Water conservation is the exorbitantly high water bills California has in comparison to other states and with the water supply rapidly dwindling those rates are sure to increase. Lake Folsom in northern California illustrates this crisis perfectly. The lake is capable of holding 977,000 acre feet of water and it currently only holds 200,000. As it sits right now, lake levels are dropping several feet per day and long lost gold mining towns are emerging and a bridge that once was buried under water now has water flowing beneath it. So what impact does this drought have on the residents of California? Well Governor Brown has asked that residents reduce their water usage by at least 20%. A good portion of that reduction can come from reducing landscape irrigation which comprises about 80% of daily household water usage. This solution is fantastic for the time being, however what about future water shortages and drought? California is a mostly arid state and water is always at a premium. The quality of the California water supply has also had its share of problems; the huge agricultural industry continues to contaminate the ground and subsequently the water supply with harmful chemicals. Nitrates in our water supplies continue to be a pervasive problem that calls for many residents to run their water through a water filtration system before consuming. When considering water conservation along with water filtration systems, there is only one logical conclusion to make. A reverse osmosis system will certainly do the job of removing harmful contaminants from drinking water, however it can waste up to 27 gallons of water for each gallon of water it filters. A LINX Drinking Water System, on the other hand, uses up to 90% less water to filter the same amount of drinking water. With our water supply already in jeopardy, switching over to a LINX Water Filtration System is the only environmentally smart decision to make.
Looking for water softeners near Lake Folsom or Sacramento? We have many California locations and can provide water softeners in Sacramento all the way down to San Diego.
In recent years it has become increasingly evident that expecting mothers must be extra cautious as to what they expose their unborn child to. Some doctors have noticed the correlation between everyday chemical exposure and conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia and lower IQ points. As technology continues to advance, we find ourselves exposed to chemicals almost everywhere; the food we eat, water we drink, air we breathe, clothing we wear, vehicles we drive, our everyday environment is inundated with chemical exposure and it is adversely affecting our children.
Studies have shown that certain chemicals and water contaminants are considered toxic to the developing brain. Fortunately, some of them are banned in the US, however there are many that are not. For example; lead, arsenic, fluoride in high concentrations, insecticides such as chlorpyrifos, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) used as a flame retardant found in children’s pajamas, furniture and electronics. Doctors believe expose to these chemicals in utero can cause defects in the developing brain with effects ranging from a few lost IQ points to children suffering from severe autism.
Just because a mother might not feel the effects of low-dose exposure to these chemicals doesn’t mean that the developing baby won’t. The brain is such a complex organ and in a vulnerable state during development so even small doses of exposure can cause potentially devastating results. Considering the fact the scientists know very little about the effects of more than 99% of the chemicals currently on the market, it just makes sense to avoid them whenever possible, especially during pregnancy.
Some suggestions to take into consideration during pregnancy is to eat organic food whenever possible, stay away from paint thinners, strong cleaning agents and pesticides, get checked for lead exposure, and drink only filtered drinking water. It is amazing how many of these chemicals can be leaked into our water supply and not all water filters are capable of removing them to the level where they are safe to drink. If you are expecting, make sure you are taking extra precautions to what you are exposing your baby to. If you are looking for a water filtration system that will effectively remove these harmful chemicals from your drinking water, give us a call and we will get you started on the right track to a healthier you and a healthier baby.
Water Technology recently published an article on recycled wastewater and potable water reuse that we found fascinating and thought really addressed our existing water crisis needs. The majority of our Earth is covered in water so it shouldn’t seem as though we would ever have to worry about a water shortage. The reality of the situation however is that of the 326 million trillion gallons of water in or on the earth, less than 1 percent (about 0.72 percent) of it is actually usable. Then there is the additional dilemma of water not being located in adequate amounts in some parts of the world, even though others have an overabundance of freshwater. Some states have begun looking at the possible ways in which we can recycle our wastewater; Southern California in particular has been a leader for many years in this regard. Because of this recycled wastewater, household water filtration & salt-free water softeners in Orange County are becoming increasingly common.
