Water Problems
Water Quality Problems
What’s In Your Water?
Water quality can no longer be taken for granted. A variety of factors can affect how your water tastes, smells, feels and works in and around your home or business. Well-water quality, natural or man-made contamination, an aging water distribution system, violations of federal drinking water standards and issues with existing plumbing are all examples of issues that can affect your water supply.
Many potentially harmful contaminants have no color, taste or odor and remain undetected, leaving consumers with a false sense of security. Having a Kinetico Advanced Water Systems professional test your water is the best way to determine if water treatment is necessary and which solution is right for you.
Hard Water
Dry skin and hair, hardness scale, spots on glass, silverware and fixtures, dull, dingy clothing, reduced equipment performance and shortened service life of water-using appliances are all problems frequently caused by hard water.
Hard water contains dissolved calcium, magnesium and iron. Most water supplies contain hardness, whether it is supplied by a well or a municipality. In many cases, consumers don’t realize they have hard water or understand the constant and expensive harm it causes.
A Kinetico water softener can treat these problems by removing harmful minerals and metals in your water supply. Schedule a free water analysis to understand your unique water needs and receive custom treatment solutions.
Cloudy Water
Cloudy, murky or discolored water is usually caused by particulate matter or suspended solids in your water that are visible to the naked eye. This is known as “turbidity.” Water can become turbid naturally or from land disturbances such as construction, storms and urban runoff.
The turbidity of your water can vary significantly but even if your water looks clear, it could still contain a high level of particulate matter or suspended solids.
Sediment filtration systems are highly effective at removing suspended solids and other visible contaminants from your water. With a free water analysis, a Kinetico water expert will assess your water and offer recommendations based on your specific needs.
Chlorine Taste and Smell
A chemical filtration system from Kinetico can remove chlorine and other chemical contaminants from your water supply, returning it to its natural state. Request your free water analysis for customized filtration solutions for your home or business.
Since the early 1900s, chlorine has been used as a disinfectant to kill harmful bacteria in public water supplies or the pipes that transport it. Although it has helped end a number of major threats to public health and is essential at the treatment plant and in the water distribution system, it is no longer necessary once the water reaches your home.
Though chlorine is vital for stopping the spread of disease, its benefits come at a price. Chlorine tastes and smells bad. It dries skin and hair, fades clothes (bleach is made of chlorine), and can damage the rubber seals in fixtures and appliances, causing leaks.
Drinking Water Issues
A water purification system such as a reverse osmosis drinking water station, removes offensive chemicals, metals, pharmaceuticals, emerging contaminants like PFOS, PFAS, GenX and more from your water supply, making it safe and enjoyable to drink.
In its pristine state, water is colorless, tasteless and odorless. If your water looks, tastes, or smells abnormal, Kinetico can help pinpoint the problem and provide treatment recommendations during a free water analysis.
- Earthy or musty taste and odor: This is often the result of compounds released from decaying vegetation and are typically associated with different forms of algae. While not toxic, they are nonetheless unpleasant and can be offensive at very low concentrations.
- “Rotten egg” smell: Another source of smelly water is hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless corrosive gas that has the characteristic odor of rotten eggs. In high concentrations, it can leave an unpleasant odor on hair and clothing, accelerate the corrosion of metal appliances, and can ultimately become a health risk.
- Metallic taste: A metallic taste to your water indicates the presence of metals such as iron, copper, manganese or zinc. Iron and manganese are often naturally occurring and are predominantly found in groundwater. Copper and zinc can come from an aging water distribution system or the corrosion of copper plumbing and brass fittings.
Iron and Manganese Staining
Kinetico twin-tank ion exchange water softeners offer efficient and reliable removal of iron and manganese from your water. A Kinetico water expert can identify the presence of these harmful metals and more during a free water analysis.
Water is a natural solvent. Given the needed time and conditions, it will dissolve anything it comes in contact with, including metals like iron and manganese. These can cause rusty-orange or black staining on clothes, fixtures, sinks, tubs, water-using appliances and toilets.
Blue-Green Staining
Blue-green stains left on surfaces such as sinks, tubs, toilets and even clothing could be a sign that your water has a low pH. The right specialty system returns your water to the proper pH level and eliminates unsightly stains on your fixtures, hair and clothing. Additionally, continued effects of low pH can be severe with pinhole leaks in your plumbing system.
Learn more about your specific water needs and customized treatment solutions during a free water analysis with a Kinetico water expert.
Bacteria and Viruses
An ultraviolet (UV) sanitization system deactivates the microorganisms in the water supply and terminates any potential for growth or reproduction. Schedule an advanced water analysis with a Kinetico water expert and receive a comprehensive report and treatment recommendations for your specific needs.
According to the CDC, there are as many as 12 million cases of acute waterborne gastrointestinal illness annually in the United States. These illnesses are frequently caused by bacteria, viruses and protozoa in the water supply. Even well-operated, state-of-the-art treatment plants cannot ensure that your water is entirely free of microbial pathogens.
Uranium and Radium
Kinetico Advanced Water Systems offers ion-exchange systems to mitigate these contaminants at the whole-house level. Let Kinetico Advanced Water Systems provide you with peace of mind that your home or business is using the safest, cleanest water possible. Schedule an advanced water analysis to find out what’s in your water.
Uranium and radium are radioactive isotopes found in many rocks and soils, which can oftentimes end up in your well-water supply. Uranium and radium are heavy metals that can damage your kidneys or cause bone and lung cancer over long-time exposure.
Water contamination with these radioactive elements is generally controlled by geology with existing zones of potential contamination being well documented. For customized treatment recommendations, schedule a free water analysis with a Kinetico water expert.
Radon
The most effective method to mitigate radon in the water is by aeration. Kinetico Advanced Water Systems offers state-of-the-art diffuse bubbler systems which reduce water radon up to 99%. Schedule your affordable radon test today.
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the radioactive decay of uranium and is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is commonly associated with uranium in specific geological environments. Many consumers are familiar with radon contamination in the air of their homes with many conducting radon tests prior to purchase. Less commonly known is the infiltration of groundwater by the same radioactive gas which then enters your home through the daily use of your water.
Radon in water and in the air is measured with the same scale of picocuries (pCi) per liter and both contribute to the home’s radon concentration.
Silica
Besides dedicating large amounts of time to cleaning and maintenance, an alternative way is to remove the silica from your water using a Kinetico whole home reverse osmosis water purification system. Speak to a Kinetico Advanced Water Systems professional who can test your water today to determine if this solution is right for you.
Silica is one of the most common contaminants in water supplies due to its ubiquitous presence in rocks and minerals that host our groundwater that also wreaks havoc on the fixtures in your home.
The most common telltale sign of silica in water is stubborn, hard to remove mineral deposits on shower doors, enclosures, toilet bowls, and metal fixtures. If you are struggling to remove these very hard deposits, then you most likely have elevated silica levels. Most commonly, silica deposits resemble hard-water spots or scale that are much tougher to remove and typically require abrasive cleansers and pumice stones to garner any success.
Emerging Contaminants
Water purification systems remove emerging contaminants from your water supply and provide you with the peace of mind that you are not being exposed to these highly toxic compounds. A Kinetico water expert can help identify any pollutants present during a free water analysis.
GenX, PFOA, PFOS and VOCs are manmade chemical pollutants that come from manufacturing processes. These toxic “forever chemicals” do not break down and can have significant effects on human health ranging from minor to severe, including organ damage, infertility, birth defects and cancer.