Top 3 Residential Water Treatment Methods

Are you currently plagued with water quality issues within your home? This is a common problem many people experience.

Most of us already have our water treated to some level. If you rely on a public drinking water supply, it is treated to meet safety standards. Typically, it is chlorine or chloramine that is added to water. This kills disease causing germs to ensure your water is safe to consume before it reaches your home.

Although public water is pre-treated, it is possible, and common, to have other water quality issues. You can have hard water, acidic water, excess hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), and more.

However, if you are on a private water supply such as well water, it is up to you to monitor your water. Water treatment systems will help you purify your water and remove any bacteria or contaminants.

Why Should I Get My Water Tested?

Some issues can be noted just from the look or smell of your water.

If your water is causing colored stains on your appliances, that is not a good sign. For example, acidic water can cause green stains in your bath tubs, sinks, and toilets. When water is acidic it can leach metals from pipes and fixtures. Dissolved copper can cause green stains which present itself in various spots around your home.

This is an easily observed problem, but there can be other underlying causes as well.

To determine if there are harmful minerals, bacteria, and/or microorganisms in your water, it should be tested. These substances cannot be determined just from the look or taste of your water.

Many water conditioning companies offer water testing and consultation services. Understanding the root of your problem will prevent future headaches – get the right treatment the first time!

Types of Water Treatment Systems

With many treatment methods available today it can be difficult to find the right solution.

At Suburban Water Technology, we offer three main methods to treat your home’s water. While these are the most common three, we also create custom home solutions and combine various treatment methods when needed.

Keep in mind that we are not recommending any specific method for readers, that will come down to the problems within your specific water. Your water treatment company will help you determine the correct, most effective treatment option for your situation.

The three main methods we use include reverse osmosis, water softening, and ultraviolet disinfection units.

Reverse Osmosis 

Reverse osmosis is a purification method that removes contaminants from your tap water. The water flows through a series of filters called membranes. Each membrane progressively filters out contaminants.

RO systems are primarily installed to keep your drinking water clean. They are typically not installed as a whole-home solution.

Reverse osmosis provides you with safe, clean water on demand. To learn how they work to purify your water, head to our previous blog.

Water Softener

A water softener is a whole-house filtration system that removes excess minerals from your water such as calcium and magnesium. These extra minerals cause hard water.

The process by which these are removed is called ion exchange. When the hard water enters the tank of your water softener, it flows through a bed of resin beads.

As the hard water passes through the resin, the beads grab the mineral ions and remove them from the water. This strips the hardness out of your water, leaving you with soft water. Below is a simplified graphic that shows how a water softener works.

They’re extremely easy to maintain. Check the salt levels frequently and add more salt as needed. We recommend always keeping your water softener tank at least half full with salt.

If you have noticed mineral build-up on shower heads or faucets, or you have dried water spots on your glassware, it is likely you have hard water. 85% of the U.S. has hard water!

Ultraviolet Disinfection

Ultraviolet disinfection units provide a chemical-free water treatment solution. They operate 254 nanometers ultraviolet wavelength. In simple terms, the nanometers they operate at are strong enough to eliminate foodborne pathogens, molds, and yeasts from your water.

UV water filters don’t contain any chemically-active elements. This unit works by breaking down certain chemical bonds and scrambling their biological structure, preventing microorganisms within your water from multiplying. Once this microorganism is unable to multiply it is considered “dead” and is no longer infectious.

This process doesn’t add anything to your water, it only physically attacks the structure of bacteria within your water.

They begin working nearly immediately, and there are no moving parts that will wear out quickly. The bulbs need to be replaced annually, so minimum maintenance is required.

Can You Combine Water Treatment Methods?

These are our three most common residential treatment options. However, our treatment options can be combined when needed. For example, reverse osmosis units and water softeners are a common combination.

Why would you combine a reverse osmosis unit with a water softener?

The reverse osmosis unit targets your tap water, while the water softener targets the rest of your home’s water.

Reverse osmosis systems work to remove contaminants. They’re designed to remove harmful pollutants such as chlorine, lead, and carcinogens.

Water softeners work to remove minerals. Specifically hard water minerals – calcium and manganese.

Both systems filter water, but they have two different functions.

Water Treatment Solutions for Pennsylvania & New Jersey

If you’re in need of a water conditioning company, and you’re located in or around Pennsylvania and New Jersey, we’re the company for you!

With our 60+ years of knowledge and certified water treatment professionals, your water will be back to normal in no time.

Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule a consultation appointment, 800-525-6464!