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Archive for the ‘Water News’ Category

Is Scottsdale Water Safe to Drink?

Posted by Rayne Water

 

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

Scottsdale, Arizona’s drinking water is sourced from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and wells. If you’re a Scottsdale resident or you’re considering a move to “The West’s Most Western Town,” you probably have questions about Scottsdale water quality.

In which case, is Scottsdale water safe to drink? 

According to the drinking water quality report of the Environmental Working Group—for the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2019-March 2019)—the tap water of the city of Scottsdale did comply with “federal health-based drinking water standards.”

This means legally, yes, it is safe to consume the tap water in Scottdale. But there are still contaminants in this potable water source that you may want to know more about. In this guide, we’ll break down where Scottsdale water comes from, how it’s treated through water filtration, and what contaminants have been detected in the water. And, if you’re interested in exploring a water softener system in Scottsdale, we just what you need.

Let’s dive in. 

Scottsdale Water Quality 

The Scottsdale water hardness is 22-25 grain per gallon or 432 PPM and comes primarily from surface water (78%), groundwater (10%), and recycled water (12%).

Before the 1980s, the city was “100 percent reliant on groundwater” for its water supply. Today, the water supply of the city comes primarily from renewable surface water sources and recycled water, ensuring that the water supply will last for generations. This is why people prefer having their own water softener system.

Let’s explore these water sources a little more in-depth:

Surface Water 

The main surface water supply for the city is the Colorado River water. This water is moved to the Scottsdale Water Campus’ CAP Water Treatment Plant through the Central Arizona Project canal. 

There are three facilities in the CAP Plant that function as follows:

The Verde River and Salt River are also water sources of the Scottsdale water, which are channeled to the Chaparral Water Treatment Plant by the Salt River Project. This plant uses granular activated carbon and ultrafiltration membranes to treat the water. 

Groundwater 

While the city used to rely entirely on groundwater supplies for drinking water, today, only a small portion stems for aquifers below ground. Scottsdale currently has 23 active wells and oversees the operation of several groundwater treatment plants. The ADEQ, EPA, and Maricopa County regulates the treatment of groundwater to ensure that the quality complies and even exceeds the state and federal standards for drinking water. 

Recycled water 

As one of the most advanced and largest water recycling plants in the world, the Scottsdale water recycling facility treats water for residences and businesses , treating water well above federal drinking water regulations. This recycled water is also used for replenishing local groundwater supplies as well as turf irrigation.

Water Softener Systems starting at only $35/mo. Try before you buy!

Contaminants Detected in Scottsdale Water 

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit—founded in 1993—that provides easily accessible information to people interested in learning more about the safety standards involved with food and water, farming and agriculture, personal care products, household products, and more. 

EWG’s 2019 tap water database found that Scottsdale’s water supply, while in compliance with federal standards, did contain 17 total contaminants, with seven of these exceeding EWG’s health guidelines. 

The EWG guidelines are primarily based on the public health goals established by scientists in the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. 

There are seven contaminants that exceed EWG guidelines found in the drinking water of Scottsdale. These include:

Arsenic 

It is a natural mineral that can be found in all drinking water in the U.S. Arsenic was found 871 times above EWG’s health guideline of 0.004 parts per billion or less in Scottsdale. Scottsdale’s arsenic levels are 3.49 parts per billion; the national average is .682 ppb; the legal limit set forth by the EPA is 10 ppb. 

According to EWG, the legal limit set forth of this contaminant is “not low enough to protect public health, potentially causing up to 600 cancer cases in 1 million people who drink arsenic-contaminated water for a lifetime.”

Chromium 

It is a carcinogen that may be found in water due to natural occurrences or industrial pollution. In Scottsdale, Chromium was found 177 times above EWG’s guidelines, which are .02 ppb or less. The city’s chromium levels are 3.54 ppb; the national average is .492 ppb; plus, EPA has not set any legal limit of chromium.

Haloacetic acids 

These are formed when chlorine fluoride and other disinfectants are mixed into the tap water. In Scottsdale City alone, these acids were found 112 times above EWG’s guidelines which indicate that water should only have .1 ppb or less of haloacetic acids. 

Scottsdale’s haloacetic acid levels are 11.2 ppb; the national average is 17.2 ppb, and the legal limit is 60 ppb. Health concerns associated with these acids include cancer and harm to fetal growth and development. 

