Guide to Pasadena Water Restrictions & Contaminants

Posted December 16, 2022 by Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

Water is our most precious resource, yet it’s seldom thought of with the expected necessity. With how abundant and accessible water has become from generation to generation, it’s easy to take it for granted. Yet living with limited access to fresh water is still a daily reality for people around the world.

Is Pasadena water safe to drink? While many in the Pasadena area may feel assured that unlimited clean water will always run from the taps, the reality of water security is a complex issue. In order to ensure the faucets keep flowing, the city of Pasadena has mandated a set of guidelines governing water use. The Pasadena water restrictions affect every residential spout in the city as the Department of Water and Power scrambles to keep up with demand.

Read on to learn about the specific regulations regarding public use of water, and how you might get more than you bargained for from the city’s unfiltered supply.

Why Did Pasadena Implement Water Usage Regulations?

Los Angeles, and southern California in general, is synonymous with sunny days and cloudless skies. The less acknowledged flipside of southern California’s climate, however, is its bone-dry precipitation levels and propensity for drought. Pasadena exemplifies this lack of rainfall, most glaringly during the summer. The driest month of the year is August, which experiences 0.2 days of rain on average.

That’s less than five hours total—in a month.

Needless to say, natural reservoirs are not replenished in sufficient supply to meet the city’s demands. The Raymond Basin is the main local source of the city’s water supply, and it’s fed by rainfall in the San Gabriel valley. With little precipitation in the surrounding mountains, the Raymond Basin fails to meet even half of Pasadena’s demand, requiring the city to import water from other municipalities.

Drought Levels in Pasadena

Infrequent precipitation and an unreliable supply of local water mean Pasadena is frequently in cycles of drought. The city has come up with a six-level gauge to assess the threat of drought at a given time:

No Drought Conditions
Abnormally Dry
Moderate Drought
Severe Drought (the current level declared in Pasadena)
Extreme Drought
Exceptional Drought

With multiple low-precipitation records set in 2022, over 90% of California has been in the same drought category this year.

The National Integrated Drought Information System, a governmental program that tracks droughts across multiple metrics, also deems Pasadena and the surrounding area to be in a state of severe drought.

With local and national systems painting a dry picture, it’s clear Pasadena is going through a drought-stricken period. Not wanting to push the needles further into extreme dryness, officials decided to limit the public’s use of water.

What Are Pasadena’s Rules Regarding Water Usage?

Water conservation is crucial for Southern Californians of LA county and surrounding regions. In order to combat the ongoing shortage, the city of Pasadena has enacted a set of guidelines dictating who can use water and when. Below is a breakdown of the current rules governing which uses of water are permitted, restricted, and prohibited.

Personal use inside the home – There are currently no limitations in place on water usage in the home. The use of water for bathing, cooking, and other day-to-day personal purposes remains unrestricted as of now.
Watering grass and plants – Pasadena has implemented a once-a-week limit on the outdoor watering of exterior plants and grasses. If your address is even-numbered (ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8), you may water on Mondays. Odds (ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) must do their watering on Tuesdays. All watering is to be done in the early morning prior to 9 am, or in the evening past 6 pm. Watering days are called off if a heavy rain has fallen within the prior 48 hours.¹
Use of sprinklers and irrigation systems – There are no rules in place banning the use of sprinklers or other watering devices, so long as they’re used within your designated watering day and time. If you receive a notice from Pasadena Water and Power demanding a repair to your system, you have 48 hours to comply or face fines.¹
Adding to ponds and water features – Filling up ornamental reservoirs is completely prohibited during Pasadena’s current water restrictions.¹
Washing your car – The use of water to wash your vehicle remains legal. However, to comply with local ordinances, be sure to use either a bucket or a hose with a shut-off nozzle attached to the end.⁶
Hosing down outdoor surfaces – Spraying water for the purpose of cleaning off your driveway or sidewalk is not allowed.⁶
Creating runoff – Excessive runoff water from gardening or other purposes is considered waste and is strictly forbidden and punishable by fine.

Creating watering restrictions such as implementing a specific watering day or certain irrigation rules can create a significant difference in water waste during droughts. These regulations apply to every residential building in the city, so if you’re living in Pasadena, that probably includes you.¹ However, like all good rules, there are always a few exceptions.

What Are The Exemptions to Pasadena’s Water Restrictions?

The rules regulating water usage in Pasadena (and similarly with West Covina water restrictions) apply almost fully across the board. That said, there are a few instances when one isn’t governed by the current regulations:

Hosing things down for sanitary purposes – In order to maintain the hygiene of an area, one may use a bucket, hose with an attached shut-off device, or high-pressure cleaning device to wash off outdoor surfaces such as pathways.⁶
Using a watering can or hose – Small watering cans and hoses with shut-off devices are exempt from Pasadena’s watering schedule.¹
Maintaining key flora and fauna – To ensure the health of established trees, fruit-bearing plants, and foliage grown as fire protection, one may water them as needed. Likewise, topping up ornamental ponds is permitted so long as it’s to sustain the aquatic life living within them.¹
Fixing your irrigation system – Sprinklers are restricted to your assigned watering days but, if there’s a leak in your system, you can turn them on for short periods of time to make repairs and adjustments.⁶

Dealing with the water shortage has no end in sight, so it’s helpful to understand your full rights when it comes to usage. Likewise, it’s beneficial to inform yourself about the quality of water flowing from Pasadena’s treatment facilities to your tap.

Contaminants in Pasadena’s Water Supply

Despite meeting Federal regulations, Pasadena’s water contains a long list of contaminants that may be prejudicial to your health. In total, the city’s supply contains 36 chemical contaminants, 17 of which are found in highly unhealthy quantities.⁷

Below is a small collection of some of the compounds floating around in Pasadena’s water. Keep in mind, this list only scratches the surface of what makes it past the city’s filtration system.

Arsenic – This hazardous chemical can be found in abundance in Pasadena’s water. Arsenic pumps through the city’s taps at 85x the healthy recommended level, according to a water review.⁷ Extended exposure to arsenic has been linked to cancer and the development of skin lesions.⁸
Chloroform – That’s right, the noxious chemical that slips people into instant unconsciousness in the movies might be coming out of your faucet at 4 times the healthy dosage.⁷ While you’re not going to pass out like in Hollywood, chloroform intake can be responsible for serious health issues.⁹
Dibromochloromethane – While perhaps not instantly recognizable like the other chemicals on this list, the mystery and convoluted name make it all the more concerning. Dibromochloromethane levels in Pasadena’s pipes are 1600% above where they should be.⁷ Exposure to the substance has been linked to deleterious health effects.¹⁰

Evidently, Pasadena is not only providing its residents water in short supply, but the quality it delivers is also in question. Many of the chemicals you’re drinking may have effects on your health. Even trees can have their growth inhibited by the high levels of toxins sprayed on them while watering.¹¹

But what are Pasadenans to do? Water is the very lifeblood of existence and there’s no way to stop using it. Luckily, there are steps that you can take to ensure the city’s supply is safe for you, your family, and the environment.

Purify Your Home’s Water with a Filtration System from Rayne Water

Just because Pasadena’s treatment plants are pumping out chemical-laden water doesn’t mean you have to drink it as is. Rayne Water has been serving California’s water conditioning needs for almost a century. When it comes to dealing with contaminants, we are the experts you can trust.

Our water softeners can eliminate excess chlorine-based compounds that make your water smell and taste like a public pool. As a bonus, they can eradicate minerals that build up on surfaces and cause scaling—making cleaning your dishes, your skin, and your shower a breeze.

We also provide some of the most supremely refreshing reverse osmosis Los Angeles has to offer. Our systems can remove the chemical impurities plaguing your water supply. Aside from Pasadena, we can also help improve Burbank water quality.

You, your family, and your property deserve the crispest, cleanest water nature has to offer. Trust Rayne Water to help clean the contaminants from Pasadena’s supply and allow purity to flow from your taps.

Sources:

Pasadena Department of Water and Power. Watering Schedule. https://ww5.cityofpasadena.net/water-and-power/wateringschedule/
Climate Data. Climate Pasadena. https://en.climate-data.org/north-america/united-states-of-america/california/pasadena-715014/
Pasadena Water and Power. Where does our water come from?. https://ww5.cityofpasadena.net/water-and-power/water/
Pasadena Water and Power. Drought Awareness – Do your part to save water. https://ww5.cityofpasadena.net/water-and-power/savewater/
National Integrated Drought Information System. Conditions for Pasadena, CA. (Los Angeles County). https://www.drought.gov/location/91117
City of Pasadena. AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PASADENA AMENDING PASADENA MUNICIPAL CODE TITLE 13, CHAPTER 13.10, WATER WASTE PROHIBITIONS AND WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE PLANS. https://www.cityofpasadena.net/public-notices/wp-content/uploads/sites/16/2017-03-13-ORDINANCE-7298.pdf
Environmental Working Group. Pasadena. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=CA1910124
World Health Organization. Arsenic. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/arsenic
Public Health England. Chloroform: General Information. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chloroform-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Public Health Statement for Bromoform and Dibromochloromethane. https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/PHS/PHS.aspx?phsid=711&toxid=128
Committee on Medical and Biological Effects of Environmental Pollutants. Arsenic: Medical and Biologic Effects of Environmental Pollutants. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK231025/

Is Pasadena Water Safe to Drink?

Posted December 5, 2022 by Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

Many local Pasadenans drink from the city’s taps on a daily basis, but do they really know what’s filling up their glass? Pasadena Water and Power boasts that its water meets all federal drinking standards,¹ and while that’s important, there’s more to the story.

First, federal standards governing public water supplies haven’t been updated in nearly twenty years, despite advancements in science and technology. Furthermore, 36 separate chemical contaminants have been detected in Pasadena’s tap water, many of which have been shown to be health hazards.² In response, the Pasadena water restrictions are (and similarly West Covina water restrictions) much tighter.

Despite the proposed safety of the flow leaving their filtration facilities, concerning compounds abound in Pasadena’s tap water. So what kind of water contamination may be lurking in your supply?

Read on to learn more about the types of contaminants that Pasadenans are drinking, and what you can do to ensure the water in your home is of the highest quality.

