Home Appliance Warranty Drinking Water Problems Scale Formation Corrosion
Have you read your warranty on that new $ 1500.00 appliance or $ 5000.00 boiler ?
GUESS WHAT? If you water quality violates the terms of you manufactures warranty, the Warranty on that NEW Water Appliance may mean nothing and may be invalid on day one. The same goes for the water heater, other heat exchange devices, dishwashers, clothes washers, and other water related appliances.
We suggest you get a copy of critical warranties and review !
When you review your warranty, the warranty will usually list circumstances that not covered, and “scale buildup due to water quality” is typically found on that list. Read the fine print (Source – https://homewateradvisor.com/hard-water-appliance-warranty/) .
We reviewed a warranty for a boiler as part of a water quality assessment and we found the following: “Water conditions that have caused deterioration or unusual deposits on the heat exchanger”. We asked one water quality professional and they said this could be a number of conditions, but the most common are corrosive conditions and scale forming water. In a few rare cases, the problem may be associated with a high total dissolved solids associated with salts (chloride) or potentially water with high levels of metal oxides like iron and manganese that could create an oxidized residual or coating or a lot of suspended particles in the water that contribute to physical corrosion.
During an energy expo focusing on renewable energy, one of the professionals and guest speakers indicated the following: “The local groundwater or drinking water quality is a significant factor in ensuring the long-term performance and efficiency of any water related appliance. One significant problem is water that is classified as very hard with a high alkalinity. When this water is heated, a portion of the carbonates are converted to CO2 (carbon dioxide) gas and the water becomes supersaturated with calcium and magnesium carbonate. The calcium and magnesium come out of solution as a solid particle and then this particle becomes a coating or scale in the water piping and appliance components that are in contact with the water. As the scale accumulates, the pipes become clogged and the efficiency of the appliance is reduced. This is very common with boilers, on-demand tankless water heaters, and storage water heaters that use gas for fuel or high temperature units. ”
An independent study (pdf) commissioned by the Water Quality Association showed that “water heaters operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime. On the other hand, hard water can lead to as much as a 48% loss of efficiency in water heaters.”
One common question is why is the hot water appliances more vulnerable to corrosion?
“Corrosion is more likely and more rapid at higher water temperatures. The rate of corrosion triples or quadruples as water temperature rises from 60°F to 140°F. Above 140°F, the rate of corrosion doubles for every 20°F increase.” (Source (pdf) )
At an Eastern Regional Water Quality Conference, I meet Kris Toomey from LH Brubaker Water Conditioning. He told me a bit about his business.
“Appliances and water treatment go hand in hand. The benefits of soft water for appliances are plentiful. It is a perfect marriage between providing an appliance that improves the quality of life for a family and offering water treatment equipment to ensure the long-term reliability of the state-of-the-art appliances and at the same time providing a barrier to protect the family. Providing the appropriate water quality treatment of the household water is like offering an additional “insurance policy” for the house, family, and the appliance.
Not only are you protecting their investment, but you are helping with soap savings, skin and hair benefits as well as protecting the plumbing system, water heater, and plumbing fixtures. In many cases, this action is necessary to protect the warranty on the new equipment. There is no better feeling than ensuring that the family walking through your door making an investment in their home is given the right information to ensure the reliability of the appliances. Every fridge that leaves the store has an opportunity for an RO system to provide the highest available purified water option and this additional barrier protects not only the appliance, but also the family.”
For example: Depending on the hardness of your drinking water, the concentration of the total hardness or hard water or the corrosiveness of the water may void or invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty, the HOME Warranty, and any extended warranty of your water related appliances, such as: dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine or water heater due to its corrosive nature of the drinking water. A typical water heater warranty could state that the heater is covered for anywhere between 6 -12 years. If you read the warranty, it will likely list specific water quality parameters that should not be exceed or water conditions, such as scale formation due to water quality or corrosive water.
