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We've put together a list of the frequently asked questions. If you have additional questions or would like to set up a water consultation, please feel free to contact us.
BOTTLED WATER
I prefer bottled water. Is it the best alternative to my tap water?
Bottled water is a good alternative if you would like better tasting water for drinking and cooking, but it can be expensive and a hassle to carry from the store. Because it is inconvenient to do so, you may not use it for everything you should, including drinks and recipes.
It's generally less expensive in the long run to use a home drinking water system. Drinking water systems are convenient and provide you with high quality water in your own home when you want it, at prices per gallon that are considerably lower than bottled water.
There are many options available. Check to see that the system you choose is certified to protect you from a wide variety of contaminants and that the manufacturer's claims have been verified by the Water Quality Association or NSF International.
Don't water filters remove important minerals from my water?
Studies have found that minerals in your drinking water essentially make no contribution to your health and may even be present in forms your body can't absorb. Unfortunately, the myth that drinking water with minerals is healthy is perpetuated by companies that promote "mineral water."
In fact, the Water Quality Association, the trade association of the water treatment industry, prohibits health claims in any of its members' literature and advertising.
HARD WATER / SOFT WATER
It feels like I can't get the soap off when I wash with soft water. Why does soft water feel "slimy" when I wash my hands in it?
When you wash in soft water, you feel your skin the way it's supposed to feel, clean and silky smooth. According to the U.C. Berkeley Wellness Letter, when you wash in hard water, the soap you're using reacts with the hardness minerals in the water "to form an insoluble residue that's difficult to wash away." The "squeaky" feel/sound many people associate with being clean is, in fact, your skin sticking because of this residue.
Soft water rinses your skin and hair more cleanly than hard water and doesn't leave a soap or shampoo residue behind. People that use soft water consistently enjoy the "truly clean" feeling they get when washing with it.
Won't soft water corrode my plumbing?
According to the US EPA's Thomas J. Sorg, softened water does not increase lead and copper leaching in household plumbing systems. As long as your water has a neutral pH, softening it will not make it corrosive. Water that does not fall into the neutral range should be neutralized even if it is not being softened. If it isn't neutralized, it will typically cause corrosion, whether it's hard or soft.
Is soft water bad for my septic system?
According to a report issued by the Water Quality Research Council, water softeners do not have any detrimental effect on septic systems and may actually enhance their performance in certain situations by encouraging the growth of additional bacteria.
In fact, the flow from the softener is typically less than the waste water discharged from an automatic washing machine. The studies credited the high levels of calcium and magnesium present (in the flow that results when the softener cleans itself) with improving soil percolation in many instances.
The studies were conducted by scientists at the University of Wisconsin - Madison and the National Sanitation Foundation.
Doesn't my city supply me with soft water?
Your city water supplier is not required to provide you with soft water. Many municipalities reduce the amount of hardness to some degree. But according to the U.S. Geological Survey, 85 percent of American homes are still supplied with hard water. Your city is required to provide you with water test results that show water hardness; just call the number on your water bill. Compare the figure they give you to the Water Quality Association hardness classification system to see if you have hard water.
Many people that use city water choose to soften it to save money on soaps and cleaners, protect their plumbing systems from scale buildup, protect their water using appliances from hard water scale, provide better water for bathing and eliminate hard water spots, among other things.
PROBLEM WATER
What's causing these ugly orange stains in my sinks and bathtubs?
Iron in your water is the most likely culprit. It stains faucets, sinks, bathtubs, countertops, appliances and even clothing. You can usually remove the iron with a home water conditioner.
In some instances, iron is present in such large amounts that a multi-stage filtration system is necessary to remove it. But don't fret; your problem may appear worse than it really is. Iron in even small amounts can cause staining.
My tap water smells like rotten eggs. What causes that? Can it be fixed?
It smells like you have a problem with Hydrogen Sulfide in your water. Water absorbs this gas as it passes through the ground. When you turn on your faucet, you actually vent the gas from your tap water.
Hydrogen sulfide can be treated with several different system approaches by Kinetico. The result is water free of the "rotten egg" smell you describe.
TESTING YOUR WATER
How can I have my water tested?