What is Contaminating Pasadena’s Water?

To understand the drinking water quality in this Southern California region, it’s important to note what exactly may be contaminating the supply. From heavy minerals to toxic compounds, there may be plenty of unpleasant substances flowing around Rose Town. Many of these chemicals are found in trace amounts in nature, but their concentrations in Pasadena’s pipes are beyond what should be considered normal levels.

In fact, 17 substances in the city’s water are found in quantities that exceed healthy thresholds according to certain environmental health groups.²

A few of the pollutants Pasadenans and Southern California residents, in general, should consider are:

Arsenic – Found in amounts 86x what’s considered healthy, repeated consumption of this nasty chemical can lead to serious health concerns.³
Bromochloroacetic acid – Present in a high 163x the safe level, this caustic chemical can attack our very DNA on a cellular level.⁴
Nitrates and nitrites – Generally found in water due to runoff from fertilizers and livestock waste,⁵ these nitrogen-based compounds are present in concentrations up to 32x the recommended level.² High nitrate and nitrite intake can result in the development of serious health issues.⁵
Multiple classes of haloacetic acids – Haloacetic is the title used to classify a large array of potent acids with nearly unpronounceable names. This caustic class might just be the stand-out offender on the list of Pasadena’s pollutants, with levels up to 203x the safe standard streaming from the area’s taps.² Excessive exposure to acids in this group can lead to toxification of the body.⁶
Different radioactive isotopes – Radium-226 and Radium-288, alongside uranium, compose the mix of radioactive particles weighing down the water in the City of Roses. In up to 23x safe levels,2 a spray from your hose isn’t likely to set off a Geiger counter, but it can still be an issue for health.⁷

While those are some of the most concerning compounds passing through the city’s filtration systems, it’s not an exhaustive list. So, is Pasadena water safe to drink? According to federal regulations, yes. According to this list of compounds listed above, not so much.

Pasadenans spray, swim in, and swig the city’s supply to the tune of 27 million gallons a day.¹ With all that aquatic action, is there any way to save the city from exposure to harmful contaminants?

Filtering Out the Foul from Pasadena’s Water

Aside from the health effects brought on by drinking from contaminated sources, water rife with pollutants can look cloudy and drinking tap water can taste unpleasant. Thankfully, there are household and drinking water filtration systems that can remove the impurities from Crown City’s cups.

Filtering Water With Water Softeners

To begin on the hard end, water softeners may effectively eradicate the materials making your water heavy. The intention is to pull out the excess calcium, magnesium, and other dense minerals that can lead to a foggy appearance and strong flavor.⁸ Softening hard water can not only ensure safe drinking water quality but also do wonders for your skin and hair, and it may help you save on bills by increasing the efficiency of your water heater and prolonging the lifetime of your appliances.⁹

Purifying Water Through Reverse Osmosis

Filters such as a reverse osmosis water system, are an effective way of removing water contamination from your supply. Reverse osmosis (RO) is a process that uses pressure and a semi-permeable membrane to filter out the impurities in water.¹⁰ Think of an espresso maker forcing boiling water through hot grinds and then over a water filter. The result is the coffee you crave without the gritty bits getting stuck in your teeth.

And that coffee can taste all the better when it’s made with water that’s been filtered through RO.

Reverse osmosis filters help remove contaminants from Pasadena’s water supply.² An RO water system may be the ticket to fighting back against arsenic and can neutralize nitrates and nitrites.

Taste the Most Pristine Water in Pasadena with a Filtration System from Rayne Water

Here at Rayne Water, we say no to cloudy glasses of questionable water. Your family deserves water that is refreshing, flavorless, and clean—and that means focusing on what’s flowing from your faucets.

Rayne water provides water softeners that can nullify the concerning minerals streaming out of Rose Town’s taps. Plus, we have the reverse osmosis Los Angeles needs to keep the water clear and tasty. So whether you were worried about Pasadena, West Covina, or Burbank water quality, rest assured that our filtration system can make your drinking water clean wherever you may be in the California area.

Ensure you can always fill up your cup with the finest water Pasadena pumps out, with Rayne Water.

Sources:

Pasadena Water and Power. Water Quality FAQs. https://ww5.cityofpasadena.net/water-and-power/waterqualityfaqs/
Environmental Working Group. Pasadena. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=CA1910124
World Health Organization. Arsenic. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/arsenic
IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Some Chemicals Present in Industrial and Consumer Products, Food and Drinking-Water. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK373182/
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Nitrate and Nitrite in Drinking Water for WEll Owners. https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/egle/Documents/Programs/DWEHD/Water-Well-Construction/Nitrate-and-Nitrite-in-Drinking-Water.pdf?rev=61bc5789d3f045e29fe64ad1a3cc03a5#:~:text=What%20are%20nitrate%20and%20nitrite,nitrite%20in%20the%20human%20body.
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. Haloacetic Acids (five) (HAA5): Health Information Summary. https://www.des.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt341/files/documents/ard-ehp-36.pdf
Delaware Health and Social SErvices. Radium-226 & 228. https://dhss.delaware.gov/dph/files/radiumfaq.pdf
Minnesota Department of Health. Home Water Softening. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/factsheet/softening.html
U.S. Department of Energy. Reasons Every Home Should Have a Water Softener. https://www.energy.gov/
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Reverse Osmosis. https://www.fda.gov/

The EPA Water Quality Standards

Posted October 28, 2022 by Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

Between the free-flowing water from our faucets, the Hydro Flask we keep perpetually filled on our desks, and the vast selection of bottled water we encounter every time we go to the market, it may seem like clean, safe water is as abundant as air.

But climate change and the Flint, Michigan water crisis of 2014 have exposed and underscored the fact that water is a precious resource—and that not all water is created equal.¹

EPA water quality standards were put into place to combat this, even if recent events have revealed the challenges in enforcing it. What are these standards, though? And why must they be adhered to? Read on as we unpack it for you.

What is the EPA?

We come across “EPA” frequently but some of us may have only a vague understanding of it.

EPA is the acronym for the Environmental Protection Agency, an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that’s responsible for overseeing and shielding environmental and human health.² Established by President Nixon in the 1970s, one of its primary obligations is ensuring that we have clean land, air, and water.

What are the EPA Water Quality Standards?

The Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendment of 1972, which is more commonly known as the Clean Water Act of 1972, was established by Congress in response to growing, country-wide concerns about the health of water across the States.³ Created to mitigate the contamination of water and stop water pollution, it’s faced several amendments over the decades but the core of its mission remains the same: To help ensure the water we drink and use is safe.

To this end, the EPA assesses water for a variety of contaminants.

Contaminant Classifications

The EPA tests and monitors for the presence of substances that could be detrimental to environmental and/or human health.⁴ The agency has two classifications for analyzing and regulating the safety and aesthetics of water received or used by humans:

National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) – This monitors the maximum contaminant levels, or MCLs, of substances that cause human health problems.
National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations (NSDWR) – This regulates water in terms of its aesthetics, such as smell, taste, and appearance. Unlike the first, these standards are not enforced by law, and most of us know not to drink water that appears cloudy or has a foul smell. Nonetheless, residences and businesses should adhere to the EPA’s secondary drinking water regulations. For the purpose of this post, though, we’ll focus on the first set of regulations.

The EPA has listed 90 contaminants that have been shown to pose a threat to human health, potentially causing gastrointestinal issues, an increased risk for cancer, anemia, kidney, liver, and nervous system complications, and more, an issue we’ll look at more in-depth in just a moment.

These contaminants are broken down into the following 6 categories.

#1 Micro-organisms

Micro-organisms such as e. Coli, pathogens, and bacteria can have a grave impact on human health; e. Coli infects roughly 73,000 people per year.^5> These parasites, bacteria, and viruses can also be transported from humans and animals into and from bodies of water.

#2 Disinfectants

The EPA also assesses water supply for the presence of disinfectants, which include chloramines, chlorine, and chlorine dioxide. That said, some of these disinfectants are also useful in safeguarding the cleanliness of water—just think of the chlorine found in public and private pools. This disinfectant, among others, can be useful in preventing illnesses.

However, there are permitted and prohibited types and levels of disinfectants as set by the EPA, and those that are allowed must comply with the EPA’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs).⁶

#3 Disinfection Byproducts (DBPS)

Chloroform, chlorite, and bromate are three of the most commonly known disinfection byproducts. Ultimately, unsafe levels of these byproducts can be carcinogenic.

#4 Inorganic Chemicals

Some inorganic chemicals found in water are toxins and pollutants, such as:

Lead
Arsenic
Nitrates
Nitrites

These chemicals can contaminate water supply and also cause health concerns.

Other inorganic chemicals, like fluoride, are believed to foster human health (just think of the fluoride our teeth require).

#5 Organic Chemicals

Tetrachloride and benzene are two organic chemicals that can contaminate water. These organic chemicals typically occur from the improper disposal of things like fuel, pesticides, and paint, or from run-off agricultural sites.

#6 Radionuclides

Man-made and natural radioactive mineral deposits can lead to the presence of radionuclides in water, which can elevate the risk of cancer. The most well-known radionuclide is uranium.

This may seem like a great deal to digest. However, this list highlights the importance of ensuring the water you consume and use—in your residence and business—is safe from detrimental levels of these contaminants.

What Are the Risks and Consequences of Not Adhering to EPA Water Quality Water Standards?

Whatever the designated uses for a water supply is, it’s essential to adhere to water quality criteria and regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency, especially drinking water quality. The water crisis in Flint highlighted the fallibility of water, but it wasn’t an isolated problem.

Between 1982 and 2018, one in four U.S. residents used water that was either contaminated, undertested, or untested.⁷ Unclean water impacts nearly every region of the country, but rural and economically fragile communities are disproportionately affected. The affordability of water, coupled with faulty infrastructure, has turned unsafe water into one of our largest public health concerns today.⁸

Curious as to why are water quality standards important? Here are some of the biggest consequences of failing to follow EPA water quality standards.

Human Health

Unsafe, contaminated water that’s consumed and/or used for bathing, brushing your teeth, and cooking can have dire effects on human health. One of the biggest concerns is that contaminated water may increase the risk for lead exposure.