Therefore, if you buying a water appliance from a business that does not recommend getting your water tested and you are on a private well or on city water that has occasional problems or you have not had your water properly tested, you should ask about the terms of the warranty and get your drinking water tested (City TApWater / Well Water). Regarding basic treatment, the Know Your H20 team recommends the installation of a whole house particle filter (Well Water Particle Filter) or (City Drinking Water Filter (basic approach / advanced approach) to protect home water appliance from corrosion related to the presence of particles in the water that could damage piping.
Impact of Water Quality on Water Heating Equipment “The local water quality is one of the factors that contributes most significantly to the long-term performance and longevity of water heating equipment. Specifically, highly alkaline water will lead to the accumulation of scale, which will impact the efficiency of tankless and gas storage water heaters and can lead to decreased equipment life.”
The Know Your H20 Team recently reviewed a Warranty for a boiler. The warranty did not list specific water criteria for specific parameters, but the warranty stated that the warranty was not valid if these conditions were present: “Water conditions that have caused deterioration or unusual deposits on the heat exchanger”. This condition could include a number of situations that could include corrosive water, scale forming water, water with high salts, especially chloride, and/or drinking water with a high concentration of metal oxides like iron and manganese that could create an oxidized residual or coating.
Your Potential Problem- Is it Corrosion or Scale Formation?
Corrosion
Corrosion is where the water reacts with the household metal plumbing piping and fixtures and these reactions are typically associated with the release of copper, lead, nickel, chromium, and zinc. The common problems associated with Corrosion include: water that has a bitter taste, intermittent discolored water, coatings that may be blue, bluish green and sometime brown, low water pH, high water acidity, low hardness and low alkalinity, discolored laundry, deterioration to piping, fixtures, and appliances, and ultimately the failure of equipment. For this condition, we recommend the Corrosion Check Kit.
Scale Formation
Water can contain two general types of hardness, i.e., temporary hardness and permanent hardness. Scale formation in water appliances is typically associated with temporary hardness, because the scale is normally formed after the water has been heated. The scale is normally composed of calcium and magnesium carbonate that has a white to gray appearance. If the water company adds a sequestering chemical like phosphate to the water, the scale may include other metals such as copper, lead, zinc, aluminum, nickel, arsenic, iron, and manganese. The initial scale coating if uniform on the pipe may protect the piping from localized corrosion or physical damage, but as the scale increases the user may experience problems with the system. Scale formation can reduce efficiency of hot water related appliance, reduce pipe diameter and pressure, reduce the water flow, block intakes to water appliances, and cause valves to not properly or completely close. For this condition, we recommend the Corrosion Check Kit or the Problem Checker (if you suspect a nuisance bacterial problem and have an iron or manganese potential problem) .
One engineering calculation based on water quality testing can be used to conduct a preliminary assessment for the potential for corrosion or scale formation is the Saturation Index (SI) calculation.
Note:
Learn about the warranty when purchasing a water related appliance and Get Your Water Tested (Well Water or City Water) Requires Different Testing! You may not need a whole house filtration system just a water treatment system on the water going to the on-demand water system or a POU Water device, especially on city water that may contain water treatment chemicals that create chemical scales.
Written by: Mr. Brian Oram, PG/ Soil Scientist – Know Your H20 Program
Manager for Keystone Clean Water Team
Healthy Homes, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Drinking Water Initiatives or Programs
Healthy Drinking Water and Healthy Homes
The Healthy Homes, Healthy Communities, and Healthy Drinking Water Initiatives or Programs
The Healthy Homes Program / Healthy Home Initiates
“Environmental hazards in the home potentially harm millions of children each year. The Healthy Homes Program addresses multiple childhood diseases, exposures, and injuries that may originate in the home. The Initiative has a focus on housing-related hazards and educating and informing the public. This was one of the key factors missing in the Flint Michigan Drinking Water Crisis. In response to Congress, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) launched its Healthy Homes Initiative (HHI) in 1999. The objective of the program was to protect children and their families from housing-related health and safety hazards.
