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Home Water Treatment Equipment
Until recently, the home water treatment industry focused on improving the aesthetic characteristics or nuisance concerns of household water. Treatment generally was limited to removing particulate matter or hardness minerals, correcting staining, odor or taste problems, and occasionally disinfecting water systems. Reports of water contamination have raised consumer awareness and concern about the safety of all water sources, both public and private. Manufacturers and dealers of home water treatment equipment are responding to the perception of unsafe water. An increasing number of manufacturers offer an ever-expanding array of products that promise to make water safe, or "pure." The consumer is left to sift through the claims and supporting data when selecting treatment methods and products.
Public & Private Sources
If you are on a public drinking water supply, it most likely meets national safety standards and home treatment should not be needed for health protection. However, home owners using a private well water supply are responsible for monitoring the quality of their own drinking water supply. Water treatment devices can improve the quality of water by reducing health hazards such as bacteria, chemical pollutants and other toxic substances, or help remove nuisance problems such as odors or hardness.
Before Treating Water
Before considering any treatment devices, you should know the quality of your water supply. Odor and hardness problems can sometimes be detected by simple observation. Detection of bacteria, potentially toxic substances and other contaminants usually requires laboratory conducted tests. If any undesirable qualities are identified in the water, the problem can often be solved by repairing or replacing the existing water system or treating the home water supply.
Persistently Contaminated Water
Locating a safe water supply is usually the best solution to combat a health risk. When persistently contaminated water poses a health threat or makes the water unusable, consider the following options:
Before System Purchase
Before purchasing a system you should know how the various systems work, what problems they address and the maintenance required. If more than 1 problem exists, treating water can become complicated. These websites discussed important questions your should consider before purchasing any water treatment equipment, as well as the major types of treatment equipment, their advantages, disadvantages, costs, and uses.
Public & Private Sources
If you are on a public drinking water supply, it most likely meets national safety standards and home treatment should not be needed for health protection. However, home owners using a private well water supply are responsible for monitoring the quality of their own drinking water supply. Water treatment devices can improve the quality of water by reducing health hazards such as bacteria, chemical pollutants and other toxic substances, or help remove nuisance problems such as odors or hardness.
Before Treating Water
Before considering any treatment devices, you should know the quality of your water supply. Odor and hardness problems can sometimes be detected by simple observation. Detection of bacteria, potentially toxic substances and other contaminants usually requires laboratory conducted tests. If any undesirable qualities are identified in the water, the problem can often be solved by repairing or replacing the existing water system or treating the home water supply.
Persistently Contaminated Water
Locating a safe water supply is usually the best solution to combat a health risk. When persistently contaminated water poses a health threat or makes the water unusable, consider the following options:
- Connect to a public water supply
- Correct well construction faults
- Develop a community water system
- Eliminate sources of contamination
- Install a new private well
Before System Purchase
Before purchasing a system you should know how the various systems work, what problems they address and the maintenance required. If more than 1 problem exists, treating water can become complicated. These websites discussed important questions your should consider before purchasing any water treatment equipment, as well as the major types of treatment equipment, their advantages, disadvantages, costs, and uses.