Water Filtration

Filtered water health benefits you may not have considered. Water is such an essential part of our lives that we use it several times a day without even thinking about it.

But it is important to think about because the quality of the water you use has a direct impact on the quality of your life, and the lives of your family. If you would like to order some quality water then you may want to order some from customwater.com.

Why consider a residential water filter? Here are four reasons:

1. It Removes Unhealthy Substances

This is one of the most obvious filtered water health benefits of water filtration, and the most significant. Obviously, you would prefer that the water you drink out of the tap, the water you bathe and shower in, and the water you put in your pet’s water dish be as clean and healthy and free from contaminants as possible. Water filtration achieves this goal and allows you to use your tap water with confidence. However, you need to ensure that you get one that suits your home requirements. One way to do so is by getting an expert opinion from plumbing services such as Tom Moffett Plumbing ( to know more, check www.moffettplumbing.com/areas-we-serve/plumber-seal-beach-ca/).

2. The Water Tastes Better

One of the most pleasing by-products of healthier water is that it tastes better as well. Think of what you’re spending now on bottled water – what if you could get that same taste out of the tap? With water filtration systems, this is very possible!

3. Doing Your Part for the Environment

When you stop using bottled water, you stop having to dispose of all those empty plastic water bottles, which is good for the environment – and probably good for your refrigerator, as you’ll have an extra shelf to fill with food now that all those bottles are gone.

4. Food and Other Beverages Tastes Better Too

Water is often used in food and drink preparation, whether it is soup, tea, lemonade, or chicken stock. It’s used to clean vegetables, to boil potatoes or pasta, and to dilute sauces so they are less viscous. When that water has been filtered, it will make so many of the foods you eat tastier and healthier.

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Hard water and skin problems can go hand in hand. Hard water is generally considered more of a nuisance than a health issue.

When people use water conditioners to eliminate hard water from their homes, they do so to protect their fixtures and appliances, to improve the appearance of clothing after it is washed, and to stop scale buildup on ceramic tile and shower doors, as well as spots on their glasses and dishes.

But a recent study from England offers another reason to keep hard water away from your home and your family. It suggests that hard water may damage our protective skin barrier, which can lead to the development of such skin conditions as eczema.

Those most vulnerable to eczema are infants. According to Web MD, between 10% and 20% of babies and small children will contract this itchy skin infection.

Hard water could also worsen existing skin conditions such as psoriasis. In fact, psoriasis is not just a skin condition but it can consequently lead to joint pain (known as psoriatic arthritis), depressive symptoms, and lower quality of life. Nowadays, there are more natural remedies out there (know the connection between medical marijuana and psoriasis) to help diminish and manage symptoms. However, using hard water should be a complete no-no for people with this condition.

Hard water contains higher levels of calcium and magnesium ions, that can stick to skin and also stick to the soap that we use for washing. Prolonged exposure reduces the skin’s natural defenses.

In addition to an increased eczema risk, a compromised skin barrier could also contribute to the development of other conditions, including sunburn. However, a variety of products such as an eczema relief cream or acne reduction cream might help reduce such skin problems. Some doctors might even recommend using different kinds of topical steroids, which can be highly useful, no doubt. However, such methods might come along with the risk of topical steroid withdrawal, which can cause more irritation to the skin, and ultimately require therapy to get under control. Hence, it might be safest to stick to regular skincare products or the ones you trust. You can find the right ones for your skin by taking a quick look online. Little research into ingredients and properties of serums by reading a propaira review or others could be beneficial in deciding which product can work for specific issues. Nevertheless, water being a vital part of skincare and health, it becomes important to ensure its quality as well.

The researchers who prepared the study then looked into whether removing the calcium and magnesium ions using an ion-exchange water softener could halt the negative effects. And that’s exactly what it did.

The link between hard water and skin problems such as eczema is just one more reason to consider adding a water softener to your home.

At Dimewater Inc., our engineers are always prepared to help you choose the right water softener to meet your needs. Contact us at 760.734.5787.

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It happens every few months – a colorful brochure arrives from new water filter manufacturers in the mail with dire warnings about the quality of the water in your home, and offering an exciting new water treatment solution, and maybe the chance to win a trip to Bermuda if you call right now.

These pitches are right about one thing – residential water filtration system offers many health and quality-of-life benefits for your family. But not all water filter manufacturers are alike. There are unscrupulous fly-by-night providers that will overcharge for water treatment while providing a product that doesn’t get the job done.

When you are ready to explore your options, you are more likely to get a quality product from a company that has been around for a while and offers facts instead of inflated claims.

Our advice? Look beyond the sales pitch, the scare tactics, and trumped-up claims about systems that are maintenance-free and cheaper than anything else on the market.

Dime Water has been around for more than 20 years. We offer an array of water treatment solutions, instead of trying to convince you that the same system that works for one type of situation would be equally effective elsewhere.

Our proven residential water filtration solutions include one that can meet your present and future needs, and we will always be upfront with you about installation, maintenance, warranty, and cost.

Get the facts about water filtration by calling Dime Water now: (760) 734-5787.

Swiss food giant Nestlé might be forced to shut down its water bottling plants after Eddie Kurtz, the executive director of the California-based Courage Campaign has petitioned the California Water Resources Control Board regarding Nestlé’s water consumption. The company (as well as many others) is using the bottled water industry to bottle for profit water that they pipe from public lands, pump from the desert and draw from municipal water supplies.