Ongoing exposure to lead, as we saw in Flint, can lead to a host of health complications. And while all humans are susceptible to experiencing the effects of lead exposure, children, the elderly, and pregnant women are impacted the most.

Some of the most pressing health concerns of contaminated water include:⁹

Behavioral and cognitive problems – Children and young adults exposed to lead may experience behavioral problems such as ADHD and face cognitive challenges that could affect their academic performance and IQ levels.
Growth challenges – The National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences reports that lead exposure may lead to later-onset puberty and impaired growth.
Hypertension – Hypertension, or high blood pressure, increases the risk of heart attack and stroke and may be life-threatening.¹⁰
Legionnaires Disease – This form of pneumonia made the headlines when it was found that 10 people of Flint died of the bacterial disease after being exposed to it through contaminated water.
Gastrointestinal issues – Bacteria such as Giardia can cause acute and chronic gastrointestinal issues and other health conditions and diseases, including cholera. An estimated 16 million cases of gastrointestinal distress caused by community water systems in the U.S. occur each year.¹¹

Lead exposure can also cause fertility issues, kidney problems, and chronic conditions such as cancer.

Violations and Penalties

Businesses that fail to comply with the standards set forth by the Clean Water Act of 1972 may encounter:¹²

Closure of the business
Fines of up to $16,000 per day with a maximum of $187,500 per violation
Financial judgements
Criminal charges

Typically, large businesses with a fair amount of discharge (or wastewater) potentially face these violations and penalties. Still, it’s important to be aware of the consequences one could face from knowingly or inadvertently discharging polluted water waste into the environment.

Moreover, it heightens the need to safeguard the purity of the water you consume and use.

Is Your Water Safe?

One of your biggest questions within this may be, is my water safe for use and consumption?

This depends on where your water is sourced. People who live in large cities and other urban areas are generally served by municipal water systems. The EPA aims to ensure that community water systems are compliant for 91% of the people they serve, which leaves room for error.¹¹

Roughly 7-8% of community water systems are marked for a health-based violation per year.

If your water is sourced from your own well, it’s not monitored by the EPA and it’s your task to:

Assess it for contaminants
Ensure the well’s structural soundness
Install a filtration system

Find Peace of Mind with Rayne Water

EPA Water Quality Standards ensure the safety and cleanliness of water by assessing the level of contaminants and pollutants in recreational, agricultural, industrial, and drinking water. To preserve the health of all life, it’s critical that businesses and individuals comply with EPA standards and regularly monitor their water.

However, despite the EPA’s best efforts to ensure clean, safe water, the possibility of receiving contaminated water isn’t out of the question, which can potentially put you, your family, or your business at risk.

Don’t know how to test water quality? Fortunately, Rayne Water can offer a few solutions that may minimize water contamination and provide you and your family with clean drinking water that meets both commercial and industrial water quality requirements.

To help you manage residential and commercial water issues, we offer a range of products, from water filtration systems to reverse osmosis systems. In turn, we give you the gift of life: Pure, healthy water.

Sources:

NRDC. Flint water crisis: everything you need to know. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know
EPA. Our mission and what we do. https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/our-mission-and-what-we-do
EPA. Introduction to water quality standards. https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/tmdl/docs/303d_policydocs/414.pdf
EPA. National primary drinking water regulations. https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations
CDC. Epidemiology of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Outbreaks, United States, 1982–2002. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/11/4/04-0739_article
EPA. Stage 1 disinfectants and disinfection byproducts rule: a quick reference guide. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100C8XW.txt
NRDC. Report: nearly one in four Americans’ drinking water comes from untested or contaminated systems. https://www.nrdc.org/media/2017/170502
PLOS One. A burgeoning crisis? A nationwide assessment of the geography of water affordability in the United states. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0169488
Healthline. Water quality and public health. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/water-crisis-could-affect-your-health
Mayo Clinic. High blood pressure (hypertension)–symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/symptoms-causes/syc-20373410
PNAS. National trends in drinking water quality violations. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5834717/
GPO. Federal register. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2022-01-12/pdf/2022-00349.pdf
EPA. Enforcement under cwa section 404. https://www.epa.gov/cwa-404/enforcement-under-cwa-section-404

Why Are Water Quality Standards Important?

Posted October 21, 2022 by Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

We all depend on water. From the water that flows through our own homes to the water used by industries like petroleum refineries, smelting facilities, and the production of food, paper, and chemical products, high quality water improves our lives in many ways.¹

But what is high quality water exactly? And why are water quality standards important?

At the most basic level, American water quality standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintain a healthy water supply and help promote better tasting drinking water quality. That said, businesses and homeowners can take additional steps to improve the quality of their water no matter the designated uses.

Benefits of High-Quality Water

Per the 1972 Clean Water Act, the EPA follows a set of standards that aim to reduce contamination of drinking, recreational, agricultural, and industrial water. More specifically, water is monitored for a variety of contaminants, including microorganisms, disinfectants, chemicals, and radionuclide mineral deposits.²

Clean water serves numerous benefits and is critical to the health of plants, animals, and humans. These advantages include:

Safety – Tap water from public water sources is regulated and treated to reduce levels of over 90 different contaminants. If left untreated, those contaminants can harm those who drink, bathe in, or clean their homes with the contaminated water.³ More specifically, the contaminants monitored by the EPA may increase your risk for certain diseases, nervous system complications, and gastrointestinal problems. In turn, using water from EPA-regulated sources and paying attention to reports on water quality in your area can help you stay informed and healthy.
Taste – Some water sources contain materials that, while not harmful to people’s health, may affect the taste, smell, or color of the water. This can make the water less pleasant to drink or otherwise use. Public water sources can treat water to improve taste, color, and scent using EPA guidelines.³ You can also treat water at your home or business using options like a reverse osmosis system or a water softener.
Prevent buildup – Hard minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese can build up in pipes and water-using appliances over time, which may cause long-term damage and lead to costly repairs. Using a water softener to improve the quality of your water can help your plumbing and appliances last longer.

The Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, also requires bodies of water designated for specific uses to remain at a certain quality level. For example, water officially designated for recreation, drinking, agriculture, industry, and the protection of fish and wildlife must all have sufficiently low levels of pollutants.⁴

How Pollutant Levels Are Determined

In the U.S., water is considered safe to drink if it meets certain EPA water quality standards. Since 1974, the EPA has required public water suppliers to ensure their water is sufficiently free of certain chemicals, germs, and other pollutants.³

These regulations fall into two categories:

National Primary Drinking Water Regulations – These regulations protect public health by providing treatment requirements for over 90 different contaminants. These stipulations also require that the contaminants never rise above a certain level.³ As stated above, these contaminants can be categorized as microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfectant byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals, and radionuclides.⁵
National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations – These optional guidelines help public water systems improve factors not tied to health, such as the taste, color, and smell of their water. While not legally required, following these guidelines can help populations enjoy their water source.³

If you drink water from a private commercial source, such as a company that sells bottled water, that water falls under the regulation of the Food and Drug Administration, not the EPA.

The EPA has more stringent reporting and disclosure requirements, making tap water generally safer than bottled water.

Protecting Natural Water Sources

Protecting water sources is critical to maintaining water quality and starts with understanding where the most common pollutants come from.

Water Sources In Need of Restoration

Every two years the EPA requires states to submit a report on the quality of their waters, including information about any significant sources of pollution, which are then compiled in the National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress.⁶

The report evaluates, among other things, the overall biological health of the nation’s rivers and streams. According to the 2017 report:⁷

28% of rivers and streams have good biological conditions
25% of rivers and streams have fair biological conditions
46% of rivers and streams have poor biological conditions

While over half of the nation’s streams and rivers have good or fair conditions, a significant portion of them have problematic levels of pollutants. That’s a trend that continues, albeit at lower levels, in both lakes and coastal waters.⁷

Luckily we can take clear steps to protect our water sources, both immediately and in the long run.

How to Protect Water Sources

Instead of just learning how to test water quality, it’s important to also know how to help protect water sources through two tactics: protection and treatment. That said, pollutants most often come from:⁷

Agricultural activities – These can include crop production as well as animal grazing and animal feeding operations.
Atmospheric deposition – Airborne pollutants, such as factory emissions or car emissions, can settle in rivers and streams.
Hydraulic modification – When humans change the natural path of a river or stream through dams, channelizations, or other water diversions, it can affect the overall biological health of that body of water.

Businesses and communities can help reduce pollutants in their water by reducing the primary sources of pollution in their water sources.

This might include:

Reducing agricultural activities or moving them farther from water sources to prevent potential run-off and other disruptions
Reducing air pollutants by shifting more eco-friendly automobiles and factory models that produce lower emissions
Avoiding modifying the natural path of a body of water when possible
Improving the health of riverbanks and likeside areas, which can help catch run-off before it reaches the water⁷

It’s also possible for a water source to receive pollution from more than one source. As such, communities must conduct regular analysis of pollution sources to mitigate contamination and keep their water source safe and clean for residents

When we can’t prevent contaminants from reaching our water sources, public water sources can typically treat the water to address those contaminants and make it safe for human consumption by following the EPA’s National Primary Drinking Water Regulations.³

Private citizens also have additional options to improve the quality of their water at their home or business.

How to Improve the Quality of Your Water

Adhering to water quality standard is essential for human health, so it’s important that your water supply quality is at its best. One way to adhere to water standards is to get a water treatment. A water treatment specialist can visit your home or business to evaluate your current water quality and determine if certain water treatment systems or alternative options could improve the caliber of your water.

