Drinking Water Problems Corrosion Lead Copper Metals – My Drinking Water is it Safe?

Article for: private well owner, spring user, city water customer, regulated water supply, water utility customer, homeowner, landlord, tenant, drinking water

The Flint water crisis reportedly started in 2014 and ended in 2019, but in reality the “crisis” started prior to 2014 and probably has not ended.   Why?  The problem with corrosion within the water system and individual’s homes clearly started prior to 2014 and the customers and users within the system were not aware of the short-comings in their drinking water quality, the need for corrosion control, need to replace service laterals, plumbing within their homes, the need to be proactive in protecting your personal and families’ health, lack of public outreach and education, and not knowing the wrong signs of a corrosion problem   The main purpose of this article is to help identify the warning signs of a potential corrosion problem with your drinking water.    The signs of a corrosion problem come in many forms, but it is important for the user to take responsibility for keeping their eyes open.   Corrosion of our drinking water supplies is a very common water quality and public health issue that is related to not only the raw water quality, level of pretreatment, status of the community distribution system, the internal plumbing for a building, the usage and management of water within the building, and the fixtures used within the system.  This sounds overwhelming, but there are clear warning signs you may have a problems.

The most common signs of a problem with corrosion included the following:

  1. Blue-green or greenish water or even reddish brown or brown water that may be intermittent and worse in the hot water than the cold water.
  2. Staining of porcelain fixtures, such as sinks, drains, or tubs that appear green, blue-green, and reddish brown.
  3. Coatings on aeration devices that appears greenish-gray or bluish green and particles on the screen of the aerator that appear green, bluish-green, greenish-gray, reddish-brown, yellow-brown, or even bluish-gray.
  4. Discoloration of water piping near solder joints and/or pin-hole leaks in piping and the premature failure of water appliances and water heaters.
  5. Old piping in a home that may include lead pipes or piping that was installed using high lead solder, such as lead service lines and galvanized piping.
  6. The first flush of the water from the tap may have a bitter taste.

What is the age of your home, when was the house last remodeled, and the piping in your home?

YOUR household plumbing may be the cause for lead in your drinking water. In older homes, lead was used to make the piping and/or solder.  In homes, built prior to 1930’s water pipes were primarily made from lead. These pipes can be identified because the piping tends to have a dull gray color, can be scratched with a key, and a magnet will not stick to the piping. In buildings built between the 1930’s and early 1980’s, copper pipes were often used, but the solder contained elevated levels of lead. The primary source of the lead includes the use of lead pipes, lead lined tanks, and use of 50/50 lead/tin solder. Because of the concern with lead, the EPA banned the use of high lead solders in 1986.

In the 1950’s and 1960’s galvanized water lines was utilized in new home construction. Currently, this type of piping is not widely used, but it is more commonly used with well water applications.  This piping is steel piping that has a zinc coating to reduce the tendency for the piping to corrode.  When this pipe corrodes, the pipe rust from the inside of the pipe and then works outward.  When this occurs, the water may produce intermittent discolored water that tends to be brown, yellow, or reddish brown, and the piping will likely clog with rust and most likely collapse over time. This does not mean that a newer home is safe from lead contamination; in fact, the available data suggests that buildings less than 5 years old can have high levels of lead.

In fact, buildings built prior to 1986 likely contain some lead plumbing.  Prior to 2014, the legal definition for “lead free” was plumbing fixtures with a lead content of less than 8 %.  In 2014, the term was redefined to include only fixtures with a lead content of 0.25% and newly installed fixtures must use the “lead free” materials, but this did not apply to fixtures currently in use.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself and Your Family?

After getting this information, you should do the following:

  1. Inspect your plumbing system for signs or evidence of a corrosion problem and low cost lead screening testing  (water) or (paint,dust, soil).
  2. Take note of the visual and aesthetic signs of a corrosive water problem.
  3. Try our Free Drinking Water Diagnostic Tool.
  4. Order the Drinking Water Guide.
  5. Get Your Drinking Water Tested and the Results Reviewed by a Professional. At a minimum, we recommend the “Corrosion Check” Water Test Kit.
  6. Act to improve your drinking water quality by reporting problems to your local water authority for public water supplies or if your water comes from a private water source take the necessary action to reduce the risk to the health of yourself and your family and to reduce the potential costs associated with the premature failure and/or invalidating the warranty of water related appliances, water leaks and associated damage, and/or the additional operational costs associated with inefficiencies associated with clogged or corroded piping/equipment.
  7. Update fixtures and piping and consider the use of point-of-use filters or a whole-house water treatment system. Before installing a water treatment system, please get a comprehensive water quality test (City Water) or (Well Water).