While citizens are asked to watch and reduce their own water consumption, the company’s 5 bottled water plants and 4 food factories in the state collectively consume about 1 billion gallons of water each year, which amounts to 0.008% of the 13 trillion gallons of annual water use in the state. However, a shutdown of operations in California will not fix the drought, as Nestlé explained on their website.

Bottled Water Industry and Water Use

Despite the bottled water industry’s size, the amount of water used is relatively tiny compared to tap water volumes. According to the UCLA Institute for Environment and Sustainability, at almost 80%, agriculture is the largest user of water in the state, followed by urban residential use at 13%. Have you ever wondered what the water footprint of products we purchase is? High water use can also be less obvious. For example:

• 1 pound of beef – 1,799 gallons
• 1 pound of chicken – 468 gallons
• 1 ounce of chocolate bar – 200 gallons
• 1 pound of potatoes – 119 gallons
• 1 egg – 53 gallons
• 1 apple – 18 gallons
• 1 slice of bread – 11 gallons

Bottled water is a very efficient water user, as 100% of it is intended for human consumption. Conversely, only about 2% of tap water is used for human consumption, according to the International Bottled Water Association. Drinking bottled water is a healthy choice, reducing the overall beverage environmental footprint and keeping people away from unhealthy soft drink consumption. Also, bottled water is comprehensively regulated by the FDA, which has regulations governing the safety and quality of bottled water at least as stringent as the EPA standards for tap water.

How Is Bottled Water Made?

Many bottled water companies use public water sources for their purified bottled water products, thus supporting a strong public water system, which is important for providing people with safe drinking water. Many people believe that purified bottled water is just plain tap water in a bottle, but, once the water enters the bottling plant, there are several processes employed to ensure the water meets the FDA purified water standard. Bottled water treatments may employ one or more of the following processes:

• reverse osmosis
• distillation
• micro-filtration
• carbon filtration
• ozonation
• UV light treatment

The finished water product is then placed in a bottle under sanitary conditions and sold. In an era where more and more people are concerned about their water quality, an excellent business to consider is a water store. Dime Water Inc. provides a range of water store/water bottling units and we build them in a variety of different sizes, anywhere from 1000 gallons a day up to 100.000 gallons a day. Call us today at 760.734.5787 for specifics.

Resources:

• http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/california-drought/ban-bottled-water-industry-scrutinized-parched-california-n357256
• http://www.bottledwater.org/
• http://www.bottledwater.org/california-drought
• http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/BuyStoreServeSafeFood/ucm077079.htm

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Is a water powered car even possible?

For the past years, scientists, engineers, and mechanics have tried to design and build a water-powered car that would render fossil fuel burning technologies inferior and obsolete. There have been numerous breakthroughs and recently, cars that run on a synthetic fuel, made from water and air, represent the cutting-edge of innovation.

The world is becoming more and more aware of technologies that have the potential to completely change our world for the best by halting the unnecessary damage we create using fossil fuels. But what will happen when the world will run out of fossil fuels? It may be too late for us to find out judging by the fact that we are basically poisoning our air and water at an alarming and increasing rate. However, transitioning our way of life to be more harmonious with the planet is happening for the past years – not only including solar and wind power harnessing but also by developing clean, green technology.

Sweeping the auto industry, Audi reverse osmosislls out the e-diesel that USES, not EMITS carbon dioxide. Another fantastic example of engineering is the nanoFLOWCELL Quant e-Sportlimousine, a research prototype that is powered by saltwater. Audi is generating electricity with wind power or Sun power and uses that to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. Taking hydrogen and combining it with carbon dioxide, they produce a feed stock, from which they can make diesel fuel. They do not need pure water for this – just the opposite! – because they pass an electrical current through it. If you have an Audi vehicle, take a look at this European Car Mechanic.

E-Diesel: The Latest Breakthrough by Audi

It would definitely be great if the only fuel needed to power our cars was a substance as cheap and abundant as water! While we (still) cannot pour water directly into our fuel tank and run the engine on water power, we might be doing just that in a few years. Audi has been working hard and has just opened a pilot plant in Dresden, Germany, where they will be producing biodiesel from a process that uses green power, water, and carbon dioxide.

They call the resulting substance “blue crude”, which behaves just like regular diesel fuel after it is refined. It is so similar to diesel that Audi has managed to put it directly into an A8 TDI without a problem. The image below explains how they make this e-diesel.

This synthetic diesel, made using CO2, is a huge success for our sustainability research. If we can make widespread use of CO2 as a raw material, we will make a crucial contribution to climate protection and the efficient use of resources, and put the fundamentals of the ‘green economy’ in place.

Johanna Wanka, Germany’s Federal Minister of Education and Research

From 0 to 60mph in 2.8 Seconds… with Saltwater!

With a top speed of 217mph (equal to a McLaren P1!), 200-liter water tanks and a range of 600km, the Quant e-Sportlimousine is an exceptional piece of engineering. Sports cars do not really have the best reputation for being environmentally-friendly, but this vehicle has been designed to reach 217.5mph using nothing but saltwater. It uses a nano-network flow battery, which is why the company is called nanoFLOWCELL.

