Top Reasons to Drink More Water

We all know that water is essential for life. But let’s face it. Something so basic can also seem soooo boring. Far from it! Water has got a lot going for it. So drink up! And here’s why:

• Drinking water can make you smarter. Scientific studies conducted in England indicate that students who carry a fresh supply of drinking water with them into their exams can score up to 10% better on their tests. Staying well-hydrated boosts your brain’s ability to concentrate.

• Drinking water can make you more energetic. Every system in your body is dependent on water to function. Your brain especially requires significant levels of water, as anyone who has ever experienced dehydration knows, with its symptoms of dizziness and sluggishness. In fact, the brain is composed of almost 80% water. Water will help you stay awake and alert.

• Drinking water can keep you younger. At the very least, it can keep you looking and feeling younger. Among its many potential anti-aging benefits, drinking plenty of water will keep your skin soft and supple. Water can benefit your skin’s collagen and elastin. Water can also help boost cell repair, and keep your epidermis rejuvenated.

• Drinking water can make you stronger. Taking another big sip from your sports bottle won’t necessarily build more muscle by itself. But drinking more water is part of an overall strategy to keep your muscles in peak condition. Dehydration can have a detrimental effect on your muscles’ ability to repair tissue and replenish energy. So be sure to keep filling up your bottle and you’ll feel the difference in your workouts.

• Drinking water can make you better looking. In addition to younger looking skin and more resilient muscles, drinking more water will likely mean less sugary drinks. That translates into fewer cavities, and a more vibrant smile. Overall, water can help you look better and feel better, with improved complexion, leaner muscles and a brighter smile. That’s enough to make people sit up and take notice!

• Drinking water can make you slimmer. Any sensible weight loss plan will include drinking plenty of water, according to numerous studies. The precise reasons why drinking more water promotes shedding pounds remains unknown. It is likely, however, that consuming extra water contributes to a “full” sensation, encouraging dieters to eat less. Drinking more water may even boost your metabolism.

• Drinking water can make you healthier. Water helps flush out toxins that might otherwise accumulate in your body’s tissues and organs. It seems Mom was right when she told you to drink plenty of liquids, especially during cold and flu season. Drinking water boosts the optimum functioning of your immune system.

• Drinking water can make you wealthier. Drinking more of it could save you some serious cash. A refreshing glass of pure ice water is better for you (and for your wallet) than a fancy $4 latte. Buying bottled water at the store also costs more than filtering water at home. Reverse osmosis filtration is highly effective in producing quality, contaminant-free water–and it costs pennies per gallon. 

• Drinking water can make you a better person. At the very least, keeping it simple with filtered tap water will raise your environmental awareness. Plastic bottles clutter our landfills.

Bacteria in Water Wells

Quick Facts...

• Bacterial contamination of drinking water can cause serious human illness.
• Bacterial slimes in irrigation wells may clog pumps and pipes.
• Bacterial contamination can be controlled by well chlorination, proper septic system and well maintenance, and good sanitation practices.
• Coliforms are a broad class of bacteria that live in the digestive tracts of humans and many animals.

Protecting Your Water Supply

• Periodically inspect exposed parts of the well for problems such as:
  - a cracked, corroded, or damaged well casing.
  - a broken or missing well cap.
  - settling and cracking of surface seals.
• Slope the area around the well to drain surface runoff away from it.
• Keep accurate records of well maintenance and water quality analysis.
• Hire a licensed water well contractor for new well construction, modification, or abandonment and closure.
• Avoid mixing or using pesticides, fertilizers, weed killers, fuels degreasers, and other pollutants near the well.
• Do not dispose of wastes in dry wells, abandoned wells or sinkholes.
• Do not cut off the well casing below 12 inches above the ground’s surface.
• Pump and inspect septic systems as often as recommended by your local health department.
• Never dispose of hazardous materials in a septic system.
• Have the well tested once a year for coliform bacteria, nitrate and other particles of concern

Ultraviolet radiation (UV)

• uses UV light to kill microorganisms
• lamp has 9- to 12-month lifetime
• needs UV sensor to determine germicidal dose
• effective for bacterial contaminants (viruses more difficult, cysts and worms unaffected)
• advantage is that no chemicals are added to the water
• disadvantage is that there is no residual disinfection; cloudy or turbid water decreases effectiveness

Why does my well water smell like rotten eggs?

The odor of rotten eggs quickly takes the pleasure from drinking a cool glass of water or enjoying a hot shower. This foul odor comes from hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a gas dissolved in water. This gas is found in many water wells through out South Florida.
Hydrogen sulfide gas can result from a number of different sources.

• It can occur naturally in groundwater.
• It can be produced by "sulfur bacteria" in the groundwater, in the well, or in the water distribution system.
• It can be produced also by sulfur bacteria or chemical reactions inside water heaters.
• In rare instances, it can result from pollution.

The odor can be removed from your water by a Sulfur Filter. It removes the odor and taste immediately, and there are no filters or cartridges to change. The system removes sulfur gas as well as low levels of manganese and iron that can stain toilets and sinks. The system also takes care of minor sediment and pH imbalances.

Does it work?  "We are so thrilled with our new water filtration system. We noticed the difference immediately. Our water always had a bit of a sulfur smell -- so much so that I always bought water to drink and to make coffee with -- and it left an orange residue in the toilets and shower. As soon as our filtration system was installed, the smell disappeared and our toilets and shower now look bright and clean."

?