Our Motto is ” Learn / Diagnose / Test “

Learn – learn about your source and system.

Diagnose – determine the warning signs or symptoms of a problem and get the water tested and problem diagnosed.

Test – implement an approach to mitigate the problem and test to make sure the problem is corrected.

Source:  Oram, Brian; “Lead In Drinking Water – Is There Lead In My City Drinking Water ?”, Water Research Center / Know Your H20 Program, 2020.

Recommended Reading:

The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water

More on Lead

Podcast Pike County with Brian Oram Septic and Environmental Issues

On September 19, 2019, the Pike County Conservation District hosted a 2-hour informational work and training session. The topic – Properly Maintaining Your On-Lot Septic System.  In January 2020, I visited with Pike County and did a podcast.  When Pike County Informs Me – I will post a link to the Podcast here.  In the interim, this was the information on the September Talk.

To help Pike County residents keep local lakes and ponds clean, the Pike County Conservation District is hosting a free three-part workshop series titled “How your Backyard Activities Affect your Lake.”This is the third workshop in the series. http://gowstakeout.com/2013/12/05/hawaii-trip-july-19th-28th-2013/20130720_091046/ It will be held at the Dingman Township Fire Hall, 680 Log Tavern Road. Presenter Brian Oram, a Professional Geologist with Water Research Center and B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., will discuss the basic functionality of an on-lot system and best practices to help prevent water pollution.

During the session – Mr. Brian Oram promised to post a few items:

  1. Here is a color copy of the presentation septicsystemspresentation92019. Please note copyright terms and conditions.
  2. Here is a copy of a document the presenter found available on the local agency website on septic systems.
  3. The Keystone Clean Water Team on-line store, get a copy of our educational booklet, order a neighborhood hazard report, mail order water testing program, at-home water screening and more.
  4. Keystone Clean Water Team new diagnostic tool and free phone app for drinking water issues. Go To – http://www.drinkingH20app.com

Other Training On Septic Systems (ONLINE)

1. EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Systems Management

2. EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Processes and Systems

Reading Recommendations

Wells and Septic Systems Paperback
The Septic System Owner’s Manual Paperback

Pike County Pennsylvania – Private Septic Systems Need Maintenance???

On September 19, 2019, the Pike County Conservation District hosted a 2-hour informational work and training session. The topic – Properly Maintaining Your On-Lot Septic System

To help Pike County residents keep local lakes and ponds clean, the Pike County Conservation District is hosting a free three-part workshop series titled “How your Backyard Activities Affect your Lake.”This is the third workshop in the series. http://inklingsandyarns.com/blog/wp-commentin.php It will be held at the Dingman Township Fire Hall, 680 Log Tavern Road. Presenter Brian Oram, a Professional Geologist with Water Research Center and B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc., will discuss the basic functionality of an on-lot system and best practices to help prevent water pollution.

During the session – Mr. Brian Oram promised to post a few items:

  1. Here is a color copy of the presentation septicsystemspresentation92019. Please note copyright terms and conditions.
  2. Here is a copy of a document the presenter found available on the local agency website on septic systems.
  3. The Keystone Clean Water Team on-line store, get a copy of our educational booklet, order a neighborhood hazard report, mail order water testing program, at-home water screening and more.

Other Training On Septic Systems (ONLINE)

1. EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Systems Management

2. EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Processes and Systems

Books

Wells and Septic Systems Paperback

The Septic System Owner’s Manual Paperback

Harvest the Rain, How to Enrich Your Life by seeing Every Storm as a Resource

Job Posting: Forest Watch Coordinator – Sierra Club Pennsylvania

Note: The Keystone Clean Water Team is  a political.  We are a fact based organization and to maintain this balance, we are posting this job announcement. Please review.


