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Archive for the ‘Impurities Found in Drinking Water’ Category

When Should You Have Your Water Tested?

Posted by Ken Christopher

Water testing is something that all homeowners should take into consideration, especially if you rely on a private well for your water supply.  Drinking water can quickly and easily become contaminated and if not caught right away can cause some serious health concerns.  It is recommended to have municipally supplied water tested periodically, however well water should be tested at least once every year.

Bacteria is one of the biggest concerns with well water; in fact, approximately 40 percent of private wells tested, come back positive for bacteria.  Every year you should at least test for bacteria (total coliforms), nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH levels.  Testing for arsenic, chloride, pesticides, metals and hardness is also highly recommended as they are often found in well water as well.

If you notice any change in your water, such as taste, smell or appearance, have your water tested at once.  This could definitely be a sign that something is not right.  Some other warning signs to look for are:

Knowing the condition of your water and having it tested as recommended is the first step in preventing any potential health concerns.  The Environmental Protection Agency has a link on their website you can use to find certified testing labs in your state.  Most home improvement stores have a basic water test, however it is very limited as to what contaminants it can detect.  A certified lab is the best route to go since are able to provide a much broader scope of testing.

Once you determine the condition of your water, you are in a much better position to choose a water filtration system that will compliment your unique water concerns or whether you need one at all.  Keeping tabs on your water regularly will help prevent any health issues before they arise.

Healthy Hearts Need Water

Posted by Ken Christopher

February is American Heart Month, the perfect time to raise awareness for heart health and how we live our lives to support our hearts. The American Heart Association estimates that uncontrolled high blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. In fact, more than 67 million Americans have high blood pressure and people with high blood pressure are 4 times more likely to die from a stroke and 3 times more likely to die from heart disease, compared to those with normal blood pressure. We know that drinking water is important to keep us healthy, but this month were here at Rayne of Irvine want to remind you to drink more high quality water for your heart. It could save your life someday.

Water can help reduce some heart diseases according to a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology which found that men who drank five or more glasses of water a day had only a 46% chance of having a fatal heart attack, and women had only 59% risk, compared to people who drank two or less glasses of water daily. These are some pretty good results when it comes to the benefits of drinking water to support heart health. Keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles work efficiently. “If you’re well hydrated, your heart doesn’t have to work as hard,” said John Batson, M.D, a sports medicine physician with Lowcountry Spine & Sport in Hilton Head Island, S.C., and an American Heart Association volunteer.

Plus, your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them. For instance, your blood, which contains a lot of water, carries oxygen to all the cells of your body. Without oxygen, those tiny cells would die and your body would stop working. In addition to being an important part of the fluids in your body, each cell depends on water to function normally. The amount of water a person needs depends on climatic conditions, clothing worn and exercise intensity and duration as well as current state of health, said one physician.  Dehydration can be a serious condition that can lead to problems ranging from swollen feet or a headache to life-threatening illnesses such as heat stroke or even heat exhaustion.

Since water is so critical for your heart health, now may also be the best time to consider the water you’re drinking. If something so important to your heart could be improved or of a higher quality than what you’re currently consuming, would you do something about it? We thought so, too. Reducing contaminants with our drinking water filters and home water treatment systems can turn poor, contaminated tap water or mediocre drinking water into pure, high quality water your family is sure to enjoy. Our LINX® drinking water system is also eco-friendly, reducing water waste by up to 90% compared to traditional reverse osmosis systems.  By improving the quality of your water, you’re giving your family a better reason to maintain heart health by drinking more water in general and fueling their bodies with what they need. The proactive effects of drinking water and a healthy heart start with one phone call.

