The Basics of Community Water Treatment

Flow Pros Plumbing Educates Clients on the Basics of Community Water Treatment

As you know, water is one of the most essential natural resources on the planet. But tap water can contain harmful bacteria and viruses. Not to mention, untreated water may have metals like mercury, chlorine, fluorine, and lead floating around in the water. These elements can be hazardous and can make you sick. That is why the pros at Flow Pros Plumbing provide these articles to educate homeowners on the basics of community water treatment and more.

In the following article, we show how the basics of water treatment can help keep you and your family safe. 

Just the Basics

Did you know that the drinking water supply in the United States is one of the safest in the entire world? And yet, even the U.S. water can become contaminated and make your family sick or worse. That is why public water systems are treated using various methods.

Making water safe for drinking is the primary concern of the water treatment facility. Additionally, the water should taste good, and there must be plenty of supply. In the process, raw and untreated water is taken from underground aquifers or surface water and is pumped in. Then the water is pre-treated, removing larger debris like leaves and dirt. Next, it enters further treatment to clear it from chemicals and disease.

Community water systems are treated in the following ways.

1. Coagulation and Flocculation- These are the first steps in water treatment for community distribution. In this process, positively charged chemicals are added to the water to neutralize the negative charges from the dirt and other things in the water. Then those particles bind to one another and form what they call floc.
2. Sedimentation- In this part of the treatment, the floc, or chemicals, settle to the bottom.
3. Filtration- Now, the clean water on top of the floc passes through filters to remove any lighter or dissolved particles. These include dust, parasites, bacteria, chemicals, and viruses.
4. Disinfection- At this point, the water has been treated and filtered. It is ready to be disinfected with chlorine or chloramine. Then the water is safe from germs and can enter homes.

Different communities may treat water in slightly different processes, but the water gets cleaned just the same. And surface water requires a more involved process due to the contaminants in lakes, rivers, and ponds. In contrast, underground water is relatively untouched.

Despite the processes utilized, the water flows out into the community through the distribution system once cleaned.

Water Treatment at Home

Do you know what is in the water coming out of your tap at home? Probably not. We assume it is safe to drink, but additional water treatment systems are available for homeowners. They are readily installed if you want to be sure. Flow Pros Plumbing installs and maintains three main categories of water treatment systems each day.

1. Water Softeners
2. Reverse Osmosis
3. UV Lights

Water Softeners

Home water softeners remove the minerals like calcium and magnesium found in tap water that causes dingy clothes, itchy skin, and more.

Reverse Osmosis

An RO system removes the contaminants from your water with filters. They are installed in your home fixtures and are a great way to keep your family’s drinking water safe.

UV Lights

Using UV lights to purify water is another option, and it is cost-effective too. The UV rays eliminate biological contaminants and leave the water completely safe. And it does not change the taste, pH, or smell of the water.

All these treatment systems and more are available for installation with your local plumbing company.

The Benefits of Home Water Treatment Systems

To ensure your water is perfectly safe and clean for consumption, water treatment systems can be added to your home. And the benefits of water treatment are undeniable. Of course, we assume the community water treatment facility has removed any harmful substances. However, there are varying degrees of treatment depending on the water source and area you live in. To be 100 percent sure, you can install a water treatment system in your home.

• Improved Water Quality- Remove all contaminants and substances from the water.
• Remove Lead- Lead is a cause of nervous disorders in children. And in adults, it can cause high blood pressure, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues.
• Remove Chlorine- Chlorine can irritate eyes, cause breathing difficulties and chest tightness.
• Keep Carcinogens Out- Carcinogens cause cancer, and water purification can take them out.
• Improve Your Skin- Improving the water that keeps your skin hydrated is a win-win. The irritants that make your skin itchy and blotchy will be gone as well.
• Gastrointestinal Improvements- When you cook with and drink clean water, you have better digestion.
• Improve Immunity- Good clean water helps your body fight diseases and improves cell function.
• Save Money- Clean water means a healthier life. It is that simple.

So why not invest in your family’s health and wellbeing with a home water treatment plan? The benefits outweigh the cost, and the process is easy for a plumber to install in your home.

Signs You Need Additional Home Water Treatment

Water testing is the best way to know if you need a water treatment system installed in your home. But there are some more obvious signs you may see that will encourage you to get the testing sooner than later. Here is what we see in homes all over Pinellas and Hillsborough County.

• Are your shampoos and soaps not lathering like they do in other homes? Maybe you noticed in a hotel how well your conditioner works. You may need water treatment.
• Does your hair feel dry, and your skin feel itchy and look dull? Well, you may need to treat the water to get all the soap scum buildup off your hair and body.
• Do your towels and bedsheets always seem scratchy and faded too quickly? Hard water makes the fabrics break down quicker and leaves them feeling scratchy.
• When the glasses in your clean dishwasher start to become spotty, then cloudy, your water is most likely too hard. Soft and clean water makes cutlery shiny too.
• Are you constantly battling stains on your sinks and bathtubs? That is from the soap scum left behind by hard water. Reddish-brown stains in the shower are a tell-tale sign of hard water in your home.
• Perhaps the most obvious sign is the scale ring on facets in the bathroom and kitchen. It is unattractive and inadequate for the pipes as well. If left to continue building up, the lines can eventually experience decreased water flow and even clog.

If you have any of these issues, the pros may outweigh the cons, making the decision easy.

After Community Water Treatment; Home Water Treatment by Flow Pros Plumbing

Suppose you own a home in the Hillsborough and Pinellas County areas. In that case, you are indeed wanting to call a plumber after reading this article. At Flow Pros, we are here for all your plumbing needs, including home water treatment systems.

Water treatment systems used today are reliable, effective, and available. And the advanced technology in today’s systems helps you avoid additional plumbing issues, costly pipe repairs and helps extend the life of your plumbing and appliances.

Contact a member of our Flow Pros Plumbing team to discuss testing and the right water treatment system for your home.