Spring Clean Your Water: The Benefits of Water Softeners and Filters
Beyond the fresh flowers and warmer weather, spring also reminds us that it’s out with the old and in with the new. For many, “out with the old” entails a hefty amount of spring cleaning! Beyond clearing out the closets and deep cleaning, have you ever considered just how clean your water is? The spring season can be a great time to really explore your home’s water quality and take the appropriate steps to clean up your home’s act! In the article, we’ll explore some of the common contaminants found in St. Joseph’s water supply, how water softeners and filters can benefit your home, and the right water can amplify your spring cleaning.
Hard Water Challenges and Contaminants in St. Joseph
If you’re a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, it’s likely that your water is provided by Missouri American Water. Missouri American Water is pulled from groundwater taken from numerous vertical wells and a horizontal collector well in the Missouri River alluvium. This water is treated, however, that doesn’t mean it is free from issues. The Environmental Working Group’s latest drinking water quality report of St. Joseph’s water detected 20 total contaminants in the tap water. Out of those 20 contaminants, 12 exceeded EWG health guidelines. Some of those contaminants included:
- Chromium: Found in the St. Joe water supply at a level 44 times above EWG’s health guideline, Chromium is a carcinogen that commonly contaminates drinking water across America.
- Chloroform: Chloroform affects the central nervous system (brain), liver, and kidneys after a person breathes air or drinks liquids that contain large amounts of chloroform. Detected in St. Joe’s water supply at a level of 7.74 ppb (parts per billion), Chloroform exceeded the EWG’s health guideline of .4 ppb.
- Haloacetic Acids (HAA5 and HAA9): In St. Joe’s water supply, HAA5 was detected at 83 times above and HAA9 was detected at 193 times above the EWG’s guidelines. Consumption of Haloacetic acids at high levels over many years has been linked to an increased risk of the development of bladder cancer.
In addition to harmful contaminants, St. Joseph’s water—and much of North America’s water supply—suffers from hard water. Hard water occurs when high levels of calcium and magnesium are present in water. Hard water minerals can form scale that builds up over time inside your pipes. This buildup can end up blocking pipes leading to expensive bursts and leaks. These higher concentrations of minerals can also cause rust and corrosion to components in your water-using appliances, leading to costly repairs.
The Benefits of Water Softeners and Filters
When it comes to combating hard water and harsh contaminants in your water supply, water filters and softeners can be excellent solutions to achieve quality water for you and your family. Water softeners and filters use different methods, like ion-exchange and reverse osmosis, to filter out hard water and contaminants to leave households with soft, high-quality water. Here’s how:
Reverse Osmosis Filtration: Culligan Water Reverse Osmosis Systems use a process called reverse osmosis, a high-threshold filtration process that pushes water through a semipermeable membrane. The membrane allows water to pass through, but not impurities or contaminants. These contaminants are then flushed down the drain.
Water Softening: Culligan Water Water Softeners utilize a process called “ion exchange” to remove dissolved hard water minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese. Culligan water softeners have specially designed resin beads that capture the minerals and exchange them with a trace amount of sodium. The result is softened water.
Before deciding on what filtration method your household needs, it can be extremely beneficial to get your water tested by a professional. Culligan Water offers free in-home water quality testing to give residents a real look at what may be affecting their home’s water quality. The whole testing process takes about 30 minutes and can be scheduled at a time that’s convenient for your household.
Appliance Protection and Enhanced Cleaning with Quality Water
With the help of water filtration, your household appliances can reap the benefits of high-quality water. Hard water can cause soap scum and residue to build up in your dishwasher and your washing machine. This can lead to poor cleaning results for your machines, in addition to more frequent repairs to be made.
For your washing machine, hard water can have poor effects on your laundry. The minerals in hard water can build up on clothes causing them to be stiff, scratchy, and faded. For your dishwasher, you may find your dishes with streaks or water stains, if you’re not using filtered water. For softer clothes, streak-free shine on dishes, and appliance protection, Culligan solutions are the answer.
St. Joe Water Softeners from Culligan Water
With the help of Culligan Water of St. Joseph, you can find the right solution for your household’s water. Spring cleaning can be easier than ever with the help of licensed water professionals in your area. If you’re ready to see the benefits of filtered water in your own home, please contact us today.