It works just like a hydrogen fuel cell, except that the liquid used for storing energy is saltwater. The saltwater passes through a membrane in between 2 tanks, creating an electric charge, which is then stored and distributed by super capacitors. The car has 4 electric motors and, after making its debut at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the saltwater technology has been certified for use on European reverse osmosisads. Unlike traditional chemical batteries, to recharge the battery, you only need to replenish the electrolyte, which in this case is just salt water.

Seeing that the automotive industry is making efforts, which result in quite some important advancements in developing “greener” fuel systems and vehicles altogether, does bring hope in terms of domestic energy supplies. The potential is much greater and the manufacturers declare they have got major plans not just within the automobile industry, but also in maritime, rail and aviation industries.

At Dime Water Inc., our engineers are always prepared to help you choose the right water treatment technology to meet your needs. Contact us at 760.734.5787!

Resources:

• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/energy/2015/04/150428-audi-ediesel-made-from-water-air/
• http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/audi-announces-it-can-fuel-cars-with-water.html/?a=viewall
• http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/09/27/salt-water-powered-car-gets-approval-in-europe-yes-its-real/
• http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2739768/The-sports-car-runs-SALTWATER-Vehicle-goes-0-60mph-2-8-seconds-just-approved-EU-roads.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water-fuelled_car

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How contaminated water affects your health

Our bodies are about 60% water and every organ depends on water to function properly. Apart from drinking enough water every day, its quality is also very important for our health. The US EPA has set standards for more than 80 contaminants that may occur in drinking water and pose a risk to human health. Microbial and organic contaminants cannot always be detected by human senses and you might go years before realizing a problem exists. Whether your water comes from a community water system, a well or you are using bottled water, you can unknowingly be increasing your risk of heart disease, cancer, and other conditions arising from contaminated water.

Some common waterborne contaminants include: aluminum, ammonia, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chloramine, chromium, copper, fluoride, bacteria, viruses, lead, nitrates/nitrites, mercury, and uranium.

Low Quality Drinking Water Affects Your Health

A typical American uses around 80 to 100 gallons of water every day. Everyone knows that water and health are linked, but good quality water can also help your appliances function properly and have a longer lifespan. According to the CDC, the top causes of disease outbreaks related to drinking water are Giardia intestinalis, hepatitis A, norovirus, and Shigella.

Delays in physical and mental development, short attention spans, and learning difficulties in children are linked to high levels of lead in drinking water. Also, Cryptosporidium is responsible for life-threatening diarrhea and arsenic in drinking water can lead to nerve, heart, skin and blood vessel damage.

Arsenic is highly dangerous even in trace amounts that naturally occur in well water, doubling the risk of developing stroke and dying from it, heart disease and atherosclerosis. Diabetes, skin, bladder and lung cancer can develop if one consumes water contaminated with arsenic. Arsenic can also cause oral problems, such as tooth decay and cavities. If these cavities are left untreated, it could lead to more serious dental issues. You could look for a dentist who specialises in dental fillings waco tx (or something similar in your location) to find out more about this procedure.

Softened water can save you money by keeping your appliances working at top efficiency and the amount of dish and laundry detergent you use can be cut by half. Studies conducted by the independent test firm Scientific Services S/D, Inc., of New York, revealed the following benefits of softened water:

• in washing machines, softened water can reduce detergent use by 50% and save energy by making it possible to wash in cold rather than hot water
• cold water washes with softened water achieved the same or better results when it came to removing stains and whitening fabrics
• in dishwashers, softened water can achieve the same cleaning results as unsoftened while using less detergent

Fluoride has long been in the center of attention for many who claim that water fluoridation is harmful to health. The American Dental Association admitted that fluoridation does not reduce the number of cavities. If cavities are left untreated, they will soon become larger and can even affect the deeper layers of your tooth. This can lead to severe toothache, infection, and even tooth loss. As a result, you may want to look into options such as dental implants to see how they can restore your smile and improve your overall oral health. But it is important to be aware that fluoride doesn’t prevent cavities from occurring. Your dental health is extremely important, so to make a cleaning appointment on a regular basis can help you achieve a better dental hygiene plan. Also, according to US regulatory agencies, 3 parts per million of fluoride in water:

• produces severe fluorosis of the teeth and bones
• is neurotoxic
• is a cell toxin
• produces organ damage

Dentists that I know say they can always tell when a patient has been drinking fluoridated water because the enamel of their teeth is soft. Fluoride destroys the teeth – that’s what fluorosis is. It just starts making little pits in the enamel, and the whole idea was that you were supposed to be making your teeth stronger. It doesn’t – it destroys them.

Dr. Russell Blaylock, renowned neurosurgeon and editor of the Blaylock Wellness Report

Again, if you have concerns about the condition of your teeth, you might want to do some research into implant dentistry. Dental implants are a unique treatment option for people struggling with one or more missing teeth. If yoor more u’d rmatiln aike tod wi t makeou reaeatment varies widely between practitioners.

Fluoride can also injure the nervous system and even cause cancer. Degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s are possibly linked to drinking fluoridated water. Cancer, behavioral problems, thyroid suppression, male infertility and impotence are also some examples of what may happen to the body when too much fluoride is present. Once in the body, fluoride is very difficult to remove, but some nutrients, including vitamin C and magnesium, can decrease its toxicity.