Chapter:   Pennsylvania

Reports To: Chapter Director

Context: Pennsylvania’s public spaces are in peril from drilling. In order to prevent this catastrophe, we need to organize and implement the Pennsylvania Forest Watch Campaign to  increase the number of people involved, leaders trained, and engagement of people with influence to achieve our conservation goals. Plans, organizes and coordinates the activities of staff and volunteers in carrying out the Forest Watch Plan, a campaign that leads members on outings in state parks and forests threatened by oil and gas drilling.  Develops organizing strategies and priorities for moving campaign forward with our allies.

Scope: Under direction of the Chapter Director or the assigned volunteer leader, implements the Chapter’s PA Forest Watch Initiative in the Delaware River watershed. Responsible for recruiting, engaging, and motivating large numbers of new people to take repeated action which will further Sierra Club’s Forest Watch campaign.  Working closely with Chapter and National staff, the Program Coordinator will identify and develop volunteers to take on the role of team outings leaders and build grassroots power and networks. Identifies and builds alliances with other organizations that will provide assistance with the Forest Watch Program.

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the coordination and effective implementation of the Forest Watch Campaign.  Oversees creating the conservation campaign and developing the strategy and helps to carry out organizational and issue visibility in regional, national media and in the local community.  Provides leadership in working with volunteer leaders, national, state and local conservation staff on conservation. Evaluates and measures success of activities within the campaign to ensure progress towards the campaign or program’s mission and goals. Helps determine changes to strategies needed to reach goals.


Job Activities:

  1. Develops and implements campaign strategies for the Forest Watch Initiative in the Delaware River watershed in accordance with the chapter policy.
  2. Recruits, coordinates and facilitates grassroots involvement and cultivates relationships with public officials and our allies, like ALLARM and Stroud Water Research to implement the Forest Watch Campaign in the Delaware River watershed.
  3. Works with staff volunteer leaders and other interest groups to identify, recruit and organize volunteers for conservation campaigns.
  4. Plans, develops and implements campaign strategies  to obtain media coverage in regional and national media outlets.  Participates in the development of media campaigns; may represent the Sierra Club in the media; promotes volunteer media exposure.
  5. Monitors, analyzes, and evaluates laws, initiatives and new developments affecting a specific conservation issue at the community, state and national levels.
  6. Makes presentations to community, political, and governmental bodies regarding chapter conservation efforts.  Writes press releases newsletters, flyers, etc. to keep the Club membership and the general public informed.
  7. Advocates the Sierra Club position on proposed legislation involving conservation programs; informs and communicates with elected officials, business leaders, governmental agencies, and other nonprofit organizations.
  8. Conducts surveys, investigations, and research needed to achieve objectives of conservation program.
  9. Works on task forces, committees, etc. representing the Club’s objective or mission.
  10. Works closely with media representatives to ensure that the message of the Club is accurately represented by the media.
  11. Performs miscellaneous duties as assigned.

Knowledge & Skills:

—   BA/BS degree or equivalent experience in Environmental Studies, Outdoor Education or a closely related field.

— 1-2 years experience in the environmental field that includes outdoor education, organizing campaigns, and public speaking.

— Excellent written and oral communication skills.

— Proficient computer skills

— Demonstrated ability and effectiveness working with volunteers.

Resume and Job Search
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Job Search – Try Twelve Steps to a Successful Job Search.

More Online Training – Sustainability and Energy Issues


This Year- Asked About Reverse Osmosis Treatment System

For some reason, this year we received a lot of questions from individuals looking to purchase or install a reverse osmosis treatment system.  The first question they all ask was about the features, models, and other details, but none answer the question why?  What was the problem or purpose?  They assumed they needed this system.

So my questions went as follows:

Question 1: Why?  What is the Problem – their answer in all cases was they thought it would be better.

Answer 1: They all thought they needed to install a reverse osmosis unit on their drinking water to protect their family.   They did not identify a problem such as salty water, metallic taste, etc.  When this happens, my first assumption is something went wrong somewhere or there is a new water treatment ad on TV pushing citizens to drink “Pure Water”, i.e., H20 or dihydrogen monoxide, only.  First – Drinking absolutely pure water for the long-term is not wise.

Question 2:  Where does your water originate?  Well water, City or Public water, or shared spring.

Answer 2:  80% said city or public water, 10 % said private well, and 10% said a local spring.