HUD has developed a new Healthy Homes Strategic plan that lays out the next steps their office will take to advance the healthy homes agenda nationwide. The HHI builds upon HUD’s successful Lead Hazard Control programs to expand its efforts to address a variety of environmental health and safety concerns including: mold , lead , allergens/ asthma, air quality gases and VOCs , pesticides , and radon .”
Learn More – https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/healthy_homes/hhi
New Healthy Homes Strategic Plan -https://www.hud.gov/sites/documents/DOC_13701.pdf
Healthy Communities
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) developed the Healthy Communities Program (HCP). The program uses local, state, territory, and national partnerships to attempt to prevent chronic diseases and reduce health disparities (Note: For me this is a buzz word related to equity, we will never have equal outcomes in communities because of genetics, individual choice, and economics, and lifestyle issues, but we can attempt to treat all individuals equally).
Nearly 50% Americans die of one chronic disease, such as: heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer (polycythemica vera/ radon), obesity, and arthritis.
Chronic diseases make up 7 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States and based on our recent experience with COVID, these diseases made individuals more vulnerable to the negative and adverse impacts associated with COVID-19. Not only can these diseases result in death, they can also be associated with chronic pain, inability to function and support an individual or family, limit daily activities, and significant impact a family’s budget and health care costs.
The Healthy Communities Program attempts to raise awareness and provide fact-based information, but also encourage citizens to make better choices, increase physical activity, make better food choices, and reduce the use of tobacco. These efforts addressed key factors that raise the risk of disease, including: CDC funded 331 communities and 52 state and territorial health departments through HCP .
Healthy Drinking Water/ Water Initiatives
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) implemented an education and information about healthy water, including drinking water, swimming / recreational water , diseases related to poor sanitation and hygiene and waterborne disease , and and how to make water safe to drink in emergencies for outbreaks, preparedness, and response.
The Know Your H20 Program started our education outreach efforts in 1985 and created a formal program known as the Homeowner Outreach Program in 1989 and part of our program includes educating users about current and historic hazards in their communities (Neighborhood Hazard Report), community outreach efforts, asbestos, “Forever Chemicals (pfos, pfoa)“, and fact based information on drinking water and other environmental contaminants.
Drinking water comes from a variety of sources including public water systems , private wells , or bottled water. Ensuring safe and healthy drinking water may be as simple as turning on the tap from an EPA-regulated public water system. Other water sources may need to have point-of-use or whole house filtration systems, citizens educated and informed, water quality monitored, water distribution systems flushed and septic systems need to be serviced or inspected. It is important to know where drinking water comes from, how it’s been treated, and if it’s safe to drink. Therefore, it is important to Know Your H20 and Get on the Path to Clean Water.
Call to Action:
Step 1: Get Informed
Step 2: Get Tested
Step 3: Get Treatment
Learn More at https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/index.html
Unsustainable Groundwater Management
“Public perception of freshwater is often dominated by visions of rivers and lakes. Groundwater is rarely a part of that imagination. Historically, it has been a hidden resource, and it remains so even now. The irony is that aquifers contain over 98% of Earth’s liquid freshwater.
Global and national water data are not very reliable. It is estimated that on a global basis, groundwater provides 36% of potable water, 24% of industrial water supply and 42% of water for irrigation. These estimates vary. In some countries, agriculture consumes the lion’s share of groundwater. Withdrawals from the Arabian aquifer system, for example, account for 84% of the region’s freshwater resources, most of which is used for farming. Human dependence on groundwater and the associated challenges varies considerably from one place to another, even within countries. Groundwater levels in some of the most densely populated river basins, such as the Indus and the Ganges-Brahmaputra basins in South Asia, have been plummeting. Groundwater’s invisibility and the lack of political interest are two key reasons that exploited aquifers are neither easy nor quick to remedy.”
by Asit Biswas
Read More – https://thewaternetwork.com/article-FfV/we-must-address-unsustainable-groundwater-management-Dzy5c_4XpAHdy70I_0mQ1w
Other Guides on Groundwater and Water
Water in the Universe -https://www.knowyourh2o.com/indoor-3/water-in-the-universe
The Water Cycle – https://www.knowyourh2o.com/outdoor-4/the-hydrological-cycle
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. 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:
- Here is a color copy of the presentation septicsystemspresentation92019. Please note copyright terms and conditions.