Benefits:

• High Efficient.Less is best.
• * Use only one pump to supply water to your home instead of two.
• * Replaces open aerator where the frogs hang out in before the water enters your home, pressure tank on house side, house pump, pressure switch on house side, float switch and solenoid valve.
• * No maintenance.

Why Should Hard Water Concern Me?

For many uses, it would not matter. For instance, to put out fires, water your lawn, wash the mud off the streets or float your boat, water would have to be pretty hard to cause a problem. But for bathing, washing dishes and clothes, shaving, washing your car and many other uses of water, hard water is not as efficient or convenient as "soft water." For instance:

~ You use only 1/2 as much soap cleaning with soft water.
~ Because hard water and soap combine to form "soap scum" that can't be rinsed off, forming a 'bathtub ring' on all surfaces and drys leaving unsightly spots on your dishes.
~ When hard water is heated, the hardness minerals are re-crystallized to form hardness scale. This scale can plug your pipes and hot water heater, causing premature failure, necessitating costly replacement.
~ The soap scum remains on your skin even after rinsing, clogging the pores of your skin and coating every hair on your body. This crud can serve as a home for bacteria, causing diaper rash, minor skin irritation and skin that continually itches.
~ For many industrial uses, the hardness minerals interfere with the process, causing inferior product.
wwwFloridaSoftWater.com

Why is my Water leaving Pink Stains in my Bathroom?

Pink residue is generally not a problem with water quality. In fact, pink residue is likely a result of airborne bacteria which produce a pinkish or dark gray film on regularly moist surfaces. Such surfaces include toilet bowls, showerheads, sink drains, and tiles.

Some people have also noted that the pink residue appears in their pet's water bowl, which causes no apparent harm to the pet and is easily cleaned off.

Many experts agree that the bacteria that causes these pink stains is most likely Serratia marcesens, a bacteria which is found naturally in soil, food, and in animals. Serratia, which produce a characteristic red pigment, thrive on moisture, dust, and phosphates and need almost nothing to survive.

The pinkish film often appears during or after construction or remodeling, when dust and dirt containing Serratia bacteria are stirred up. Once the bacteria is airborne, it will seek a moist location in which it can grow. Some people have reported that the pink residue only appears during certain times of the year, when their windows are left open for most of the day. This bacteria is present in a number of environments and wind can carry the airborne bacteria or stir up dust in which the bacteria is present.

The use of activated carbon filters, which remove chlorine from the water, can make the problem worse. The absence of the normal levels of chlorine in tap water allows Serratia to thrive.

How do I get rid of the pink residue?

The best solution to this problem is to continually clean the involved surfaces to keep them free from bacteria. Compounds containing chlorine work best, but keep in mind that abrasive cleaners may scratch fixtures, making them more susceptible to bacterial growth.

Chlorine bleach can be used periodically to disinfect the toilet and help to eliminate the occurrence of the pink residue. An easy way to do this is to stir three to five tablespoons of fresh bleach to the toilet tank, flush the toilet to allow the bowl to be disinfected, and add another dose of bleach to the tank as it is refilling. The use of toilet "cakes" containing disinfectant can help keep the problem under control. By keeping bathtubs and sinks wiped down and dry, the formation of pink residue can be avoided.
www.FloridaSoftWater.com

How much salt does my Water Softener add to my drinking water?

For every grain of hardness in your water 7.5 mg of Sodium will be “added” to each quart of water by the ion-exchange method. For example if the water is 10gpg hard, you will add 75.0mg of Sodium per quart of water softened by ion-exchange. To put this in perspective one 8oz glass of milk contains 120mg of Sodium; one slice of white bread contains 114mg of Sodium. There is more Sodium in an 8 ounce glass of milk than in one quart of water softened by ion-exchange. And there you go!

FloridaSoftWater.com

My water feels slimy....Good! It's supposed to.

Many of our new customers have asked this question. Why does my Soft Water feel so slimy? How come I can't get the soap to rinse off of me? As always when it comes to water quality the final answer may depend on the local water characteristics within your specific region, and the type of Water Treatment Equipment that you have chosen. However, the answer here in South Florida has to a lot do with the exchange of Sodium for Calcium taking place within the Water Softener. Calcium is one of the most common Ions in our local Water. It makes up over 90% of the Total Hardness in South Florida. Calcium makes things like clothing and skin feel rough, and dried out. It is usually found naturally occurring in the form of Calcium Bi-Carbonate. When the Water travels through a Water Softening System the Softener Resin attracts and holds the Calcium from the water. For every single Hardness Ion removed from the Water, about a 1/2 of a Sodium Ion will be introduced into the water. What you end up with is a slight increase in the Sodium level in the form of Sodium Bi-Carbonate, in the Softened Water.
Another factor is the Skin itself. Over prolonged exposure to Hard Water the pores of your skin become blocked with Calcium. By not allowing natural skin oils to exit through the pores, your skin can become dry and rough. Once the Water Is Softened the pores clear out and the skin oil becomes present. This can cause a slippery skin feeling also.
Soap is the final culprit. Once you remove Hardness from the Water, it is important to cut down on the amount of soap that you use by over 1/2. Soft water makes more suds which can feel slippery.
Once customers become accustomed to Soft Water they learn to expect that slippery/silky feel and won’t settle for less. It is a constant reminder that their Water Treatment System is working properly and that they are showering in the best water for their skin.
Until next time treat yourself to a nice warm silky bath, and enjoy your great water!