.  They also include vapors/gases released from a variety of common products such as adhesive, air fresheners, dry cleaning fluids, solvents and pesticides.

Unfortunately, drinking water may contain contaminants that are classified as VOCs. Due to the fact that it would be costly to test for every potential chemical that would be classified as a VOC, the EPA regulates a subset of chemicals that are considered typical contaminants of a water supply.  For those on municipal water systems, you should receive an annual water quality report.  In this report, it will outline the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for those common chemicals.  This will provide you with the information about your water quality and where it ranks amongst the EPA guidelines.

Water Quality Reports – How to understand them

One a year, your water provider is required to provide you with a Consumer Confidence Report (also known as a CCR). This report is due by July 1^st.

The information provided in this report includes several key point of information including where your water comes from, any potential health risks and what contaminants may exist.  Typically, these reports will also include disinfectant levels and water hardness.  The purpose of this report is to provide as much information as possible as to the quality of the water you drink.

Unfortunately, the information provided in the CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) can be confusing and difficult to understand.  In this post, we will provide some information to help in understanding your report.  For some of our readers who are on well water or community well system, there is no requirement for a water quality report.  To better understand what is in your water, you will need to perform an independent

Water filtration and water softening for well water systems is different. Not that one is better (and yes there are two sides) but it is different.

Municipal water sources add chlorine (or chloramines) to treat and dissenfect the water that you drink.  Depending on where you live, the chlorine level can be higher than that in a swimming pool. In other locales it is almost non-existent.  Well water, however; is different.  The water source comes from a well that is tapped into a water table.  Sometimes it is at a depth of 60 feet, other times; it can be twice that depth.  As a result, there tends to be more sediment found in the water, and; in some cases; more calcium and residue due to natural erosion.

Since well water typically is not chlorinated, a carbon block filtration medium may not be the best filtration solutoin. A better solution is a cartidge that has a high flow and high dirt loading capacity with an effective carbon "coating" that will eliminiate and minimize odor

We receive a lot of questions that ask, "what is salt free water softening", We also have a lot of customers ask, "will this system filter my water", The short answer to the second question is emphaticaly yes, The Aquios® system is designed to remove chlorine odor and taste, rust, dirt, and other particulate. This usually results in water that is not only better tasting, but healthier for your family, Salt free water softening is different than traditional water softening, A key difference is that healthy minerals such as calcium, manganese and iron (which your body needs) are not removed with salt free water softeners.

Traditional water softening uses a process known as ionic exchange.  This process physically removes calcium, iron and manganese from your water and replaces it with salt.  It also requires that a regeneration cycle occur on a regualr basis to "flush" the minerals, drain excess water and new salt be added to reppeat the cycle. The Aquios® system uses a natural additive