- Here is a copy of a document the presenter found available on the local agency website on septic systems.
- 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.
- 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
Drinking Water Quality Phone Apps Private Well Owners City Water Users
The Keystone Clean Water Team with assistance from B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc and the Water Research Center have developed and updated 2 phone apps. The apps work on both the Android and the Apple iphone platform. Know Your H2O? is an educational tool that can help you diagnose the problem with your water. This app will lead you through a series of questions to pinpoint the issues with your water. Unlike other apps that just remind you to drink water, these apps actually help to diagnose a water quality problem and/or provide insight into water quality contaminants may be a concern based on a variety of activities.
Know Your H2O
Know Your H2O? is an educational tool that can help you diagnose the problem with your water. This app will lead you through a series of questions to pinpoint the issues with your water. You can reach your diagnosis through describing symptoms that are effecting your home, your health, or the water itself. Once you receive your diagnosis result(s), the app is designed to educate you by displaying full lists of symptoms, causes, and solutions, as well as links to other educational sources. The app will then show you various testing kit options specifically designed to treat those results. If the problem is more extensive and in depth testing is required, Know Your H2O? will also connect you with featured local professionals. What’s in YOUR Water?
Recommendation: Wells and Septic Systems Paperback
This app was replaced by a new drinking water diagnostic tool.
PA Baseline Testing
The PA Baseline Testing mobile app is an educational tool for residents of Pennsylvania who are impacted by Oil & Gas Development, Subsurface Coal Development, and other common environmental hazards. By selecting which factor impacts your region, you can discover various Recommendations and Tiers of water testing that can help bring you piece of mind about the safety of your drinking water. Got Data? You can also submit your own testing data and results to help continue to build the PA Clean Water Team’s database.
To learn more go to Download the Free Drinking Water Quality Mobile Apps
Pennsylvania Baseline Water Testing Kit Options –
Baseline Water Testing Kits
Natural Gas Drilling Water Test Kit #1
Natural Gas Drilling Water Test Kit #2
Natural Gas Drilling Water Test Kit #3
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. 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:
- Here is a color copy of the presentation septicsystemspresentation92019. Please note copyright terms and conditions.
- Here is a copy of a document the presenter found available on the local agency website on septic systems.
- 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
Pennsylvania Sewage Enforcement Officers Soils Training Wastewater Managment
Since the last SEO email on March 9, 2018, the Act 537 Planning Section would like to inform you of the following program updates:
- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Bureau of Clean Water is in the process of developing and administering a website-based Learning Management System (LMS), called the Pennsylvania Clean Water Academy (PCWA), https://pacleanwateracademy.remote-learner.net/. In addition to other Bureau programs, the PCWA will serve the SEO Certification and Training Program. All SEO records and training opportunities will be housed in the PCWA and will be accessible to you through your own account, whenever you need the information.
We believe this represents an opportunity for the SEO community and envision the following benefits:
- Allow for all DEP-approved and available courses being offered to SEOs will be in one location.
- Allow for variety of online courses.
- Provide self-service for SEOs to find and enroll in training programs and track their certification and credit status.
- Allow SEOs to express an interest in or pre-book courses.
- Allow for a wider range of course media, in class, video, webinar and eLearning.