Nitrate 

Nitrate is a fertilizer chemical that may contaminate water supplies due to agricultural and urban runoff. Nitrate was found in Scottsdale water supplies at a level 11 times above EWG’s guidelines, which indicate that water should include .14 ppm of nitrate or less. 

Scottsdale’s nitrate levels are 1.51 ppm; the national average is .937 ppm; and the legal limit is 10 ppm. Health concerns associated with nitrate in water include an increased risk of cancer and oxygen deprivation in infants. 

Nitrate and nitrite 

These are contaminants that get mixed into the water because of septic tanks, fertilizer runoff, and other urban runoff. These contaminants were found in Scottsdale water at a level 9.8 times above EWG’s standards (.14 ppm or less). 

Nitrate and nitrite levels in Scottsdale’s water supply is 1.37 ppm; the national average is .891 ppm; and the legal limit is 10 ppm. Like nitrate, nitrite can also cause an increased risk of cancer and oxygen deprivation in infants. 

Total trihalomethanes 

These are types of contaminants that form when chlorine and other disinfectants are mixed in during water treatment. The amount of trihalomethanes found in Scottsdale’s water supplies were 319 times above EWG’s standards of .15 ppb or less. 

Scottsdale’s water supply contains 47.8 ppb of these contaminants; the national average is 30.1 ppb, and the legal limit is 80 ppb. Health concerns associated with these contaminants include bladder cancer, skin cancer, and harm to fetal growth and development. 

Uranium 

This carcinogen was found in Scottsdale water at 3.8 times above EWG’s standards of .43pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or less. Scottsdale’s uranium levels are 1.61pCi/L; the national average is 1.09pCi/L, and the legal limit is 20pCi/L. Health concerns associated with this carcinogen include cancer and harm to the kidney. 

Get Safe, Clean Drinking Water with Rayne Water Filters  

Is Scottsdale water safe to drink?

Legally, yes, the water coming from the taps in the city of Scottsdale is safe to consume. But not everyone is comfortable sipping on H20 that contains more than half-a-dozen contaminants, from nitrates to uranium. 

Luckily, there is a safe, easy way to filter out unwanted contaminants in your tap water. 

At-home drinking water filtration systems—like reverse osmosis systems, ion exchange systems, and other drinking water systems—can purify your drinking water so you can rest easy knowing your family isn’t potentially being exposed to dangerous chemicals or carcinogens. 

At Rayne Water, veteran, factory-trained techs provide 24/hour service, so once your water filtration system is installed, you can have someone on call to help you address any issues you may run into and answer any questions that might surface. 

Rayne Water has been in business since 1928 and services all of California, Arizona, and Nevada. Interested in learning more about Rayne’s top-of-the-line water filtration products? Contact your local Rayne Water office today to drink water with the peace of mind you deserve.

Find a location near you!

Sources:

  1. CDC. Choosing Home Water Filters & Other Water Treatment Systems https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/home-water-treatment/water-filters/step3.html
  2. Environmental Working Group. City of Scottsdale. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/system.php?pws=AZ0407098 
  3. EWG. Arsenic. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/reviewed-arsenic.php 
  4. EWG. Chromium. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/contaminant.php?contamcode=1080 
  5. EWG. Haloacetic Acids. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/contaminant.php?contamcode=2456 
  6. EWG. Total Trihalomethanes. https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/contaminant.php?contamcode=2950 
  7. Scottsdale Water. 2019 Water Quality Report. https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Assets/ScottsdaleAZ/Water/Water+Quality/2019+Water+Quality+Report.pdf 

Expert Reviewer – Ken Christopher

Informational Guide: What is Water Conditioner

Posted by Rayne Water

Water conditioners are a great alternative to water softener systems, but what is water conditioning exactly and how does it work? Understanding the details about what water conditioners are, how they are different from water softeners, and how they work can help you determine if a water conditioning system is right for your needs.

What is a Water Conditioner?

Water conditioning is a type of water treatment that is often thought of as an alternative to water softening. However, these two types of systems function in very different ways and produce different results. Water conditioners are primarily used to remove unwanted contaminants like chlorine, chloramines, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Water conditioners also reduce levels of lead in water. 

Not all water conditioners provide the same results. Some water conditioners are used as a salt-free alternative to water softening systems. These types of water conditioners provide some of the benefits of softened water, but don’t actually remove hard minerals from water. 