Dr. Russell Blaylock, renowned neurosurgeon and editor of the Blaylock Wellness Report

Water Treatment Solutions

Depending on what contaminants are present in your drinking water and your daily water use, you can either choose point-of-use (POU) solutions or water treatment systems for the entire building. POU solutions provide the final barrier to the contaminants of concern before water is consumed or used. Some POU technologies can also be applied at the point-of-entry and include:

• activated carbon
• reverse osmosis
• UV technologies
• distillation

Periodically, especially if you are on a well system, you should get your water tested by a reputable laboratory. If the test results show that your water is contaminated with arsenic, chromium or other contaminants, you will need to find someone who is able to correctly interpret the results in order to find the best water treatment solution for your problem.

At Dime Water Inc., our engineers are always prepared to help you choose the right water treatment technology to meet your needs. Contact us at 760.734.5787!

Resources:

• http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Headline/drinking-water-health-dangers/2015/04/05/id/636533/?ns_mail_uid=6054019&ns_mail_job=1615632_04062015&s=al&dkt_nbr=3ssouten
• http://www.wqa.org/Improve-Your-Water/Benefits-of-Good-Water-Quality

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The end of Water Problems in Ethiopia

Water is a precious resource in Africa, especially in countries such as Ethiopia, where women are forced to walk for miles to the nearest water source, just to draw contaminated water from shallow, dirty ponds. Unfortunately, most of the times the water is not safe to drink and many people suffer from the lack of access to clean drinking water.

According to the World Health Organization, 34% of Ethiopia’s rural population lacks access to clean drinking water, one of the reasons that 54,000 children die each year from diarrhea. However, a humanitarian approach to architecture and design might be the end of water problems in poverty-stricken countries.

Arturo Vittori is a man with a clear goal set in his mind: providing a relatively cheap, easy to build and maintain eco-friendly alternative water source for Ethiopians. Vittori, founder of the Italian firm Architecture and Vision gathered a team of fellow designers and visited Ethiopian villages in the country’s mountainous northeastern region in 2012. After assessing the water issue in the area, Vittori’s team responded to the problem by developing Warka Water, an alternative water source project with architecturally stunning water collection towers.

The Birth of a Project

Infrastructure is scarce in rural areas of Ethiopia and building a well is neither easy nor affordable. To find water source, you need to drill deep in the ground up to 1,600 ft (500 m) and bringing water to the top requires pumps and electrical equipment, which are both expensive and difficult to maintain.

Air always contains a certain amount of water, irrespective of local ambient temperatures and humidity conditions, making it possible to produce water from air almost anywhere in the world. Locations with high rates of aerosol and humidity are best to install WW, such as the mountainous regions of Ethiopia.

Warka Water (WW) is named after the Warka tree, which is a giant wild fig tree native to Ethiopia. This tree has a very important part in the local culture and ecosystem and serves as a central gathering place in many villages. It is designed to be owned and operated by villagers, and not only provides a fundamental resource for life, but also creates a social place for the community, thanks to its design. WW is a vertical structure designed to harvest potable water from the atmosphere by collecting rain, fog and dew.

However, Warka Water should not be considered as the solution to all water problems in developing countries but rather as a tool that can provide clean water in selected areas, particularly in mountainous regions where conventional pipelines will never reach and where water is not available from wells.

Inspired by Nature

Many plants and animals have developed unique micro- and nano-scale structural features on their surfaces that enable them to collect water from the air and survive in hostile environments, where water is scarce. The Warka’s water harvesting technique and construction system are inspired by several sources found in nature:

• the Namib beetle’s shell
• lotus flower leaves
• spider web threads
• integrated fog collection systems in cactus
• termite hives

The team identified specific materials and coatings that can enhance dew condensation and water flow storage capabilities of the mesh used in the construction of the Warka towers. The design of the outer shell, its airflow, shape and geometry was influenced by termite hives. Weirdly enough, no one like termites and yet here we are designing something after their hive. Obviously, it’s better because no one is struggling with a termite infestation. However, if this is something that you are experiencing then don’t worry, all you have to do is call up someone like termite control los angeles to help you out with your problem. There are a lot of people who suffer from a termite problem. They love wood you see and so reverse osmosistting wood or wood that hasn’t been looked after properly attracts them. This is when there are different types of termite treatment available. The WW team also looked at local cultures and vernacular architecture, incorporating traditional Ethiopian basket-weaving techniques.

Warka Water 3.1 Characteristics

Below are the key details of Warka Water 3.1:

• Daily water collection: 13 to 26 gallons (50 to 100 L), annual average.
• Water tank storage: 264 gallons (1000 L).
• Construction: 4 days, 6 people (by hand, no electrical power machinery required).
• Assembly: 3 hours, 4 people.
• Weight: 132 pounds (60 kg).
• Materials: Bamboo, hemp, metal pins, bio-plastic.
• Dimensions: Height 33 ft (10 m) – Footprint Ø 13 ft (4.2 m).
• Surface Area: Mesh 262 sq ft (80 sq. m), Collector 141 sq ft (43 sq. m), Canopy 285 sq ft (87 sq. m).
• Cost: ~ $1,000 (production in Ethiopia).
• Maintenance: easy to be maintained, cleaned and repaired.