For the city and public water users, I said it was unlikely you needed a reverse osmosis unit because your source is regulated and must meet the state and federal drinking water standards, but after Flint and other cases this may not be true 100 % of the time.  I ask them if they look at the Consumer Confidence Report for their system and they had no idea what I was describing.  I pointed them in the direction of the EPA Consumer Confidence Report  (NOTE: If there is no report online, you will need to call your water supplier) and in every instance the water source was meeting drinking water standards, but they had some occasional problems with trihalomethanes, i.e., chlorine by-products, bacteria, and a few with copper, arsenic,  fluoride, and lead or corrosion issues.   For these individuals, I recommended the following:

a. Get a Comprehensive City Water Information Analysis

b. Based on the initial information and assuming the primary issue was trihalomethanes and chlorine by-products, the primary need most individuals was an under the counter “Point-of-Use” Carbon Filtration System for the Sink, Refrigerator, and/or Shower and in some cases for older homes I suggested a first flush test for lead and copper and then have a plumbing contractor inspect the service lines and plumbing in the home.  In one case, the homeowner found a slimy bacterial growth in the toilet tank reservoir, so we suggested they flush the system and suggested the installation of a water filter canister so they could flush and shock disinfect the water lines in the home.  For a small office, I might suggest a water cooler model.   I do not recommend a Whole House Reverse Osmosis unit.

c. Reverse Osmosis Treatment was not needed in ALL cases.

For the well water users (POE Systems- UV disinfection), I asked them when was the last time they tested their water and if the water had any aesthetic problems.  One complained of a salty taste, one was just concerned because of health issues, and the rest reported aesthetic problems ranging from odors to discoloration to staining.   If they did not have a recent water test, we recommended the appropriate water testing based on their description of the problem and surrounding land-use activities.

Homeowners that reported – Salty Water Taste and not near a gasoline station or farming area we recommended a basic water quality test with bacteria.

Homeowners that reported discoloration that was red, black, green, and/or a metallic taste we recommended a basic water quality test.

Homeowners that reported a chemical odor or metallic sheen and located in an area surrounded by agricultural activities or petrochemicals we recommended a test that included bacteria, metals, Volatile Organics, herbicides, and pesticides.  If they reported slimy coatings or films, we added a nuisance bacteria test.

We also directed a few of these users to our Phone App and Diagnose It for a self Diagnose.

At this point, NOT one of these individuals has installed a reverse osmosis unit, but it looks like the guy with the salty water may need a system.  We did find out that about 90% of the well owners needed to shock disinfect their well, 50% needed to install a UV disinfection System, 30% had a corrosion related problem, and 20% had to treat the water for an iron, manganese, or sulfur problem.

For the “Spring User” – we recommend the water be tested for total coliform and E. coli. and general water quality.  If the samples come back positive and there was a concern iron and manganese content we recommended a water test that included bacteria (including standard plate count and nuisance bacteria, iron, manganese, and total dissolved solids).  Some of the users complained about getting diarrhea, so we recommend the equivalent of a Pathogenic Screen Test for Your Drinking Water.

Guess What ! – the diarrhea case was positive for 1 pathogenic organism.   Our recommendation was to not use that spring and if possible have the spring properly abandon.   If you want to use a local spring source, plan on boiling the water at a minimum and use a water pitcher filter (test regularly at least quarterly).

For the guy that needed a reverse osmosis system, he also needed a pretreatment system to deal with the bacteria, hardness, and prepare the water for the R/O unit.    For individuals on city water that want a point of use R/O, we have found that is is typically necessary to prefilter the water to remove particles, add a carbon unit to remove chlorine, and is some cases reduce the hardness of the water.    Please keep in mind both applications are for Point-of-Use and not – Wholehouse RO treatment.

Looking for a Reverse Osmosis Unit – Questions?

  1. How much water do I need per day?
  2. Does my water require pretreatment?  If you do not have recent water testing data, we recommend this comprehensive assessment (Complete RO screen).  Testing for silica is critical.
  3. How much water will be “wasted” per day and where will this water go?   Some R/O units process 2 to 4 units of water to make 1 unit.  Therefore, you may waste 1 to 3 gallons of water to make 1 gallon.
  4. Do I need to install a booster pump- Do I have the proper pressure in my system?
  5. Do you need to re-mineralize the water for taste or to increase the pH?