Water conditioners are considered a type of physical water treatment. The benefits of physical water treatment methods like water conditioning are:

Water Conditioning vs Water Softening

If you are tired of dealing with the impact of hard water around your home, you’ll probably want to first look into a water softening system. These systems are a time-tested method of completely eliminating the effects of hard water around your home. While some water conditioners also provide the benefits of soft water, many don’t alter water hardness at all.

The easiest way to understand a water conditioner vs water softener is a water softener removes hard minerals from water and replaces them with sodium ions from a brine tank. In contrast, certain types of saltless water conditioners alter the structure of the hard minerals in water so they don’t cause scaling.

Conditioned water still contains minerals, however, some water conditioners alter the structure of those minerals so they don’t cause scaling around your home or in your appliances. With softened water, the minerals are actually removed from the water and sodium ions are exchanged in their place.

 

 

 

What is Scaling?

One thing worth pausing on is the issue of scaling. The goal of water softeners and some types of water conditioners is to eliminate scaling, but what exactly is scaling? 

Let’s start with the level of water hardness. Water is considered hard if it contains a relatively large amount of dissolved mineral ions. Most often the minerals contained in hard water are dissolved calcium and magnesium. These molecules are bound to the water molecule through an electrical charge and are picked up as water percolates through mineral-rich soil.

When hard water passes over a surface, such as your faucet, shower door, or even the inside of your plumbing, the minerals contained in the water supply precipitate out and bond to the surface they pass over. These mineral deposits are known as scaling.

Scaling may not seem like a big deal but it actually is! On surfaces around your home where scale forms are unsightly, often appearing as a whitish or yellowish deposit, and difficult to remove. But scaling also forms on the inside of your plumbing. Over time these scale deposits will reduce the flow of water through your pipes. 

Scaling is a particular problem in appliances or machinery that heat water. In a residential setting, scaling will primarily impact your water heater, dishwasher, or coffee pot, reducing the efficiency and lifespan of those appliances. In a commercial setting, scaling can cause huge problems in industrial boilers. As scale builds in equipment and plumbing, systems experience a decrease in efficiency and equipment lifespan is shortened.

How Does a Water Conditioner Work?

We have a broad understanding of what is water conditioner, and know that some types of water conditioners can change the physical structure of the hard minerals in the water, but how does this occur? In other terms, how does a water conditioner work? 

To answer this question it is important to understand that there are different types of water conditioners that offer different results. A traditional water conditioner like the Rayne Executive Series is used to provide whole-house water filtration. These systems filter out the chemicals and compounds that give your water a bad taste and smell, such as chlorine and VOCs.

There are also water conditioners that offer some of the benefits of softened water, such as the Rayne Spartan Series water conditioners. These water conditioners rely on a special type of resin bead known as template-assisted crystallization (TAC) media to alter the minerals in hard water so that they don’t cause scaling.  

TAC media consists of small resin beads. Printed on those beads are catalytically active sites known as templates that encourage nucleation. As hard water enters the system, it passes over these beads. As the dissolved minerals in the hard water come into contact with the TAC media, a small amount of the mineral ions come together and form a crystal. This crystal is sometimes referred to as a seed-crystal because it serves as a foundation for other minerals to attach to. Once these seed-crystals form, other mineral ions in the water detach from the water molecules and attach to the seed-crystals.

Once the mineral ions in hard water are transformed into a crystalline structure they will not bond to surfaces the water passes over or through. This virtually eliminates scaling. Are you wondering, “how long does water conditioner take to work”? Surprisingly, the water filtration process happens instantly. With a water conditioner you’ll have the normal water flow you are used to, and lots of conditioned water on-demand.

If you are wondering about an electronic water conditioner and if they work, it’s difficult to make a judgment one way or another. Many people claim they work, and some experiments have supported that. Other research, however, has not demonstrated magnetic or electronic descalers are effective during their testing. If you are looking for consistent, repeatable scale prevention it is best to stick with water softening or a water conditioning system that uses TAC media.

Curious about what the Best Water Conditioner is for you? It depends on what you want out of your water conditioner. If you want water that smells and tastes better, a traditional water conditioning system may be ideal. If reducing the impact of hard water around your home is more important to you, then you’ll want to use a water conditioning system like the Rayne Spartan Series that provides many of the benefits of softened water.

Here are a couple of key features of water conditioners that are worth highlighting.

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

Closing Thoughts

Water conditioners are often promoted as a salt-free alternative to water softening systems, but it is important to understand how these systems differ from water softeners before you settle on a water treatment solution.

