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If anyone has any questions about water quality improvement - I can help.

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by Rex Kramer, Jan 12, 2020.

  1. Jan 12, 2020 at 3:18 PM
    #1
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I have been in the water quality improvement business since 1988, I specialize in residential systems and I am factory trained by RainSoft, Fleck, EcoWater and Multi-Pure. If you have it, I have probably worked on it - or replaced it.

    Softeners, Iron filters, Acid neutralizers, Chlorine reduction, Rotten egg smell reduction, drinking water systems, etc... http://athenswater.com/

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  2. Jan 12, 2020 at 4:21 PM
    #2
    Ace402

    Ace402 New Member

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    Thanks for the offer Rex! That’s good to know
     
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  3. Jan 12, 2020 at 4:22 PM
    #3
    ZappBrannigan

    ZappBrannigan The mind is willing but the flesh is weak

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    I have the worlds worst hard water and it destroys the fixtures. Can I soften the water without adding salt to my drinking water?
     
  4. Jan 12, 2020 at 4:28 PM
    #4
    Squatting Pigeon

    Squatting Pigeon Squattingpigeon.com Staff Member

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    Hey @Rex Kramer, my water out of the blue is suddenly tasting musty. The light interwebz reading I've done suggests "iron-related bacteria" is to blame?
    It also said while it doesn't taste or smell great, it's not a health danger. What say you? What would the likely cause and remedy be?

    Also want to note: no rotten egg smell, just musty.
     
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  5. Jan 12, 2020 at 4:52 PM
    #5
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    No.

    The softening process is based on Ion exchange, sodium for minerals on millions of resin beads. If the exchange rate is high enough to leave sodium in your water, I suggest distillation to process water for drinking and cooking.
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2020
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  6. Jan 12, 2020 at 4:57 PM
    #6
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    Bacterial iron usually comes on strong, and it grows like moss in the toilet tank. The problem definitely sounds organic in nature, and it could be tannins. I recommend additional testing by your county extension office so you have a clear picture of what is causing the problem.

    Does your water appear cloudy or discolored after a heavy rain? Are there any other symptoms / stains?
     
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  7. Jan 12, 2020 at 5:01 PM
    #7
    Squatting Pigeon

    Squatting Pigeon Squattingpigeon.com Staff Member

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    I’ve always had high mineral stains in toilet bowls and on fixtures, which is common for my area. Real hard water ‘round these parts. I’ve been in this house 2.5 years now and this smell/taste just came bout within the last month.

    The water is always crystal clear whether its dry or wet outside. I was wondering if I didn’t have a break in the main that is letting organics in, but my water bill isn’t sky high so idk.

    Would calling my municipality do anything for me? Or should I just test it on my own?
     
  8. Jan 12, 2020 at 5:20 PM
    #8
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I figured you were on a private well. The municipality should be chlorinating your water to prevent bacteria and all sorts of other nasty things, definitely call them and have them identify & correct the problem.
     
  9. Jan 12, 2020 at 5:21 PM
    #9
    Squatting Pigeon

    Squatting Pigeon Squattingpigeon.com Staff Member

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    No sir, city water over here. I’ll give them a ring and see if they are motivated to do anything tomorrow.
    Thank you!
     
  10. Jan 12, 2020 at 5:24 PM
    #10
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    Let me know what their answer / solution is. It could be an algae bloom in a reservoir that has overwhelmed their treatment plant, or maybe they added a new water source.
     
  11. Jan 12, 2020 at 5:28 PM
    #11
    Squatting Pigeon

    Squatting Pigeon Squattingpigeon.com Staff Member

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    I’m pretty curious myself. It’s been like this for a month and it would be impossible I’m the only one seeing this.
     
  12. Jan 13, 2020 at 9:11 AM
    #12
    Northern

    Northern New Member

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    Rex (or anyone else),
    Our house is older 70s and copper pipes. I've been replacing them all with pex as I go. My goal is to remove ALL of the copper pipes in this house with pex. Anyone like copper? I can put my finger inside of a pipe and pull it out w/a coating on it. Don't know if it's just the water/copper interaction, but don't have to worry about it with pex. Also, don't have to worry about any freezing--not that any should.

    Is that PVC you use for water lines? I've worked on some houses that used cpvc and it broke pretty easily.
     
  13. Jan 13, 2020 at 9:17 AM
    #13
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    Copper is excellent, but acidic water will eat copper pipes from the inside... pH lower than 6.9 will eat metal pipes & fixtures over time. CPVC does get brittle - especially the smaller diameter pipe, PVC will also get brittle if it's exposed to UV rays, but it's otherwise good to go. Pex is pretty good now that the problems with the connects has been sorted out, it used to split when you crimped the band.
     
  14. Jan 13, 2020 at 9:20 AM
    #14
    Sas

    Sas Humor is everywhere

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    Lost track after #1.
    I've read that RO filters leave the water with a ion charge that can decay teeth over time, and that some minerals need to be added back at the end of the process to fix that. What's the process there and wouldn't putting minerals back in negate some of the purpose of having an RO system?
     
  15. Jan 13, 2020 at 10:54 AM
    #15
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I am not a fan of RO water filters because they are slow, they waste water to the drain, and they tend to be expensive to maintain. Dealers make good money servicing RO filters. As for RO product water somehow decaying teeth, I have not seen any studies that support the claim.

    My go-to systems for drinking water & ice are solid carbon block filtration for most everyone, and distillation followed by solid carbon block filtration for those with special requirements.
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2020
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  16. Jan 15, 2020 at 7:54 AM
    #16
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I am probably the only person in America that can keep these old brass valve Intermatic RainSoft control valves running... this one has been in continuous service since 1993. That being said, I am down to mostly salvaged repair parts, so I replace and upgrade most of these that I encounter in the field.