Interesting R/O Unit with Booster Pump

Finally -You may want to be looking for an NSF/ANSI 58 approved systems – You can try this product search. “NSF/ANSI 58 establishes the minimum requirements for the certification of point-of-use (POU) reverse osmosis systems designed to reduce contaminants that may be present in public or private drinking water.  The scope of NSF/ANSI 58 includes material safety, structural integrity, total dissolved solids (TDS) reduction and other optional contaminant reduction claims. The most common optional claims addressed by NSF/ANSI 58 include cyst reduction, hexavalent and trivalent chromium reduction, arsenic reduction, nitrate/nitrite reduction, and cadmium and lead reduction.”  and you most likely want to hire a local trained professional to assist with product selection and install. If your looking for a treatment system to remove Pfas/Pfos (meets NSF P473)

Training
If you are looking for Training on the Subject – Visit :  Basic Water Treatment Course (Search Water Supply
(Topics: Desalination, Disinfection, Membrane Filtration)

More -Training – Visit Training Professionals 

Please share the site – We try to be as fact based as possible and try to provide solid information.

Manufacturers

Crystal Quest
US Water Systems

Lycoming County Pennsylvania Flooding Private Wells

Lycoming County, Pennsylvania – Flooding Private Wells

With the significant and long-term rainfall events, we have areas that have undergone flooding.   If your area has been flooded and you use private water wells you must take some action to ensure that your water well is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized.    When water wells become inundated or a region floods, it is possible that the contaminated water may enter the water well directly via the well cap or indirectly through natural macropores  (i.e., spaces between the rock or particles of sand and gravel,  in the unconsolidated material or bedrock.  OUR suggestions are as follows:

  1. Do not panic!
  2. If you are not handy, we recommend that you contact a licensed professional well driller.
  3. If you are handy and have power, we recommend that you inspect the area around the well and remove the well cap and shock disinfect the well.
  4. We would recommend the well be purged to waste – do not purge the water into the septic system or back directly into the well initially.  When the well water appears clear, recirculate the water back into the well to wash down the sides of the casing.   Please make sure to by-pass any water treatment devices and water filters and do not run this water through your main plumbing of the home.
  5. We then recommend that the well and main line be shock disinfected twice.  This is our website that contains information on how to shock disinfect a well and a link to a video that reviews the process and to the preferred chemical to use (Link to Amazon).  Please note- Some local well drillers has this chemical available.   If you can not get this chemical, it is ok in an emergency to use household bleach that does NOT contains scents, fragrances, or other additives.
  6. After the well has been shock disinfected and purged one to waste, the second shock disinfection should be to the well and the distribution system of the home.  When you conduct this disinfection, it is critical that you remove all aeration devices, by-pass all filters, and remove any hoses or connections that have inline filters or screens, i.e., your washer hoses and you may want to consider raising the casing, adding a sanitary well cap, and adding a Well Seal.
  7. When you believe you have shock disinfected the well properly, we recommend the following:
    1. Screen the raw untreated well water and the water from the piping of your home using a DIY Informational Water Testing Screening Test. (Link to TA – portion of the proceeds benefits the Keystone Clean Water Team)
    2. If the screening test is negative, we would suggest that you then contact a certified laboratory PA by county and have the water tested for at least total coliform and E. coli. using a method that gives you a physical count, i.e., an enumeration method.
    3. If the water is still positive for total coliform and/or E. coli, we would recommend that you shock disinfect the well and distribution system a second time, but use a longer reaction time and then retest using a certified laboratory.
    4. If you are in an area with farming or petrochemical storage or high use, we would also recommend an informational water screening test that includes trace metals, herbicides, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds  (Link to NTL – portion of the proceeds benefits the Keystone Clean Water Team).

PS: Adding too much disinfection chemical to the well is not wise, this can cause the release of arsenic and other trace metals into the water.

Recent Concerns:
Worms in Well Water
Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water

The Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501 c3 that focuses on Pennsylvania, but helps private well owners and small water systems worldwide.

For more information about us, please visit our portal.  We have a new educational booklet on groundwater in Pennsylvania.   More Questions -visit us at Water-research.net

If you can – give us a hand – all we ask is you share, retweet, and help promote our social media platforms.  If you can donate – GREAT !

