Water Contaminants
Hardness and Manganese
Manganese
If Manganese is present in the water, you may see black or brown staining on your fixtures. You may even notice a blackish-brown string or yarn type substance in the toilet tanks. The acceptable level for manganese is less than 0.05 mg/L. A water softener or a greensand filter will remove this issue. Sometimes there are other issues in the well water that need to be addressed. It is best to set up our free onsite evaluation so the appropriate system is installed.
Hard Water
The hardness of water depends on the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium present in the water. These minerals can create scales in cold water piping and when heated, can cause a buildup in water heaters, boilers, and other appliances leading to a boost in heating bills by as much as 20%. (link photo here)
Unsightly film or scum in the tub and other fixtures may build up and may require more soap to be used for cleaning. It can build up on skin and hair and can cause dry skin, brittle hair, skin irritation and clogged pores. You may notice graying of whites or the loss of brightness in colored laundry; hardness can cut back the life cycle of clothing. In addition, calcium and magnesium will be absorbed by foods cooked in hard water.
The level of hardness in water is usually expressed as grains per gallon (gpg) or milligrams per liter (mg/l). The levels are noted under the page Safe Drinking Water.
Hard water scale buildup.
Water Softener
If you have manganese or hardness in your water, a water softener may be needed. Often times, manganese and iron will appear together in well water, so it is best to have an evaluation and full water test done on your well water so the appropriate system is installed.
In most cases the water softener resin will last for several years without needing to be replaced, but the brine tank must be filled with salt monthly. Generally, one bag per month is needed and several bags may be added (you may add 4 bags of salt every 4 months). We recommend using the blue bags of water softening salt crystals. Bags can be purchased at most hardware or home supply stores or the water softening bags may be purchased at our office.
If there is a power outage, or a time change, you will need to reset the timer on the control head. This is important to reset because you don’t want to use water during a backwash cycle. Please click here for timer resetting instructions.
