I’ve heard about coliform bacteria. What are they?
Coliform bacteria originate as organisms in soil or vegetation and in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals (fecal coli). The many sources of facterial pollution include runoff from woodlands, pastures, and feedlots; septic tanks and sewage plants; and animals (wild or domestic).

Will coliform bacteria make us sick?
Maybe, maybe not. Most coliforms are harmless residents of soil and will not make people sick. Some strains of E. coli, the most common fecal coliform bacterium, may be pathogens. Some found in food have been lethal. Their presence should be taken very seriously.

If my water is clear and smells OK, is it safe?
You cannot directly smell unsafe bacteria or protozoa. They can only be detected using tests designed for that purpose. You should check your water quality regularly. Some sources of odors are bacteria or septic, or the presence of chemicals. It is a good idea to take your nose seriously. Have the water tested.

What is the “iron bacteria” problem?
Better described as iron biofouling, the problem popularly known as “iron bacteria” is both complex and widespread. Iron and other biofouling consists of biofilms, which include living and dead bacteria, their sheaths, stalks, secretions and other leavings, and embedded metal hydroxide particles. “Iron bacteria” is one type of biofouling among several, including the characteristic white sulfur slime of sulfur springs. Manganese and even aluminum biofouling is also found in ground water systems. These biofilms are natural and usually harmless. Natural iron biofouling often acts as a preliminary iron filter in wells and therefore can serve a positive function as well. Biofouling can be a nuisance, however. Generally, iron biofouling is the cause of iron buildup in wells and pipes.

If I have bacteria in my well, where do they come from?
Many types of bacteria are native or adapted to saturated sediments and rock, and are present in significant numbers in most water supply aquifers, even deep formations. Given time and a route (soil and rock provide plenty of both), bacteria will migrate into and take up housekeeping in an aquifer. “Non-native” coliform bacteria or “protozoa” of potential health concern, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium, are most likely introduced from the surface.

Some water contains troublesome elements or has characteristics that can make it very unpleasant to use or damaging to things that it touches. Among them are iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide and acidity.

Iron

Iron in water is a common problem. Since iron makes up five percent of the Earth's crust, water absorbs it as it passes through the ground and into underground aquifiers, wells and surface waters. Unfortunately, iron creates some annoying problems. Iron is generally found in well water, although city water users are not immune from the problems associated with it.Iron typically rears its ugly head as rusty orange/brown stains, streaks or spots on clothing cleaned in a washing machine. Stains also appear on bathtubs, sinks and faucets. Even small amounts of iron can cause problems. Iron in concentrations as low as .3 parts per million can cause staining. And iron staining can be difficult to remove; cleaning may require special solvents. Iron can also clog pipes and damage the internal parts of water-using appliances.

Iron exists in three common forms: elemental iron, ferrous iron and ferric iron. The elemental form of iron is found in the ground. Ferrous iron is in a dissolved state within a water supply and will not cause any discoloration, although a distinct metallic taste will be present. When the dissolved iron reacts with oxygen, ferric iron results. Ferric iron turns the water a hazy, reddish-brown color and makes it very unappealing. Ferric iron stains bathtubs, sinks and fixtures when it comes in contact with them. Even though iron is generally dissolved in water, when the water is drawn from the tap, the iron reacts with the oxygen in the air and enters the ferric state. In some cases, water may already carry ferric iron when it's drawn from a faucet, and may appear discolored.

Solving Iron Problems

No matter which form iron appears in, there is a solution available to take care of it. Typically one of the following two methods is used:
* Water Conditioners - Common home water conditioners can remove average amounts of dissolved iron from a family's water supply.
* Multi-Stage Iron Removal Systems - When iron appears in excessive amounts, a specialized iron removal system may be required. Aeration equipment or chlorine can be used to inject oxygen into the water and change the dissolved iron into ferric iron. Special automatic backwashing filters then remove the iron, leaving the water clean and clear. In some cases, special filters can perform both the oxidation and filtration functions.

