::
Water Problems ::
Signs
of common water quality problems. |
The
following water problem information chart is intended to serve only
as a general guide for determining the cause of problems with
water. In
some cases, these symptoms may indicate a serious problem --
in others, only
the taste and smell
(its aesthetics) may be affected, not its safety. Culligan cannot
guarantee the exact cause of any water quality problem. For more
information and a free water evaluation contact Your Texoma
Culligan Man Rolf Berg at (903)465-6644 or Toll Free (800)903-9903
or use
our contact us form.
|
|
Symptom
|
Possible Cause
|
Possible Health Effects
|
Means of Treatment
|
Soap
scum in sinks & bathtub |
Calcium
(limestone) and magnesium salts. (Hard Water) |
Aesthetic
only |
Water
softener |
Abrasive
texture to water when washing or residual left in sink. |
Excessively
fine sand, silt in water. |
Various
-- sand could trap contaminants leading to health risk. |
Point
of use Sediment filter or whole house filter |
Musty,
earthy or wood smell. |
Generally,
harmless organic matter. |
Aesthetic
only |
Activated
carbon filter or reverse osmosis |
Chlorine
smell. |
Excessive
chlorination. |
Could
occur from formation of disinfection byproducts |
Dechlorinate
with point of use activated carbon filter or whole house
filter |
Rotten
egg odor - tarnished silverware. |
1.
Dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas.
2. Presence of sulfate reducing bacteria in raw water. |
Various
effects |
1.
Manganese greensand filter - constant chlorination followed
by filtration/ dechlorination.
2.
Constant chlorination followed with a point of use activated
carbon filter or whole house
filter
|
Hot
water, rotten egg odor. |
Action
of magnesium rod in hot water heater. |
Various
Effects |
Remove
magnesium rod from heater |
Detergent
odor, water foams when drawn. |
Seepage
of septic discharge into underground water supply. |
Disease-causing
microorganisms may be present |
1.
Locate and eliminate source of seepage - then heavily
chlorinate well.
2.
Activated point of use carbon filter or whole house system
will adsorb limited amount
|
Gasoline
or oil (hydro-carbon) smell. |
Leak
in fuel oil tank or gasoline tank seeping into water
supply. |
Fuel
components may be toxic or carcinogenic |
No
residential treatment. Locate and eliminate seepage |
Methane
gas. |
Naturally
occurring caused by decaying organics. |
Various
effects |
Aeration
system and repump |
Phenol
smell (chemical odor). |
Industrial
waste seeping into surface or ground water supplies. |
Various
-- compounds may be carcinogenic |
Point
of use activated carbon filter or whole house system
will adsorb short-term. |
Salty
or brackish. |
High
sodium content. |
Aesthetic
only |
1.
Deionize drinking water only with disposable mixed
bed - anion/cation resins; or
2.
Reverse osmosis ; or
3.
Home distillation system.
|
Alkali
taste. |
High
dissolved mineral containing alkalinity. (Stained aluminum
cookware.) |
Aesthetic
only |
Reduce
by reverse osmosis |
Metallic
taste. |
1.
Very low pH water (3.0-5.5).
2.
Heavy iron concentration in water above 3.0 ppm Fe.
3.
Leaching of lead and copper
|
Various
-- depends on cause |
1.
Neutralizing calcite filter down to pH of 5.5, or
2.
Calcite/ Magnesia - oxide mix (5 to 1) for higher
flow rate and to correct very low pH water.
3.
Soda ash chemical feed followed by filtration.
For Iron
1. A water softener can remove 0.5 ppm of Fe+ for
every grain/gal of hardness to 10 ppm with
a minimum pH of 6.7.
2.
Over 10 ppm Iron, chlorination with sufficient
retention tank time for full oxidation followed
by filtration/ dechlorination.
3.