Dangers of Benzene in Drinking Water

Posted by Ken Christopher

Since Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been tasked with determining the safest level of drinking water contamination before any adverse health effects are likely to occur.  Currently the EPA regulates 81 different types of hazardous contaminants that can be found in our drinking water supply; they monitor chemical, physical, radiological and biological contaminates and set a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) for each.  One such contaminate that has found itself in the news recently is benzene, which has a MCLG goal of zero parts per million. As we saw in the LA Times, officials from California’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources  admitted just last summer that they have inadvertently allowed oil companies to inject wastewater from oil production operations as well as fracking into hundreds of disposal wells in protected aquifers around the state for years.  High levels of Benzene is just one of the byproducts that have shown up in the contaminated water. Benzene is a volatile organic chemical (VOC) that is naturally found in oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke.  It can also be formed from natural processes, such as from forest fires, as well as industrial processes.  It is commonly used to manufacture plastics, rubber, synthetic fabrics and resins and as a solvent in paints, printing and dry cleaning.  Benzene is a known carcinogen and when ingested from drinking water can cause anemia, a decrease in blood platelets, and an increased risk of cancer, particularly leukemia. Gasoline and cigarette smoke are the two main sources of benzene exposure; however, while for the majority of the population, the exposure to benzene from food, beverages and drinking water is not as high as it is from the air, there is still a significant risk.  Benzene has been detected in some bottled water, liquor and certain foods as well as from contaminated well water.  Water wells can become contaminated with benzene from leaking underground gasoline storage tanks, leaching from landfills and other hazardous waste sites that contain benzene products. Considering that the EPA recommends a zero MCLG level for benzene, it is important to choose a water filtration system that can filter out this hazardous chemical.  Water softeners will not remove benzene, however activated charcoal or granular activated carbon filters rated to remove VOC’s will be able to remove benzene from your drinking water. Rayne’s LINX Drinking Water Systems as well as our reverse osmosis systems are both equipped with a carbon filtration unit intended to filter VOC’s.  It is important to make sure your family is drinking water that is as pure and safe as possible, so if you are wondering about the safety of your drinking water, it is highly recommended to have it tested.  Knowing what is in your water will help you choose the right filtration system for your home and provide the safest drinking water possible.

The Best Water Filter for Nitrate Reduction

Posted by Ken Christopher

 

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

Contaminated drinking water is widespread in the United States and throughout the public water system; the highest degree of contamination is in the Midwest, Texas, the Pacific Northwest and California.

Water wells contamination statistics

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that as many as 52 percent of community wells and 57 percent of domestic water wells are contaminated by a measurable amount of nitrates and nitrites. In Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley of California, it is estimated that  one in every three domestic wells are contaminated with levels well over the EPA’s recommended guidelines for ground water. As a result, water softeners in Los Angeles and other Southern California areas are becoming increasingly popular as a solution to hard water and contaminants in tap water.

Get started today! We specialize in providing the purest water possible!

 

Why is Nitrate contamination dangerous

Nitrates and Nitrites are not all bad, in fact we need them to some extent to stay healthy, however excess consumption from elevated nitrate levels can cause serious health risks. Infants below six months of age are especially susceptible to nitrate contamination. The EPA states that if they consume water containing nitrates in excess of the maximum contaminant level, they could become seriously ill, and if untreated, may die from nitrate poisoning . Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.

How to remove nitrates from water

Wondering how to remove nitrates from water? The only way to remove nitrates from drinking water is through a water filtration system. Many water treatment companies promote Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems as an immediate solution to provide nitrate and nitrite reduction. RO systems do in fact reduce nitrate levels, however even the best RO system can only reduce them by eighty percent. The most typical systems only have a sixty percent reduction rate. This sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Well in some cases this reduction rate is just fine, however not all water has the same level of contamination. The EPA recommended guidelines for nitrates are a maximum 10 parts per million (ppm). Let’s say for example that your water has 30ppm nitrate contamination, a sixty percent reduction would only bring it down to a 12ppm nitrate level – still more than the recommended guidelines. At eighty percent reduction it would be 6ppm, which does falls within the guidelines, however there are only a select few RO’s that have an eighty percent reduction. Now let’s say your water starts at a 60ppm contamination level, even at an eighty percent reduction rate it would only bring it down to 12ppm, which is too high and can cause some health complications.