Most water conditioners remove the chemicals and compounds that give your water an unpleasant taste or smell. These include chlorine, chloramines, and VOCs. These types of water conditioners are an excellent treatment option if you don’t have hard water or aren’t concerned with eliminating hard water in your home.

Some water conditioners can also provide many of the benefits of softened water. Systems like the Rayne Spartan Series alter the structure of the hard minerals in the water so that it doesn’t cause scaling or buildup around your home. While these systems don’t remove hard minerals from water, they do offer a viable salt-free alternative to water softening systems.

Aren’t sure whether a water conditioner or water softener is right for you? Get in contact with Rayne Water today so one of our helpful water quality experts can help you assess your needs and make a targeted recommendation. It may also be helpful to have one of our technicians perform a water test so you can see exactly what is in your water, and find the most effective treatment solution for those unwanted contaminants and heavy metals. 

To learn more about Rayne Water’s water conditioners please contact us today!

Find a location near you!

 

Sources

  1. https://continuingeducation.bnpmedia.com/courses/multi-aia/the-intelligent-scale-solution–template-assisted-crystallization
  2. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/567404
  3. Vastyan, John. 2010. “Template-Assisted Crystallization.” Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning Engineering 82 (11): 34–37.

Electronic Water Conditioner: Do They Work?

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

If you are searching for a solution to water hardness and its impacts on your home or business, you may come across electronic descalers. Sometimes referred to as magnetic descalers, electronic water softeners, or electronic water conditioners; these products claim to use a magnetic field to alter the chemistry of hard water as it flows into your home.

Do electronic water softeners work? It depends on who you talk to. Let’s take a closer look at what these devices are, how they function, and whether their claims of effectiveness are realized in the real world. We’ll also compare them to two proven technologies, water softeners and water conditioners that use template-assisted crystallization (TAC) media, both of which have demonstrated effectiveness in dealing with the effects of hard water. This information will help you understand which type of system may be best for your particular water supply needs.

What is an Electronic Water Conditioner?

Before diving into the contentious topic of whether these devices reduce scaling, let’s take a moment to break down what an electronic water conditioner is. These water filtration devices claim to use electricity to create a magnetic field around water as it is piped into your home. While this sounds complicated, in reality, the device is fairly simple.

The most common electronic water conditioners are a box with two cables or wires coming out. The device is installed shortly after the main water lining entering your home, making this a point-of-entry (POE) system like most other hard water solutions on the market. The device is usually installed above the water pipe, and each of the wires or cables is wrapped multiple times around the water pipe. After wrapping these two cables around the water pipe they resemble coils, usually with 4-5 wraps each. Other types of electronic water conditioners are simply a clamp that is placed around your incoming water supply line.

The water conditioner unit passes electricity through the wires that have been formed into coils around the water pipe. These coils then generate a small magnetic field your tap water passes through. The magnetic field these devices create is the mechanism through which they claim to alter the chemistry of the water in your pipes.

What Problem Are They Trying to Solve?

Electronic water conditioners claim to remove scaling, but what exactly is scaling and why is it important? Scaling is the result of water hardness and is best understood as a buildup of mineral deposits left behind by hard water. Scaling is an insoluble precipitate that clings stubbornly to surfaces and appears white or greenish in appearance.

If you have hard water, you’ll see scaling on fixtures and surfaces which come into contact with your tap water. Most often this means you’ll find scaling in your bathroom sink and shower, or in your kitchen sink. However, if you cut open the plumbing in your home you would also find mineral buildup inside of your pipes. If your home is very old or you have very hard water, the mineral buildup will make the pipe more narrow and reduce the flow of water. Similarly, if you cut open appliances that heat water, such as your water heater, you would see a buildup of scale deposits inside. These are very common hard water problems.

Those scale deposits aren’t just unsightly, they can also have a real impact on appliances. As scaling builds up inside of your water heater, your water heater operates less efficiently. The same is true in a commercial setting. Industrial boilers or heaters are negatively impacted by scaling deposits left behind by hard water. 

The solution to these problems is to alter or remove the dissolved hard minerals in the water. This is often done through the use of a water softener, which removes those dissolved minerals and replaces them with sodium ions. Some water conditioners also treat water so that it doesn’t form scale, but these systems don’t soften water.

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

Do Electronic or Magnetic Water Conditioners Work?

There is a great deal of debate about whether electronic or magnetic water conditioners work. The manufacturers of these products and supporters of the products themselves offer strong support for their effectiveness. At the same time, many are skeptical of these claims. If you are curious about electronic water conditioners and if they work, it is helpful to turn to an independent voice.