Your Mermaid Water Technical Representative can test your water for hardness, iron, pH, chlorine, sulfur, manganese, sediment and total dissolved solids at no cost to you. Depending on the testing equipment used, we may be able to perform other tests also. For unique situations we can also direct your water sample to a specialized water testing organization that can provide a more detailed analysis of your water for you. Our Mermaid Water treatment expert will help you interpret the results and determine if any treatment is necessary.
THIRD PARTY CERIFICATION
How can I tell if the product I'm purchasing will do what it's supposed to do?
Be sure that the system you choose is third-party certified by NSF International or the Water Quality Association (WQA). Remember that displaying the WQA logo may only signify that the company is a member of the Water Quality Association, not that its products are validated. And just because a product is NSF certified against some contaminants doesn't mean it protects you against all of them. Check to see that the system you choose is specifically certified to reduce the contaminants from which you wish to protect your family. Also, be wary of systems that carry only the NSF "component" certification, which indicates that only a single component of the system is certified and may not reflect overall system capabilities.
ABOUT WATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS
Why are separate systems required to soften water and treat drinking water?
It all boils down (no pun intended) to the quality of the treated water. What's more important to you, the water that goes "on you" or the water that goes "in you?" Most people would answer that the water they consume is more important. That's why most people that choose to purchase water treatment equipment further refine their drinking water with a separate system.
Typically, a water conditioner is placed at the point where the water enters the home so it can soften (remove dissolved hardness minerals from) all the water distributed throughout the house. That's how a water conditioner protects your water heater, water-using appliances, plumbing, sinks, bathtubs, faucets and other things.
A drinking water system normally services a special faucet at the kitchen sink and further treats (reduces a large number of dissolved solids in) only the water you use for drinking and food preparation. It would be a waste to refine all of the water used in the home to drinking water quality. Treating drinking water at the point of use reduces the cost of the system.
Combination systems that address both kinds of water treatment needs are available. They typically offer the two systems in one complete, compact package.
If I have a water softener, do I need a drinking water system?
Do water softeners put salt in the water?
What is a "no salt" system?
How does this two tank system keep me in soft water 24 hours per day?
These mineral deposits in your home from hard water can:
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- Clog plumbing and water bearing appliances
- Increase energy costs for water heaters
- Build up scale on fixtures and shower doors
- Produce cloudy ice cubes
- Make unsightly rings in the toilet and bathtub (soap scum)
- Dry out skin and hair
- Leave spots and stains on dishes and silverware
- Turn white fabrics gray and fade colors in the laundry
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If I have a water softener, do I need a drinking water system?
Water softeners improve the water we bathe in and clean with throughout the home. Softeners are not purifiers and will not reduce a wide range of potential contaminants.
The water in our area also contains high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) and chlorine creating bad tastes and odors. Many consumers want to purify their water for drinking, cooking and ice cubes with a reverse osmosis system. Reverse osmosis purification systems can be installed at locations where purified water is needed.
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Do water softeners put salt in the water?
A water softener does not put salt into the water. It merely exchanges calcium ions in the water for sodium or potassium ions. The amount of sodium or potassium coming through in soft tap water is extremely low.
For example, in 10 grain hard water, the amount of sodium in an 8 ounce glass of soft water is typically equivalent to the sodium in one slice of white bread. Soft water, by dietary standards, would be considered a "low sodium" beverage. Consumers may use potassium as a regenerant if you prefer not to clean out the system with sodium. Be sure to check on the efficiency of the water softener before using potassium as it is higher priced and 25% less efficient than sodium as a regenerant.
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What is a "no salt" system?
"No salt" systems are not true water softeners. The only way to remove hard water deposits from your home is through the ion exchange process of a softener. No salt "softeners" do not remove any hardness minerals from the water. These types of systems are typically whole house carbon filter systems called conditioners. They improve bad tastes and odors and reduce chlorine, but will not prevent hard water problems.
If a consumer is looking to protect their home from hard water damage, they should shop for a real water softener. The claims made by these "no salt" systems are not certified by any third party testing lab such as the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and companies that sell these systems often make unsubstantiated statements about their products.
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How does this two tank system keep me in soft water 24 hours per day?
Twin Tank Design Soft water is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Service keeps switching from tank to tank, so one tank will always be ready to soften your water, no matter how much water you use in a day. Your system will be able to clean itself with clean, soft water too. And that keeps it operating at top capacity.
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