Article Submitted to Connections Magazine for February 2018 American Heart Health Month

Show Your Partner You Care – “Know Your H20”

By: Brian Oram, Professional Geologist

This article was prepared based on the topic of “Romance”.   On the topic of romance, I am not an expert.  I have been married only twice and currently love only one women my current wife.  Robin is great!   Many see this as a time to show the one you love you care by going that extra mile, saying I love you, being more considerate, and trying to at least let that other person know you care and you love them.   Therefore, it is good to have big strong heart and for that reason it is “American Heart Month”.

Heart disease is a leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States and in the month of January my good friend had a massive heart attack.  He is currently doing well.   Since I am not a physician I can only tell you what my doctor tells me   “Make heart-healthy choices” and “Know the risk factors”, and stay hydrated.

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Since I am in expert in geology and water quality, I would like to add “Know YOUR H20”.  It is critical to know what you are putting into your body and what you are using to hydrate your system.    Humans are big bags of water.    Since hydration impacts the circulatory system, improper hydration may cause the heart to pump quicker.  There are a number of contaminates in drinking water that can impact your heart and overall health.  These contaminants include: atrazine, arsenic, antimony, barium, cadmium, lead, microorganisms, and selenium.   In general, 50% of private wells in Pennsylvania have elevated levels of bacteria and 8% contain elevated levels of arsenic, and about 40% may contain elevated levels of lead/copper and other trace metals.  Even “city water” may contain elevated levels of trace metals and chlorine by-products that can impact your health.  To show your partner you care, get your water tested and make sure you “KnowYour H20” and the Neighboorhood Hazard Reports.

PS: Buy native flowers and say I love you !

Keystone Clean Water Team
http://www.pacleanwater.org

Brian Oram is a licensed professional geologist and a soil scientist.  He is the owner of B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc. and the manager for the Keystone Clean Water Team a 501 c3.

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Water Treatment – “The Salt Free Water Softener”

The Keystone Clean Water Team is a 501c3 and the main goal of the organization is to educate and inform the public on issues related to watershed management, water quality, groundwater, conservation, and the links between the environment, economy, and living within a community.    As a group, we provide educational outreach via are webportals, workshops, and other training programs.  During the past year, one of the most common questions we get ask is:  “What do you think of the “Salt Free Water Softener”,  my normal answer is “It depends”.

For some “salt free water treatment” systems by most common answer is quackery.  I will not mention these systems, but I will refer you to a great website so we do not have to worry about liability  (H20.com).   Of the softener and “salt-free” systems we have been able to seen the field the ones that appear interesting would include the following:

Water Softener (Conventional and With A Twist)

In general water softeners reduce the level of total hardness in the water and when this hardness is removed it is replaced with ions of sodium or potassium. The total hardness can include elements like calcium, magnesium, iron, manganese, and other divalent/or mulivalent cations, i.e., ions that have a positive charge of more than one.  These ions are replaced by ions with a positive charge of one.   The system requires an internal resign that acts as the treatment area and a brine tank that is used to backwash and recharge the resin.   These have a long-history of use, but can increase the level of sodium and potassium in the water.  These systems can be vulnerable to bacterial regrowth, chlorine interaction, and in some cases “Iron Out” needs to be added to the brine tank.   A water softener can add in dealing with issues related to more significant scale formation and problems with iron and manganese.  If you are considering this treatment system, we recommend that you conduct a comprehensive water quality test and seek the advice of a local expert.  If you are a DIY, get your water tested and  please visit this portal (Whole House Water Softener / Alternative No-salt Softener (just reduces hardness- Using a Crystal Eagle Anti-scale media ) ).   For the record, we have seen problems when a water softener is added to an older home and system. In these cases, we have seen that water softener was typically removing too much of the water hardness.  When this softened water was introduced to the system, the system experience elevated levels of lead, copper, and other trace metals and because the line was not properly shock disinfected intermittent water quality problems with “dirty and discolored water” (PS: this is Flint Michigan in a nutshell).