One challenge in evaluating the effectiveness of electronic water conditioners is the lack of existing scientific literature evaluating magnetic water conditioning. While there have been peer-reviewed articles examining the effectiveness of specific devices, the conclusions do not provide a consensus view. Some research has found the devices to have an impact on scaling, while other research has demonstrated no impact at all.

A report released in 2001 by the Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) examined magnetic descalers pointed towards this contradictory record in the scientific literature. Whereas other water softening alternatives, such as ion-exchange water softeners, have a demonstrated record of repeatable effectiveness, the same isn’t true for electronic or magnetic water conditioners. In their own tests, the ERDC found no difference in scale buildup between water treated with a magnetic conditioner and untreated water.

Other tests have yielded similar results. The ERDC points towards two previous attempts by the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) in 1984 and 1996 to examine the effectiveness of magnetic water conditioners. In neither case were they able to reduce scaling or corrosion. A report released in 1996 by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory also found no reduction in scaling or corrosion when using a magnetic water conditioner. So, do electronic descalers work? They may, but you will probably find more consistent soft water results with a traditional water softener or water conditioner.

Effective Hard Water Solutions

If you are looking for a comprehensive solution to the impacts of hard water, there are two tried and true systems common in both residential and commercial settings. The first is water softening systems, which remove dissolved hard minerals to soften water. The second are certain water conditioners that treat water to eliminate scaling. Wondering, “how does a water conditioner work”? Let’s take a look at each of these systems in greater detail and break down the differences between water conditioner vs water softener.

Water Softeners

Water softening systems provide the benchmark for dealing with hard water problems. Water softeners use a process known as ion-exchange, or reverse osmosis, to remove hard mineral ions and replace them with sodium ions. To do this, water softening systems use a tank filled with charged resin beads. Attached to those beads are sodium ions. Hard water is piped into the tank and as it passes over the beads, dissolved mineral ions are attracted to the beads. The displaced sodium ions take their place which allows the water molecule to maintain a balanced charge.

A key distinguishing feature of water softening systems is that they require regeneration periodically. This is accomplished through the use of a brine tank solution, which is pumped into the resin tank to displace the collected hard water minerals and replace them with fresh sodium ions. The waste of this process is then flushed down a drain line, leaving you with absolutely soft water.

Water Conditioners

So, what is a water conditioner and how is it different from a water softener? Water conditioners don’t actually remove hard minerals from water. Most water conditioners are used to remove the substances from water that cause it to smell or taste bad. These include the disinfectant chlorine, chloramines, organic gases, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Some water conditioners do provide the benefits of softened water, but they don’t actually soften water. These water conditioning systems do this through the use of a material known as template-assisted crystallization (TAC) media. 

When hard water runs over and through TAC media, a small amount of the minerals in the hard water is changed into a crystalline form. The remaining minerals in the hard water preferentially attach to these crystalline mineral structures over attaching to other surfaces, such as the pipes in your home or the surfaces in your bathroom.

Keep in mind that most water conditioners won’t reduce scaling. But they will reduce the smell of chlorine that comes with municipal tap water. Water conditioners also remove other substances and gases that alter the smell and taste of your water, so that your water smells fresh and tastes crisp!

How long does the water conditioner take to work? No time at all! Water conditioning systems can produce as much conditioned water as you need on-demand.

Closing Thoughts

Though electronic water conditioners carry an attractive price point, require no maintenance, and are widely available, there is no substantial evidence they are effective at removing or reducing scaling. Multiple studies have evaluated magnetic and electronic water conditioners and found no repeatable benefit from using them.

If you are combatting the effects of hard water in your residential or commercial building, there are systems with a demonstrated effectiveness in reducing scaling. Water softening systems can remove dissolved hard minerals from hard water through a process known as ion exchange. Alternatively, some water conditioners can offer the benefits of softened water by altering the chemical structure of the hard minerals in the water, but these systems don’t actually remove hard minerals from water.

If you are tired of dealing with the effects of hard water but aren’t sure what type of water treatment system is right for you, contact Rayne Water today. Our helpful staff can assess your treatment needs and help you narrow down water softener systems that are right for you. We also have a water treatment system that suits your business needs including bottleless coolers, reverse osmosis systems and commercial water softeners. For inquiries, contact us today!

Find a location near you!

