FAQ's

  Arsenic is a semi-metal element in the periodic table, it is odorless and tasteless, and can enter drinking water supplies from natural deposits in the earth or from agricultural and industrial practices. Arsenic is a metal found in ores of copper, lead and other minerals, and in soil, groundwater and surface water. Arsenic compounds are used in wood preservatives and have been used in commercial pesticides.  Contamination of drinking water may occur if arsenic gets into the surface or groundwater after dissolving from minerals in the ground. It may also occur after the past use of arsenic-containing pesticides and improper waste disposal by smelting operations. Arsenic is one of the inorganic contaminants regulated under the Phase II/V Rules. Under the Arsenic Rule of 2001, the EPA adopted a lower standard for arsenic in drinking water of 10 parts per billion (ppb), which replaced the prior standard of 50 ppb. Non-cancer effects of arsenic can include: Thickening and discol...

Whether it's an old farmhouse or new construction, some properties are just too far from a town to be connected to a public water supply. Having a well drilled will provide you and your family with a reliable source for clean, potable water. The first step is to choose a location for your well. This should start with a site survey from a licensed drilling contractor. You will need firm and level ground that is at least 50 feet away from your septic tank (and your septic system drain fields should be at least 100 feet away from your well), in an area that is accessible to drilling equipment. This location should be close enough to the house that a pump will not struggle to move the water to the home. Your licensed drilling contractor should be able to give an estimated drilling depth to find water, based on data of existing wells in the area. Please remember that these are just estimates and you will never truly never know where the groundwater level is until it is reached. Next you...

  Is there a large difference between tap water and bottled water? Let’s take a look at some of the differences! When it comes down to the molecules, water is water. The important question is what contaminants are in the water you are drinking? The majority of water that we use for drinking comes from underground wells and lakes and rivers. This water is then treated, either by a municipality or by a private company. Municipal water is what most people have running in their homes. People refer to the water coming from their faucet as “tap water”. This is true regardless of whether the water is treated by your local municipality or privately at home. Now, it us usually assumed that bottled water is of a higher quality than tap water. However, it is estimated that up to 30% of bottled water is really just bottled tap water with no further treatment added. Tap water is typically thought to be less pure than municipal water. To an extent, this is true, as all tap water will have co...

  What is water softener regeneration? Water is a solvent. That means water is very good at breaking down things like minerals, which it then carries within itself. The amount of minerals in water is known as its hardness. High mineral levels means your water is hard while low mineral levels is soft water. A water softener system removes minerals from water so that you have soft water. A popular water treatment system is the ion exchange system. This system runs water over resin, typically made from sodium chloride, to attract and remove minerals from your water. Regeneration is the process of flushing these minerals from the resin so that it can continue to remove minerals from water. This is done by using salt, which must be replenished regularly by the system’s owner. How often should it regenerate? Broadly speaking, a water softener will regenerate as frequent as multiple times a day to every two or three days. The more often the softener regenerates, the less minerals ...

  A water treatment system may be just what you need to solve these problems with your water.   Storm Water Runoff Runoff from storms can carry a number of contaminants into drinking water sources. Pollutants form vehicles, chemicals, and other substances that remain on the surface of the ground are picked up and carried by the water. This is especially true for those with shallow wells or who live near urban settings.   Storm runoff also includes runoff from snow melting, which carries road salt. Iron Staining                 Water can be very good at dissolving material given the right conditions. Over time, groundwater can even dissolve iron and carry it into your drinking water. In high enough dosages, iron can cause orange or black staining on almost anything it comes in contact with. This includes clothes, water fixtures, sinks, tubs, and toilets. It can also leave a metallic aftert...

  If you have a private water well for drinking water, then it falls into one of these three types: dug, driven, or drilled. Take a look at what the difference between these wells are, and some key things you should know about them.   Dug Wells Dug wells are dug by shovel or backhoe before being lined with a casing to prevent the well from collapsing. This casing is typically made of stone, brick, or tile, but other materials can be used. These wells have a much wider diameter than the other two and are relatively shallow in comparison, stopping around 30 feet deep. These are what you likely imagine an old well looks like, with a bucket and rope or chain used to draw water. These wells work by digging below the water table so that the well is filled to the same level as the water table. Dig deeper and the well will completely fill or even overflow. Driven Wells Driven wells are created by driving pipe into the ground, ending around 50 feet deep. These wells are cased...