Common water quality problems and their methods of treatment
Use the following symptoms to determine the possible cause of problems with your water quality – these symptoms can all be felt, smelled, tasted or seen. Watch out… some of the symptoms may indicate serious problem!
A. Sense of Feeling
Impurity or Contaminant | Symptom | Cause | Health Effects | Means of Treatment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hard Water | Soap curd, and scum in wash basins & bathtub. Whitish scale deposits in pipes, water heater & tea kettle. | Calcium (limestone) and magnesium salts. | Aesthetic only. However if consumed, could lead to kidney/ bladder stones | Cation exchange water softener or reverse osmosis. |
Grittiness | Abrasive texture to water when washing or residual left in sink. | Excessively fine sand, silt in water. | Various -- sand could trap contaminants | Sand trap in ultra-filtration. |
B. Sense of Smell
Impurity or Contaminant | Symptom | Cause | Health Effects | Means of Treatment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Odor | Musty, earthy or wood smell. | Generally, harmless organic matter. | Aesthetic only | Activated carbon filter. |
Chlorine smell. | Excessive chlorination. | Could occur from formation of disinfection byproducts | Dechlorinate with activated carbon filter. | |
Rotten egg odor - tarnished silverware. |
| Various effects |
| |
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 |
| |
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 | Activated carbon filter will adsorb short-term. |