Sources:

  1. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/567404
  2. Vastyan, John. 2010. “Template-Assisted Crystallization.” Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning Engineering 82 (11): 34–37.

Expert Reviewer – Ken Christopher

Plastic, Plastic Everywhere, and Not a Drop to Spare

Posted by Rayne Water

We have all done it. Drank a bottle of water or a soft drink, and when we think no one is looking, thrown it away in the garbage, left with a twinge of guilt. On the other hand, many households attempt their hand at recycling, which in many cases also leads to plastic waste somewhere along the lines. If you have ever felt the guilt of wasting this plastic, you are not alone.
Ok, so what are a few bottles tossed away here or there? It may be adding up to more than we think. According to an article from MSNBC, the EPA said that only 7.1 percent of our plastic waste was recycled in 2008. And according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, over half of Americans drink bottled water, making it a billion dollar market each year. So while your couple of bottles may not seem so bad, imagine how many other people have done the same. It adds up. Plastic waste can lead to toxins dissolving into the ground, blocking drainage systems, causing environmental and even harmful health effects.
There are so many brands of bottled water and flavored water, but the truth is, buying bottled water and the dangers of plastic waste don’t compare to the affordability and the safer options you can find with a water filtration system. Don’t fall into the marketing scams created by many of these companies. Bottled water doesn’t prove to be safer than tap water. Filtrated water is safe, cost-effective, and responsible. You can drink as much as you need and not feel guilty about any lack of recycling.
Rayne provides these solutions and can eliminate the plastic waste in your household, as it already does for thousands of others. To read more about plastic waste in America, click here.

National Protect Your Groundwater Day 2010

Posted by Rayne Water

National Ground Water Association with the hopes of making the public more aware of the quality and quantity of water that we use and have available.
We often take clean water for granted in America because our municipalities test, treat, and provide a seemingly unending source of water. Because of that, Americans use more water per person than any other country in the world! We should be careful though, because the testing and treatment comes at a cost and the supply is limited. So, let’s think beyond our kitchen sink for just a moment. Where does the water come from? 95% of all available freshwater comes from underground aquifers – groundwater. That’s a huge percentage, and we’d have a really tough time coming up with an affordable and reliable replacement source if those aquifers were badly contaminated or depleted.
So, as part of Protect Your Groundwater Day, let’s take action in two different ways – let’s prevent contamination and promote conservation. Contamination doesn’t just occur because of human action, it’s also a daily occurrence in nature as water is exposed to microorganisms, radioactive compounds, and heavy metals. As individuals, we have little control over naturally occurring contamination, so that means we need to be extra diligent in preventing the contamination that we can control! Conservation is also something we have direct control over. We can choose to shut off the faucet while brush our teeth, we can choose high-efficiency appliances, we can plant geographically appropriate landscapes.
Here at Rayne Water Corporation, we promise to do our part. We recently introduced the Rayne Evolution Drinking Water System with LINX Technology, which is a drinking water system that uses a fraction of the amount of water as a traditional reverse osmosis system. We also offer our water softener customers Exchange Tank Services, so that no salt is used or discharged from our customers’ homes. We do the regeneration process in a controlled environment so that water is not wasted and salt is not flushed down the drain.
Let’s all make a commitment to keeping our groundwater safe, not only for today but for generations to come.
To watch an interesting video about where our water comes from, click HERE.

Climate Change = Water Change

Posted by Rayne Water

Is it global warming? Or El Nina? Or La Nina? Or is it just a change in weather patterns? Regardless of our school of thought, there does seem to be a change in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns. In a recent Science Daily article, it was said, “The term ‘global warming’ does not do justice to the climatic changes the world will experience in coming decades. Some of the worst disruptions we face will involve water, not just temperature.” This article predicts that drought may threaten much of the globe within just a few short decades. Drought, to many of us, is something out of the Dust Bowl of The Grapes of Wrath, or if we have experienced drought, it is always a weather condition that corrects itself within a year or so.

The drought being examined in this article, however, is much more than that. This drought would affect two-thirds of the United States, and several other continents as well. Other parts of the globe, such as Alaska, Northern Europe, Russia, and Canada will see an increase in precipitation. The article did warn, however, “This increased wetness over the northern, sparsely populated high latitudes can’t match the drying over the more densely populated temperate and tropical areas”.

