*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.
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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:
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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.
Water New South Wales. Water is Life. https://www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/education/exhibitions/water-for-life-exhibition/timeline2/water-is-life
Ever moved into a new place and noticed the water tasted off? Or maybe you’re seeing plenty of stubborn white buildup plaguing your dishwasher? These are signs of high TDS.
What is TDS in water? TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids.
These are tiny molecules (specifically ions), mostly minerals and salts, dissolved in your water. While some TDS is natural and even beneficial, excessively high levels can impact your water quality and potentially your health.
Detecting Signs of Elevated TDS Levels
While water with Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) isn’t inherently harmful, high levels sometimes lead to unwanted health issues.
Here are common signs that your water’s TDS levels might be higher than ideal:
Unusual Taste or Odor: If your water has a sharp, metallic taste or a salty flavor, it might be a sign of high mineral content.
Mineral Buildup: Notice white or chalky scaling on your faucets, showerheads, and pipes? That’s a classic sign of hard water with high TDS, which can leave noticeable mineral deposits.
Skin and Gut Issues: For those with sensitive skin, water high in TDS can exacerbate skin conditions like dryness or eczema. It might also cause digestive discomfort if you have a sensitive stomach.
Tips and Techniques for Managing TDS Levels
Keeping your water’s TDS levels in check involves a few steps:
Regular Testing: Just like how you regularly check your car’s tire pressure, testing your water’s TDS is crucial for maintaining its quality. It helps you monitor dissolved minerals and organics, ensuring the water is healthy and appliance-friendly.
Tailored Water Treatment: Depending on your specific TDS readings, treatments like reverse osmosis or distillation can effectively reduce excess minerals and contaminants.
Assessing TDS Levels: A Key Step in Water Quality Management
Testing your water’s TDS levels is an essential part of home maintenance.
High TDS levels (above 500 ppm) can have high contaminant levels and’ … (lead to mineral…) deposits that shorten the lifespan of appliances by damaging components.
Addressing High TDS Concerns: Practical Solutions for Homeowners
If you find yourself grappling with high TDS:
Explore Treatment Options: Choose appropriate treatments based on your water test results to reduce unwanted minerals.
Install and Maintain Filtration Systems: Regularly maintaining your water filtration systems ensures they continue to reduce TDS effectively and keep your water safe.
Long-Term Benefits of TDS Management: Enhancing Health and Home Comfort
By managing your TDS levels, you’ll enjoy several long-term benefits:
Better Tasting Water: Reducing high TDS can remove the unpleasant taste and odor from your water, making it fresher and more enjoyable to drink.
Appliance Longevity: Protect your household appliances from scale buildup and efficiency loss, extending their lifespan.
Potential Health Advantages: For those sensitive to high TDS, managing these levels can help avoid digestive issues and promote overall well-being.
In short, keeping an eye on TDS ensures your water is enjoyable and protects your health and home appliances.
Lower Your Home’s TDS with a Reverse Osmosis System
Low TDS water levels are recommended for better water quality, and that can be done with a reverse osmosis system.
A reverse osmosis 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.
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.
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.
The water—boiled until vapor and then condensed into clean, safe liquid—is now ready for drinking.
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.
Generally speaking, a filtration system will remove contaminants, but not necessarily minerals. 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. Contaminants that can’t pass through this membrane are thus separated from the purified water and carried away via a secondary “reject” stream. Additional filters on either side of the membrane act as a way of supplying additional protection against TDS.
Because an RO system typically lowers mineral and chemical TDS levels, it can prove an ideal option for people wishing to avoid various side effects of mineral water.
An RO system achieves more efficient appliances, improves water taste, and supports healthier skin and hair. It helps purify water incredibly effectively such as reverse osmosis lead filtering. In fact, many water purification plants and waste treatment centers use this process. RO systems designed for residential use can differ in size and other important details.
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.
Is Your Water’s TDS Level Ideal?
Managing TDS levels in your water ensures better taste, appliance longevity, and health benefits. Regular testing and treatments like reverse osmosis or distillation can reduce excess minerals. By maintaining filtration systems, you can enjoy clean, safe, and great-tasting water, protecting both your home and well-being.
TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids, which refers to all the inorganic and organic substances dissolved in water.
What are common sources of TDS water?
Common sources of TDS include natural minerals in soil and rocks, agricultural runoff, industrial wastewater, and municipal water treatment additives.
Is high TDS water harmful to health?
High TDS water levels alone may not necessarily be harmful to health, but they may indicate the presence of other contaminants in water. It’s essential to monitor TDS levels along with other water quality parameters.
Plastic water bottles are popular for their convenience, but concerns about chemicals found in bottled water continue to grow.
Most bottles are made from plastics like PET or HDPE, and some may contain BPA. When exposed to heat or stored for long periods, they can leach small amounts of chemicals into the water. This is why many people are switching to glass bottles or stainless steel alternatives for everyday use.
Understanding what’s inside your bottled water can help you make a safer, more informed choice.
Key Takeaways
Chemicals from a plastic water bottle can sometimes transfer into the bottle in water, especially with heat or long storage.
The most common types are PET and HDPE, with some bottles containing BPA as well.
Widespread use of plastic water bottles raises questions about long-term health and environmental impact.
Water in glass bottles is often chosen as an alternative to avoid possible chemical leaching.
Understanding what’s in your bottle in water helps you make safer, more informed hydration choices.
Switching from a plastic water bottle to water in glass bottles may support both personal health and environmental goals.
Why People Are Concerned About Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic water bottles have become a staple in daily life, yet many people have growing concerns about their use. These worries center around three main areas: health risks, environmental impact, and the lack of clear regulation.
One of the biggest health concerns is the presence of microplastics and chemicals that can leach into the bottle in water.
Research shows this is not a rare occurrence. In one large study, 93% of popular bottled water brands, including names like Aquafina, Evian, and Nestle Pure Life, contained traces of microplastics in their water. Tap water, by comparison, had about half as much.
Microplastics are not the only issue. Certain chemicals used in plastic, like BPA, can migrate into water, especially if bottles are stored in heat or reused multiple times.
This raises concerns about long-term exposure and potential health effects, although the science is still emerging. For many, these facts are reason enough to look for alternatives, such as water in glass bottles, or to push for tighter regulations on bottled water safety. With growing awareness, more consumers are asking questions and making choices that feel safer for themselves and the environment.
What Are Microplastics—and Are They in Bottled Water?
Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic, each less than 5 millimeters in size. Too small to see with the naked eye, these particles can come from larger plastic debris that breaks down or from synthetic fibers and packaging.
They are everywhere. Microplastics have been found in bottled water, in foods like seafood and salt, and even drifting through the air we breathe. When you open a plastic water bottle, you might be getting more than just water.
Scientists are growing increasingly concerned about the health risks. Early research suggests microplastics could cause inflammation, disrupt gut health, and possibly interfere with hormones. These risks are part of a broader concern about chemicals found in bottled water, especially as more studies uncover potential links to long-term health effects.
The World Health Organization has acknowledged that microplastics are present in bottled water.
However, they caution that more research is needed to fully understand the risks. For now, it is a topic of ongoing study and a reason many people are taking a closer look at what is in their water.
What Is Actually In a Plastic Water Bottle?
Overview of Common Plastics Used
Look at the bottom or side of your plastic water bottle and you will probably see a small triangle with a number inside. This recycling code reveals what type of plastic the bottle is made from. The three most common types are PET (marked with a 1), HDPE (marked with a 2), and “Other” plastics, including polycarbonate, which are marked with a 7.
These codes help you quickly identify what you are drinking from, and may even hint at the health risks or best uses for each bottle.
Types of Plastics Found
1 – PET (polyethylene terephthalate):
This is the most common plastic in single-use bottles. Lightweight and clear, PET is designed for one-time use. Reusing these bottles is not recommended, as they can break down and may leach chemicals, especially if washed or exposed to heat.
2 – HDPE (high-density polyethylene):
Thicker, more durable bottles often use HDPE. You will find it in some larger water containers or multi-use jugs. This plastic is less likely to leach chemicals but is still best for limited use.
7 – “Other” (polycarbonate and more):
Category 7 covers plastics that do not fit elsewhere, including polycarbonate. Some older reusable bottles in this group contain BPA, a chemical linked to potential health risks. Many brands have now removed BPA, but the category is still broad.
Here is a quick chart to compare the main types:
Plastic Code
Name
Typical Use
Health Considerations
1
PET
Single-use water bottles
Avoid repeated use; may leach with heat
2
HDPE
Thicker bottles, jugs
Low risk; avoid high heat
7
Other (may include BPA)
Some reusable bottles
Check for BPA-free labeling.
Each plastic has its own story. The safest approach is to check the code, avoid repeated use of single-use bottles, and choose BPA-free options for reusable containers.
What Are the Health Risks of These Plastics?
Chemical Leaching from Heat, Wear, or Age
When a plastic water bottle sits in the sun or inside a hot car, chemicals in the plastic can seep into the water. PET (type 1), found in most single-use bottles, is generally considered safe for brief use, but heat or prolonged storage increases the risk of leaching.
Older bottles or those labeled as category 7 may contain BPA, a chemical known to disrupt hormones, especially when exposed to heat or as the bottle ages.
Bacteria Growth Risks
Reusing single-use plastic water bottles can quickly lead to problems you may not see.
Each time you open the bottle, bacteria from your mouth, hands, or environment can enter and begin to multiply. Moist, dark environments are perfect breeding grounds for germs.
Within just one day, a reused bottle left in a warm place can harbor significant bacteria or even mold. Even if you rinse it, the narrow neck and scratches inside the plastic make it hard to clean thoroughly.
Damaged or poorly washed reusable bottles also carry these risks. Drinking from bottles with unseen bacteria can lead to stomach upset or even illness. To stay safe, wash reusable bottles daily with hot, soapy water and avoid reusing single-use plastics.
The BPA Controversy
BPA, or bisphenol A, is a chemical once commonly used in plastics like some water bottles and food containers. Over the years, research has raised serious questions about its safety. Studies link BPA exposure to fertility issues, certain cancers, heart disease, and even changes in brain development, especially for children and infants.
As a result, many manufacturers now produce bottles labeled “BPA-free,” which can be reassuring at first glance.
However, BPA-free plastics often use replacement chemicals, and scientists are still studying whether these alternatives are truly safer. This uncertainty highlights the broader concern around chemicals found in bottled water, not just BPA but other additives and plasticizers that may pose health risks. The science is ongoing, with some gaps in long-term research. For anyone cautious about chemical exposure, glass or stainless steel bottles may offer extra peace of mind.
Why Plastic in Water Bottles Is Hard to Regulate
Lack of Disclosure Laws
For consumers, it is surprisingly hard to determine which chemicals could be found in a plastic bottle of water.
Companies are not legally obliged to indicate the ingredients or the kind of plastics that they use in their bottles. Above all, brands are not required by the federal government to test bottled water on microplastic and report the findings to the general population. Such non-disclosure keeps customers guessing as to what exactly is in the bottle of water that they take.
Tap Water vs. Bottled Water Regulations
Tap water in the United States is closely monitored. The EPA requires municipal providers to regularly test for contaminants, meet strict standards, and provide detailed water quality reports.
The source and contents of your tap water are a matter of public record, offering transparency and some peace of mind.
By comparison, bottled water falls under FDA oversight, which comes with fewer requirements for disclosure and testing. Brands are not obligated to reveal where their water comes from or provide public quality reports.
This regulatory gap highlights how little control or information consumers often have about what is in their bottled water. That concern is amplified by growing awareness of
chemicals found in bottled water, including substances that may leach from plastic packaging or enter during processing.
The difference in oversight means it is often easier to know what is coming out of your tap than what is inside that sealed bottle. With so much still unknown about plastics and their health effects, this lack of transparency remains a key concern for many consumers.
Environmental Impact of Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic water bottles have a long afterlife. Once discarded, these bottles never truly disappear. Instead, they break down into smaller pieces over time, but the plastic itself lingers in landfills, rivers, and oceans for hundreds of years.
Every year in the United States, around 50 billion plastic water bottles are purchased. That’s more than 1,500 bottles every second, a staggering number that keeps growing.
Although recycling programs exist, only a small percentage of bottles actually get recycled. Most end up tossed in the trash, eventually making their way to crowded landfills or floating out to sea.
The result is a mounting environmental crisis. Wildlife and marine animals mistake bottle fragments for food, while microplastics enter the water we drink and the air we breathe. Choosing alternatives like reusable bottles or water in glass bottles is one way people are trying to cut back on this growing problem.
Safer Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles
In the case of healthier hydration, the transition to single-use plastic is on the rise.
Water in a glass bottle, a sturdy metal bottle, or even compostable can help you prevent chemical leaching, and have less of an impact on the environment. All of the alternatives have their benefits and ideal applications.