[amazon_link asins=’B007E9JERA’ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’webdespro-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’5e0358b3-8d55-4261-9106-23a71f238aa5′]
Note, the SEO portion is still a work in progress, currently there are only two (2) SEO on-line courses available, although you can view all DEP-approved SEO courses, sponsors and sponsor contact information in the PCWA. You should have received, or will be receiving, an email to set up your account in Pa Clean Water Academy (PCWA). Once you have registered for PCWA, to assist you with navigating the PCWA, we have developed an on-line course entitled How to Use the Clean Water Academy for SEOs. As an incentive, the DEP will award you one (1) credit upon successful completion of the course, at no charge.
- In the past, the SEO continuing education program offered an advanced soils class (#109 Advanced Soils). The completion of the class had been a requirement to maintain certification as an SEO. The soils class has not been offered since 2010. If you are receiving this email, you already have successfully passed the #109 Advanced Soils class in the past, but you are invited to refresh your skills in the newly approved advanced soils course below.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) believes that a comprehensive soils course is fundamental for all SEOs. A thorough understanding of soils and how soils relate to on-lot sewage systems is essential for all SEOs to adequately perform their duties.
[amazon_link asins=’147862907X,1118540697′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’webdespro-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’7caa6a70-bdd1-4066-bd7f-e84eabf2fe1e’]
Currently, there is only one (1) DEP-approved soils course meeting the same qualifications as the #109 Advanced Soils, the Precertification Soils Course. The training sponsor for this course is Soil Hub. The course is a blended learning event offering on-line material and two (2) field days; the course is worth 15 credits and the price is $550. To successfully complete the soils course and earn the 15 credits, you must take and pass the online exams and a field exam.
The on-line portion of the course will take approximately four (4) hours to complete and must be done prior to attending the field portion of the course. The schedule for the 2019 field days is as follows:
April 25 & 26 – Shippensburg University
May 16 & 17 – Bucks County
May 23 & 24 – Bucks County
June 6 & 7 – Bloomsburg University
June 20 & 21 – Bloomsburg University
For additional information and registration, visit https://pacleanwateracademy.remote-learner.net/ or https://www.soilhub.com/seo/. Note, please make sure to set up your PCWA account before trying to register for the precertification soils course. If you have not received the email on how to set up your account, or are having trouble setting up your account, please contact Jay Braund at jbraund@pa.gov, 717.772.5636, or Janice Vollero at jvollero@pa.gov, 717.772.5157.
We would like to remind you to contact us if any of your personal or business contact information changes. You can contact us by email at RA-seotrng@pa.gov .
Training
Continuing Education Credits – PASEOs – Hand-ons Course – Wilkes University -https://www.wilkes.edu/academics/continued-learning/engineering-geologist-ce.aspx
Online Training Course – EPA Land-Based Wastewater
| EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Processes and Systems |
| EPA Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Systems Management |
New Report – Violations NJ Utilities Drinking Water Testing
Sharing an interesting article:
Violations At NJ Utilities Enumerated In New Report
By Sara Jerome, @sarmje
“A new analysis of New Jersey drinking water reveals widespread challenges.“More than 1.5 million New Jerseyans are served by a utility that has been cited for excessive contaminants since April 2014, when the Flint water crisis was revealed, according to an analysis of U.S. EPA data by USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey,” The Asbury Park Press reported. “The data shows that water utilities in the Garden State have racked up at least 226 contamination violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act since Flint became synonymous with tainted tap water and put other water systems under a spotlight,” the report continued. The report shows the state’s water challenges extend even beyond Newark, which is undergoing a major lead crisis.”
What we recommend:
1. Know if you are getting your water from a regulated or unregulated water system.
2. If you are part of a regulated system – Make sure to get a copy of the consumers confidence report for your supplier.
3. Inspect your piping and home, could you have a lead issue in your home? This includes lead piping, lead solder, lead paint, lead dust, or consumer products high in lead.
4. Conduct a lead screening test on your home drinking water.
5. If necessary, conduct a first flush and flush test of your drinking water for lead and check to see if your water is vulnerable to corrosion.