Possible ways of improving your water include:

Water softeners – Home water softeners and commercial water softeners eliminate hard minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese from your water supply. This can help prevent build-up and corrosion in your pipes, as well as help water-using appliances last longer and improve the taste of your water.
Salt-free systems – Available for residential use, the Rayne Spartan Series Systems offers many of the benefits of soft water, without using salt, utilizing electricity, or wasting water. It reduces hard water damage and can reverse existing hard water corrosion damage. It’s also an environmentally friendly way to reduce chlorine, chloramines, and bad tastes or odors in your water.
Hybrid softener-conditioners – Available for home use, hybrid softener-conditioners can eliminate hard materials from your water, as well as reduce the presence of chlorine, chloramines, bad tastes, and bad odors in your home’s water supply. The on-demand regeneration feature can also help you save water and electricity.
Drinking water systems – Available for commercial and home use, reverse osmosis systems work by pushing unfiltered water through a reverse osmosis membrane, also known as a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane removes contaminants, impurities, and undesirable dissolved solids. The newly filtered water then flows to the storage tank so that it’s ready for you when you need it. Reverse osmosis drinking water systems can help improve the taste, smell, and appearance of water. It’s an easily installed option that’s more environmentally friendly than bottled water.
Portable exchange services – Available for home and commercial use, portable exchange services offers you a simple way to have higher quality water delivered to your home. You can choose between various options including Soft Water Exchange, Carbon Tank Exchange, and DI Water Exchange systems so you can find the best portable exchange service to best meet the needs of your home and business.
Bottle-free or bottleless coolers – Cheaper and more convenient than heavy bottles of water, bottleless water coolers come in a variety of sizes and use a reverse osmosis filtration system paired with multi-stage carbon filtration to give your office a virtually unlimited supply of clean filtered water.

These are some of the most effective and popular methods to improve the quality of water in your home or business. If the variety seems overwhelming, don’t worry. A water treatment specialist can guide you to the best solution for you based on your current water quality, overall water needs, and energy use preferences.

Taking the time to learn about and invest in your water quality can help you improve your life and your business—one drop of water at a time.

Improve Your Water Quality with Rayne Water

Water quality standards set by the EPA ensure that the water we drink and use is safe and free from contaminants that may harm our health and homes.

At Rayne Water, we’ve been helping folks improve their water quality since 1928. Today, we provide homes, businesses, and commercial industries with high quality water using a range of water treatment systems. Our equally high standards for each of our products means we can offer our customers some of the best warranties in the industry.

From the office water cooler to the first glass of water you drink in the morning, we’re in the business of improving every drop of water to meet industrial water quality requirements.

Sources:

Scientific American. Should You Drink Tap or Bottled Water? https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/should-you-drink-tap-or-bottled-water/
EPA. Stage 1 disinfectants and disinfection byproducts rule: a quick reference guide. https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi?Dockey=P100C8XW.txt
CDC. Regulations. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/public/regulations.html
EPA. What are Water Quality Standards? https://www.epa.gov/standards-water-body-health/what-are-water-quality-standards
EPA. National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/national-primary-drinking-water-regulations#Disinfectants
Source Water Protection Initiative. Source Water Stewardship: A Guide to Protecting and Restoring Your Drinking Water. https://www.cleanwateraction.org/files/publications/national/sourcewater-stewardship-guide.pdf
EPA. National Water Quality Inventory Report to Congress. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-12/documents/305brtc_finalowow_08302017.pdf
CDC. Uses in Manufacturing and Industry. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/other/industrial/index.html

Ways to Pass Commercial and Industrial Water Quality Requirements

Posted October 14, 2022 by Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

From oil refineries to paper-making companies, manufacturers and businesses account for 22% of global water usage.¹

Depending on your trade, you may already know how integral water systems are to business (hydroelectric power engineer? You’re on it). Or, it may not enter your mind until you go for a glass of tap in the lounge, take a sip, and wonder if you should’ve brought a bottle from home instead.

Regardless of how often you think about it, every business is subject to industrial water quality requirements to ensure the safety and quality of their water. The water quality standard applies to the entire water supply no matter the designated uses. If you aren’t sure how to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, this guide will show you what you need to know, and where to start.

What Should Businesses Know About Industrial Water Requirements?

Modern industrial water requirements date back to the Clean Water Act of 1972. This legislation was passed to shield the environment and humans against toxic or otherwise unsafe chemicals, whether naturally arising or caused by industrial waste.

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, requires businesses to perform several or all of the following functions related to water quality, depending on the nature of their operations:²

Managing wastewater – In the last decade, manufacturers have been the second biggest sector to contribute to wastewater pollution. Toxins like calcium carbonates or sulfuric acid are common in industrial wastewater, though a business’ requirements may differ depending on where they operate and their specific industry.³
Pre-treatment and sanitation – Companies are required to pre-treat existing pollutants in their water to ensure they don’t contaminate local sewer systems. Because public water systems can be complex, pre-treatment is overseen by a collaboration of federal, state, and local authorities (the National Pretreatment Program)
Stormwater systems – Among the most critical ways severe weather can disrupt our lives is by contaminating our water systems. Whatever industry you’re in, your business is responsible for building discrete storm sewer systems (called MS4s) to prevent debris, chemicals, and other materials originating in their facility from interfering with the environment or public water systems.

Additionally, certain businesses—particularly those in the agriculture sector or energy industry—must comply with local and federal standards for environmental welfare. All of the following can help protect the quality of water:

Managing animal excrement or waste
Actively preventing oil or toxic waste discharge through infrastructure or training
Curbing pollutants from entering wetlands

5 Ways to Pass Commercial and Industrial Water Requirements

Whether you’re a new business or an established manufacturer thousands of customers trust, staying up to code and adhering to EPA water quality standards can seem like a tall order. Fortunately, these 6 methods can help you pass the inspections every business can expect to endure:

Stay on top of new mandates – Regulations are continually updated or introduced, as industrial water requirements are constantly changing. Moreover, if you operate in several states or local regions, you’ll need to stay apprised of their individual regulations. You may find that some states exempt you from certain permits, while others require you to secure and renew them to stay compliant.
Partner with a Rayne Water quality consultant – If you don’t have the bandwidth to stay on top of local and federal regulations, work with an expert. A water quality consulting service can provide you with safe, current solutions specified to your facility and your industry, ensuring you’ll pass local inspections.
Prioritize water quality monitoring – Water quality monitoring and testing can help you meet compliance mandates and protect your employees. Once you learn how to test water quality, it should be conducted regularly, as changes in both your facilities’ conduct and the environment can cause water quality to change often.
Invest in a commercial water filtration system – Everyone from local wineries to sprawling agricultural firms can benefit from an industrial filtration system. These will mechanically remove the impurities and potential contaminants from water, including:
- Common chemicals like chlorine
- Heavy metals like arsenic, copper, and iron
- Bacteria
- Lead
Use an industrial water softener – Also called commercial water softeners, these systems remove “hard water” minerals like magnesium and calcium, which are known to damage pipes and threaten your infrastructure. While the EPA doesn’t test for the hardness of water, water softener can save money by helping to protect your facility’s machinery.⁴

What Happens If These Requirements Aren’t Met?

Curious as to why water quality standards important? If a commercial facility is found in violation of the Clean Water Act, it may face several consequences. These could be minor, like a notice requiring them to update their quality control, but depending on severity they could be fatal to a business.

In order of escalating severity, these are the most common penalties:⁵

A warning letter
Notice of violation
Public notice (like an announcement in your local newspaper)
Suspension
Financial penalties
Criminal charges

If protecting your employees, your business’ reputation, and your bottom line is important to you, one of the best things you can do is start with the fundamentals. And when you can find a trustworthy partner who understands modern water conditioning systems, you’ll earn the trust of your customers, employees, peers, and local community.

Rayne Water: Control Water Quality with Quality Service

Keeping up with water quality standards and Passing your next water inspection can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. When you work with Rayne Water, you’ll receive expert guidance from professionals who’ve been improving commercial water quality for nearly a century.

Whether you’re a retreat center looking to abolish hard water chemicals or a local farm in Bakersfield aiming to keep animal waste out of local water systems, our consultants want to help you find the best solution with a commercial water softener or a commercial reverse osmosis system. Let us steer you and your business in the right direction by contacting us today.

Sources:

ScienceDirect. Industrial water use–an overview. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/industrial-water-use
EPA. Water enforcement. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/water-enforcement
MATEC Web of Conferences. Major Contaminants in Industrial and Domestic Wastewater. https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2015/04/matecconf_tsotr2015_01041.pdf
USGS. Do you have information about water hardness in the United States? https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/do-you-have-information-about-water-hardness-united-states
Clean Water Services. Enforcement response plan. https://cleanwaterservices.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/enforcement-response-plan-for-sius.pdf
CDC. Industrial water: other uses of water, healthy water. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/other/industrial/index.html
EPA. Industrial wastewater. https://www.epa.gov/npdes/industrial-wastewater
Medical News Today. Water pollution and human health. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/water-pollution-and-human-health
Environmental Protection Agency. National Pretreatment Program. https://www.epa.gov/npdes/national-pretreatment-program
EPA. Water enforcement. https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/water-enforcement

How to Test Water Quality

Posted October 7, 2022 by Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

There’s no doubting the phrase, water is life. As with sunlight, no life could subsist without water.¹ It was this microscopic molecular bond of hydrogen and oxygen that led Leonardo da Vinci to claim that water serves as the ultimate driving force of nature.²

Although da Vinci recognized this truth eight centuries ago, water’s precious status has only intensified since then, making pure, clean water ever more a rarity.

As such, it’s critically important to know how to test water quality to ensure the health and safety of you and your home, whether that’s testing your drinking water quality or overall supply. Fortunately, there are a variety of home tests and water filtration systems that you can utilize to keep your water quality up to EPA water quality standards.

What Is Water Quality Testing?

To start, there is no one type of water testing—a variety of gadgets and kits exist to gauge the quality of your water. Their mission is singular: to detect the presence of certain particles (chemicals or bacteria) in water. This can include testing for dissolved solids and total hardness.

What to Test For

If you’re going to be testing your water, you’ll need to know what to look for. These kits typically detect a variety of contaminants, including:

Lead
Nitrates
Nitrites
Chlorine
Bacteria

Based on the water source, you may need to do more specific testing. If you live rurally and get your water locally, like from a well, it’s a good idea to test it for pesticides and any other common agricultural and outdoor toxins. That said, city dwellers should carry out additional checks for levels of radon, copper, fluoride, and arsenic in their urban water supply.³

3 Ways to Properly Test Your Water Quality

Listed below are a few of the most common ways to conduct a water quality test, some of which you can use in the comfort of your own home.