While many states have completely overlooked the fact that wastewater is a fantastic source of essentially 100% reuse, there are others that have developed large scale projects looking at ways to convert wastewater into drinking water. Currently, there are potable reuse technologies in the works that are more thorough than conventional treatments. However, water softeners in the San Fernando Valley and other large Southern California cities are still recommended until wastewater technology becomes more widespread. Even though the process begins with wastewater, they are ultimately able to produce even higher quality drinking water than conventional treatment plants that begin with “clean” surface water. Utilizing multiple treatment configurations, they can essentially remove all microbial and chemical contaminants (including industrial and bio-chemicals) with exceptional effectiveness; conventional treatment plants are not capable of this type of water filtration.
Wastewater contains nitrogen, phosphorous nutrients and biosolids that can be used for agriculture as well as oils and grease that can be recycled as biofuels. Technology is currently available that can convert even the most contaminated water into safe high quality drinking water, however many consumers are still leery of drinking recycled wastewater. We agree – it is hard to overcome the perception and stigma of wastewater even though it is readily available and can be successfully converted into safe and reliable quality drinking water. We believe it is essential to look at alternative ways to conserve, recycle and reuse our existing water supplies. Drinking water systems and water filters have seen some amazing advances these last few years and if we can overcome the perception of recycled water, it would go a long way toward solving the water crisis in the world.
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:
These systems don’t use chemical additives to alter the chemistry of the water supply;
Often limit or eliminate wastewater discharge;
Lower ongoing maintenance;
Lower pollution or disposal costs.
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.
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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.
Point-of-Entry System – Water conditioners are generally a point-of-entry (POE) system. This means they are installed where your water line comes into your home so can condition all of the water entering your home.
Energy Efficient – One of the great features of water conditioners is how energy efficient they are! These systems require little to no power, reducing their environmental impact and ongoing operating costs.
No Brine Solution or Wastewater – Water softening systems, which function through a process known as ion exchange or reverse osmosis, require the use of a brine solution, or salty water, to regenerate the resin beads in their primary tank. While modern water softeners are incredibly efficient, they do produce some wastewater during the regeneration process. Some cities that rely on treated wastewater for irrigation actually ban the use of systems producing brine wastewater. This is more common in arid regions of the United States. In cities with brine restrictions, water conditioners like the Rayne Spartan System offer a viable and economical salt-free alternative that still allows you to avoid the effects of hard tap water.
Incorporated Multi-Media Water Filtration – At Rayne Water, our water conditioners come with integrated carbon filtration. Carbon filtration relies on granulated activated carbon (GAC), a type of carbon treated with heat or oxygen to expand its surface area. This allows activated carbon to trap contaminants through a process known as adhesion. Activated carbon is excellent at removing VOCs, a group of chemicals commonly found in drinking water. Activated carbon will also remove disinfectants like chlorine and their byproducts, which can alter the taste of your drinking water.
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!
*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.
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!
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!
*Reviewed by Ken Christopher, Senior Vice President at Rayne Dealership Corporation
Contaminated drinking water is widespread in the United States and throughout the public water system; the highest degree of contamination is in the Midwest, Texas, the Pacific Northwest and California.
Water wells contamination statistics
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that as many as 52 percent of community wells and 57 percent of domestic water wells are contaminated by a measurable amount of nitrates and nitrites. In Los Angeles and the San Joaquin Valley of California, it is estimated that
one in every threedomestic wells are contaminated with levels well over the EPA’s recommended guidelines for ground water. As a result, water softeners in Los Angeles and other Southern California areas are becoming increasingly popular as a solution to hard water and contaminants in tap water.
Why is Nitrate contamination dangerous
Nitrates and Nitrites are not all bad, in fact we need them to some extent to stay healthy, however excess consumption from elevated nitrate levels can cause serious health risks. Infants below six months of age are especially susceptible to nitrate contamination. The EPA states that if they consume water containing nitrates in excess of the maximum contaminant level, they could become seriously ill, and if untreated, may die from nitrate poisoning. Symptoms include shortness of breath and blue baby syndrome.