Most effective nitrate reduction solution

The LINX Drinking Water System is the best solution to nitrate pollution. It doesn’t matter how much nitrate contamination your water has, 200ppm or 20ppm, it still reduces it down to non-detect levels – every time. These reduction rates are far superior to a traditional RO water filtration system for nitrate removal. This superior nitrate filter has earned them the WQA Gold Seal for Nitrate / Nitrite Reduction as well as being certified and approved for nitrate reduction in the state of California.

If your water has a problem with elevated levels of nitrate contamination, don’t take the risk of being exposed to excess contamination, install the one and only water filtration system that can reduce your high nitrate levels to non-detect levels and create safe drinking water. 

Expert Reviewer – Ken Christopher

5 Home Water Problems You Need to Fix

Posted by Ken Christopher

<![CDATA[Your home’s water affects nearly every aspect of your daily living. Sure, we all know we need drinking water and water to bathe or shower in, but a home’s water goes way beyond that. From a home’s plumbing and fixtures to how your clothes and bedding look and feel, water has a significant impact. Let’s look at 5 different ways your water can have a negative impact on your home and how it can be fixed.

  1. Laundry: Hard water can be damaging to your clothing and bedding. Soap scum is created when the calcium or magnesium ions in hard water react with the fatty component of soap. This soap scum attaches itself to fabric fibers which not only give a grey or yellow appearance to fabrics, it also causes the fabric fibers to become brittle, shortening their durability and lifespan. A water softener will remove the mineral deposits in your water therefore not allowing the formation of damaging soap scum.
  2. Kitchen: Water is a solvent and as such can easily pick up impurities. When we use water for drinking or cooking, we are ingesting not only the water, but any contaminants it contains as well. Water can, and often does, contain Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) which includes minerals, salts or metals dissolved in it. TDS’s can affect the taste and appearance of water as well as cause some serious health concerns if it contains nitrates, arsenic, lead or chlorine to name a few. Drinking water systems such as a RO system or a LINX® Drinking Water System can filter out TDS’s in your drinking water, making it safe and healthy to drink and cook with.
  3. Bathroom: Do you notice that gray ring around your bath? How about the discoloration in your toilet? Does your sink constantly have white spots on the faucet or counter? Odds are, you have hard water. The minerals in hard water can cling to surfaces, causing them to become stained over time; iron especially can cause some really nasty staining. When hard water comes in contact with soap it creates soap scum (remember from the laundry) which clings to the tub and shower and requires a serious scrubbing to remove. A water softener or salt free water conditioner can help with this problem.
  4. Skin and Hair: Studies have shown that eczema can be triggered by hard water. The magnesium and calcium in the water causes the skin to dry out leading to irritation. In order to get a nice rich lather going in hard water, more soap and shampoo is necessary which can also aggravate eczema. Hard water can play havoc on your hair as well, causing it to become dry, frizzy, easily damaged and can even change the color. Installing a water softener or salt free water conditioner can help alleviate these issues.
  5. Plumbing and Appliances: Pipes, hot water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers and icemakers are in constant contact with water. When a home has hard water, scale is produced inside the pipes, hoses and even the appliance itself which can cause a host of problems. Pipes and hoses become clogged, which significantly decreases water pressure and can even cause them to burst. Heating elements can fail if there is an excess scale buildup and can cause leaks or breakage if valves and gaskets are damaged. Overall, hard water has been proven to decrease efficiency in appliances and shorten their lifespan. A water softener or salt free water conditioner can prevent scale buildup and lengthen the life of your appliances while keeping them running at full efficiency