Warka Water 3.1 consists of 5 modules that are very easy to assemble, from top to bottom. The outer frame structure, made with split bamboo elements, is structurally optimized for lightness and strength:

• elegant design of the triangulated frame geometry offers both stability and reverse osmosisbustness
• joints are made with metal pins and hemp reverse osmosispes
• a network of reverse osmosispes provides additional stability
• the tension in the diagonal guy-wire, combined with the compressional strength of the bamboo structure, allows the tower to withstand strong winds
• 8 fixation points placed radially at 26 ft (8 m) distance from the WW base and tightened with 8 polyester reverse osmosispes, which are very low-stretch and ultraviolet resistant
• Inside the bamboo structure hangs the plastic mesh that collects droplets of water from the high humidity in the air and the collector where the dew condensation can happen at night
• a textile canopy around the WW bamboo structure creates a shaded area

Help Warka Water Make a Difference in Ethiopian Villages

So far, Vittori’s team built 9 water towers, one in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, and is currently raising funds on Kickstarter to construct and test 10 new Warka Water 3.2 prototypes. Many usually look for means to give the money directly to the communities (through https://charity.gofundme.com/c/giving-tuesday methods or others), which has its merits, but by developing this product a long term solution could be found. There are 19 days to go and a $40,000 goal, with a little over $16,000 pledged for the project. Vittori and his colleagues also plan to offer training courses to village inhabitants, teaching them how to construct, use, and care for the towers. The water WW collects from the atmosphere in rural regions will likely comply with WHO standards for drinking water purity.

It’s about answering a need. I believe we all should do something to make our planet a better place for all of us and not thinking only to our immediate interests.

Arturo Vittori, CEO and founder of Warka Water

Warka Water Kickstarter Campaign

This is definitely a project that deserves public support and many people will be excited to hear that it could become a reality. Warka Water is a great opportunity to help those truly in need for safe, clean drinking water and could help save thousands of lives each year. Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today to learn more about sustainable water saving practices to apply at home.

Resources:

• http://hyperallergic.com/176874/a-promising-design-solution-for-ethiopias-water-problem/
• http://www.warkawater.com/
• https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/366225655/warka-water-32

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Water Infrastructure in Question after Water Main Breaks

When the water main broke in San Diego, it gave rise to several questions about water infrastructure. A water main rupture left most of Shelter Island without functional plumbing through the late morning and the entire afternoon Friday, January 23, when the failed 63-year-old concrete pipeline began drenching the reverse osmosisadway in the 2300 block of Shelter Island Drive about 9 am.

The flow was under control in about 45 minutes and no structural flooding was reported. According to workers, a corroded connector attaching 2 segments of the 12-inch-diameter main, not the pipe itself, had given way. Water service was restored to the area around 5 pm after repairs were completed.

A week earlier, another water main broke in Little Italy on January 14, shutting down the local businesses. Nearly 20 restaurants, 6 apartments, and 5 other businesses were without water for most of the day. You can read the news report here.

In the US, a Water Main Breaks Every 2 Minutes

That is a lot of wasted water if you do the math… Unfortunately, money also goes down the drain when a water main breaks – the cost of fixing a problem after it occurs is much more than that of fixing it in advance. Since 2010, San Diego has paid at least $3.9 million for issues related to water main breaks. In 2013, the city estimates 6.6 million gallons gushed from ruptured mains, which is enough water for the average San Diegan for 205 years, according to the city’s estimated average daily use of 88 gallons per person each day.

According to city officials, it is too expensive to do the reverse osmosisutine inspections of water lines to reveal which ones are close to collapse and need replacing. Only about 5 ½ of its 505 miles of large transmission pipelines and none of San Diego’s 2,958-mile network of smaller distribution pipelines were inspected since 2005. According to an analysis of city data by inewsource, mains are breaking at a pace of more than 100 per year.

The solution to this infrastructure crisis is to replace all the 100-year-old cast iron pipes first. Rupture-prone cast iron pipes should be replaced with PVC, which is not as apt to rupture, and professionals will know whether Schedule 40 PVC vs. schedule 80 PVC, or a different type of pipe altogether, will be best for this particular job. Additionally, water breaks can often be seen at the point where a pipeline ends and the reason could depend on various factors such as blind flange rust, improper flange fit, etc. To address this issue, using rust-proof stainless blind flange could be considered. Since 2007, only 51 miles of the most rupture-prone cast iron pipes have been replaced and there are still 129 miles to go. Double Block and Bleed Valve technology can also be fitted to pipes, relieving pressure and reducing the chances of rupture.

Smart Pig Technology for Water Pipes

Smart pigs or Pipeline Inspection Gauges (PIG) are large pieces of machinery pulled together with powerful technology that helps with the maintenance of transmission pipelines. These devices are used to detect stress corrosion cracking, general and pitting corrosion and in specific, gouges, dents, pit corrosion, anomalous weld seams, longitudinal cracks/grooves and general pipe corrosion.

Although used to inspect oil pipelines to see where the problems are, smart pigs could be used in water pipelines obviating the necessity of digging up the pipeline in order to inspect it. Some common components of smart pigs include:

• odometers
• calipers (detect reverse osmosisundness)
• tilt sensors
• capacitive sensors
• ultrasonics – the same technology found in ultrasound equipment

Unfortunately, San Diego does not know exactly where the biggest problems are. Considering the difficulties in which our state is with the water shortage, something must be done to reduce the chances of water main ruptures.

EPA is committed to promoting sustainable practices that will help ensure that citizens continue to have access to clean and safe water. Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today to learn more about sustainable water-saving practices to apply at home.