Glass Water Bottles
Glass water bottles are the preference of people who desire pure taste and reassurance. No matter what the temperature, glass does not leach any chemicals into your water.
The majority of glass bottles can be washed in the dishwasher, which allows them to be cleaned and sterilized easily.
Glass is more heavy and may break once it is dropped, but it is ideal at home, in the office or at your desk. Most adults want water in a glass bottle to use regularly, whereas parents might want something more durable when it comes to kids.
Metal Water Bottles
Metal water bottles are usually stainless steel or aluminum and have excellent insulation that keeps drinks cold or warm hours on end. They are portable, sturdy, and perfect on the move.
Nevertheless, make sure that your metal bottle is not lined with plastic or covered with resin, which may include undesirable chemicals. Unlined bottles made of high quality are also another sustainable solution to plastic since they are safe and durable.
Paper Cups or Compostable Bottles
There are times when reusable bottles just are not practical. For events, public water stations, or outdoor gatherings, paper cups and compostable bottles come in handy. Modern compostable options break down naturally, helping reduce waste.
While not a solution for everyday use, they are a better choice than plastic for one-time needs.
Best Practice: Use Your Own Refillable Bottle
Regardless of which material you like to use, the most effective way to reduce single-use plastic is to bring your refillable bottle. Combinations of reusable water in a glass bottle or metal bottle and a quality home filter will provide safe everyday clean hydration. It is an easy switch that safeguards your wellbeing and the environment.
How to Remove Plastic Contaminants from Tap Water
Clean water starts at the source, but what happens when plastics and other contaminants make their way into your tap? Luckily, modern filtration systems give you the power to take back control. It all comes down to the right technology.
Reverse Osmosis Systems
Reverse osmosis (RO) is the gold standard for home water purification. Water flows through a semipermeable membrane, so fine that only pure H₂O molecules can pass.
Microplastics, bacteria, viruses, and even chemical traces are left behind and flushed away.
RO systems are proven to dramatically reduce not just plastic particles, but also lead, chlorine, and other invisible threats. The result is water that tastes fresh and is free of many unwanted extras.
For anyone seeking real peace of mind, Rayne Water offers reliable RO systems tailored to your household needs. Installation is easy, and the difference is clear with every glass you pour.
Other Filtration Options
Activated carbon filters are popular and can help remove many common contaminants, including chlorine and some chemical residues. They are effective for improving taste and odor, but they may not capture microplastics or the smallest dissolved chemicals.
UV light systems provide strong protection against bacteria and viruses by destroying their DNA, making your water microbiologically safe. However, UV light does not remove plastic particles or chemical contaminants.
When it comes to removing the full range of contaminants, including plastics, reverse osmosis is the most comprehensive home solution available. Pairing RO with a carbon filter can provide even broader coverage, leaving you with water you can truly trust.
New Research and Studies on Plastic Bottle Safety (2024–2025)
New findings from 2024 are shedding light on just how much plastic we may be consuming from bottled water, even tiny, unseen fragments.
“Previously this was just a dark area, uncharted. Toxicity studies were just guessing what’s in there. This opens a window where we can look into a world that was not exposed to us before.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization continues to urge more investigation. In its 2019 technical report, the WHO said that microplastics are present in both tap and bottled water and highlighted major gaps in understanding the associated health risks.
As scientists fine-tune their tools, more attention is being drawn to plastics that are invisible yet potentially harmful. These findings are driving public health experts, regulators, and consumers to reassess how we source and consume water and to seek safer, cleaner hydration options.
What to Look for When Buying a Safe, Reusable Water Bottle
Choosing a water bottle is about more than just style or color. You want something that keeps your drink clean, your body healthy, and your daily routine hassle-free. Start with the basics: make sure your bottle is BPA-free. However, don’t stop there. Some manufacturers swap in chemicals like BPS or other alternatives, so read labels closely.
Skip bottles with epoxy or resin linings. These coatings might help prevent leaks or rust, but they can introduce chemicals you are trying to avoid in the first place.
Think about cleaning. Bottles that are dishwasher safe save you time, but a wide-mouth design makes hand washing much easier if needed. If you’ve ever tried scrubbing inside a narrow-neck bottle, you know how tricky it can be to get it truly clean.
Finally, don’t overlook the lid. A leakproof cap keeps your bag dry and your water fresh. A wide-mouth opening is great for adding ice or pouring in filtered water at home.
The best reusable bottle feels right in your hand, fits your lifestyle, and keeps every sip as safe as the last. Let it be a small but worthy investment in your health and the planet.
How to Test Your Tap Water for Plastics or Chemicals
Curious about what is really flowing from your tap? Testing for microplastics is still a new science, with few home kits available. Most labs are just starting to offer this kind of analysis, and the technology is evolving quickly.
That does not mean you have to fly blind. Broader water quality tests can give you a window into your water’s overall safety. Look for tests that check for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chlorine, total dissolved solids (TDS), and heavy metals.
These screenings will not detect every microplastic, but they reveal other hidden risks that may be just as important for your health.
If you want to go deeper or do not know where to begin, Rayne offers free consultations and professional water testing services. Our team can help you identify contaminants, recommend solutions, and guide you toward cleaner, safer water, one test at a time.
Why Choose Rayne for Safer Water Solutions
Rayne’s reverse osmosis (RO) systems remove an impressive 95–97% of total dissolved solids and common contaminants like lead, fluoride, and bacteria. That level of purification delivers cleaner, safer water for the health-conscious and eco-aware household alike.
Operating across California, Arizona, and Nevada, Rayne boasts local expertise and fast, friendly service. Our veteran technicians know exactly how to tackle regional water challenges, ensuring installations are seamless and dependable.
For families and offices moving away from bottled water, Rayne’s systems offer a practical switch. With fresh-filtered water on tap, less plastic waste, and lower costs, customers benefit from a solution that is both sustainable and smart. Choose Rayne for a trusted, local path to cleaner water.
Say Goodbye to Plastic Water Bottles for Good
Plastic bottles bring both health concerns and environmental damage.
They can leach chemicals, harbor microplastics, and clutter our planet with waste. Alternatives like glass, metal, and even compostable paper vessels offer safer choices that feel cleaner and more intentional.
On top of that, a good reverse osmosis (RO) system can make tap water as pure, or even purer, than bottled options. RO filters out microplastics, chemicals, heavy metals, and more. With every pour, you drink confidently.