How to remove nitrates from water
Wondering how to remove nitrates from water? The only way to remove nitrates from drinking water is through a water filtration system. Many water treatment companies promote Reverse Osmosis (RO) systems as an immediate solution to provide nitrate and nitrite reduction. RO systems do in fact reduce nitrate levels, however even the best RO system can only reduce them by eighty percent. The most typical systems only have a sixty percent reduction rate. This sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Well in some cases this reduction rate is just fine, however not all water has the same level of contamination. The EPA recommended guidelines for nitrates are a maximum 10 parts per million (ppm). Let’s say for example that your water has 30ppm nitrate contamination, a sixty percent reduction would only bring it down to a 12ppm nitrate level – still more than the recommended guidelines. At eighty percent reduction it would be 6ppm, which does falls within the guidelines, however there are only a select few RO’s that have an eighty percent reduction. Now let’s say your water starts at a 60ppm contamination level, even at an eighty percent reduction rate it would only bring it down to 12ppm, which is too high and can cause some health complications.
Most effective nitrate reduction solution
The LINX Drinking Water Systemis the best solution to nitrate pollution. It doesn’t matter how much nitrate contamination your water has, 200ppm or 20ppm, it still reduces it down to non-detect levels – every time. These reduction rates are far superior to a traditional RO water filtration system for nitrate removal. This superior nitrate filter has earned them the WQA Gold Seal for Nitrate / Nitrite Reduction as well as being certified and approved for nitrate reduction in the state of California.
If your water has a problem with elevated levels ofnitrate contamination, don’t take the risk of being exposed to excess contamination, install the one and only water filtration system that can reduce your high nitrate levels to non-detect levels and create safe drinking water.
We love how the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) looks at water. They say that water is our most precious global resource and that clean, safe <a href="https://www.raynewater.com/santa-barbara/">drinking water</a> is critical to sustain human life. But this begs the question – what makes water so healthy? We thought we would take a few minutes to look at the health benefits of water. We tend to focus much of our attention on drinking water and we would be remiss if we didn’t look at its myriad list of health benefits, but we also want to look at water in general and how it can help keep us healthy.
Considering the fact that our bodies are predominately water (approximately 60%), they require quite a bit of it to function properly. Every organ in our bodies is affected if we aren’t drinking enough water; in fact, humans can live for three weeks without food but only 3 DAYS without water! Drinking water can help with digestion, weight loss, fatigue, building muscle, clearer skin, kidney function, pain prevention and is one of the best hangover remedies around.
Water can also keep us from getting sick. One of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of the flu is frequent hand washing. Proper hygiene can prevent the spread of many different types of diseases which is why it runs rampant in parts of the world without access to clean water and soap. The CDC estimates that hand washing alone could reduce diarrheal disease associated deaths by up to fifty percent. Proper hand washing can also reduce the risk of food borne illness.
Have you ever considered the fact that water can give you a fantastic workout? Swimming is an excellent form of exercise; it gives your heart a great cardiovascular workout, it builds and tones muscles and burns a ton of calories. Just thirty minutes of swimming the butterfly will burn almost 500 calories – more than double what you will burn running. Swimming is also one of the lowest impact workouts you can do and will protect your joints from stress. It is strongly recommended by the Arthritis Foundation for this very reason.
Yep, water truly is our most precious global resource and we need to value and protect it as such. From its countless health benefits to its use in agricultural and industrial environments, we could not live without it. So the next time you lift your glass to take a drink of water, just think about all the good it does on a daily basis all around the globe.
Municipal water facilities use a variety of processes in order to make our drinking water safe for consumption. Many water districts, specifically in Orange County, are now using chloramines to treat their water supply. Chloramines are comprised of a mixture of chlorine and ammonia that work together to extend the disinfecting power of chlorine. They ensure that the water supply is free of bacteria, viruses and other disease causing pathogens. While chloramines are highly effective in this regard, the downside of this disinfection process is their harmful effect on copper piping. Since the switch was made to chloramine disinfectant, there have been thousands of reports of pinhole leaks in copper pipes.California is one of several states which restricts the use of plastic piping, while promoting the use of copper piping in their plumbing systems. According to the California Professional Association of Specialty Contractors (CalPASC) there is currently an epidemic of copper pipe leaks in the state and it is being attributed to this shift to the use of chloramine. Needless to say, homeowners are greatly distressed by the added expense to replace damaged pipes. There is a solution to the problem however; the Rayne Chloramine Buster. The Rayne Chloramine Buster 1500 and the Rayne Chloramine Buster 2000 were specifically designed to considerably reduce the damaging effects of chloramines and other compounds such as hydrogen sulfide before they enter into the home’s plumping system. Installed at the home’s water main, they remove chloramine and other noxious sulfides before they have the opportunity to enter the plumbing system and cause damage. Both the Rayne Chloramine Buster 1500 and Rayne Chloramine Buster 2000 are equipped with a custom media application produced from high quality coconut shell carbons. This media modification allows for superior water treatment capabilities right at the source. They are able to remove much larger quantities of not only chloramine, but other organic species which may also be present in the water. Homeowners no longer have to feel helpless against copper pipe failure, by just installing a chloramine buster they not only have peace of mind that their pipes are not going to develop leaks, but also know they are potentially saving thousands of dollars in water and pipe damage.