Resources:

• https://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/jan/23/shelter-island-businesses-without-running-water-af/
• https://sandiegofreepress.org/2015/01/water-main-breaks-cause-major-problems-in-san-diego-and-nationwide/
• https://inewsource.org/2012/02/27/cost-of-main-breaks-water-loss-add-up-for-city/
• https://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/index.cfm

Polluted Water Problem Resolved

In recent months, the public has learned that the 2 hot water tanks at Memorial Elementary School in Burlington, MA had failed. The tanks were installed with the new Memorial building in 2011 but failed before reaching their 5-year guarantee, leaving 14 months before they expired. This led to a variety of polluted water problems. In an effort to not have this as a recurring issue, the newly-installed tanks are stainless steel with a 15-year warranty.

High levels of copper and lead were reported in one sink in the cafeteria during one of the several water quality tests conducted annually by the town’s Water Department at each school. The sink was the only one found in the area to test positive for elevated levels of copper and lead. A water fountain was also tested and did not have the same levels.

The School Department subsequently conducted its own investigation with the help of some expert plumbing professionals similar to those at Metro Vancouver Plumbing. The results revealed the need for replacing a back-flow preventer. A new backflow preventer was installed and after another water test was conducted, the department reported copper and lead levels well below the Department of Environmental Protection’s threshold.

Everything is back on and usable except for the one sink in the kitchen, which is not being used for cooking. It is more of a discoloration issue, not a polluted water issue, as the levels are all below where they need to be. It just does not look attractive.

Craig reverse osmosisbinson, Director of Finance and Operations

Copper and Lead in Drinking Water

Copper and lead turn out in our water source as a result of erosion of natural deposits, corrosion of household plumbing systems, or a lack of safety equipment like a back-flow preventer. The latter two can be inspected for and resolved by a plumbing service similar to https://www.americaneagleplumbing.net/lago-vista-plumber/. Should these metals enter your fresh drinking water supply then they can cause health problems – especially if present in public or private water supplies in amounts greater than the drinking standards set by the EPA.

How Will I Know If There Is Copper or Lead in My Water?

If you are concerned about the presence of these metals in your drinking water, the first thing to do is to have your water tested by a certified laboratory. Water testing is the only sure way of telling whether there are harmful quantities of copper or lead in your drinking water since you cannot see, taste or smell these metals dissolved in water. Once the testing is done, you might want to call for a great plumber in Milford or somewhere near your location to check how this problem could be fixed. In our on-site laboratory at Dime Water Inc., we reverse osmosisutinely test for:

• Physical appearance -pH -DO -TDS -Conductivity –Copper
• Calcium and magnesium hardness -All forms of iron -Manganese -H2S
• Chloride -P and M alkalinity -Nitrates/Nitrite -Oil -Bacteria P/A -Calculate LSI
• Arsenic -Fluoride -Chlorine -Chloramines -CO2 -Tannins –Silica

How to Reduce Elevated Copper and Lead Level in Your Drinking Water

Public water suppliers should use corrosion control, which is an effective treatment technique to reduce the amount of copper in drinking water. As for lead, the more time water has been sitting in your home’s pipes, the more lead it may contain. Most lead in household water usually comes from the plumbing in your house, not the local water supply. You may want to have your pipes replaced by professionals such as those from this website (https://macvik.com/plumbing/plumbing-service-areas/denver/).To reduce lead in drinking water at home:

• flush your pipes before drinking
• only use cold water for consumption
• flush your cold water pipes by running the water until it becomes as cold as it will get, anytime a particular faucet has not been used for 6+ hours
• use only water from the cold water tap for drinking, cooking and baby formula

Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today to learn more about removing copper and lead from your drinking water.

Resources:

• https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/lead-and-copper-rule
• https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/drinking-water-regulations

Water Shortage Solution

As the state and northern region grows, Colorado faces a water shortage as the population grows and becomes more and more dependent upon a limited resource. Inaction could lead the communities being stranded in a dry river with only a paddle if the population does not identify new sources.

Of high importance is also the need for conserving the existing supply as possible. In tandem with other efforts, the Northern Integrated Water Supply project is key to solving Colorado’s water problem. The population of Colorado is expected to double to 10 million by 2050 and the growth rates in Fort Collins and Larimer are expected to mirror that of the state.

With Growth Comes a Need for Water

Conservation efforts in Northern Colorado are working, according to the city’s 2013 water conservation report. In an 11-year period, from 2002 to 2013, the water use per person in Fort Collins was reduced from 183 gallons per day to 141. This multi-faceted water conservation program is based on public education, incentives, assessments and enforcement, being guided by the Water Conservation Plan.

The WCP set a goal of 140 gallons per capita per day (gpcd) by 2020. The incremental target to reach this goal was 149 gpcd for 2013 and the average demand (adjusted for weather) in 2013 was 147 gpcd.

The Northern Water agency would like to build 2 reservoirs, pipelines and water pumping stations to help secure the region’s water source. Their project is estimated to cost around $500 million and has been named the Northern Integrated Supply Project, or NISP. Although the idea of this project was conceived long ago, it has long been a source of conflict.

NISP would supply customers, rural or urban, with approximately 40,000 acre-feet (or more) of new, reliable water supply each year through pumping stations, pipelines and 2 new reservoirs at Glade (which will be built northwest of Fort Collins) and Galeton, northeast of Greeley. The amount of water will be slightly larger than the Horsetooth Reservoir.

