This section of our site is a great place to learn more about water quality and the effects it has on our lives, homes, and the environment. How much do you really know about water? How is the quality of the water in your home? Have you become used to the hard water build up or the bad taste and odors in your drinking water? Get answers to these questions and many more!
Hard Water - results from high levels of calcium and magnesium in your water supply. It is the most common water problem in the United States.
Problems:
Leaves skin dry and hair dull
Uses more soap and cleaning products
Leaves behind soap scum and bathtub rings
Leaves spots on your dishes, glassware and flatware
Increases hard scale formations in your plumbing
Leads to higher electric and gas bills
Shortens the life of your appliances
Solutions:
You can significantly reduce the negative effects of these problems with a PuraFlow Whole House Water Conditioning System.
You can eliminate these problems with a PuraFlow Water Softening System, to reduce hardness causing minerals from your water.
Bad Tasting Water - can have a sour, salty, bitter or metallic taste and can be a sign of high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) in your water, normally Chlorides, Sulfates and Bicarbonates.*
Problems:
Bad taste to your water
Cloudy ice cubes
Scaling and spotting on your wetted surfaces
Accumulation of "mineral" around your faucet outlets
A "laxative effect" due to high sulfates
Solutions:
You can eliminate high TDS problems with a PuraFlow Drinking Water System, to reduce high concentrations of dissolved solids from your drinking water.
*Contaminants may not be in your water.
Bad Smelling Water - can occur before the water enters your home. It can pick up odors from materials it comes in contact with as it flows and seeps through the ground. There may be multiple causes, requiring more than one solution.
Problems:
Musty, earthy or wood smell
Chorine smell
Detergent odor
Chemical smell
Occasionally, an odor occurs only in hot water. This can be caused by a chemical reaction with the water that takes place in your water heater.
Solution:
Treat all of your home’s water with a PuraFlow Whole House Water Conditioning System.
Analyze Your Water
If you want to have a professional water analysis conducted on your water, we recommend visiting www.ntllabs.com and purchasing their homeowner water test kit.
This is a relatively inexpensive and accurate way of finding out what contaminants may be present in your water. If you are on city or municipally treated water you may also contact your local water authorities and request a complete water analysis.
Why Drink Water?
Water is the nutrient that your body needs the most:
It makes up 55 to 75% of your body weight (that's about 10 to 12 gallons)
It's critical in regulating your body's temperature and organ functions
It moves nutrients through your the body
Proper hydration can minimize chronic pains such as rheumatoid arthritis, lower back pain, migraines, and colitis
Proper hydration can help lower cholesterol and blood pressure
Water is naturally low in sodium, has no fat, cholesterol or caffeine and is absorbed by the body better than many other beverages
Special Water Needs
Expectant and Nursing Mothers
Expectant mothers should drink six to eight 8-ounce servings of water per day.
This amount may vary based on other factors such as your weight, age, activity level, weather conditions, etc.
Once your baby is born, a breast-feeding mother should be sure to replenish water lost through nursing.
Children
Your child’s water needs varies according to body weight and activity level:
Active children should drink 8 oz. before playing
Children should drink once every 20-30 minutes during play
Properly hydrated infants should require frequent diaper changes
Seniors
If you’re over 70, you should drink plenty of water because:
You’re more vulnerable to dehydration
Your kidney functions may decrease
Your thirst signals may become dulled
Your overall activity level declines
Prescription drugs that can dehydrate your bodies
Exercise & Dieting
Exercise
Regardless of whether you do light or vigorous exercise, drinking plenty of water should be a part of your workout:
Drink water before you feel thirsty
Replenish fluids at least every 20 minutes
Drink plenty of water before and after you exercise, regardless of thirst
Dieting
Water is the nutrient your body needs the most when you’re dieting. To avoid temptation of overeating, dietitians and nutritionists urge you to drink a lot of water when dieting.
Dehydration creates urges for sweets
Drinks with sugar and sweeteners actually increase appetite and hunger