Rayne Water helps you make this switch effortlessly. Our RO systems deliver filtered water directly from your tap, cutting waste and safeguarding health.
Switching is simple, reliable, and powered by local expertise across CA, AZ, and NV. Enjoy better taste, clearer water, and peace of mind without the bottle.
FAQs
What chemicals might be found in a plastic water bottle?
Plastics like PET or HDPE are used to make most bottles. Sometimes BPA is present, and heat or age can cause these chemicals to leach into the water.
Are microplastics really a concern with plastic water bottles?
Studies have found microplastics in over 90% of tested bottled water. Choosing water in glass bottles can help reduce this risk.
Is water in glass bottles safer than plastic?
Glass does not leach chemicals into your drink, so water in glass bottles is often a safer choice compared to a plastic water bottle.
How can I avoid plastic in my bottle of water at home?
Use a quality filter and switch to reusable water in glass bottles or stainless steel. This reduces plastic exposure and environmental impact.
Why do plastic water bottles matter for health and the environment?
Plastic bottles can release microplastics and potentially harmful chemicals into the water you drink. They also generate waste and contribute to environmental pollution.
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 waterintake, 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 youremember 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!
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.
Whether you source the water for your home or business from a nearby well or your city’s municipal water supply, you should take every possible precaution to make sure your water is free of harmful contaminants.
A popular, effective, and safe option for treatment is an ion exchange water filtration system, which can soften water. What exactly is an ion exchange filter, and how does it work?
In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the ion exchange process, how it’s used in water treatment, and the benefits of using an ion exchange water filter to soften your home’s or business’ water.
What is Ion Exchange?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of water softening, let’s take a step back and examine just how ion exchange works to soften water with a quick chemistry refresher:1
An atom is made up of three small components—protons, neutrons, and electrons. Protons have a positive charge, electrons have a negative charge, and neutrons don’t have a charge at all.
Multiple atoms can link together to form molecules and compounds via electronic bonding. The atoms that make up molecules share electrons, creating a bonded structure.
When molecules or atoms lose an electron during the bonding process or gain a proton as the result of a chemical reaction, they develop a positive or negative charge. If a molecule or atom has a positive or negative charge, it becomes an ion.
Not all charges are created equal—different atoms and molecules develop charges of different strengths depending on the number of electrons or protons gained or lost during the bonding process or a chemical reaction.
During ion exchange, an atom or molecule will detach its weak bond and reattach to a separate ion with a stronger charge.2 Scientists can use ion exchange to potentially create new molecules and compounds, neutralize electrically-charged atoms, or remove solids from liquid solutions.
How Do Ion Exchange Water Filters Work?
So, how does an ion exchange system work in water treatment? Ion exchange water filters soften water but don’t filter it. In other words, they use electronically charged solids to remove contaminant ions from drinking water—even if the contaminants are in liquid form. Let’s demystify a few questions about ion exchange in water filtration.
Which Ions are Exchanged?
There are two types of ion exchange:3
In anion exchange, negatively charged ions detach from weak bonds in favor of forming a stronger bond with a different atom or molecule.
In cation exchange, positively charged ions detach and reattach in the same fashion as their negative counterparts.
Most ion exchange water filters harness both anion and cation exchange to remove as many contaminants as possible from the drinking water supply. Since not all contaminants are negatively or positively charged, using both methods may ensure thorough water softening.
Anion exchange may effectively remove the following negatively-charged ion contaminants:4
Arsenic
Chromium-6
Cyanide
Nitrate
Perchlorate
Sulfate
Uranium
Cation exchange may remove positively-charged pollutants like:
Calcium
Magnesium
Barium
Radium
Strontium
Anion exchange typically replaces contaminant ions with chloride, while cation exchange usually relies upon sodium as an exchange ion. Both negatively and positively charged ions are innocuous and may be safe for human consumption in small quantities.
What Does an Ion Exchange Filter Look Like?
While various filters with different designs are available on the market, ion exchange water filters are typically made from a few key components:
Inlet and outlet valves for water entrance into and exit from the filter tank
Mesh filters to prevent solids from escaping from the filter tank
Ion exchange resin
Ion exchange resin typically comes in a solid form, and it’s usually made of small beads. Filter manufacturers use beads (instead of a contiguous substance coating the walls of the tank) for a few reasons:
The spherical beads expose more surface area of the resin, increasing its overall bonding capacity.
The spherical shape makes it easier for the resin to move throughout the tank when needed to collect as many ions as possible.
Some systems may also include a resin regeneration tank. When the resin collects its maximum amount of contaminant ions, it moves to a saltwater tank. The contaminant ions attach to the sodium chloride ions in the brine, removing them from the resin, which can then be reused in the primary ion exchange tank.
In such systems, using spherical resin provides mobility. The spent spheres can easily move into the saltwater tank and back into the primary ion exchange tank once the sodium chloride has removed all contaminant ions.
How Effective Are Ion Exchange Filters?
An Ion exchange water filtration system may be very effective when softening water for two primary reasons:
The chloride and sodium ions used in the resin have very strong electric charges. When they pull contaminant ions from the water supply, the pollutant ions stay attached to the resin very effectively.
Since resin can be refreshed using a brine solution, systems with a built-in brine tank ensure that there’s always resin available to perform ion exchange. This results in efficient and constant chemical reactions. Instead of worrying about changing a filter or adding fresh chemicals, ion exchange water filter users can, essentially, “set it and forget it” without worrying about reduced efficacy over time.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), both anion and cation exchange can remove up to 99% of negatively- and positively-charged contaminants, respectively.3 Since they’re so effective, the EPA has deemed ion exchange water filters as a “best available technology” and Small System Compliance Technology, particularly for removing radium, uranium, beta particle, gross alpha, and photon emitters.
Benefits of Using an Ion Exchange Filter
While their dependability and effectiveness may make them an excellent choice for home and business water purification needs, ion exchange water filters also offer an array of other potential benefits. Let’s explore a few.
Sustainability
As we’ve discussed above, the resin ion exchange medium is reusable. Ion exchange water filters with built-in saltwater tanks may be the most sustainable option since they don’t require refilling or removing the resin. That also means there’s no need to transport or dispose of exhausted resin.
Even if a system doesn’t have a built-in brine tank for resin regeneration, home and business owners or their water filtration services providers can replace the resin in their tank and remove the spent beads. Instead of simply throwing away the resin and creating waste, they can refresh the resin for reuse.
Multi-Chemical Removal
Ion exchange water filters are particularly attractive because of their broad and thorough removal of contaminant chemicals.