California Drought Creates Severe Regulations

Posted by Ken Christopher

article by the Sacramento Bee, has ten of the Sacramento area’s 23 large water districts must cut usage by 36 percent during the next nine months compared to 2013. All but two must cut usage by 28 percent. That is a lot of water and many residents are fearful that it could cost jobs and businesses and residents will have a hard time dealing with the cutbacks. A state of emergency was also declared by Governor Brown in January and has spoken about the topic of water shortages several times. The state hopes to lead the way to make sure California is able to cope with an unprecedented drought. The article also explains that residents and various industries hit hard by these regulations will need to sacrifice and be responsible for their water use. People across the state are making sacrifices, but with our help, you won’t have to sacrifice the quality of your tap water. How can residents help reduce their water use and do their part in the quest to save water sources and protect shortage issues? These massive cutbacks are reality in the Irvine and Sacramento areas. How can our water filters support these intiatives? By wasting less water than competitors. You still need to keep your water safe but using a water filter that will waste the majority of the water you filter is not going to support these cutbacks and goes against everything the state of California needs you as a consumer to do. Give us a call today and see how you can waste less water by still preserving the quality and purity of your water.  Your response to the state’s unprecedented and deepening drought can be answered with our drinking water systems.

Be on the lookout for these common water contaminants

Posted by Ken Christopher

drinking water system or a water filter to maintain high-quality drinking water could be at risk of common water contaminants. Drinking water contamination doesn’t happen to everyone and it doesn’t always happen in the same places. With so many variables and causes for drinking water contamination, the only true and consistent way to protect your water is with a water filter. Unfiltered drinking water could be more dangerous than you thought. Traces of 18 unregulated chemicals were found in drinking water from more than one-third of U.S. water utilities in a nationwide sampling, according to new unpublished research by federal scientists. Included are 11 perfluorinated compounds, an herbicide, two solvents, caffeine, an antibacterial compound, a metal and an antidepressant. Yuck!

Twenty-one contaminants were detected – mostly in low concentrations of parts per trillion – in treated drinking water from at least nine of the utilities. Eighteen of the chemicals are not regulated under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act so utilities do not have to meet any limit or even monitor for them. But what are the most common drinking water contaminants we can all look out for? What contaminants can our drinking water filters remove? According to most sources, here are the most common drinking water contaminants and we also included their threats to our health:

Our drinking water systems are effective at removing harmful contaminants and efficient when it comes to the environment. High-quality drinking water doesn’t have to cost and arm and a leg, it only takes a phone call. Contact us today to learn more about our water filters and which of our drinking water systems would be optimal for your household.

Effects of Fluoridated Drinking Water

Posted by Ken Christopher

Fluoride has made its way back into the news again lately and it has the same supporters and critics of fluoridated drinking water in communities around the country. About 75% of people have purposely fluoridated water, but even those who do not may still get fluoride via natural occurrence. With all of the hype about putting fluoride in water for dental health, citizens should know that people could be suffering needlessly from thyroid problems which can cause depression, weight gain, fatigue and aching muscles. All of this due to over-fluoridation when you have added fluoride plus naturally-occurring fluoride! One article discusses how The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California pumps fluoride into Orange County’s water supply. But with naturally-occurring fluoride, this may not be necessary and this surplus of fluoride may warrant installing a water softener in the Orange County area. It is clear that some residents still have concerns about their drinking water since many reports in the area demonstrate proof of naturally-occurring fluoride, too. Not all communities are affected by the regulations, but most people are affected by fluoride in their drinking water in one way or another. Because it is also now put in toothpaste, mouthwash and other products, some scientists say that is enough to support dental health these days. A study from the University of Kent claims that fluoride could be causing depression and weight gain and communities should stop adding it to drinking water. But even without adding it, residents without home water filtration systems could be at risk. According to the National Research Council 2006, “it is apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain.” The warnings of scientists should not be taken lightly as depression and weight gain are serious health issues that could be prevented with a water filter in your home. According to one article, some of Orange County’s 3.2 million users get fully fluoridated water. Others get none and still others get a mix of fluoridated and non-fluoridated water. Even if you do not live in a place where they add fluoride to your drinking water, you may still benefit from water treatment. Water filters such as RO systems will clear water of excess fluoride as well as other harmful drinking water contaminants. The truth is that we never really know what is in our water and with naturally-occurring contaminants as well as chemicals which are placed in our water; we need to monitor our intake and protect our families. The benefits of a home drinking water system outweigh the dental benefits of community fluoridated tap water. Contact your local Irvine water treatment company today for more information.

Are you looking for a water softener system but live outside of OC and LA? We have many locations across California and can provide water softeners in Santa Barbara all the way down to San DIego! We also have services in Northern California!