Flint, Michigan’s problem with lead contaminated drinking water has made headlines across the nation. Residents in the area complained about the odor, taste and appearance of their water soon after state officials switched its supply source from Lake Huron to the polluted Flint River. Their complaints went largely unnoticed and unanswered for nearly TWO YEARS before officials finally acknowledged the lead contamination problem.
The state Department of Environmental Quality admitted their mistake of failing to require the addition of corrosion-control chemicals to the water which lead to the contamination. Now the city of Flint is in a state of crisis; President Obama even pledged five million dollars in federal aid to assist in the effort to provide much needed water filters and other water filtration supplies for Flint residents.
Lead contaminated drinking water can lead to permanent brain damage, especially in children … and unfortunately the damage is irreversible. Pediatricians fear that the Flint children found with elevated lead levels will suffer lifelong consequences from this problem. Lead poisoning is also associated with gastrointestinal problems, headaches, irritability, fatigue, kidney dysfunction and high blood pressure in both children and adults. So how could something this serious go either unnoticed or unacknowledged for so long?
Many fingers have been pointed at the Department of Environmental Quality as well as to Governor Snyder. Bottom line however, an attempt to cut costs was the main catalyst for this crisis. This type of problem is not unique; companies looking to save a few dollars have dumped toxic chemicals into the water supply leading to water contamination and others have cut back on safety measures which has led to chemical spills. It happens way too frequently, which makes water filtration all across America a necessity, now more than ever before.
A water filtration system, such as an RO system or a LINX Drinking Water System can filter out lead and other harmful contaminates before they have the opportunity to reach the tap. They can help homeowners filter out known contaminates, but they are also an extra step of protection for those unknown contaminates that may sneak into the water supply. While the water contamination problem would have still existed in Flint, the lead poisoning residents are seeing in their children would have been completely avoided if they had access to a drinking water filtration systems.
Athletes come in all sizes and shapes, all ages and levels. But one thing always rings true – an athlete needs plenty of high-quality drinking water to support their health and their performance. The importance of hydration is often forgotten, but we need to make sure that athletes are drinking enough to avoid dehydration. Whether your 5-year old is playing soccer one night or you are going for a 5-mile run early in the morning, be ready to drink water. Not really sure why? Keep on reading…
Water is essential to our health. Anyone performing fitness activities, big or small, can be considered an athlete. Water regulates your body temperature and lubricates your joints. It also helps transport nutrients to give you energy and keep you healthy. If you’re not properly hydrated, your body can’t perform at its highest level. You may experience fatigue, muscle cramps, dizziness, or more serious symptoms. This is true for anyone, even those who are not athletes. But athletes need more water to replace the fluids they lose through perspiration. Likewise, athletes who are dehydrated show a considerable decrease in performance. They simply lack the energy and focus to perform well when dehydrated. According to Breaking Muscle, A reduction of just 2% of fluid can result in degraded performance by as much as 10-20%. This is a significant amount when you think about the life of an athlete. Consider for a moment the amount of effort that goes into training to improve by just 5%!
The best defense for dehydration is to be proactive. Never wait until thirst strikes to consume water. At that point it is likely too late. Another problem is that too many athletes rely on bottled water rather than filtered drinking water. Bottled water isn’t always safe and bottled water waste is becoming a crisis worldwide, so we encourage you to refill your own water bottles to stay hydrated, while still considering the environment. Some tap water contains contaminants and some water fountains are also found to have high levels of lead which is why filtered drinking water is a much better option.
Your best bet is a home water filter that comes with advanced technology for a low price. The athletes in your family need to stay hydrated in order to perform better and stay healthy – just make sure they’re doing it with the best water available to them. Contact us today to learn more about our home drinking water systems and how they can support any athlete in your family, recreational or professional alike.
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