As discussed above, combined anion and cation exchange systems not only remove up to 99% of their target contaminant ions but also remove 12 total distinct pollutants. While some softening systems only target solids of a certain size or a few specific chemicals, ion exchange filters may effectively remove numerous possible contaminants from the water supply.
Since they have the potential to remove so many different ions, ion exchange water filters may be useful for both pollutant removal and improvement of overall water quality and softness. They may also considerably improve the taste, color, and odor of drinking water and neutralize tasteless, odorless, and colorless hazards.
Softening Water Hardness
Water hardness describes the total amount of dissolved magnesium and calcium in your drinking water supply.5
But filtering hard water from your drinking water supply isn’t the only thing that’s important. Since cation exchange water filters remove calcium and magnesium ions from drinking water, they may resolve water hardness issues befalling your home or business.
Water softening efforts carry multiple potential benefits:
Since hard water chemicals neutralize soaps, softer water requires less soap for dishes, handwashing, and bathing.
Hard water solids can build up in plumbing systems, potentially causing clogs and pipe cracking. Removing these solids can prolong the life of your plumbing system and ensure optimal water pressure.
While magnesium and calcium are essential nutrients for human consumption in small quantities, hard water can provide more of these nutrients than your body needs. Softened water can help you meet your wellness goals.
Water softeners reduce difficult-to-remove hard water stains on glasses, plumbing hardware, and surfaces.
Whole-home or whole-business water softening systems are often the simplest solutions for improving drinking water quality.
Other water softening solutions are available, of course, but they all carry their own drawbacks:
Countertop filter pitchers use filtration media that degrade with time, and they don’t always target multiple contaminants. Users must remember to replace the filters—a process that costs money and creates waste.
Sink-only systems can be useful for some drinking water needs, but for homes and businesses with hard water issues, sink-only systems only prevent hard water damage in one specific area.
Freestanding or refrigerator water filters also incur lifetime costs, and they don’t resolve hard water issues that can cause long-term plumbing system damage.
Since ion exchange water filters can be used in a whole-home or whole-business softening system, you can reap the potential benefits of their effective treatment throughout your entire space.
Add an Ion Exchange Filter with Rayne Water
Ion exchange water filters may be effective and sustainable—and may also target a wide variety of potential water supply contaminants to soften water. If you’re in search of a water softening solution for your home or business, you should certainly consider an ion exchange solution for your drinking water needs.
Making a shortlist of potential business or house water filter systems can be difficult without professional advice. At Rayne Water, we bring almost a century of experience to home and business owners. We’re passionate about bringing you the cleanest, tastiest water possible, and we’re ready to help you, your family, or your business find the ideal solution. 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!
When you’re ready to improve your water quality, contact us for a free consultation.
Reverse osmosis systems (RO) have become commonplace for home and business water filtration solutions, and for a good reason—RO systems are affordable, reliable, and low-maintenance. They may also remove a variety of common chemical contaminants, as well as the beneficial compounds, in drinking water supplies.
RO water is an effective, widely-accepted method for filtering out contaminants and toxins from drinking water and may reduce the risk of acquiring certain viruses and bacteria.1 In this article, we’ll explore the mechanics of reverse osmosis and the potential benefits and downfalls of drinking RO water to help you decide if an RO system is an ideal solution for your home or business.
Reverse Osmosis, Explained
So, is RO water good for you? Let’s break down reverse osmosis or RO and the way it removes contaminants from your home or business water supply.
In order to determine whether an RO water filtration system is good for you, it helps to understand how the reverse osmosis process works. In reverse osmosis water filtration, water is pushed through a semipermeable membrane that catches dissolved solids of a certain size, eliminating potential hazards from the water supply.2 As water moves through the membrane, dissolved solids are left behind in the filter media.
Home and business owners can employ one of two RO technologies to meet their water purification needs:
A point-of-use system – A point-of-use RO system is installed in one location to filter the water flowing through one specific plumbing fixture like a kitchen sink.
A whole-home or whole-business system – Instead of only filtering water at one point in the plumbing system, a whole-home or whole-business RO system filters water before it enters your internal plumbing system, providing purified water to the entire plumbing map.
The Debate
While RO water is free from a number of impurities, this filtration system also removes essential minerals found in drinking water, such as salts, calcium, and magnesium. RO water filtration systems may lead to reduced levels of essential nutrients within your body. It is important to make note that because RO water filtration systems do remove such essential nutrients during the process, it’s important to look for nutritious foods that meet your daily intake of these minerals and vitamins not compensated for with a well-rounded and nutritious diet.3
Nevertheless, RO water filtration systems are extremely effective when cleaning drinking water that’s contaminated with harmful toxins, bacteria, and viruses.
Benefits of Drinking RO Water
Now that you know how the reverse osmosis process works, let’s look at the benefits of an RO water purifier. An RO water filter may improve the quality of your drinking water. Let’s explore three potential benefits of RO water systems and how this system may improve your supply of drinking water.
#1 You Drink Softer Water
Along with a variety of other contaminant chemicals, reverse osmosis filters can capture calcium and magnesium, hard water minerals that may wreak havoc on your health, cleaning regimen, and plumbing system.4
While the US Food and Drug Administration recommends daily intake values for both calcium and magnesium—essential nutrients that your body needs to survive—excess intake of either mineral may cause health problems.
Excess magnesium is typically filtered through the kidneys, and overdose typically produces mild symptoms like nausea and abdominal pain. However, excess calcium ingestion may cause wellness issues.5 Additionally, RO water is low-sodium, which may help to keep your cardiovascular system functioning properly.
When you implement an RO system for your home or business, you can soften your water supply, potentially helping to decrease the risk of health impacts. Filtering hard water also eliminates issues like plumbing damage, hard water stains, and reduced cleaning efficacy caused by it.
#2 May Decrease Your Exposure to Water-Borne Illnesses
Reverse osmosis systems may filter out bacteria, parasites, and virus particles that could potentially contaminate municipal or well water supplies, which may impact your health.4
Since RO water systems capture particles of a certain size, they may effectively reduce your exposure to these potential contaminants. While contaminants in municipal water systems are relatively unlikely, an RO system is particularly useful for well applications, where water quality isn’t monitored or controlled by an independent regulatory agency.
In addition, filtration of common viral and bacterial contaminants may improve the color, odor, and taste of your drinking water.
#3 May Reduce the Likelihood of Drinking Contaminated Water
RO systems aren’t just useful for potentially mitigating viruses, bacteria, and hard water. They may also filter out other components that could reduce your overall water quality.