Manganese

Manganese, an element closely related to iron, can also cause the problems described above. Stains are usually darker in color, but treatment options are generally the same as those used against iron. Manganese is not as common as iron, however, so problems with it do not occur as frequently or severely.

Acid Water

Acidity is another characteristic that can influence a family's water supply. When water is acidic, it must be neutralized or it will corrode plumbing and fixtures, and could damage water-using appliances. A neutralizer containing calcite chips is often used to reduce water acidity. As water flows through the bed of calcite, the chips dissolve into the water and neutralize its acidity. They also add hardness minerals to the water that can then be removed by a water conditioner.

Hydrogen sulfide (also commonly referred to as sulfur), although not a cause of staining, gives water an obnoxious, "rotten egg" odor that can make it unbearable to drink, cook with or even bathe in. Because it is a weak acid, hydrogen sulfide can also promote corrosion. And its presence in the air causes silver to tarnish in seconds. High concentrations are flammable and can be poisonous.

Traditionally, hydrogen sulfide was removed by first converting it into elemental sulfur, a yellowish powder that could be removed with filters. The process works similarly to that which is used to filter iron from water. First, aeration or chlorination oxidizes the contaminant. The oxygen or chlorine reacts with the hydrogen sulfide to produce sulfur, which is then removed with an automatic backwashing filter.

Newer technologies utilize specialized sulfur removal media in a single, complete system to eliminate hydrogen sulfide in one step. Kinetico’s Sulfur Guard systems, for example, use proprietary technology to take care of hydrogen sulfide problems without requiring multiple stages of expensive, cumbersome, high-maintenance equipment.

What Is Hard Water?
Hard water contains dissolved calcium and magnesium ions. Commonly referred to as "hardness minerals," dissolved calcium and magnesium can cause numerous problems when present in a water supply. It doesn’t matter if it's from a well or a municipal water utility; water usually contains these troublesome elements.

As water falls from the sky in its various forms, it absorbs carbon dioxide in the air and becomes slightly acidic. Water in this weak acid state reaches and enters the ground. Since it is acidic, it absorbs calcium and magnesium, among other things, from the layers of rock through which it passes. The minerals neutralize the water's acidity but also make it hard. Then the water finds its way into larger bodies of water both above and below ground, and eventually into our homes.

Water hardness is typically measured in "grains per gallon," an indication of the quantity of dissolved calcium and magnesium the water contains. In amounts as small as one grain per gallon, water is classified as "hard" to a certain degree. Most homes use water that is considerably harder. While many families choose to soften their water by removing the calcium and magnesium with home water treatment equipment, many don't even realize they have hard water.

How to Recognize Hard Water
Probably the most recognizable symptoms of hard water are soap scum in the tub and shower, and hard water spots on faucets and fixtures. According to a study from The Ohio State University, the average person cleaning a home spends more than six hours a month cleaning tap water spots, streaks and scum alone. Hardness minerals react with soaps and detergents to form an insoluble, sticky residue that's difficult to rinse from bathtubs, sinks, faucets and fixtures. The same soap residue is often left on hair, skin and clothing, too. Although not highly visible in these instances, it can cause your skin to dry and itch, and clothing to fade and wear prematurely.

Hard water causes other problems, as well. Over time, scale formed from continuous contact with dissolved minerals in water can collect inside plumbing and on the internal parts of water-using appliances. Service calls to plumbers and repair persons may become necessary as water pressure drops and mechanical parts stop working.

Hard water scale can also coat the inside of a water heater and drastically reduce its heating efficiency. Greater fuel consumption and higher utility bills result when the appliance has to heat water through a layer of rock. According to a study commissioned by the Water Quality Research Council and conducted at New Mexico State University, water heaters work 22-30 percent less efficiently with hard water, driving up utility bills unnecessarily.

