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Common Water Problems in Central Illinois

We have distinct water problems in Central Illinois. Most municipal supplies are extremely hard and many have high levels of chlorine. Some areas also have objectionable taste and odor. If you have a private or community well system, your problems can be widespread. Most wells have considerable hardness and high levels of iron. Some also contain dissolved gases such as hydrogen sulfide and methane, tannins, nitrates, arsenic, high levels of total dissolved solids and other problems.

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Hard Water

Hard water is created when water passes through rock formations and picks up calcium and magnesium. It leaves a bathtub ring made up of hardness, minerals and soap. This scum collects on shower walls, clings to hair, clogs skin pores, and makes house cleaning very difficult. Hard water deposits also clog pipes, cause water heaters to operate inefficiently, and increase the maintenance on water-using appliances. The only hard water solution that will save you time and money is buying a replacement water softener. Simply going to the store and buying the first thing you see isn’t the answer. Contact one of our water experts to test your water and find the best solution.

Iron

Iron water is created when water passes through iron-bearing rocks. Because iron accounts for 5% of all the earth's rust, it can be found in just about all types of water supplies. It can also be caused, usually temporarily, by water standing in iron pipes. Iron has the tendency to leave stains on sinks, clothing and linens, or it can form scale on pipes and water-using appliances that make water look, smell and taste bad. A specialty filter and/or a water softener is the best solution for iron contamination in your water.

Dissolved Gases

Dissolved gases can cause cloudiness and bad odors in water. They can also cause pipes to hammer and spitting of gas and water when a faucet is opened. Methane gas is odorless and occurs naturally along with contamination from underground natural gas storage facilities. Hydrogen sulfide gas smells like rotten eggs and is caused by bacteria living in underground aquifers. Dissolved gases in water can be aggressive to piping systems and cause wear on valves, seats, and washers. This can be an expensive fix, but before you break the bank, contact our water experts so they can find the right filtration system that will solve for the dissolved gas.

Arsenic

Arsenic is odorless and tasteless. The only way to identify its presence is to have the water tested through a state certified lab. Arsenic is extremely toxic and known to cause cancer and hurt your immune system, leaving you susceptible to falling ill. This chemical gets in your water naturally through either erosion or industrial runoff. If you want your water tested for arsenic, it needs to be sent to a state certified lab. Our water experts can get the process started for you and help you choose which filtration system you need to keep you protected from this dangerous chemical.

Tannins

Tannins make water look yellow or brownish in color. They cause staining on clothes and fixtures and makes the water look murky and unclear. Tannins are composed of tiny pieces of organic material floating in the water and are typically caused by decomposing vegetation getting into water supplies. A specialty filter is the best solution for this type of contamination in your water.

Bacteria

Bacteria in water can take many forms and the best way to know the type present is to have your water professionally tested. A common symptom of bacteria in water is a slimy build-up in the toilet tank. Often different types of organic matter can cause your water to taste and smell bad and some types of bacteria, like E-Coli, can cause serious health problems. After identifying the problem through professional testing, the process can vary. The most common treatment is UV disinfection or chlorination systems, which are installed at the point-of-entry.

Nitrates

Nitrates often find their way into your water supply through the use of fertilizer. Spring water is vulnerable to this type of contamination when excess fertilizer isn’t fully absorbed by soil or crops. People in rural communities should test their water for nitrates because it is odorless and tasteless. Learn more about nitrates and how you can reduce this contaminant in your water. If you live in a rural area that’s been hit with nitrate water contamination, it could be expensive and take a long time to fix. Contact our water experts if you’re worried about nitrate contamination so they can test your home’s water and guide you to the right filtration solution.

Total Dissolved Solids

Total dissolved solids can cause unpleasant taste in water and cause the water to act aggressively towards fixtures and appliances. The higher the dissolved solid content, the more objectionable the taste and the more aggressive it acts. Some water supplies are so high in mineral content they taste salty, almost like sea water. These supplies can corrode faucets and water heaters in very short periods of time. The best solution for this water problem in your home is a reverse osmosis drinking water system. In larger applications, we would recommend a deionization tank.

Chlorine

Chlorine can make water smell and taste bad. Chlorine is a powerful oxidant and is commonly used as a disinfectant in commercial and household sanitation, bleaching, and in maintaining swimming pools. The most significant application is in the disinfection of public water supplies where it used to manage bacteria levels in drinking water and kill other potentially harmful agents that seep into lakes, rivers, streams or ground water. The best solution for removing chloramines is finding a water filtration system that works for your home. Our water experts can pinpoint the exact system for your chlorine problem by testing your water.

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