Since RO water potentially contains fewer contaminants and pollutants, reverse osmosis systems are known to filter out the following additional contaminants:6
Algae and organic compounds
Barium
Cadmium
Chromium
Sodium
Sulfate
Nitrate
While some municipal water authorities add antibacterial chemicals to the water supply, the other chemicals on this list can appear in your household or business water supply via infrastructure vulnerabilities, groundwater saturation, or pollution.
All water filtration solutions provide some protection against contaminant chemicals, and RO systems are no exception. With the help of a reverse osmosis system, you can remain confident that you, your family, or your employees are consuming the safest possible water with the lowest number of total dissolved solids.
You can also learn how to test water quality at home to eliminate harmful contaminants and implement a water filtration system if needed.
Water Filtration Systems for Wellness from Rayne Water
Is reverse osmosis water safe? Reverse osmosis systems produce filtered, tasty water that’s potentially free from more than 99% of dissolved compounds, rendering RO a safe and effective water treatment method.
RO systems aren’t your only choice for home or business water filtration. If you’re looking for professional advice on the best solution for you, look no further than Rayne Water. Since 1928, our all-star team has been providing ideal solutions to residential and commercial water purity issues, prioritizing your qualitative and quantitative goals to help you meet your water purity goals.
If you’re ready to transform your home water supply for the better, contact us for a free consultation.
Water hardness refers to the amount of magnesium and calcium solids in your water supply.1 No matter where you live or work, where you get your water, or how satisfied you are with your overall water quality, home and business owners can all agree—hard water is a nuisance.
Luckily, there’s a solution to one of the peskiest problems in nationwide water supplies. While hard water cannot be filtered, it can be softened to significantly improve your water quality, protect your plumbing system, reduce your time spent cleaning, and more.
This article will break down everything you need to know about water softening (which is sometimes termed as filtering hard water). We’ll explore five benefits you can reap when you choose a water softening system and introduce you to a few potential solutions to your hard water woes.
#1 Meet Your Wellness Goals
If you’re new to the science of water softening, you might be worried that hard water could be a sign of a vulnerability in your plumbing system or an issue with your municipal water infrastructure, but hard water is normal and naturally occurring.
When groundwater—the source of most municipal and all well water—moves through rock underground, it dissolves loose solids that fall away from the rock as it erodes. While numerous compounds can dissolve into groundwater, hard water refers to the concentration of calcium and magnesium only.
Calcium and magnesium are essential nutrients that your body needs to survive:
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, making up most of your bones and teeth and helping keep your body’s tissues rigid and strong.2
Magnesium is crucial for a variety of body processes, including:3
Protein synthesis
Nerve and muscle function
Blood sugar control
Blood pressure regulation
Energy production
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends daily intake values for both minerals—between 200 and 1,300 mg of calcium and between 30 and 420 mg of calcium, depending on your age, sex, and pregnancy status—but ingesting too much of either may lead to unwanted health effects.
Consuming too much magnesium doesn’t pose a fatal health risk—since the kidneys eliminate any excess via urine—but it can potentially cause nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps.
However, overconsumption of calcium is more serious, potentially leading to:
Poor muscle tone
Weight loss
Digestive trouble
Stomach issues
Circulatory problems
Low energy levels
If you see visible signs of hard water in your home or business water supply, you should make efforts to resolve the problem to prevent overconsumption of both magnesium and calcium, since too much of either can make you sick.
How Hard is Your Water?
There are four classifications for water hardness, measured in grains per gallon or GPG ) of total dissolved solids (TDS):
Soft water contains less than 1 GPG
Moderately hard water contains between 1-3.5 GPG
Hard water contains between 7-10 GPG
Very hard water contains more than 10 GPG
To determine your water hardness and whether you’re in need of water treatment, you can learn how to test water quality at home or consult with your municipal water supplier. Keep these numbers in mind when assessing the potential health risk of your hard water.
#2 Prolong the Life of Your Plumbing System and Fixtures
Calcium and magnesium are dissolved solids. Like dust in your air vents, hard water solids in your drinking water can collect in your pipes, which can potentially lead to:
Clogs
Reduced water pressure
Excess weight and pressure, which can cause leaks and bursts
In addition, hard water solids can build up on the insides and outsides of your plumbing fixtures—for example, your kitchen faucet, shower head, and hose spigot.
Plumbing is a significant utility in your home, and it can be expensive to replace. Homeowners spent an average of $2,280 to $5,120 installing new plumbing systems in 2021.4 In addition, it can be difficult to diagnose internal plumbing system issues before it’s too late. You may not notice a gradual reduction in your water pressure until you have houseguests or a pipe cracks in your warehouse.
Resolving hard water issues before they become catastrophic can extend the life of the plumbing system and fixtures in your home or office, saving you money and protecting your hard-earned investment.
#3 Reduce Hard Water Stains—And Your Time Spent Cleaning
Calcium and magnesium solids are left behind when water evaporates. If you drip hard water onto the counter while cooking or washing dishes, you’ll likely find small rings of white, chalky residue when you return to the kitchen a few hours later.
Of all hard water ramifications, stains can be the most irritating. Even if you use chemical solutions instead of water for surface cleaning, spaces like the sink, kitchen countertops, and bathtub will inevitably keep gathering hard water buildup every time you use these high-traffic areas.
Hard water stains may also collect on dishes, giving your glasses, plates, and silverware an unpleasant, crusty coating and decreasing their shine.
Instead of succumbing to the endless cycle of hard water stain removal, opt for a permanent solution—softening your water. When you eliminate hard water from your home or business, you can save time scrubbing up calcium and magnesium residue and adopt a more relaxed cleaning schedule.
#4 Improve Qualitative Water Issues
In addition to its health, infrastructure, and visual impacts, hard water may also cause qualitative issues with your drinking and bathing water.
High levels of calcium and magnesium can impact your drinking water’s color, taste, and odor, which can also impact your cooking, laundry, and hygiene efforts. Why?
Hard water neutralizes soap.5
In fact, noticeably unpleasant effects while handwashing, bathing, or cleaning may be your first indication that you have a hard water problem. Be on the lookout for the following signs:
Low volume of soap suds while washing the dishes or your hands
This is the opposite. Hard water will create a rough dry feeling
Residue on your laundry after the wash cycle is complete
Using a water softening solution can improve the color, of your water, thus enhancing your overall drinking water quality. Resolving hard water issues may also improve the cleanliness of your laundry, dishes, and body. Plus, with calcium and magnesium out of the picture, you’ll find yourself using less soap to work up suds.