#1 Water Quality Test Strips

Commonly used for checking the chlorination of home swimming pools, test strips are an extremely swift and simple way to measure water quality using an easy-to-read visual cue. Just follow these simple steps:

Fill a clean container (could be a jar, or small bowl) with nothing but the test water.
Dip the opened testing strip into the container of water.
Immediately remove the testing strip, and gently shake off any excess water.
Wait the appropriate time as designated by your kit (usually no more than a minute).
Use the included color chart to locate the match to your strip’s color.

Using this matched color—which indicates the level of potency of the particulate you are testing for—you’re able to complete water quality testing in a matter of seconds.

#2 Utilize A Qualified Rayne Water Representative

You can also conduct a water purity test at home with a qualified Rayne Water representative. We can come to your home and test your water for a variety of contaminants.

#3 Powder Kits

Powder-based testing kits serve the unique purpose of detecting bacteria in the water. When using powder kits, you will:⁴

Add the appropriate amount of water as designated by your kit to your provided container. Double-check to ensure the powder agent is already included in the container.
Replace the container’s lid and shake vigorously until the powder has fully dissolved. The color should have changed into a newly colored shade from its original translucency.⁵

Some powder kits allow you to send the resulting sample to a lab for bacterial testing. Otherwise, there will be resources on the kit’s container to guide you through translating each shade into a properly legible gauge of bacterial presence.

The Importance of Water Quality Testing

Fresh, potable water on Earth makes up only a mere 0.5% of all water—which is absolutely shocking when considering that water constitutes about three-quarters of our planet’s surface.⁶

Combined with the knowledge that our global water supply flows thick with pollutants (80% of wastewater on Earth returns, often untreated, to pristine bodies of water),⁷ it’s more important than ever to know the composition of what’s flowing out of your tap.

Still curious as to why are water quality standards important? By learning how to test water quality and putting that knowledge into action, you can prevent certain illnesses, stay aware of contaminants in your water, and safeguard your pipes.

Prevent Pollutants in Your Water: Filter With Rayne Water

Testing your water quality is critical to the safety of you and your home. In addition to regularly testing your water, you can also add water filtration systems to your home that mitigate harmful toxins and contaminants in your water.

For fresh, clean water, look to Rayne Water.

Our cutting-edge products feature water treatment systems ranging from the latest salt-free water softener to a reverse osmosis water filter that may eliminate over 95% of pollutants.⁸ With Rayne Water, you can rest assured that your water meets residential or industrial water quality requirements —making for a healthier you and a healthier planet.⁸

Sources:

Water New South Wales. Water is Life. https://www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/education/exhibitions/water-for-life-exhibition/timeline2/water-is-life
New York Rural Water Association. Leonardo da Vinci Water Quotes. https://www.nyruralwater.org/news/leonardo-da-vinci-water-quotes
Center for Disease Control. Chemicals That Can Contaminate Tap Water. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/contamination/chemicals.html
Safewise. Best Water Testing Kits. https://www.safewise.com/best-water-testing-kits/
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Coliform Bacteria Sampling Instructions and Best Practices. https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/DrinkingWater/TN/CollectColiformSample.pdf
Bureau of Reclamation California Great Basin. Water Facts – Worldwide Water Supply. https://www.usbr.gov/mp/arwec/water-facts-ww-water-sup.html
UNESCO. The United Nations World Water Development Report: Wastewater, the Untapped Resource, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247553
Rayne Water. Our History. https://www.raynewater.com/our-history
Hach. Color Disc Test Kits. https://www.hach.com/single-parameter-test-kits/color-disc-test-kits/family?productCategoryId=35547009718
Thurston Public Utility District.http://www.thurstonpud.org/tester-instructions-color-wheel.htm

What Is TDS In Water?

Posted June 20, 2022 by Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

It’s your first day in your beautiful new home. You pour yourself a glass of water in your awesome new kitchen. As you take a celebratory sip, you find yourself thinking… “Huh. Does this water taste funny?” If your water tastes differently than it normally does, or if you notice excess mineral build-up in household appliances like the dishwasher, you might have high levels of TDS in your water.

So what is TDS in water? TDS or Total dissolved solids, are dissolved molecules (specifically ions) from inorganic sources such as salts, metals, and minerals. These dissolved ions can be detected in all non-pure water sources and affect your water quality.¹

While all water will have some TDS, too much can lead to difficulties in your home and, potentially, for your health.

Breaking Down TDS

TDS concentration in water can come from several sources, ranging from healthy to harmful.

Natural sources of TDS in water include:

Minerals – Rocks can introduce minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium into water supplies that originate in rivers, streams, and lakes. Mineral-rich rocks in the water deposit small amounts of those minerals into the water supply. This isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, water with traces of minerals in it can also act as a helpful source for people who need more of those specific minerals in their diet.²
Low levels of salt – Low levels of salt can arise naturally in groundwater.¹

Human-caused sources of TDS include:

Dissolved metal – While small amounts of metal can occur naturally in water, the dissolved metals found in drinking water primarily come from human sources like industrial waste and mining. Some older plumbing can also add traces of metal to your water.¹
High levels of salt – Human activities like de-icing roads, certain fertilizers, and poor sewage practices can produce high levels of salt in water.¹
Soil and agricultural runoff – Activities like unregulated animal grazing, slash and burn agriculture, high-density tourism, irrigation, and excessive use of nitrate-based fertilizer typically cause the soil and agricultural runoff that can enter our water supply as TDS.²

Unlike natural TDS sources like minerals, man-made TDS sources rarely have benefits and can in fact be harmful.²

**How Much TDS Is Too Much?**

If you have a TDS level higher than 500 ppm, the EPA recommends a follow-up step of having your water tested. In the meantime, do not drink water over 1,000 ppm.¹

But first, how do you learn how much TDS is in your water supply?

How to Measure TDS Levels

To measure TDS levels in your water supply, you’ll need a total dissolved solids meter. You can find various versions of this hand-held device available online—prices range from $10 to $100, depending on the make and model.¹

A TDS meter works by measuring the conductivity of your water sample. That is, its ability to conduct electricity¹

Water with a higher level of TDS will appear more conductive
Water with a lower TDS level will be less conductive

Essentially, the more TDS concentration in your water, the higher its conductivity.

That said, a TDS meter can not tell you the source or type of TDS.

Mineral vs Chemical: Sources of TDS and Their Potential Effects

If the TDS level in your water source is high enough, TDS could have adverse effects on your daily life.

However, to understand how high levels of TDS can impact you, it can help to know:

The source of TDS (either mineral or chemical)
The use of your water

For example, a TDS that comes from a high mineral content could be perfectly fine to drink. However, it may be an unpleasant mineral build-up in your dishwasher.

Ideally, you want a TDS level that supports all your household water needs without causing problems for you or your appliances.

High Levels of Mineral TDS: Effects

What happens if you detect high TDS water levels? High levels of mineral TDS in your household water supply are typically safe—even healthy—to drink.²

But they can have negative effects in other areas, including:

Water taste – Water with a higher mineral content often has a distinct taste. While some people enjoy the taste, others prefer the taste of water with low or no mineral content.³
Hair and skin – If you wash yourself using water with high levels of mineral TDS, you could end up with trace amounts of minerals left on your body after you finish washing similarly to how you may see hard water effects on hair. Over time, that mineral exposure can lead to drier skin and hair that appears dull.⁴
Appliance efficiency – High levels of mineral TDS in your water supply can eventually cause mineral build-up in appliances that use water, like your dishwasher or washing machine. The build-up can also shorten the life of appliances that heat water, including your water heater.⁴

Lowering levels of mineral TDS in your water supply can lead to better-tasting water, healthier skin, and longer-lasting, more effective appliances.

High Levels of Chemical TDS: Effects

While it’s possible for a high TDS level to come from a natural source, high levels of TDS often indicate that the TDS comes from a non-mineral, human-caused activity.² In these cases, the water supply may have been contaminated with harmful pollutants like:⁵

Lead
Chlorine
Pesticides

In a situation like this, experts recommend lowering your TDS with one of the available contaminant-removal systems.⁵

Lower Your Home’s TDS with a Water Improvement System

Low TDS water levels are recommended for better water quality, and that can be done with a water improvement system. A water improvement system can work as a simple and effective way of lowering your TDS levels. It’s also more eco-friendly than bottled water options that, even when the water starts off healthy, could end up exposing you to plastic contaminants.³

Depending on your needs, each of these three options could serve as a smart solution.

A Countertop Water Distiller

If you primarily require purified drinking water, consider trying a countertop water distiller, which, as the name suggests, removes TDS from water via distillation.¹

Here’s how that works:

Boiling pure water away from TDS – A water boils water until the water evaporates. Most TDS remain behind in the boiling chamber.
Condensing the evaporate into clean water – The evaporated H20 then travels to the carafe where it condenses back into water.
Drink up – The water—boiled until vapor and then condensed into clean, safe liquid—is now ready for drinking.¹

While a countertop water distiller can prove immensely effective for drinking water, it can’t address other water uses throughout the house, like bathing or water-dependent appliances.

Filtration System

With a household water filtration system, your water passes through a filter. This filter sifts out contaminants from your water supply and keeps them inside the filter where they can’t re-enter your water supply. By the time your water reaches you (or your appliances), it has fewer harmful contaminants.⁵

Generally speaking, a filtration system will remove contaminants, but not necessarily minerals.⁵

This trait could make filtration systems an ideal option for people who want the taste or health benefits of mineral water and find themselves less concerned about its other side effects like less efficient appliances and dry skin.

Reverse Osmosis System

A reverse osmosis system (often called an RO system) differs from a filtration system in a few key ways.

An RO system uses reverse pressure to force water through a semipermeable membrane.⁵ Contaminants that can’t pass through this membrane are thus separated from the purified water and carried away via a secondary “reject” stream.⁵ Additional filters on either side of the membrane can act as a way of supplying additional protection against TDS.