6. Need help diagnosing a problem – Go to Know Your H20.
7. Get our educational booklet on drinking water.
8. Consider a point of use filtration system that reduces lead.
Water Filtration System
Custom Point of Use Systems
Crystal Quest Systems (Point of Use, Whole House Systems, Air and Water Disinfection)
Filter Water Systems (Point of Use and Whole House Systems)
US Water Systems (“Forever Chemicals,, UV Disinfection, Iron, Manganese”)
Blog Post on Drinking Water and Real Estate
The Bacteria Lurking in American Showerheads – Interesting Article we found
Interesting Article by
“In 1654, Rembrandt painted a woman, in Amsterdam, bathing in a stream. As she lifts her nightdress above her knees and treads deeper, the woman is stepping from one world into another. Among art historians, the transition she is making is metaphorical. But to a biologist, it is also ecological.
We imagine water to be clean, and we imagine clean to mean lifeless, and yet all the water you have ever bathed in, swum through, or drunk has been full of life, from bacteria to tiny crustaceans. So, too, the pipes in which it travels. As water passes through pipes in general and showerheads in particular, a thick biofilm builds up. Biofilm is a fancy word that scientists use to avoid saying “gunk.” It is made by individuals of one or more species of bacteria working together to protect themselves from hostile conditions—including the flow of water, which constantly threatens to wash them away—via their own excretions.”
This is a very timely article – we work with a lot of private water systems, public water supply systems, and businesses that have a biofilm problem and to be honest I have had this problem in my home (s) that were serviced by both city water and well water.
First Step – Learn
- Biofilms and Bacteria – bacteria does not normally grow free-living in the drinking water, but attached to the piping or surfaces within the system as a biofilm. This microbiological community can include a variety of organism that may be aerobic (like or need oxygen), anaerobic (low oxygen), or facultative(in the middle). The bacterial coating may be clear or discolored, create odors, contain trace metals, or promote microbiologically induced corrosion. The bacteria can impact the quality of the drinking water and the integrity of the distribution system. When people test city or well water, they normally only test for total coliform bacteria and may be E. coli., but that is not enough.
Second – Diagnose
- The next step is to diagnose, but diagnose is really using a combination of observations and testing to determine if there may be a problem or concer.
- We recommend the following:
- Visually inspect the plumbing – look in the back of the toilet tank is the wall discolored, if discolored does it feel slimy, look in the bathroom do you see films or coating on showerheads or other surfaces. If you have any clear tubing, does the tubing have any observable films or coatings. If you have a particle filter, does it feel slimy.
- Are there any odors or strange smells to the water.
- If the water sits, does it have a floating metallic sheen on the surface.
- Have you been experiencing problems with discolored water that is black, brown, or even greenish blue?
- Flush the water heating tank – what do you see?
- If you observe a film or coating, you may have a biofilm problem.
- If the bacteria is pink, this may be Serratia marcescens. This is typically an airborne bacteria and we suggest that you wash the services with an anti-microbiological cleaner, monitor and control the humidity of the room, regularly clean the surfaces, wipe down showers after use, and keep the ventilation fan running for at least 20 minutes.
- The next question is do you have any health issues?
- If health issues are gastrointestinal and you have slime coatings – We recommend testing for total coliform, E. coli., and slime forming bacteria, and standard plate count.
- If you do not have health issues, but have slime coatings with discolored water, we would recommend total coliform, iron related bacteria, slime forming bacteria, and standard plate count.
- If you major health issues that include respiratory issues with or without gastrointestinal issues we recommend total coliform, E. Coli, and Waterborne Pathogen Panel.
Third Step – Test/ Monitor
- Testing can include a variety of measures that include:
- In home screening tests.
- Informational Laboratory Testing
- Mold and Biofilm Testing (Legionella and Coliform) In Home Screening Test
- Certified water testing