#5 Enjoy Secondary Softening Benefits
Depending on the water softening system you use, you could achieve other potential water softening benefits while removing magnesium and calcium from your home or business water supply.
For instance, if you employ a water purification system that uses a physical media to filter out solids, this system will also usually remove other particles, like:6
Organic solids (e.g., dirt and algae)
Synthetic organic chemicals
Microplastics
Radionuclides
Chemical water purification systems utilize chemical reactions to remove contaminants, and some systems may neutralize calcium and magnesium. They can also tackle some or all of the following:
Radium
Cyanide
Sulfate
Nitrate
Uranium
Even if you don’t know which contaminants could be plaguing your home or business water supply, opting to solve your hard water issues usually offers an attractive secondary improvement: reducing the overall total dissolved solids (TDS) in your drinking (and bathing) water. A lack of these components in softened and filtered water may also help keep your skin and hair soft.
What Technology is Available for Water Softening?
Softening hard water is potentially beneficial for your health, plumbing equipment, cleaning efforts, and overall water quality experience. So, what technologies are available for water softening, and what other benefits do these systems boast?
Some of the available technologies on the market include:
Reverse osmosis systems – Reverse osmosis systems push water through a semipermeable membrane for purification. A physical filtration method, reverse osmosis doesn’t rely upon chemical reactions or add any compounds to your water supply. It simply catches particles of a certain size, preventing them from flowing through the water filter. If you’re wondering, “is RO water good for you?”, you can learn more about this water filtration system to determine that for your water supply.
Ion exchange water filters – Ion exchange filters use resin beads to neutralize contaminant ions in the water supply (including calcium and magnesium ions). The resin beads are recyclable, and these systems don’t require any filter replacements.
Salt-free systems – While an ion exchange water filter provides a chemical reaction-based filtration solution, it usually includes a saltwater tank to wash and regenerate the resin beads used to capture contaminant ions. However, some municipalities don’t allow saltwater use in water filtration. Salt-free systems were created to neutralize hard water and other contaminant chemicals without the resin-washing component.
Rayne Water: Providing Clean, Delicious Water Since 1928
Softening hard water is a worthy pursuit. You may lessen the risk of magnesium and calcium overconsumption, reduce the damage of hard water minerals, and generally improve your home or business water experience with a water softener.
Finding the right water filtration system or water softener for you shouldn’t be a problem. At Rayne Water, we’ve been helping families and business owners choose ideal water purification solutions for nearly 100 years. From reverse osmosis systems to ion exchange filtration to salt-free systems and everything in between, we don’t just provide excellent service—we make every effort to bring the purest, tastiest water possible to your home or business.
With our team of industry professionals and a long-time reputation for quality, you can trust Rayne Water Conditioning to resolve any water quality issue that comes your way.
Whether you’ve recently moved into a new home or taken a new interest in your home drinking water quality, you may be wondering how to determine the purity and safety of your water supply.
While various at-home packages are available for assessing the water in your home, these packages can be expensive and slow to ship. In this article, we’ll explore how to test water quality at home without a kit to assess for bacteria, lead, nitrates, nitrites, and chlorine.
With the help of four simple at-home tests, you can establish preliminary parameters about your home’s water quality. This information can help you establish a purification plan and harness water treatment technology that addresses the specific water quality issues in your home.
#1 Assess Color, Taste, and Odor Test
How satisfied are you with your water? Three crucial, qualitative characteristics of your home water supply can indicate the presence of hard water:
Odor
Color
Taste
While it can be difficult to pinpoint the precise causes of odor, color, or taste abnormalities, identifying issues is the first step in the mitigation process.
If you’re not sure how these qualitative factors impact your current water supply, evaluate your tap water against one of the purest water products on the market—bottled, distilled water.
While even the most highly distilled water products aren’t 100% H2O, distilled water can serve as a neutral comparison point for your household water quality.
To evaluate the odor, color, and taste of your tap water, compare each metric to those you observe in distilled water samples. If your at-home drinking water has a funky odor, color, or taste compared to the distilled control, your home drinking water supply might be contaminated.
#2 Use a Water Hardness Test
Water hardness describes the total concentration of dissolved calcium and magnesium solids in a water sample.1
If your home has hard water, you may experience one or more of the following everyday impacts:
Chalky stains on dishes, plumbing fixtures, and countertops
Soap scum residue in areas where you use soap (e.g., showers and sinks)
Low water pressure
A chalky dry feeling when you wash your hands or body, or when you do the dishes
Low soap sudsing
One sure-fire way to test your home water hardness without a testing kit is to do the following:
Dispense tap water into a ladle or large spoon
Lay the spoonful of water on a countertop, and don’t disturb it for 24 to 48 hours
Once the water has evaporated, look for white spots or sticky residue on the spoon
If you observe lingering residue after the water has evaporated, you may have hard water issues at home. Filtering hard water can be essential for a safer water supply.
#3 Try a Magnifying Glass
If you’re testing your home water quality without a water test kit, remember to take note of water quality issues as soon as your water leaves the tap.
Not all contaminant particles will be visible to the naked eye—but relying on your senses is crucial to establishing and fixing drinking water quality issues.
To perform a visual test, thoroughly clean and dry a clear glass bowl or drinking glass. Fill the container with water, place the container in bright light, and use a magnifying glass to take a closer look at the water.
If you notice floating particles, cloudiness, or foam that lasts more than a few minutes, your home water could be contaminated. While not all contaminants are harmful, establishing a baseline for visual water clarity can help you evaluate the effectiveness of any water purification solutions you test out to improve your home water quality.
#4 Boil Your Water for a Dissolved Solids Test
Again, it can be difficult to observe dissolved solids, but even if you can’t see contaminants, you can still test for water impurities at home without a water test kit. Simply employ the boiling method:
Thoroughly wash and dry a small pot or saucepan
Fill the pot with one cup of water
Place the pot on your stovetop, heating the water without a lid until it comes to a boil
Turn off the heat once most of the water has evaporated
Wait for the pot to cool completely
Once you’ve boiled off the water and waited for the pot to cool, run your fingers along the bottom of the pot. If you feel gritty, sticky, or chalky residue, your home water supply contains dissolved solids.