Because an RO system typically lowers mineral and chemical TDS levels,⁵ it can prove an ideal option for people wishing to avoid various side effects of mineral water. An RO system can help achieve more efficient appliances, improve water taste, and support healthier skin and hair.⁴

It can help purify water incredibly effectively such as reverse osmosis lead filtering. In fact, many water purification plants and waste treatment centers use this process.¹

RO systems designed for residential use can differ in size and other important details.

For example, each of the available reverse osmosis systems:

Filter out TDS like dissolved salt, harmful contaminants, and dirty sediment
Improve the taste and smell of water
Produces water of a higher quality than typical bottled water
Are easy to install and maintain
Can filter chemical contaminants like sodium, chloride, and lead
Can filter bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli
Can filter viruses like Hepatitis, Enteric, and Norovirus Protozoa like Cryptosporidium and Giardia

Additionally, Rayne Water offers RO systems small enough to fit under your sink.

When shopping for an RO system, comparing details like these across brands and models will help you prioritize the factors that matter most to you.

Remove TDS and Other Impurities with Rayne Water

Since 1928, Rayne Water has been on the front lines of developing a diverse range of high-quality solutions to improve your water supply. The oldest continually operating water conditioning company, we serve homes, businesses, and commercial industries.

We know how deeply important water purity is, from your home to your business. That’s why we continually innovate. In 2017 we produced the most efficient RO system on the market, saving customers both water and money, all while eliminating over 95% of water contaminants.

Whether you casually wonder, “What is TDS water?” or are already knee-deep in comparing RO systems, we have your answers. When it comes to improving your home—and life—Rayne Water has you covered, from your dishwasher, to your shower water, to every glass of ice-cold water.

Sources:

Water and Waste Digest. What is Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)?. https://www.wwdmag.com/what-articles/what-total-dissolved-solids-tds
PLOS One. Research on drinking water purification technologies for household use by reducing total dissolved solids (TDS). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8478203/#:~:text=The%20concentration%20of%20total%20dissolved,sodium%20%5B1%E2%80%933%5D.
The Beet. Which Water is Best for You? Mineral, Alkaline, or Filtered. https://thebeet.com/which-water-is-best-for-you/
Rayne Water. Difference Between a Water Conditioner vs Water Softener. https://www.raynewater.com/blog/difference-between-a-water-conditioner-vs-water-softener/
NSF. Learn How Reverse Osmosis Works Straight From the Experts. https://www.nsf.org/blog/consumer/reverse-osmosis

What Chemicals Are In Plastic Water Bottles?

Posted June 10, 2022 by Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

If you find yourself confused about what chemicals are in plastic water bottles, and whether those chemicals could harm your health, you’re not alone.

The most prominent chemicals found in plastic water bottles are, well, plastic. Plastic’s chemical properties can lead to plastic-related toxins being released in the body. These plastics include polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, and bisphenol A (BPA).

With a little guidance, you can confidently make decisions that support your health, your lifestyle, and even the environment.

Plastic in the Bottle, Plastic in the Water

When it comes to finding out what chemicals are in a plastic bottle—along with the safety of those chemicals—it’s helpful to provide context.

One study found that 93% of bottled water brands sampled contained traces of microplastics, including companies like Aquafina, Evian, and Nestle Pure Life. In comparison, tap water contained about 50% fewer microplastics than bottled water.¹

That study suggests drinking water from any single-use plastic bottle could carry a high risk of consuming water tainted by microplastics.

The question then becomes, could microplastics hurt you?

The answer to that tends to depend on the specific plastic. Different types of plastic have different levels of known risks and health effects.

Types of Plastics Found in Water Bottles

Most plastics used in water bottles fall into one of three categories. Typically, a number on the packaging printed inside a triangle—1, 2, or 7—will indicate what category of plastic a bottle falls into:²

1 means polyethylene terephthalate – Also known as PETE or PET, single-use containers often use this lightweight plastic.²
2 means high-density polyethylene – Abbreviated to HDPE, containers designed to hold heavier content or to last longer might use this durable, sturdy plastic.²
7 means “Other” – As the name suggests, this covers plastics that don’t fit into other classified categories. Importantly, the plastic materials encompassed by this category include bisphenol A, often referred to as BPA. Consuming BPA particles has been linked to various health risks, which we’ll cover below. For now, know that consuming water from a water bottle marked with a 7 could mean exposure to BPA microplastics.²

Plastics Common in Single-Use Water Bottles

PET makes up most single-use plastic water bottles sold in the U.S.¹

When we say single-use, we mean it. Experts warn that repeatedly using water bottles made from PET can wear down the material, which could allow harmful bacteria to build up in the cracks.³ Washing PET bottles can also cause problems since exposure to hot water can cause plastic chemicals to leach into your water.⁴

Since they’re are to be used once, disposable water bottles usually get tossed back into the environment. In addition to the health questions raised, single-use plastic water bottles can also have a negative effect on the environment. With a few exceptions like incineration, practically all of the plastic created still exists in some form or other on the planet.⁴ While recycling can mitigate some of the environmental damage done by single-use plastic bottles, choosing a non-plastic water bottle option can bypass the issue entirely.

Plastics Common in Multi-Use Water Bottles

Unlike single-use water bottles made of PET, many reusable plastic water bottles tend to be made from plastic polymers such as polypropylene and copolyester, making them both sturdy and lightweight.³

While these bottles rarely contain BPA anymore, there’s still a lot the scientific community doesn’t know about the potential health risks of these plastics.³

Because we still don’t know the long-term health of these plastics, experts recommend avoiding the dishwasher and washing your water bottle by hand. The heat and abrasion of a typical dishwasher could enhance chemical leaching that would affect any liquids you put in your bottle.³

Lack of Transparency in Industry

When it comes to determining the precise chemicals in a water bottle, lack of transparency remains the biggest hurdle.

In fact, no law or regulation requires corporations selling bottled water to test their water for plastic chemical substances, or even to tell customers where their water comes from.¹

American tap water providers, on the other hand, must:¹

Undergo regular testing to evaluate contaminant levels
Prove the water meets EPA standards
Provide consumers access to quality reports on their tap water
Make information about their water source publicly available

While it’s theoretically possible for a bottle of water to be pure, with the current level of regulation, it’s too hard to know for sure. There’s still research to be done on the health effects and safety of plastic products, especially disposable water bottles. However, With tap water, you can access regulated, quality reports about your water. If necessary, you can also take follow-up steps to improve your water like adding a ro water filter system.

Health Risks of Water Bottle Plastics

Now that you know some of the more common plastics found in water bottles, let’s address some of the health risks associated with each type of plastic, and with plastic bottles in general.

1 (PET plastics) – While the FDA considers PET single-use water bottles reasonably safe, that assessment relies on people storing the bottles in a specific way. If the bottles are exposed to high temperatures—say, if left in the back of the car on a hot day, or if left out in the hot sun at an all-day event like a music festival—the risk of chemical leaching increases.²
2 (HDPE plastics) – Again, experts currently consider these reusable water bottles largely safe if used correctly. However, if washed poorly, cracked, or damaged, this type of bottle could foster potentially harmful bacteria growth.² Additionally, washing in a dishwasher could increase the odds of chemical leaching.³
7 (“Other” plastics) – While not all plastics marked as 7 contain BPA, some of them do. Plastics classified as 7 include polycarbonate bottles. One study suggested that drinking from a polycarbonate bottle for one week could significantly increase levels of BPA in your body.² Various studies have linked BPA exposure to an increased risk of several health problems like cancer, heart complications, fertility issues, and altered brain development.”¹
Bacteria growth – Some experts find bacteria growth an even larger concern than chemical leaching. Single-use plastic bottles can grow harmful bacteria if used repeatedly. Bacteria can grow in a single day. If you open a water bottle, drink a sip, and then leave it unattended. While single-use plastic water bottles have the highest risk for bacteria growth, damaged or poorly washed reusable water bottles may also prove risky.²

To avoid the risks associated with chemical leaching, as well as the bacterial growth associated with worn and poorly washed plastic, consider trying a water bottle made from alternative materials.

Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles

Glass water bottles, metal water bottles, and paper cups could all serve as a healthier alternative to drinking out of water bottles made of plastic. These alternatives can prove more environmentally friendly as well.

Americans buy roughly 50 billion water bottles a year. By choosing an alternative to the single-use plastic water bottle, you could save about 156 plastic bottles every year.²⁴

Glass water bottles – Because most glass water bottles can safely go in your dishwasher, you can often sterilize them more easily, and thus prevent bacteria growth.² The natural material means there’s no danger of chemicals leaching into your water. However, glass can be heavier and break more easily than plastic or metal.³ That could make glass bottles a better fit for adults than children.
Metal water bottles – As with glass, you can easily sterilize metal water bottles to prevent bacteria growth. There’s less risk of chemical leach than with a plastic water bottle.² However, experts recommend avoiding metal water bottles lined with plastic, epoxy, or resin, which could contain harmful chemicals.³ Metal water bottles may prove an ideal alternative for people concerned about a glass bottle breaking.
Paper cups – In situations where glass or metal water bottles would prove impractical and you want a disposable water receptacle (say, a water station at a public event) paper cups can provide an affordable, biodegradable alternative to plastic water bottles.

Use a Reverse Osmosis System to Purify Your Water

After learning more about the chemicals in plastic water bottles, you may vow to switch to a glass or metal water bottle that you refill from your own tap water.

That’s an important first step, but you could still inadvertently expose yourself to microplastics if you don’t use a water purifying system. Plastics abandoned in landfills can break down into tiny toxic particles that mix into our soil and waterways, potentially exposing you to harmful plastic particles. ⁴

To safeguard against stray plastic particles in your water supply, consider installing a reverse osmosis system to purify your water.

An RO system works by pushing unpurified water through a semipermeable membrane. The membrane removes impurities and contaminants like plastic chemicals, along with other unwanted dissolved solids. An RO system can also remove bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli, as well as viruses like Hepatitis, Enteric, and Norovirus.

This leaves your water healthy, clean, and delicious.

Trust Rayne Water to Deliver Safe, Clean Drinking Water

In 2017, Rayne Water created the most efficient RO system on the market. Our system eliminates over 95 % of contaminants while saving you water and money.

