Water treatment is not one-size-fits-all. The key is to understand what water is like in general, how is your water quality, and what technology is available.

Water & Its Many Attributes

Water is one of the most regulated substances on the planet. Understandably so, as it is essential to life on earth.

Water Quality Problems

The best water is clear, tastes fresh and clean, and has no smell or texture, but rarely does water come directly from the source already at the standard we want.

Some of the most common problems we face and treat in Deep East Texas include the following:

• Hardness

  • Water hardness is often best understood by its effects on soap usage. Harder water makes it “harder” to form foam or suds but often leaves the skin feeling dryer/cleaner. Softer water does the reverse: makes it easy to use soap but can leave the skin feeling greasy.

  • Hard water is defined by the EPA as having more

  • There are 2 kinds of hardness: temporary & permanent. Temporary is the one that most people see crusting on shower heads, kettles, water heaters, and more. It is called temporary because it precipitates or comes out of the water easily. The crusting caused by hard water can damage appliances over time. Permanent hardness, though, does not precipitate out easily and is less problematic.

  • Hardness is caused by 2 specific minerals: calcium & magnesium. These minerals combine with soap to create soap scum, which can stain showers and sinks. To “soften” the water, we remove as much of these minerals as we can.

• Iron, Manganese & Sulfide

  • Iron is a heavy metal. It exists in water in two forms: ferrous iron [iron (II)] and ferric iron [iron (III)]. Both lead to red-orange staining, especially in toilets.

  • Iron does not precipitate or come out of water easily if the pH is below 7.0. Unfortunately, much of the water in our area that has high amounts of iron also has low pH, leading to a need for at least a two-step treatment system and higher costs.

  • Manganese is a heavy metal.

  • Sulfide is a gas. It dissolves easily in water and appears as tiny bubbles. Sulfide also stinks, literally. It is known by its characteristic smell of rotten eggs and/or sewage. Though it is toxic in large amounts, the amount dissolved in groundwater is minuscule and harmless. Humans are extremely sensitive to the smell, so it is just an unpleasant, aesthetic problem.

• Low pH

• Color (Tannins)

• TDS

Water Treatment Technologies

There are many types of water treatment available thanks to advances in science and technology. They are best understood by the problems they correct.