Already, we read often in the news that local lakes and reservoirs are at record low levels, communities facing water restrictions, and aquifers becoming depleted. By the 2030s, scientists are guessing that some regions of the US will be experiencing particularly severe conditions – that’s only 20 short years away. Seeing that these things are coming within most of our lifetimes and to our part of the country, isn’t it time we did what we could to lessen the effects of it?

We think so. That’s why we’ve instigated many of the changes in water treatment technology. Our drinking water systems waste much less water than traditional reverse osmosis systems. Our water coolers do not use bottles that require cleaning and transporting. Our water softeners are offered with portable exchange tank service so that no salt is turned into the groundwater and only recycled water is used in regeneration. We believe that we can make a difference in the years to come and encourage other industries to join in!

Probable Carcinogen Invades Water Sources

Posted by Rayne Water

Sounds like it could be the title of a new sci-fi movie right? A title like this cannot and will not be ignored by American consumers. According to one article, 35 cities in the US have traces of hexavalent chromium, a probable carcinogen, as is reported in the Washington Post. In 25 of those cities, the amount of the chemical exceeds government goals which were proposed in California. California has been aggressively and quickly trying to reduce the presence of hexavalent chromium in its water supply. This carcinogen was made famous in the movie Erin Brockovich.

The study was done by the Environmental Working Group and is the first nationwide analysis of this toxic chemical. The group found the presence of the chemical in 31 of 35 different tests in those respective cities and as mentioned previously, 25 of those cities had levels exceeding any propositions. The Environmental Protection Agency is still determining if and what levels should be set for hexavalent chromium in tap water. It was determined to be a probable carcinogen in 2008.

It is reported that hexavalent chromium has been known to cause lung cancer for quite some time when it is inhaled, and more recently, evidence shows it is cancer causing in laboratory animals when ingested. It has also been linked to liver and kidney damage, along with leukemia, stomach cancer, and other cancers when tested on animals. Hexavalent chromium was popularly used in industries in the early 1990s, and is still found in industries creating chrome plating or plastics and dyes. It can get into groundwater from natural sources, making it into tap water.

In California, as was documented in the popular movie listed above, Hinkley was the affected town. But as stated in a document by the Clean Water Fund, “according to the Department of Public Health, from 1997 through 2008 chromium VI was detected in 2,208 California drinking water sources monitored for the contaminant. These sources are spread throughout 52 out of 58 counties, impacting an estimated 33 million Californians.” According to Emagazine, Riverside, California had one of the highest levels out there.

The only true way to find out if your local water source has hexavalent chromium is to check with your local public water supplier and request a water quality report with the quantitative analysis of chemicals or other minerals in your drinking water. Taja Marhaba is a professor and the chair of civil and environmental engineering and director of the New Jersey Applied Water Research Center at NJIT. In one interview in regards to this toxic chemical in drinking water, he stated, “the best way to remove this [hexavalent chromium] and other known and unknown contaminants from the water supply to a residence if to install a five-stage reverse osmosis home unit.”

Fluoride, For The Health Of Our Kids

Posted by Rayne Water

Parents will do anything to ensure the health and safety of their children. That’s why we do our best to make sure they’re staying healthy by eating a well-balanced diet and drinking water. But even after many years of pushing the 8 glasses a day routine, new research studies show that all tap water may not be as healthy of a choice as we had thought.

According to one online article, cavity-preventing and tooth-decay limiting fluoride may actually be having harmful effects on the teeth of our children when over the recommended limits, or even the limit set as “safe” by the government. The article states that too much fluoride in drinking water is actually causing spots on their teeth. The federal government, too, is aware of this discovery and has announced a reduction in the recommended levels found in water supplies. It is quoted that “about 2 out of 5 adolescents have tooth streaking or spottiness because of too much fluoride.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the spotty tooth condition, fluorosis, is actually quite common between the ages of 12 and 15 and has increased since the 1980s. Among the other government plans to prevent the condition is their other studies currently in progress which look at the ways Americans are exposed to fluoride and the other health effects it may have.

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in the water and soil. According to this article, about 64% of Americans drink fluoridated water – either naturally occurring or from a municipally maintained system. And, for those who are not receiving fluoride in their water, doctors have been quick to prescribe fluoride supplements and schools have implemented swish-and-spit programs in the classrooms. In the past, water supplies were fluoridated because studies had shown that people who took in more fluoride had fewer cavities. But now this new research emerges and water supplies must go under new regulations yet again.