Changing Your RO Filter

Posted by Ken Christopher

drinking water systems. According to Infoplease.com, they explain how sodium is implicated in cardiovascular disease, nitrates in blood disorders. Mercury and lead can cause nervous disorders. Some contaminants are carcinogens. DDT is toxic to humans and can alter chromosomes. PCBs cause liver and nerve damage, skin eruptions, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, and fetal abnormalities. Reverse osmosis is one common home water filtration system which can help reduce or remove harmful contaminants by passing water through a semi-permeable membrane and giving you a higher quality drinking water right from the tap. An RO System is a form of technology common in households but with this technology also comes a little bit of maintenance. It is important to remember to change your RO filter and when you buy or lease one of our drinking water systems, either someone in your household or one of our technicians can come change it for you. The maintenance is an important part of your drinking water system’s effectiveness. Some companies will not come change the filter for you and this can be a difficult task for some people if you do not know what you’re doing. Ultimately the quality of the water and the amount of use will determine the frequency of filter changes. It is important to change the filter in order to enjoy the highest quality drinking water and increase contaminant removal during the process. Our drinking water filters are a great addition to your home or office and our technicians can come switch out your reverse osmosis filters. Reverse osmosis is an effective and proven technology to produce water that is suitable for human consumption without the concern of contamination. Furthermore, as mentioned above, proper pretreatment and monitoring of an RO system is crucial to preventing costly repairs and unscheduled maintenance as well as improved effectiveness. Contact one of our representatives today and enjoy your high-quality drinking water tomorrow.

Drinking Water Can Be Fun!

Posted by Ken Christopher

A recent study concluded that over 50% of our kids and teens are dehydrated due to not drinking enough water throughout the day. We all know that getting our kids to drink enough water can be a battle, especially if you’re just now starting to push good habits of drinking more water on a daily basis. Unless you strictly instilled these healthy habits from the beginning, getting your children to drink more water and choose water as their most common beverage may take a little creativity. How do you get your kids to drink more water? Make it fun! By combining clean, great tasting water from a home water filter and some fruits, veggies or herbs, your family can enjoy the power and pleasure of staying hydrated all summer long. An article from Empowher suggests taking water and adding some tasty ingredients and mixing flavors to entice your family to drink more and get less bored. Putting a twist on water flavors will make kids believe they are drinking something other than water which could help them make better decisions. Staying hydrated is important, especially during the hot summer months. Since water makes up about two-thirds of our bodies, we need to replace what we lose through chemical reactions. When we sweat, go to the bathroom and even when we simply exhale, we lose small amounts of water. Why is this important to replace? Well, water is important for temperature regulation, lubricating your joints, protecting your spinal cord and other sensitive tissue, and removing waste from the body.  Exercising when the weather is hot it is even more important to make sure water is part of your daily routine. This means drinking water, even when you don’t feel thirsty. Since many people don’t drink enough water and choose sugary soft drinks or other juices or beverages, using fruits and herbs to flavor water is a great way to increase intake! Also interesting and mentioned by the author of the article is that our thirst sensors aren’t sensitive enough to let us know that we want something to drink at the moment that we need more water. Making a good choice means knowing what is best to drink and this case, water is the best choice. We can make it more enticing by adding fresh fruits during the summer you can freeze your favorite fruit and use them as ice cubes in your water. The author suggests taking herbs, like mint, and breaking them into pieces and add them to hot water so the flavor gets into the water. Then put them in ice cubes trays and freeze them. Adding flavored ice cubes is easy and fun! We also want you to remember that using high-quality water is important. It will taste better and is better for you. This may mean investing in an RO system or LINX Drinking Water System to remove harmful contaminants and create pure, natural drinking water with an excellent taste.  According to the Institute of Medicine, women need about 9 cups of fluid and for men it is about 13 cups of fluid daily. How much of that is contaminated? Well with a water filter, you won’t have to worry about contaminants, just what flavors you’ll add to your water today! Contact one of our water technicians today and learn about which home water filter would be right for you.