Additional Factors to Consider
When assessing your water quality at home, you’ll also want to factor in a few external elements that may be affecting the quality of your water and how you should be testing it. These include:
Water source – Nutrient pollution can affect lakes, rivers, and streams, which are then absorbed into the ground. This may affect both public and private drinking water systems and pose serious health threats to those who drink the water. As such, it’s particularly important to look for nitrate contamination if your water comes from a groundwater source.2
Frequency of tests – According to the CDC, you should test the quality of your drinking water once a year and should test for coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and pH levels. However, if you’ve experienced contamination within your water source or a recent repair to your water system, it’s recommended that you test your water more frequently.3
Local health regulations – The EPA outlines the legal limits of 90 contaminants, as well as water testing schedules and methods that water systems must follow.4 The Safe Drinking Water Act has also allowed individual states to set standards for drinking water. As such, before testing your drinking water, it’s beneficial to consult with your state’s regulations.
Why Test Your Home’s Water Quality
As we mentioned, testing the water quality is important to help eliminate hard water and contaminants that may not only be harmful to your body but can potentially cause issues like plumbing damage, hard water stains, and more. While the water source and local health department regulations may impact the quality, water quality testing can also be essential to determine whether you need a water filter or water softener. Adding a water softener, like an ion exchange water filter, or even reverse osmosis system can help improve and make your drinking water safer.
Rayne Water: Aiding Water Quality Since 1928
While at-home water testing without a kit won’t reveal accurate results for which chemicals are contaminating your water, the simple tests above can help you establish a baseline for general water quality. For more nuanced results, consult with water purification professionals in your area to determine which contaminants are present in your water supply and develop a mitigation plan.
At Rayne Water, that’s exactly what we do. Our team has been helping homeowners in the southwest since 1928, and we continue to operate with one express purpose—providing clean, nutritious, and tasty water to home and business owners to promote wellness, reduce exposure to harmful contaminants, and improve the qualitative water experience.
From reverse osmosis systems to ion exchange filters and more, Rayne Water has a solution that can resolve your specific water quality qualms. If you’re ready to improve your at-home water quality, contact us for a free consultation.
1,2,3,-Trichloropropane (1,2,3 – TCP) is a highly regulated, toxic chemical that can infiltrate water supplies around the country.1 It’s a man-made chemical commonly used in:
Degreasers and cleaning solutions
Pesticides and fertilizers
Industrial and hazardous waste cleaning products
In a 2009 study, the EPA discovered that 1,2,3 – TCP can cause cancer in laboratory animals, and the study extrapolated that it could potentially cause cancer in humans.
While the California Water Board established a regulatory maximum concentration of 0.005 micrograms per liter for statewide water treatment facilities, you may still be worried about your home or business water supply.
#2 Nitrates
Nitrates are common compounds that regularly appear in drinking water.2 They form as a result of a chemical reaction between nitrogen and oxygen or nitrogen and ozone.
While all living things need some level of nitrogen and nitrates to survive, too much can cause significant health concerns, especially for children, infants, and pregnant people.
The CDC recognizes a few potential causes of nitrate contamination in local drinking water supplies:
Improper well construction
Runoff from chemical fertilizers
Inappropriate disposal of human, plant, and animal waste and remains
Industrial waste
Septic system chemicals
Luckily, you can easily remove nitrates from your home or business water supply by treating it via one of the following methods:
Distillation
Reverse osmosis
While municipal water suppliers do treat and filter water, which removes some nitrate content, it’s important to note that mechanical filters (like activated charcoal filters often found in countertop filter pitchers) and chemical disinfection (with chlorine, a common water treatment chemical) do not effectively remove nitrates.
#3 Arsenic
Arsenic in your water supply is a pressing concern. Some water experts hypothesize that arsenic—a naturally occurring substance found in rocks and soil—can leach out of certain rock formations when groundwater levels are significantly low.3
During different conditions, water regulations are often in place to prevent the groundwater level from getting low enough to expose arsenic-rich rock formations (among other reasons). However, arsenic can still get into your drinking water via:
Mining, industrial, or agricultural runoff
Fertilizers and insect killers used in gardens and large-scale farming operations
Improperly-placed wells
Just as with nitrates, water boiling and other common water treatment methods don’t remove arsenic solids from drinking water. Nonetheless, you can reduce the total dissolved solids of potential arsenic contamination using:
Reverse osmosis
Filtration
Distillation
#4 Calcium and Magnesium
Calcium and magnesium are perfectly healthy in small quantities, but when a high concentration of these elements are dissolved in your water supply, they can cause hard water—water that leaves stains, leads to soap scum buildup, and impacts the effectiveness of soap.4
While the other impacts of hard water can be irritating, hard water staining is one of the most persistent impacts of water with high levels of calcium and magnesium. Hard water stains are difficult to remove, and they can damage plumbing fixtures. Furthermore, as they build up in water pipes, they reduce efficiency. Mineral accumulation could eventually cause pipe bursts and leaks.
A Bakersfield water softener is an excellent solution to hard water in your home, business, industrial facility, or farm. You’ll notice a significant reduction in hard water stains, your soap scum buildup will decrease, and your hands will feel less slimy after you wash your hands in softened water.
#5 Biological Contaminants
Biological contaminants are also a concern for Bakersfield residents—along with people everywhere. (After all, we all drink water.)
While they’re often naturally occurring, some biological contaminants can also have negative effects on your health.5
Biological contaminants can be further categorized as one of the following:
Bacteria – Toxic bacterial strains can infiltrate local water supplies. One particularly concerning example is E. coli.
Viruses – Viruses including hepatitis A, norovirus, and rotavirus can be waterborne.
Protozoa – Protozoa are small and naturally occurring, but they can cause infections like Toxoplasma gondii.
Parasites – Small organisms like Cryptosporidium and Giardia can cause significant illnesses. While treatable, these infections can be hazardous to your health.
Local water suppliers treat and filter water to remove a significant portion of these organisms, but contaminations can still occur. Homeowners and businesses should take care to supply their families, workers, and operations with the cleanest water possible to prevent illness and product contamination.
Rayne Water Conditioning: Bringing Clean Water to Homes and Businesses Since 1928
It’s important to remember that mandatory water restrictions and common contaminants don’t just impact residential water users—businesses and agricultural operations must also abide by rules and take care to monitor their water supply for potentially harmful substances.
No one understands the pursuit of clean water better than Rayne Water. We’re not just a residential water service provider—we started in the commercial sector in 1928, and we’ve been servicing business owners with pride ever since.
For clean and compliant water, look no further than Rayne Water Conditioning. If you’re ready to make the switch to safer water, contact us for a free consultation.
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