As the oldest continually operating water conditioning company in the U.S., we’re committed to helping each new generation navigate the challenge of water contamination, including the risk of plastic contamination. We have locations in Arizona, California, and Nevada. So if you need a water softener in Sacramento or a reverse osmosis system in Phoenix… we’ve got you covered!

That’s why we offer a range of products designed to improve and protect your water supply. So you can safely—and confidently—enjoy the world’s oldest beverage.

Sources:

Clean Water Action. Bottled Water: The Human Health Consequences of Drinking from Plastic. https://www.cleanwateraction.org/2020/07/29/bottled-water-human-health-consequences-drinking-plastic
WebMD. Is it Safe to Reuse Plastic Water Bottles?. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/is-it-safe-to-reuse-plastic-water-bottles
Washington Post. Plastic, metal or glass: What’s the best material for a reusable water bottle?. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/plastic-metal-or-glass-whats-the-best-material-for-a-reusable-water-bottle/2019/09/25/5edcbe6c-d957-11e9-bfb1-849887369476_story.html
Earthday.org. End Plastic Pollution – Fact Sheet: Single-Use Plastics. https://www.earthday.org/fact-sheet-single-use-plastics/

How to Stay Hydrated in Hot Weather

Posted May 10, 2022 by Rayne Water

The summer months are heralded for their warm ambiance, eternal sunshine, and joyous nature. And as the bubbly, feel-good vibes start lifting, so does the number on the thermostat. In which case, if there was ever a season to stay hydrated, then it’s right around the corner.

To that end, if you’re wondering how to stay hydrated in hot weather, you’ve found yourself in capable hands. Today, we’re going to extend this discussion to review the three key drivers of proper hydration—quantity, frequency, and speed.

From there, we’ll provide a few hydration tips for summer and outline some basic safety practices to help you avoid any potential heat exhaustion or any heat related illness.

#1 Quality: Be Sure to Drink the Right Beverages

Let’s make one thing clear—not all drinks are created equal. While it’s common sense that drinking liquids help you hydrate, there are certain beverages that can do the exact opposite (looking at you, alcohol).

Furthermore, drinks that are saturated with caffeine or sugar can act as a diuretic, which means they move water through your body at a faster speed. To that end, when it comes to adequate hydration, one of the key drivers of a “quality” beverage is its electrolyte concentration.

Electrolytes are essential minerals that help regulate muscle contractions and balance fluid cells in your body. In other words, they help you keep hydrated!

Types of electrolytes include but are not limited to:

Magnesium
Potassium
Calcium
Chloride
Phosphate
Sodium

Did you know that even water will (typically) have trace amounts of electrolytes? Although electrolytes are commonly associated with sports drinks, they’re also found in fruits with high water content like coconut water, watermelon water, and other fruit juices.¹

By ensuring that the liquids you’re ingesting are rich in electrolytes, you help your body retain its hydration (which is especially important in warmer climates). However, it’s important to note that many beverages marketed to be “high in electrolytes” are also saturated with sugar.

That’s why it’s paramount to review the label, do your due diligence, and ensure you’re drinking the right types of liquids when in hot weather.

#2 Quantity: Be Sure to Drink A Lot of Liquids!

The CDC recommends that you “drink 1 cup (8 ounces) of water every 15–20 minutes” when you’re spending prolonged time in a hot climate or under summer heat. This can help you cool down your body temperature and maintain proper hydration. Another way to conceptualize this guideline is one and half (or two) single-use water bottles (the type you can buy at a gas station or grocery store) every hour.²

However, you shouldn’t consume more than 48 ounces of water in an hour. While this may seem counterintuitive, extreme quantities of water can dilute the electrolytes—especially sodium— in your body.

If you’re looking for tips for staying hydrated in the summer that’ll help you track your water intake, consider the following:

Read the label to see how many ounces the bottle contains
Use a reusable water bottle with set measurements
Drink at least a single cup of water with every meal and snack
Count how many times you’ve refilled your bottle

Ultimately, you’ll need to drink enough water to replace what you lose in sweat.

While this can absolutely depend on your body type, metabolism, and overall fitness level, it’s widely acknowledged that keeping a healthy intake of liquids is incredibly beneficial for hydration (especially when it’s hot outside!).

#3 Frequency: Be Sure to Drink Throughout the Day!

When your body signals that you’re thirsty, it can be a sign of dehydration. While this shouldn’t come as a surprise, in hotter climates, you should aim to mitigate that thirst by being proactive about your water intake.

So how often should you drink water? As mentioned above, try to drink hydrating liquids every 15 to 20 minutes and don’t go for more than an hour without drinking water in the heat.

While not the most appealing thing to visualize, you should also pay attention to the color of your urine to estimate your hydration levels.²

Light yellow – If your urine is light to pale yellow, that typically means you’re quite hydrated.
Bright yellow – If your urine is bright yellow or darker, that typically means you’re dehydrated and it’s time to focus on intaking liquids.

The reality is that hydration favors consistency. In the hotter months, it’s important that you’re at least drinking something every hour. Additionally, you should aim to never be thirsty as opposed to letting that feeling signal that it’s time for a beverage.

Summer Hydration Safety Tips

On the hottest days, hydration becomes a safety factor, not just something to aid your physical well-being. In which case, to ensure you’re protecting yourself from the heat, it’s paramount that you:

Hydrate early – You have to drink water throughout the day. Consider starting your morning with a full glass of water or a liquid that contains electrolytes.
Stay cool – Protect your skin with hats, sunscreen, and shade to reduce your sun exposure.
Eat regularly – Be sure to have three full meals and snacks during your day. The electrolytes contained in your food will help you retain your hydration.
Bring water – Keep water and other hydrating beverages close by. If you’re going to be in the sun for an extended period of time, bring a healthy amount of liquids.
Take a break – If you start to feel tired from the heat, move to a cooler location or take a break in the shade. In other words? Listen to your body.

In tandem with liquid intake, you need to do all you can to mitigate the effects of warmer weather and the sun. So, be sure you make use of reminders to help you remember to drink water.

The Drinks to Avoid

While it’s important to focus on what you should do to stay hydrated, there are some clear red flags you should steer clear of to ensure you’re staying hydrated. Drinks to avoid include but are not limited to:

Energy drinks high in caffeine
Multiple servings of coffee
Soda
Alcohol

If you’re going to avoid any of these beverages, alcohol should be at the top of your list. Given that alcohol is a diuretic, it can actively dehydrate your body.

Invest in Residential Water Filtration Systems

When you’re constantly refilling water bottles to stay hydrated, quality tap water can spell a different drinking experience. To that end, investing in a water filtration system might be the hot weather game-changer you didn’t anticipate.

While it’s easy to reach for a single-serving bottle of water to quench your thirst, is that the most sustainable and cost-effective way to hydrate?

Even if you’re aware that drinking your tap water could save money and resources, there are various factors that might keep you from drinking it (this also largely depends on where you live). If that’s the case, filtered tap water might be a phenomenal upgrade to your home!

Benefits of Filtered Tap Water

When your tap water is your primary source of hydration, you’re making both a cost-effective and environmentally sound choice. In which case, a few benefits include:

Save money – You pay at least 300 times the cost of tap water to drink bottled water, so why not save the difference? The cost of a gallon of bottled water—in individual servings—is also greater than the cost of a gallon of gasoline.³
Conserve resources – The next time you gather your recycling to put on the side of the street for pick up, count the number of plastic bottles that you used for the week. Whether those bottles are going to a recycling center or a landfill, you can dramatically reduce the amount of plastic you consume by drinking tap water.
Save a trip – You know how it feels to run out of milk or eggs when you need them. What if you had an endless supply in your house? If you can rely on your tap water, you never have to make that extra trip to the store when you run out of bottled water.

Especially if you live in an area that’s prone to extreme climates, filtered tap water can make a huge impact on the way (and your ability to) you stay hydrated.

Rayne Water, Water Filtration for Your Home

Now that you know how to stay hydrated in hot weather, the most important thing to practice is consistency. Drink beverages that actually nourish your body, make sure you’re intaking enough liquid, and keep a consistent drinking schedule.

If you’re doing this from home and you don’t want to purchase single-use water bottles or refillable gallons, then you’re in the right place. Whether you’re in need of a reverse osmosis system or a water softener, at Rayne Water we’re on a mission to service your filtration needs.

Curious to learn more? Let’s talk about some solutions to keep your household happy and hydrated throughout the warmer months!

Sources:

Healthline. 8 Healthy Drinks Rich in Electrolytes. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/electrolytes-drinks
CDC. Heat Stress: Hydration. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/UserFiles/works/pdfs/2017-126.pdf
Slate. You Are Paying 300 Times More for Bottled Water than Tap Water. https://slate.com/business/2013/07/cost-of-bottled-water-vs-tap-water-the-difference-will-shock-you.html
Cleveland Clinic. Electrolytes. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/21790-electrolytes
Rayne Water. Residential Reverse Osmosis Systems. https://www.raynewater.com/residential_category/drinking-water-systems/

4 Benefits of Commercial Water Filtration Systems

Posted May 5, 2022 by Rayne Water

From the farming industry to the food and beverage sector, water is an integral part of keeping business flowing smoothly. However, if your municipality’s drinking water is hard, odorous, or discolored, it can put a wrench in your best-laid plans.

Whether you simply need to provide quality drinking water for the employees at your office or filter thousands of gallons for beverage production, there’s a filtration system for you.

A commercial water filtration system or commercial reverse osmosis system, offers countless benefits in improving your water quality and, with it, your employees’ quality of life. In this guide, we’ll go over four central benefits you can enjoy when bringing a filtration system to your place of business.

#1 Safer Water

The most important benefit of a commercial water filtration system is that it increases the safety of one of our most vital resources: water.

While some industries utilize non-potable—that is, non-drinkable—water for cleaning purposes, you generally want to make sure that all the water on your premises is potable. It’s always a good idea to test the chemical and mineral levels of water when your employees or customers will consume it.

Likewise, you should also test any drinking water you use to feed any livestock or furry friends who are involved in your business activities.