Northern Water is set to receive a long-awaited report from the Army Corps of Engineers later this year. However, the statement has been postponed at least twice and the study will probably not be released until spring 2015, according to Northern Water spokesman Brian Werner. Colorado might not have a lifetime to wait for more water, according to draft versions of the Colorado Water Plan completed this summer.

The state is on track to be short 500,000 acre-feet of water by 2050, enough to cover half a million football fields in one foot of water. The Fort Collins-Loveland Water Conservation District has already passed its water shortage date and by 2005, the district was short 1,100 acre-feet of water, an amount that could grow to 7,500 acre-feet by 2050, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

Saving Water at Home

Considering the situation in Colorado, we could all take notes on how we could better save water in our own homes, as California is facing its worst drought in the last years. Click on the image below to read more than 200 water-saving tips!

Since the world has become more “green” aware, products offering to save water are flooding the market. WaterSense-labeled products used in your home, yard or business can help you save and protect the environment with just a few simple steps.

These products included in the EPA WaterSense Partnership program have been certified to be at least 20% more efficient without sacrificing performance. Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today to learn more about how you can save gallons of water in your household!

Resources:

• https://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/editorials/2015/01/25/northern-integrated-supply-project-key-solving-region-state-water-problem/22164815/
• https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/local/2014/11/08/plan-massive-new-reservoir-delayed/18748323/
• https://www.northernwater.org/
• https://www.fcgov.com/utilities/img/site_specific/uploads/2013_Water_Conservation_Annual_Report_2.pdf
• https://wateruseitwisely.com/100-ways-to-conserve-water/?view=list

Flint River’s Concerns

Since the city of Flint, MI began using the Flint River as its source of water in April 2014, council members said they continue to hear complaints from residents about differences in the taste, smell and color of drinking water. The switch to the Flint River as a source of drinking water came after 50 years of the city buying water that comes from Lake Huron, treated by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

The most vocal outcry against Flint water problems began earlier in January this year, when the city informed customers it was in violation of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act because of the high level of total trihalomethanes (TTHM). At the time of the switch from Lake Huron water to Flint River water, city and state officials assured residents there would not be any difference in the smell or taste of tap water once the river was tapped.

However, citizens began complaining almost immediately about the smell, color and taste of river water. Within 4 months, tests showed bacteria, including E. coli, in the water system boil and water advisories were issued for parts of the city. The city cleared up the bacteria problem by upping the level of disinfectant and implementing other changes.

Flint received another blow when General Motors said it would no longer use the city’s water in one of its plants there because high chloride levels were causing corrosion in engine parts. Despite quality problems, a Flint consultant reported the water is safe to drink and currently meets all state and federal standards.

By mid-2016, the city is expected to start receiving raw water from Lake Huron through the Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline that is currently under construction.

What Are Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM)?

To protect drinking water from disease-causing organisms, or pathogens, water suppliers often add a disinfectant, such as chlorine, to drinking water. The major challenge is controlling and limiting the risks from pathogens and disinfection byproducts. The main goal of water suppliers is to provide protection from pathogens, while simultaneously minimizing health risks to the population from disinfection byproducts.

Trihalomethanes occur when naturally-occurring organic and inorganic materials in the water react with the disinfectants, chlorine and chloramine. The EPA regulates the following trihalomethanes:

• bromodichloromethane (75-27-4)
• bromoform (75-25-2)
• dibromochloromethane (124-48-1)
• chloroform (67-66-3)

People who drink water containing TTHM in excess of the MCL over many years could experience liver, kidney, or central nervous system problems and an increased risk of cancer. MCLs for disinfection byproducts are set at the following levels:

How Will Disinfection Byproducts Be Removed from My Drinking Water?

Water systems that use surface water/ground water under the direct influence of surface water and which use conventional filtration treatment are required to remove specified percentages of organic materials. These organic materials may react with disinfectants to form disinfection byproducts, prior to disinfection. Other control strategies include modification of disinfection practices, but this must be done in a manner that still provides adequate protection against pathogens.

Trihalomethane (THM) compounds are the byproducts of decaying vegetation reacting with one of the halogens, which in this case is chlorine. They can be effectively reduced virtually to the point of elimination by passing the water containing the offending THM through activated carbon, either for the entire facility (Point of Entry – POE) or at drinking water faucets (Point of Use – POU).

Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today!

Resources:

• https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/01/flints_dilemma_how_much_to_spe.html
• https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/02/flint_consultant_tells_city_de.html#incart_related_stories
• https://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2015/02/unofficial_results_show_flints.html#incart_story_package
• https://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/disinfectionbyproducts.cfm
• https://cityofflint.com/?p=6251

chloride, flint river water, Flint Water, water concerns, Water Filter Systems

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Oil Spill Contamination in Montana

An hour-long breach in a pipeline along the Yellowstone River near Glendive, Montana contaminated the drinking water supply of the city after up to 50,000 gallons of oil entered the city’s water on January 17. This oil spill contaminated the majority of Montana city’s water supply. A break in a 12-inch pipeline owned by Wyoming-based Bridger Pipeline Co. has rushed residents to buy bottled water until the danger was over.