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  17. Jan 16, 2020 at 11:24 AM
    #17
    Squatting Pigeon

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    So the city's answer is to send someone out to flush my nearest fire hydrant to "bring different water to the street".
    I'm skeptical, but the guy at the city said this is typically the first thing they do when there is a smell or taste complaint. He did also mention that they haven't had any quality issues lately, and test 25 samples a month.
     
  18. Jan 16, 2020 at 12:02 PM
    #18
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    "Different water"?

    What could possibly different?
     
  19. Jan 23, 2020 at 1:11 PM
    #19
    grimesRX

    grimesRX New Member

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    Hello sir! I am looking to add a whole home water filter to my home. I currently have a softener (Kenmore elite 38620) and would appreciate your recommendation on adding a filter to this set up. Our water is VERY hard water and I could use all of the cleansing possible. FYI, a recent test showed our tap water to have over 400 ppm and hardness of about 30 (with a softener).

    Also, what reverse osmosis system to you suggest for drinking/cooking water?

    Thanks!
     
  20. Jan 23, 2020 at 1:15 PM
    #20
    hagrid

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    Add a dual bed de-ionizer if you are concerned. My system is RO with a de-ionizer to polish the output from the RO reservoir.
     
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  21. Jan 23, 2020 at 1:22 PM
    #21
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    Drinking deionized water
    Why It's Unsafe.


    Aside from its unpleasant taste and sensation in your mouth, there are good reasons to avoid drinking deionized water:

    1. Deionized water lacks minerals normally found in water which provide beneficial health effects. Calcium and magnesium, in particular, are desirable minerals in the water.
    2. Deionized water aggressively attacks pipes and storage container materials, leaching metals and other chemicals into the water.
    3. Drinking DI may lead to increased risk of metal toxicity, both because deionized water leaches metals from pipes and containers and because hard or mineral water protects against absorption of other metals by the body.
    4. Use of DI for cooking can lead to loss of minerals in food into the cooking water.
    5. At least one study found ingestion of deionized water directly damaged the intestinal mucosae. Other studies did not observe this effect.
    6. There is substantial evidence drinking DI disrupts mineral homeostasis. Long-term use of deionized water as drinking water may cause organ damage, even if additional minerals are present elsewhere in the diet.
    7. There is evidence that distilled and DI water are less likely to quench thirst.
    8. Deionized water may contain contamination in the form of bits of ion exchange resin.
    9. While deionized water made from distilled or reverse osmosis purified water may be pure, deionizing nonpotable water will not make it safe to drink.
     
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  22. Jan 23, 2020 at 2:31 PM
    #22
    hagrid

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    Can anyone tell me what kind of science to which this is referred?
     
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  23. Jan 23, 2020 at 2:42 PM
    #23
    Jrharvey02

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    lake turnover could be a possibility, not sure if it gets cold enough for that to happen in TX...
     
  24. Jan 23, 2020 at 2:43 PM
    #24
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I am not saying I agree that DI water is safe or not to drink, but when it comes to H2O that's been purified for drinking & cooking I prefer distilled water that runs through a solid carbon block filter right before it is used.

    Here is the source of the information I found on DI water, there is plenty of additional information on the net.
    https://www.thoughtco.com/is-it-safe-to-drink-deionized-water-609428
     
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  25. Jan 24, 2020 at 11:53 PM
    #25
    Tacogrande

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    I am wanting some high quality but affordable water test kits so that i can test my own water. Do you do water testing and what product and source do you recommend?
    Is atrazine in the water? What do you know about these forever chemicals i am hearing about?
     
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  26. Jan 25, 2020 at 12:03 AM
    #26
    saybng

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  27. Jan 25, 2020 at 3:19 AM
    #27
    usmchawk

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    Op - I have 6.5ph on my well water. I've had pin holes appear in copper piping as the acidic nature eats thru. Is it worthwhile to have a soda ash system put in...or would it be better to replace my copper piping with Pex?
     
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  28. Jan 25, 2020 at 5:08 AM
    #28
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    You can search online for water testing kits, and spend huge amounts of money having labs test for everything. OR, you can buy a distiller and a solid carbon block post filter and feel better about the quality of water you drink & cook with

    Forever Chemicals have been used in products since the 1940s and. You might have heard them referred to as "stain-repellent compounds" or "highly fluorinated chemicals." For years, many called them by their infamous toxic poster child "C8," referring to the eight-carbon Forever Chemicals "PFOA" and "PFOS." The most recent technical name for the Forever Chemicals we are talking about — the ones in consumer products and building materials — are perfluorinated or polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFASs.
     
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  29. Jan 25, 2020 at 5:14 AM
    #29
    Rex Kramer

    Rex Kramer [OP] Vinyl Spinner

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    I recommend an Acid Neutralizing filter that treats the whole house, a 10x54 Vortech tank with an electronic control valve that automatically back-washes the tank. The sacrificial Calcite media should have a little Corosex mixed in and this mix needs to be serviced every year or so.

    Replace the damaged pipes, and check all of your fixtures. The damage stops once the pH has been elevated, but it will return if the system is not properly maintained.
     
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  30. Jan 25, 2020 at 7:15 AM
    #30
    usmchawk

    usmchawk New Member

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    THANKS! We have to do something to stop the damage. I've twice had pin holes and water shooting across the basement. What kind of money are we talking to put in a whole house system with the electronic control valve? Can any water treatment company put them in or should I seek out a specialist like you?
     
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