What is Soft Water?
Soft water is essentially free of dissolved calcium or magnesium. A small percentage of homes are supplied with naturally soft water. But since naturally soft water usually has not been neutralized by passing through mineral layers in the ground, it can be quite corrosive. Softening water mechanically, such as with a home water softener, does not make it corrosive, however. Since calcium and magnesium are not present in soft water, no adverse reaction with soaps and detergents occurs.

The result is the virtual elimination of soap scum and the corresponding reduction in time spent cleaning. Hair and skin can "breathe" more readily. And the School of Consumer & Family Sciences at Purdue University conducted a study which proved that the life of clothing and household textiles was prolonged up to 15 percent when they were washed in conditioned water.

Soap usage can be dramatically reduced with soft water. Since the water is already soft, the cleaning agents have no hardness minerals to react with and overcome, lather more readily and work more effectively. In fact, a large proportion of the ingredients in most soaps and detergents consist of chemical "water softeners" added to prevent the reaction between the detergent and the hardness minerals present in most water (the reaction that forms a sticky residue or soap curd).

Since such chemicals are not necessary for cleaning with soft water, less soap is required. Soft water households experience considerable savings on laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, bath soap, hand soap, shampoo and many other cleaning products.

Since soft water contains no scale forming minerals, it leaves the inside of plumbing and water-using appliances free of solidified rock. Appliances operate more efficiently and last longer when using soft water. Leading appliance manufacturers including Maytag have recognized the problems that hard water causes and recommend the use of home water conditioners to help their own products operate more efficiently.

How Water Is Softened?
The most common method used for softening water is ion exchange, where the dissolved calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium or potassium (commonly referred to as regenerant) ions. Sodium and potassium do not cause the problems that are associated with calcium and magnesium. The process is the basis for most water softening equipment on the market today.

Water enters a water softener where it comes in contact with a bed of tiny beads that hold sodium chloride or potassium chloride ions. Since the beads are chemically more attracted to calcium and magnesium ions, ion exchange occurs. The calcium and magnesium ions "stick" to the surface of the beads, dislodging the sodium or potassium. After the beads are completely exhausted (i.e. covered with calcium and magnesium), a solution is introduced to the system to wash away the calcium and magnesium, and replace the sodium or potassium (a process known as regeneration). After the extra solution is rinsed from the resin bed, the entire ion exchange cycle begins again.

The following systems are among the most common types of water softeners available:
Manually Operated Water Softeners
Require all functions be performed manually and must be monitored to ensure proper operation. The amount of time and maintenance required to operate these units, as well as their low efficiency ratings, explain why so few are sold today.

Automatic Water Softeners
Perform all functions automatically, but usually rely on an electric timer that initiates regeneration at preset intervals (usually every other day at 3:00 am), no matter how much of the system's capacity has been used. Regeneration can occur too often and decrease efficiency, or not often enough and allow hard water into the home. Since these units typically employ only a single softening tank, only hard water is available to the home when they regenerate.

Demand-Initiated Regeneration (DIR) Water Softeners
Measure water usage and regenerate only when the system has been used to capacity for optimum efficiency. Single tank DIR systems are typically not as efficient as systems that employ two resin tanks. In single tank units, if regeneration is necessary at a time of the day when soft water may be needed, they must wait until a more appropriate time to regenerate so hard water isn't introduced into the home. To do so, single tank DIR units must employ a reserve capacity of softening resin to make it through the rest of the day. If the reserve isn't enough, the home will be forced to use hard water until the system regenerates. If the reserve is too large, the system won't be used to capacity but regeneration will occur anyway, wasting water and regenerant.

Because twin tank DIR systems automatically switch from tank to tank as they exhaust, they are able to provide a continuous supply of conditioned water, 24 hours a day. Some systems even use soft water to clean themselves to improve efficiency. Countercurrent regeneration also improves the systems' effectiveness. Recommended by most resin manufacturers, countercurrent regeneration regenerates the resin beads more efficiently by reversing the flow through the system during the cleaning process.

Additionally, leading consumer publications including Consumers Digest have recognized that non-electric, twin tank DIR water conditioners have distinct advantages over those that operate with electricity.