In warm climates residual aerator and filtration will
substantially
reduce iron
content.
|
Dirt,
salt, clay. |
Suspended
matter in surface water pond, stream or lake. |
Turbid
water may contain disease causing microorganisms |
"Calcite" or
Neutralize (media) type filter - up to 50 ppm |
Sand
grit, silt or clay substances. |
Well
sand from new well or defective well screen. |
Turbid
water may contain disease causing microorganisms |
Sand
trap and/or new well screen |
Rust
in water. |
Acid
water causing iron "pick-up." |
Turbid
water may contain disease causing microorganisms |
Neutralizing
calcite filter to correct low pH acidity and remove precipitated
iron |
Green
stains on sinks. Blue-green look to water.. |
Water
which has high carbon dioxide content (pH below 6.8)
reacting with brass and copper pipes and fittings. |
Could
lead to health effects if acid water causes leaching
of lead and copper |
1.
Neutralizing calcite filter down to pH of 5.5, or
2.
Calcite/ Magnesia - oxide mix (5 to 1) for higher
flow rate and to correct very low pH water.
3.
Soda ash chemical feed followed by filtration.
|
Gray
string-like fiber. |
Organic
mater in raw water algae, etc. |
Turbid
water may contain disease causing microorganisms |
Constant
chlorination followed by a point of use activated carbon
filter to or whole house system to dechlorinate. |
Brown-red
stains on sinks or clothing. Water turns brown-red
when used for cooking. |
1.
Dissolved iron in influent (more than 0.3 ppm Fe+) water
appears clear when first drawn at cold water faucet.
Above 0.3 ppm Fe causes staining. |
Various
effects |
1.
A water softener can remove 0.5 ppm of Fe+ for every
grain/gal of hardness to 10 ppm with a minimum pH of
6.7.
2.
Over 10 ppm Fe+ chlorination with sufficient retention
tank time for full oxidation followed by filtration/
dechlorination.
3.
In warm climates residual aerator and filtration will
substantially reduce iron content.
|
| Brown-red
stains on sinks or clothing. Water turns brown-red when
used for cooking. |
2.
Precipitate iron (water will not clear when drawn). |
Various
effects |
1.
Up to 10 ppm iron removed by manganese greensand
filter, if pH 6.7 or higher, or;
2.
Manganese treated, non-hydrous aluminum silicate filter
where
pH of 6.8 or higher and oxygen is 15% of total iron content.
3.
Downflow water softener with good backwash, up to 1.0
ppm Fe. Above 1 ppm to 10 ppm use calcite filter
followed by downflow
water
softener.
Calcite
media type filter to remove precipitated iron.
|
Brownish
cast does not precipitate. |
Iron
pick-up from old pipe with water having a pH below 6.8.
Organic (bacterial) iron. |
Various
effects |
1.
Treat well to destroy iron bacteria with solution of
hydrochloric acid then constant chlorination followed
by a point of use activated carbon filter or whole house
system to for dechlorination.
2.
Potassium permanganate chemical feed followed by filtration.
|
Reddish
color in water sample after standing 24 hours. |
Colloidal
iron. |
Various
effects |
Constant
chlorination followed by a point a of use activated carbon
media filter or whole house system for dechlorination. |
Yellowish
cast to water after softening and/or filtering. |
Tannins
(humic acids) in water from peaty soil and decaying vegetation. |
Various
effects |
1.
Adsorption via special macro-porous Type I anion exchange
resin regenerated with salt (NaCl) up to 3.0 ppm.
2.
Manganese greensand or manganese treated sodium alumino-silicate
under proper set of conditions.
|
Cloudiness
of water when drawn. |
1.
Some precipitant sludge created during heating of water.
2.
High degree of air in water from poorly functioning pump.
3.
Excessive coagulant-feed being carried through filter.
|
1.
Various effects
2. Aesthetic only
3. Various effects |
1.
Blow down domestic or commercial hot water heater tank
periodically.
2.
Water will usually clear quickly upon standing.
3.
Reduce coagulant quantity being fed, service filters
properly.
|
Blackening
and pitting of stainless steel sinks. |
1.
Excessive salt content.
2.
High temperature drying creates high chloride concentration
accelerating corrosion.
|
Various
effects |
1.
Use other chloride resistant metals.
2.
Reduce total dissolved solids by reverse osmosis .
|