If you’re on municipal water, you may assume it’s already safe. However, it’s important to look into the details:

Although tap water may be deemed safe by the local municipality, water treatment varies and can be imperfect. For example, your town or city might treat water with chlorine, which helps eliminate bacteria but leaves a less-than-pleasant taste.
Other factors can affect water quality as it’s delivered to your business—for example, nearby industries. If you’re concerned about runoff from factories or plants, it’s worth having your water tested.
Building infrastructure can also affect water quality. For example, older buildings are more likely to have lead pipes. If you work out of a building constructed before the 1986 Safe Water Act, your water may be exposed to lead on its way to the tap.¹

If you’re on well water, you might face a different set of challenges as your local water table fluctuates.

No matter your water source, the bottom line is that water filtration makes drinking water safer.

Depending on the specific method of filtration, it can remove:

Chemicals such as chlorine
Hard water minerals (Calcium and Magnesium)
Salts
The lead often found in old pipes
Other heavy metals such as arsenic, copper, and iron
Bacteria and protozoa

Municipalities seek to remove the most harmful of these contaminants. However, even those that don’t pose a health risk—for example, calcium and magnesium—can affect the overall quality of your water.

Installing another filtration system in your own building is the best way to ensure protection and peace of mind.

Reuse Water Waste and Maximize Efficiency

While you can improve the quality of the water that you consume, you can also improve the quality of the water that leaves your industry as wastewater.

Wastewater is water that has already been used for domestic, commercial, or industrial processes such as washing dishes or watering crops. Filtering this water can make it suitable for other purposes.

#2 Fresh Flavor

Even if water is potable and safe to drink, it might still have an undesirable taste or mouthfeel. With a filtration system, you have more control over your business outcomes, which leads us to our next point.

In the food and beverage industry, water not only needs to be safe but also top quality. From bagels to beer to pickles, water is the basis of marketable products. Even on the small scale of an individual restaurant or cafe, you want your guests to fully enjoy a glass of water in your establishment.

A commercial drinking water filter is a must-have for:

Resorts and hotels
Restaurants
Cafes
Beverage processing plants

If your establishment features drinking fountains or complimentary water, you’ll likewise want to ensure it leaves your patrons feeling quenched and content.

#3 Control Over the Details

Anyone who manages a business knows how important it is to control the factors that you can.

Here’s a variety of businesses and the ways that water filtration can help control the details.

- Farming and Agriculture – If you’re a farmer, you want to keep your livestock healthy and control sickness or diseases. Providing fresh and clean water is one way to manage what livestock consume. Businesses in the agriculture sector also benefit from water filtration to:
- Manage the soil acidity for certain crops
- Adjust the content of minerals in the soil through irrigation
- Reuse water for different purposes

Reduce water consumption and costs
Commercial cleaning – From car washes to laundromats and beyond, cleaning services need to leave their clients’ property, well, clean. Hard water that is high in minerals can make soap less effective, and in some cases, minerals might even cause corrosion or damage. If you recycle water, it’s even more essential to filter wastewater to avoid the accumulation of debris and chemicals.
Bakeries and cafes – It’s said that the best bagels come from the New York City metropolitan area, and the theory is that it comes down to the water.² While not the key to success as a baker, the water that’s the basis of the dough for baked goods impacts the outcome at a chemical and flavor level.
Vineyards and wineries – Perhaps more than most crops, wine grapes are especially sensitive to changes in soil acidity and minerality. The composition of soil and water creates the flavor profile that later expresses itself in wines. Like other crop-specific farms, vineyards are unpredictable natural environments that produce a different yield every year. With water filtration, wine grape growers can regulate some of the qualities of their wines.

The benefits of commercial water filtration systems are highly specific to different industries. Take some time to research the unexpected ways that filtration would benefit your business.

#4 Affordable Cost

Installing your own water filtration system at your business or factory might actually help you trim costs—especially if you’re paying for spring water or pre-filtered water. Instead of purchasing gallons of bottled water, you can rely on your own source.

There are even energy efficient water filtration systems available to help you accrue savings over time. Waste water doesn’t have to be thought of as waste. Rather, it’s another resource at your disposal.

Other Filtration Considerations

When you decide to invest in a commercial water filter system, you’ll need to take steps to ensure you’re receiving all the benefits that you should. From maintenance to installation, water filtration systems aren’t a one and done appliance.¹ To that end:

Hire a Pro – Water filtration systems must be properly installed to work. Hire a trusted company or professional to install your system.
Know the “expiration date” – While different water filters have different lifespans, most require occasional replacement. Ask your installer how often you should change the water filters, or set up a servicing schedule alongside your installation.
Receive regular maintenance – To keep your water filtration system running smoothly, schedule check-ups and maintenance on the appliance.

With proper care maintenance, you’ll reap the rewards of your new system for years to come.

Commercial Water Filtration System Options

Depending on your business water filtration needs, there are two water filter options: Reverse Osmosis and Activated Carbon.

Each method is designed to capture certain chemicals or particles. However, many water filtration systems involve a combination of the RO water filter system and activated carbon to catch more contaminants.

Here’s a more in-depth look at how each system works:

Reverse Osmosis System – In a home use or commercial RO system, water moves through a semipermeable membrane which filters out contaminants.³ Reverse osmosis filtration systems are particularly good at removing dissolved salts and minerals.
Activated Carbon – Carbon effectively filters contaminants like chlorine as well as organic chemicals. The filter “absorbs” these contaminants through the process of chemical attraction. Since not all chemicals will be attracted to carbon, carbon filters won’t catch everything.⁴

Keep in mind that not all dissolved elements will pose a problem, Minerals and salt could even be desirable to some businesses. Consider your desired outcome is for the water that you use. Do you need to grow acres of corn? Or do you need incredibly soft water for making bagels?

To decide on the best commercial water treatment and filtration system for your needs, consult with an expert.

Rayne Water’s Solutions for Homes and Businesses

From small businesses to industrial operations, many companies can benefit from filtration to improve the quality of your water supply onsite. Whether you need a reverse osmosis system for business or activated carbon filters that have the capacity to filter 1,000 or 10,000 gallons of water per day, water softener companies offer plenty of options available for you.

At Rayne Water, our 94 years of business have equipped us to meet your commercial reverse osmosis system needs. We have locations in Arizona, California, and Nevada. So if you need a water softener in Sacramento or a reverse osmosis system in Phoenix… we’ve got you covered! ³ Get in touch today to learn more about our solutions, from the reverse osmosis filter to water softener and beyond.

Sources:

Consumer Reports. How to Make Sure Your Water Filter Really Removes Lead. https://www.consumerreports.org/water-filters/make-sure-your-water-filter-removes-lead-a5825432948/
Food and Wine. Is New York Water Really The Secret To The Best Bagels and Pizza? https://www.foodandwine.com/news/new-york-water-bagels-pizza
Rayne Water. Commercial Reverse Osmosis System. https://www.raynewater.com/commercial_category/commercial-reverse-osmosis/
How Stuff Works. What is activated charcoal and why is it used in filters? https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/question209.htm
EPA. Drinking Water. https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/drinking-water
How Stuff Works. How Reverse Osmosis Works. https://science.howstuffworks.com/reverse-osmosis.htm
Rayne Water. Water Softener vs. Water Filter. https://www.raynewater.com/blog/water-softener-vs-water-filter/
Rayne Water. Types of Water Filters. https://www.raynewater.com/blog/types-of-water-filters/

Water Softeners

Salt-Free Systems

Hybrid Softener/ Conditioners

Drinking Water Systems

Portable Exchange Service

Specialty Solutions

Bottle Free or Bottleless Coolers

Commercial Water Softeners

Commercial Reverse Osmosis

Portable Exchange Service

Archive for the ‘Drinking Water System’ Category

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

Why Did Pasadena Implement Water Usage Regulations?

Drought Levels in Pasadena

What Are Pasadena’s Rules Regarding Water Usage?

What Are The Exemptions to Pasadena’s Water Restrictions?

Contaminants in Pasadena’s Water Supply

Purify Your Home’s Water with a Filtration System from Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

What is Contaminating Pasadena’s Water?

Filtering Out the Foul from Pasadena’s Water

Filtering Water With Water Softeners

Purifying Water Through Reverse Osmosis

Taste the Most Pristine Water in Pasadena with a Filtration System from Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

What is the EPA?

What are the EPA Water Quality Standards?

Contaminant Classifications

#1 Micro-organisms

#2 Disinfectants

#3 Disinfection Byproducts (DBPS)

#4 Inorganic Chemicals

#5 Organic Chemicals

#6 Radionuclides

What Are the Risks and Consequences of Not Adhering to EPA Water Quality Water Standards?

Human Health

Violations and Penalties

Is Your Water Safe?

Find Peace of Mind with Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

Benefits of High-Quality Water

How Pollutant Levels Are Determined

Protecting Natural Water Sources

Water Sources In Need of Restoration

How to Protect Water Sources

How to Improve the Quality of Your Water

Improve Your Water Quality with Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

What Should Businesses Know About Industrial Water Requirements?

5 Ways to Pass Commercial and Industrial Water Requirements

What Happens If These Requirements Aren’t Met?

Rayne Water: Control Water Quality with Quality Service

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

What Is Water Quality Testing?

What to Test For

3 Ways to Properly Test Your Water Quality

#1 Water Quality Test Strips

#2 Utilize A Qualified Rayne Water Representative

#3 Powder Kits

The Importance of Water Quality Testing

Prevent Pollutants in Your Water: Filter With Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

Breaking Down TDS

How Much TDS Is Too Much?

How to Measure TDS Levels

Mineral vs Chemical: Sources of TDS and Their Potential Effects

High Levels of Mineral TDS: Effects

High Levels of Chemical TDS: Effects

Lower Your Home’s TDS with a Water Improvement System

A Countertop Water Distiller

Filtration System

Reverse Osmosis System

Remove TDS and Other Impurities with Rayne Water

*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation

Plastic in the Bottle, Plastic in the Water

Types of Plastics Found in Water Bottles

Plastics Common in Single-Use Water Bottles

Plastics Common in Multi-Use Water Bottles

Lack of Transparency in Industry

Health Risks of Water Bottle Plastics

**How Much TDS Is Too Much?**