Water is called the “universal solvent” because so many substances can dissolve in it. As water comes in contact with mineral deposits, rock and sediment, it dissolves and picks up some natural calcium and magnesium. Water hardness is the measure of calcium and magnesium dissolved in your water supply. Since most of our fresh water comes from underground sources, hard water is the most common water problem in the United States, affecting more than 85% of homes and businesses across the country.
Hard water is not a health hazard but it causes many problems in the home. When hard water dries, it leaves behind minerals that look like white, flaky crusts on faucets, shower heads and other plumbing fixtures. This mineral scale can eventually clog the fine holes in faucet aerators and shower heads, leading to costly replacement. Hard water scale can also leave spots on shower doors, glass stove tops, windows and your car. Hard water causes problems with your dishwasher too. Those spots on glass and silverware are residual mineral deposits left behind after the rinse cycle. Calcium and magnesium also react with detergents, making them less effective in the dishwasher and washing machine. This means wasted time and water re-washing items that did not come clean. Mineral scale is also known as the “water heater killer.” When hard water is heated, the minerals react, forming solid carbonate particles. Minerals will form scale on the hottest parts of the water heater. With electric water heaters, this would be the heating coil, and in gas water heaters scale forms in the tank near the burner. If the heater element inside the water heater gets covered with scale, it can’t heat the water efficiently. Scale particles also build up inside your water heater. The scale flakes substantially reduce the amount of water the heater tank can hold. This means you may not have enough hot water for showers and cleaning. All of this leads to more water, energy consumption and premature water heater failure. The reaction occurs inside coffee makers and ultrasonic humidifiers too. Any device that gets hot will suffer from scale build-up. In many cases home and business owners simply get used to early appliance failure and scale build-up because they don’t know their water is hard. The first step in protecting your home or business is to find out if you have hard water. There is no reason to wonder if your water is causing problems and costing you money. The Health Metric Drinking Water Testing Kit makes it quick and easy to test water hardness. To make the test, simply dip the test strip in an 8-ounce sample of your water and compare the strip to the color matching chart. The ideal water hardness level is a range from 10-100 mg/L (milligram per liter). Water hardness above 100 mg/L can cause the problems mentioned above. Hard water is easily corrected with a water softener or a reverse osmosis system.
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Coliform bacteria are a large group of bacteria that occur naturally throughout the environment. They’re common in soil, lakes, streams and may even be on your skin. However, certain kinds of coliform bacteria are found in human and animal waste.While most types of coliform bacteria are harmless, some can cause illnesses and lead to serious health issues. Tests for coliform bacteria are often performed on water supplies to get a general scan of bacterial contamination. Coliform bacteria are considered “indicator organisms” because their presence indicates the possibility thatother disease-causing bacteria are in the water supply. If the test is positive,it means bacteria are able to find its way into your well or municipal water supply. The next step is using a more specialized fecal coliform test.
Why Test for E.coli Bacteria? E. coli is a type of fecal coliform bacteria found in the intestines of humans and animals. A positive E. colitest result is much more serious than a positive coliform bacteria test because it means human or animal waste is getting into your drinking water. There are hundreds of strains of E. coli. Many E.coli types are harmless and live in the intestines of healthy humans and animals. However,some strains can create powerful toxins that result in severe illness and death. The most common symptoms are intestinal problems and flu-like symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Symptoms occur most often in children or elderly family members.Because these symptoms are similar to many other human illnesses, it is critical to test your water for the presence of E. coli contamination, especially in private wells. How to test for E. coli bacteria in my water? While most at-home water test kits only test for coliform bacteria, the Health Metric tests specifically for E.coli. The Health Metric Drinking Water test kit includes a simple to use E.coli test that you can perform in your own home. No need to send a water sample to a lab and wait a week for results. Just fill the water sample container and wait for the results. Your water supply should contain no fecal coliform. The Health Metric E. coli test provides a simple Yes or No answer. If your water tests positive for bacterial contamination, a state laboratory or water treatment professional will be able to advise you on the proper steps to decontaminate the water supply. The source of contamination may be a nearby septic system, farm or other source of human or animal waste. You may be required to install a UV sterilizer or chlorination device to ensure your water supply is safe to drink and cook with. The test result may indicate no E. coli contamination. However, state health authorities recommend testing your water supply once a year as a safety measure and to provide peace of mind knowing that your water supply is safe to use! Contamination of drinking water with heavy metals is a real health issue and is receiving the attention it deserves. Drinking water safety is a major focus of state and federal environmental protection agencies. Research and investigations continue to discover the many ways harmful heavy metals enter our drinking water supply. Adults, children and pets are exposed to trace amounts of heavy metals through water, food and air.It’s very important to understand the facts about heavy metals, health effects and what you can do about minimizing exposure to you, your family and pets.
What are heavy metals? Heavy metals are a classification of metallic elements that can become toxic in very small amounts. Copper is considered an essential trace nutrient in the right concentration. But in higher levels copper is considered a toxic heavy metal. We need copper and other metals to live, but too much exposure will harm us. Other metals, like cadmium and arsenic, serve no purpose in our bodies and are toxic at any level. Below is a list of the most common heavy metals. Some are essential trace elements at the right level. Others are always poisonous and potential carcinogens. • Zinc • Copper • Chromium • Iron • Cobalt • Manganese • Nickel • Cadmium • Lead • Lithium • Arsenic • Mercury How do Heavy metals get into drinking water? Heavy metals can enter the water supply through several routes. Industrial dumping and landfill waste from over 30 years ago can gradually seep into groundwater supplies. Agricultural use of pesticides containing mercury has been banned but the effects on the environment are long-lasting. There are also natural sources like acidic rain breaking down soils and releasing heavy metals into streams, lakes, rivers and groundwater.The sources of heavy metals in your drinking water may be right in your own home! Lead water pipes, lead solder, copper piping and plumbing fixtures are all sources of heavy metals. Understanding the health effects of heavy metal exposure The negative effects of heavy metal exposure vary depending on the metal, exposure level and the age and physical condition of the person. Children, the elderly and immuno-compromised individuals are especially vulnerable to heavy metal toxicity. Some of the effects include: • Nausea and vomiting • Live, lung and skin cancer • Abdominal cramps • Muscle weakness • Miscarriage • Poor child development • Changes in vision • Memory loss Testing your drinking water for heavy metals The best way to avoid the negative effects of heavy metals is to limit exposure. Since we know drinking water can contain metals contamination, testing is recommended. The Health-Metric Heavy Metals Test for Drinking Water is an easy to use test kit you can use at home, work, anywhere you need to check the safety of the water. The test kit detects one or more common heavy metals found in drinking water. The test functions as a general metals scan. It cannot tell you which metals are in your water. Each heavy metal requires its own test, some of which must be done in a laboratory at great expense. The Health-Metric Heavy Metals Test Kit lets you know if there are metals in your water, so you can investigate and take action if necessary. |
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