Truckloads of bottled water were expected to be brought on Tuesday, January 20, and people were warned not to drink or cook with tap water. In such situations, it is advisable to switch from the city water supply to a privately owned water supply. This can be done with the help of portals like https://www.switchwatersupplier.com/ that can help you easily switch the water connection. However, the advisory against ingesting tap water from the city’s treatment plant was issued late Monday, 2 days later after the crude oil spill. Oil spills can be dangerous to the citizen’s health. Some may even say used oil can also be harmful; however, one can check out the used oil waste classification that can provide such data. Oil spills, whereas, can pollute water sources along with groundwater and can lead to diseases in humans as well as marine livestock.

Preliminary tests from Montana and the US EPA representatives did not show a cause of concern. Additional tests were ordered and carried out after residents complained of a petroleum- or diesel-like smell coming from their tap water.

Tests revealed the water contained elevated levels of benzene, a cancer-causing component of oil. The elevated amounts of benzene found were above the levels recommended for long-term consumption but do not pose a short-term health hazard, as scientists from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

Facts about Benzene

The major sources of benzene in drinking water come from discharge from factories, and leaching from gas storage tanks and landfills. EPA regulates benzene in drinking water to protect public health. Benzene may cause health problems if present in public or private water supplies. Other facts you should know about benzene:

• it is a volatile organic chemical, a clear, colorless aromatic liquid
• it is highly flammable which will need to be stored in protective cabinets (click here) when needed
• it is formed through natural processes, such as volcanoes and forest fires, and also from industrial processes
• it is a natural part of crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke
• used as a building block for making plastics, rubber, resins and synthetic fabrics
• used also as a solvent in printing, paints, dry cleaning
• people who drink water containing benzene in levels that are above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for many years could experience anemia or a decrease in blood platelets, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer

As for EPA’s drinking water regulations for benzene, the MCLG set for benzene is zero. EPA has set an enforceable regulation for benzene, called a maximum contaminant level (MCL), at 0.005 mg/L or 5 ppb. However, states may set more stringent drinking water MCLGs and MCLs for benzene than EPA.

When reverse osmosisutine monitoring indicates that benzene levels are above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of benzene so that it is below that level. They must notify customers as soon as practical, but no later than 30 days after the system learns of the violation.

Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health.

Removing Benzene from Water

Water containing more than 0.005 parts per million of benzene should not be used for domestic water supplies! Benzene requires a specific treatment process for removal from water. Granular activated carbon or charcoal are recommended to remove benzene from well water if your water source comes from a well. Activated charcoal or granular activated carbon filters:

• improve the taste
• remove odor of the water
• remove some contaminants in water supplies
• are effective in removing benzene, as well as vola ­tile organic compounds (VOCs)

A typical water softener will not remove benzene from the water! Call us at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with one of our water experts today.

Resources:

• http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/benzene.cfm

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Manganese is a chemical element that naturally occurs in reverse osmosiscks and soil. It is frequently found in iron-bearing drinking waters. Being more rare than iron, manganese may also be present due to underground pollution sources. In coal mining regions, for example, it is found frequently with iron may also appear from both deep and surface mining activities. They often occur together in groundwater, but manganese usually appears in much lower concentrations than iron.

Manganese is seldom found in the water supply. In low concentrations, it produces extremely objectionable stains on everything it comes in contact with. Manganese deposits collect in pipelines.  When found in tap water, it will contain black sediment and turbidity as a result of precipitated manganese. Iron is readily apparent in drinking water supplies as well. It imparts a strong metallic taste to the water and causes staining. Iron and manganese are most common in private wells and springs in northern and western counties of Pennsylvania. Excessive iron concentrations were found in 17% of the private water supplies sampled in the state.

Drinking Water Standards

Because private water systems serving individual homes are not subject to state or federal drinking water standards, the following information only provides guidelines for the proper management of these types of water supplies. Thus, drinking water is recommended to have no more than 0.3 mg/L (0.3 parts per million) of iron and less than 0.05 mg/L of manganese.

For many industrial purposes, the U.S. EPA Secondary Drinking Water Regulations recommend the manganese content should not exceed 0.01 to 0.02 mg/L, which is considered excessive in some cases. This metal may become noticeable in drinking water by impairing color, odor, and taste in concentrations higher than 0.05 mg/L. Health effects are not a concern unless concentrations are approximately 10 times higher, according to the EPA.

Can Manganese Cause Health Problems?

High exposure to these metals has been associated with toxicity to the nervous system, producing a syndrome that resembles Parkinsonism. It is unlikely to cause cancer or reproductive damage and it can be consumed from our diet and in our drinking water. Manganese does not penetrate the skin and does not get into the air. Bathing and showering in water with manganese does not increase exposure. However, if you notice orange-brown or black stains in your water or a metallic taste, you should arrange to have your water tested for iron and/or manganese.

Water Treatment Options

You can obtain a list of certified commercial water testing laboratories from your local Extension office. Our 200 square feet laboratory located in Vista, CA allows us to study the chemistry of our clients’ water before we make recommendations on products or services. Depending on both the form and concentrations of iron and manganese in the water, they can be effectively removed using a number of treatment processes:

• water softening (ion exchange)
• polyphosphate addition
• oxidizing filters
• oxidation followed by filtration
• other treatment methods (aeration, ozonation, catalytic carbon)

Since iron and manganese are aesthetic problems, they must be removed from all water entering the home using POE (Point-of-Entry) treatment devices.
Contact us today at 760.734.5787 and get in touch with our water treatment experts!

Resources:

• http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/secondarystandards.cfm#two