Crystal Quest Systems

US Water Systems

Aquios Systems (Aquios FS-220)  (Salt Free)

The Aquios technology uses a polyphosphate/silicate additive in the media to bind or sequester the hardness as a mineral form.  The media is known as Siliphos Data Sheet. Rather than feeding a polyphosphate chemical into the water like is done for corrosion control and sequestering for some municipal water sources, this is accomplished using a point of entry or use treatment system.  The filter has a fixed capacity for hardness reduction, so it is critical to get a detailed water quality test so the system can be properly sized.  In addition, the system normally included prefiltration to reduce or remove sediment and chlorine.

Nuvo H20 (Salt Free)

This systems uses a chelatin approach to reducing the total hardness of the water. Therefore, the hardness is bound and sequestered within the media, which is very similar to the Aquios approach, but they use CitraCharge.  CitraCharge appears to be an additive that includes citric acid, which is a weak organic acid.  From the companies website, “The chelant in CitraCharge creates a ring structure to bind the ions to the CitraCharge instead of to other ions, which is what typically causes scale and hard-water deposits.”

Other Products

Lemi Shine Natural Dishwasher Cleaner – Citric Acid Cleaner  (Dishwasher, etc)

Citic Acid based cleaner-Food Grade Citric Acid Powder Natural Cleaner & Descaler

Please make sure to get your water quality tested.  For this problem we would recommend, the following for  Well Water or City Water.

Master Watershed Steward Program Monroe County Pennsylvania

January 8, 2018
Penn State Extension and the Monroe County Conservation District are excited to launch the Master Watershed Steward Program.
The Master Watershed Steward program is a collaborative effort between Penn State Extension, Monroe County Conservation District, and local conservation groups. It is similar to the Master Gardener program and is designed to train people in a formal way about the basics of water resource stewardship, creating an energized and educated group of citizens. Currently, the MWS program is in 13 counties across the state and has 194 volunteers that have contributed over 7,500 volunteer hours in 2017.
We are recruiting 20-25 interested people for the class of 2018. The class will consist of 40 hours of training on various topics, including water quality, stream health, groundwater, native plants, and recreational resources. Once this part of the training is complete, trainees perform 50 hours of volunteer service on selected projects such as:
– Organizing and executing stream cleanups.
– Designing and installing demonstration rain gardens.
– Assist in stream restorations.
– Organize educational workshops addressing topics such as rain barrels, pollution prevention, invasive plant control, and stormwater management.

 

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Applicants are welcome from all walks of life. If under 18, you must be accompanied by a guardian or adult. The program will start on Thursday, March 1, 2018, 6:00-8:30 pm and will continue every Thursday through May. There will be several Saturday field trips.
An informational session at 6:30 pm will be held on January18 at:
Monroe County Conservation District
8050 Running Valley Rd.
Stroudsburg, Pa.
If interested, please contact:

Jim Vogt
Phone: 570-421-6430
Email: jav45@psu.edu
Web: extension.psu.edu/programs/watershed-stewards/counties/monroe
Penn State Extension
Monroe County
724 Phillips Street, Suite 201
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Job VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT Executive Director, Pike County Conservation District, Pike County, Pennsylvania

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PIKE COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) is accepting applications for a full-time Executive Director (ED). Challenging position responsible for management of the overall administration and supervision of Conservation District programs, personnel, and operations implementing the Conservation District Mission within Pike County. Must be a leader, a service-oriented individual with high ethical standards and excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills. Must have a knowledge of current natural resource conservation issues, practices and programs. ED supervises a staff of 7. Pike County position with a competitive salary and benefit package. Pike County is an EOE. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in natural resource management, environmental science or related field with demonstrated experience of at least two (2) years (including supervisory experience), or any equivalent combination of experience. Must possess and maintain a valid Pennsylvania driver’s license. Clear Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check, all Child Abuse History Clearances and FBI fingerprint clearance are required. Applicants must submit: 1) Letter of Interest addressed to Conservation District Selection Committee and 2) A Detailed Resume including references. Send to ATTENTION OF: Selection Committee, Pike County Conservation District, 556 Route 402, Hawley, PA 18428. Must be received by PCCD no later than January 5, 2018 closing date for applications. Hard copy submissions preferred. Email submissions send only to scorrigan@pikepa.org. Please read minimum qualifications thoroughly and demonstrate you meet requirements in the materials you submit.

THANK YOU
Sally Corrigan, Executive Director
Pike County Conservation District
scorrigan@pikepa.org
570-226-8220 (t) Ext. 1338
www.pikeconservation.org

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