Frequently Asked Questions...
What Should I
consider when looking for water equipment?
Having your water tested
will help you determine your exact needs, Aqua Natural
provides FREE water testing, but if you prefer we can refer you to the local health department or
an independent lab to test your water.
The amount of water used
as well as water pressure are factors to consider when fitting
a water quality improvement system. We at Aqua Natural,
always consider this when sizing equipment for the customer.
Fixing your existing
water problem is your primary goal, but don't be eager to settle
for the least expensive solution. A higher-priced unit may
serve your needs better by being more efficient, and reducing
operating costs and maintenance time. Be sure, however, that
you're getting your money's worth.
Before you buy, get a detailed
estimate of equipment, installation, and operating costs. At Aqua Natural we are committed to
provided the best quality equipment-NSF certified, or with the WQA seals of approval for the best price
and to stand by that,
most of the time
will
MATCH or BEAT any price on similar equipment.
A reputable water quality improvement equipment dealer is an
excellent resource in helping you determine your water needs.
BEWARE
of high-pressure
sales techniques, and make sure the company is in good standing
with the Better Business Bureau, and has references that you may
call. Aqua Natural
has an excellent record with the BBB, over 3500 SATISFIED
customers that you may call, and has a staff of
knowledgeable STATE LICENSED WATER SPECIALISTS
trained help you with your water.
Aqua Natural
offers COMPLETE services from installing,
repairing, to reminding customer when filter change is due, see
Services
section for more information.
All the equipment we
endorse have SUPERIOR warranties, and all equipment is certified or validated by the NSF and/or WQA
At
Aqua Natural, we offer several financing programs to
tailored to your needs. These programs can help spread
cash payments often with no cost to you!
What is "hard"
water?
Water is called "hard" if it
contains excessive amounts of certain minerals - particularly
calcium and magnesium, because these substances leave a hard
scale on surfaces that come in contact with the water. You can
tell you have hard water if there's build-up on your sinks and
bathtubs,
Slightly hard = 1-2
Grains
Medium Hard = 3-7
Grains
Hard = 7-10.5 Grains
Extremely Hard Water =10.5
+ grains
Problems with having
"hard" water?
Scale, scum and tidemarks around baths and basins. The minerals
contained in the hard water settle out as an unsightly deposit
of hardness scale whenever the water is heated, or when cold
standing water evaporates. Examples of this are:
White marks,
stains and scale on sinks, showers, faucets,
dishes and glasses dull and
smeared
Blocked shower heads
Clogging of pipe work and premature failure of water heaters
Difficult to get a good
lather, so more soap is required for washing.
Even after washing,
clothes can be left grey and dingy.
Benefits of
Conditioned Water?
Softened water provides real
cost savings in service, maintenance and replacement of showers,
heaters , and dramatically improves efficiency of hot water and
heating systems.
Softened Water can:
-
Saves up to 50% on washings
powder, soap consumption and similarly cut the use of shampoos,
conditioners and other cleaning products
-
Helps
certain dry skin conditions such as eczema
-
Completely remove existing
scale deposits in hot water and heating systems as well as scale
around the taps and stains in baths and basins
-
Leave your skin with a clean
silky feeling. It makes bath time a luxury without the need for
bath oils or bubble bath liquids
-
Make hair soft and easy to
manage
-
Make laundry
brighter and glasses and dishes sparkle and shine
-
Provide cost savings in
service and maintenance of dishwashers, washing machines,
showers and water heaters and extends the life of such units
If my city’s Annual Water Quality Reports shows that it meets
all EPA guidelines, does that mean it is safe?
On October 1999 a federal
law went into effect that requires water utilities to send each
customer a detailed report showing what is in their water,
appropriately called "The Right To Know Amendment." The
EPA states in their reports that "contaminants in your water do not
necessarily pose a health risk", but any level of contamination
in our drinking water does in fact represent a danger to our
health. Of the over 75,000 toxic chemicals used in our society,
the EPA has only set standards (MCLs) for about 90, and those 90
Maximum Contaminant Levels are not necessarily set on "health
effects." The EPA considers limited health studies based on
consumption of one certain chemical by a 175 lb. adult when
setting these standards. No consideration is given to the
effects on small children or the combined effects of two or more
contaminants, which some studies show are magnified by as much
as 1000 times. Water utilities are only required to test for the
90 contaminants that the EPA has set standards for.
No one knows how many
toxic chemicals may actually be in tap water. According to the
Ralph Nader Research Group, after reviewing thousands of pages
of EPA documents acquired through the Freedom of Information
Act, more than 2100 toxic chemicals have already been detected
in U.S. water supplies. Virtually all public water systems have
some level of contamination. The water utilities are usually
quick to point out that the chemicals found in their water are
"below EPA's Maximum Levels", and in most cases they are. The
fact is that even the smallest trace of a toxic chemical causes
damage and science is just now starting to realize to what
extent. In a recent report from the National Cancer Institute to
the Surgeon General it was stated that "No level of exposure to
a chemical carcinogen should be considered toxicologically
insignificant to humans," and we are learning the hard way the
truth of this statement. For more information go to:
Environmental Protection Agency
www.epa.gov/safewater
Drinking Water and Health:
What You Need to Know [EPA]
National
Resources Defense Council
Information
on water quality
Drinking Water Contamination
http://nrdc.org/health/kids/ocar/chap7.asp
Well Water-what
may be in it?
Private Wells can become
contaminated with bacteria, nitrate or other chemicals.
The effects of drinking contaminated water can range from no
reaction to severe illness or even death. Many factors
affect the possible reaction such as the age and general health
of the person, the type of contaminant, the amount and how long
the person was exposed to the contaminant. Some of the
effects of drinking contaminated water may happen right away, or
may not be noticed for many years. That is why it is
important to have your well water tested
regularly by an
independent lab or your local health department.
Types of
Contaminants
Bacteria
Coliform organisms are a group of bacteria that are commonly
found in the environment and are used to measure the safety of
your water. Coliform bacteria are not harmful, but their
presence tells you that other disease-causing organisms may be
in your water supply. The presence of more that 5 coliform
bacteria in a water sample usually means that surface water has
washed contaminants into the well.
E. coli bacteria live in the
intestines of humans and warm blooded animals. There are
many types of these bacterial and only a few of them can make
you sick. If any amount of E. coli bacteria is found in a
water sample, human sewage or animal feces has contaminated the
water supply.
When a water tests shows the
presence of bacteria, it is considered unsafe to drink until the
problem is fixed. The bacteria may pose a health risk.
The water should not be used for drinking until the problem has
been found and corrected. An alternate drinking water
supply should be used. Boiling water (rolling boil for at
least one minute) and placing it in the refrigerator will also
make it safe to drink.
Nitrates
The presence of nitrate in your well water is usually the result
of farming activities like fertilizing or seepage from septic
systems.
Herbicides and Pesticides
Herbicides and Pesticides from both agricultural and household
use can contaminate wells if used improperly or excessively.
Always read and use the amount stated on the manufacturer's
label.
www.twqa.org
Texas Water Quality
Association
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contaminated with synthetic chemicals or toxic heavy metals like
lead‚ the vital signals can get distorted. Many experts now
believe that the distortion of these signals may be the root
cause of many degenerative diseases and neurological illnesses
like Attention Deficit Disorder‚ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome‚
anxiety‚ depression and even Alzheimer‘s disease.