Oral health is important and while it may be a benefit of fluoride, knowing too much can harm our families is always a motivation to look into other options like water treatment systems for your residency. These may include water coolers, water filters, or reverse osmosis systems. All are eco-friendly and affordable solutions for eliminating unhealthy minerals or contaminants from the drinking water in your home. Clean and healthy water is not something we need to worry about – it will always keep our families healthy, we just need to make sure that it really is clean and healthy!

Being Green: Why We Do It

Posted by Rayne Water

Saying something is eco-friendly is common in this day and age, but really doing something to reduce energy consumption, reduce your carbon footprint, and follow environmental guidelines is truly being responsible. With so many water treatment options out there, the key is looking into those who are doing just that – going green. Being pro-active isn’t about following in everyone else’s footsteps. It is about being innovative and taking initiative – two important qualities in water systems, which for the most part have not changed very much at all in many decades.

In the past, hard water was fought with one simple solution – purchase a water softener. Hard water is high in dissolved minerals, which leave a film behind. Hard water will also cause buildup on pipes and in appliances, shortening their lifespan and causing financial burdens. Water softeners employ salt ions that change places with those minerals and after the contaminants build up inside the system, traditional water softeners wash out, dumping massive amounts of salt down the drain into what is thought of as wastewater. However, this wastewater is reused in many areas and after time, people realized that the salt was killing their golf courses, crops, and even marine life. Some areas in California put a ban on these traditional water softeners and some water treatment companies took the challenge head on.

Tank exchange services are the latest force in water softening, completely eliminating the salt-discharge. Likewise, these tank exchange services also save a lot of water from going to waste. With environmentally responsible water treatment companies, the tanks are regenerated and reused. When a tank becomes spent, their employees will replace it. The tanks are then taken back to a facility, emptied, and regenerated. The most important step comes next – which companies responsibly get rid of the spent resin and brine, preventing salt pollution and waste water. No salt discharge should be dumped down the drain by either the homeowner or the water treatment company, now that there are better options. If your home or business still uses an old water softening system, it may be time to look into a more eco-friendly water softener accompanied by a tank exchange service. Education, like this video, is the key to maintaining technologically-advanced systems which align themselves with an ever-changing environmentally-friendly world.

So how can water softeners be that eco-friendly? According to one online article, hard water can make appliances less effective and have to work harder, thus putting out more energy. So not only will a quality water softener save you money, it will save you energy and help save the environment. Quite a lot of work for such an affordable product!

 

Water a New Topic in Environmental Economics

Posted by Rayne Water

It seems everything these days is affected by the latest downturn in the economy. From the housing market, to consumer buying, to environmental and urban economics, the financial crisis has everyone looking for ways to save money in some way, shape, or form. A new article out from Matthew Kahn has those same consumers thinking about water as a basic need – and how it is slowly being threatened.

The Southwest United States is known to be a dry, arid region. Water supplies there are facing droughts, and therefore slowly being threatened of drying up. Water is such an important basic element of life that without the water supplies, the region couldn’t survive in a number of areas. The article discusses the growth in population and jobs in the Southwest. One economist quoted in the article states that “allowing water prices to reflect scarcity would take care of this problem.” The problem he refers to is the diminishing water there. Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute says that “green lawns and unlimited swimming pools and inefficient irrigated agriculture can’t be sustained.”

The article states that one way of looking into this problem is to be creative in finding ways to use other water sources. One example would be to re-use wastewater. Other ideas are “policies to encourage more efficient water use” and “efforts to coordinate water policy at local, state and federal levels, and planning to help water utilities adapt to climate change.” The effort to use water efficiently and look into the newest water technologies for home and business may also be key. Raising the price on water will hurt the poor – and everyone needs water to survive. Perhaps the answer would be to better use and conserve the water we have.

One way to do this is to identify hidden – and obvious – water wastes. For example, traditional reverse osmosis systems waste an incredible amount of water for every gallon of drinking water they produce. The important thing will be to find and eliminate these wastes. For example, the Evolution water system can provide drinking water while reducing harmful contaminants. It uses electricity to exchange ions in the purification process rather than chemicals and wastes 90% less water than reverse osmosis. Just by making one pot of coffee, a traditional reverse osmosis system can waste almost 11 gallons of water according to one video. While refilling it’s tank, the Evolution system wastes no water. 90% less water waste is huge and would be a strong beginning to solving the problem facing our region.

Saving water means saving the environment from a threatening predicament. While the article mentioned above focuses on an economic impact from the disappearance of water sources, the health effects are even more worrisome. To read more on this topic, click here.