Well Water vs Cistern Water

{EAV_BLOG_VER:6f6ad5fafbc0be2b}

This is an issue many acreage owners confront regularly.  For years, people have had problems with well water - systems that don't perform as hoped, bleed through iron, sulfur, minerals, hardness or anything else they are designed to catch can lead to frustration, extra cleaning of fixtures, laundry problems, odours and other issues around the home.

Some home owners, tired of treatment systems that don't live up to their promises, look to alternatives to a traditional water well.  One option many people have chosen is to install a cistern and have water trucks haul and deliver water to the home on a regular basis.  They supply standard "city water" which is stored in tanks usually located underground and pumped into the home.

Many people use that water for everything - cooking, cleaning, flushing toilets, showering, even drinking.  The theory seems simple enough - its "city water" which contains chlorine, so it should be free from bacteria and other contaminants; it should be safe to drink.

One thing I recommend to any acreage owner with a cistern is to have it cleaned and sanitized.  This involves having someone drain the tank, climb in and scrub down the inside of the tank.  If the cistern is a few years old, I strongly recommend the homeowner watches the process.  Invariably, what happens is the person cleaning the tank will remove frogs, mice, leaves and all kinds of junk from the tank.  A common question is, "How did THAT get in there?"  (If you want an easy preview of what sort of contamination you may be dealing with, just open the back of your toilet and take a look at the inside.  How does that compare with what you would expect to find with "normal" city water???)

By their vary nature, the tanks cannot be completely sealed.  If they were, the vacuum seal would prevent water from flowing into the home.  As water flows to the house, air MUST replace it in the tank - thats' simple physics.  Along with air comes mold spores, bacteria, and depending upon how well-sealed the tank is, frogs and other creatures common to acreage communities.

Ok - but there's chlorine in there, so we're ok, RIGHT?  Well - let me ask you a question....  If you were making chicken for dinner tonight, after you're done the prep, you always disinfect the cutting board and counters where raw chicken was in use.  That is basic info.  So - do you use "chlorinated city water" to disinfect these items, or do you use cleaners or maybe even bleach to do the job?  What does that tell you about the water in your cistern?

Even if you decide not to get a water softener and protect your appliances and skin from the effects of hard city water, you really have to assume the water is NOT free from other contaminants.  While it may be ok for your washing machine and toilets, at the very very best, think of the cistern as a big jug of water sitting on your counter.  If it sat there collecting dust for 2-3 weeks, would you drink from that jug?  That is basically, in the BEST case scenario, what your cistern water is providing for your family.  Stale, dusty water.

I just consulted with a family in a unique situation - they just bought an acreage in Strathcona County that has BOTH well water and cistern water supplied to the home.  They are deciding whether to eliminate one or the other and simplify their home operation.  Next time, I'll discuss the options they face, decisions they are weighing and let you know how it goes.

Yeah - But is it working???

A few months back, we were referred to a neighbour of a client.  The referring family had just purchased a new acreage when they called us to come check on their water.  Most wells in Strathcona County need a fair bit of treatment so they are not just drinkable, but so they'll not wreck appliances and fixtures.

Much to the delight of this particular family, their water tested almost perfect.  No whole-home treatment required (other than a sediment filter, which they already had) and they just wanted the piece of mind of having purified water to drink.  After installing the Hague H3500 reverse osmosis system for them, we got them a custom faucet to match the one on their sink and they were done.  Truly impressed by the flow rate and water pressure, they were pretty happy with their new system.  They also had us to some sneaky plumbing and run a line behind their cupboards to connect up the ice maker on their fridge - a nice benefit if you like crystal clear ice and cold fresh water!

Fast forward a few months and their neighbours are still complaining about their water.  They purchased an acreage a few years ago with an existing treatment system that wasn't quite working properly.  They hired an expert to come service the system and after $2000 in labour costs, they still weren't happy with the water quality.

After being referred to Douglas Environmental, I went out to do a water test and investigate their situation.  The husband asked me for a "fresh start" -meaning not wanting to tinker with the old stuff, just put something in that will work and will not require a lot of hassle (unlike their old system which required mixing of concentrated chlorine chemicals and a complex array of mixing and storing tanks.)

The new system will replace their old chlorine injectors, not require a mixing tank and save them about 15 square feet in their utility room.  It will work "hands-off" only requiring the addition of regenerant about every 6-9 months, depending upon water usage.

Even though they were right next door to the family with "perfect water," they had substantially different chemistry.  Just because they had "problem water" however, doesn't mean they have to get a degree in chemistry to make it right.  Hiring a professional with more than one approach to well water treatment is important.  You know the old saying, if your only tool is a hammer, everything starts looking like a nail.  There are companies out there (you know who you are, your whole client base does NOT love their water...) that are quick to install the same system in regardless of water chemistry.

A true professional analyzes the water, assesses the needs of the client and makes a recommendation to work within their budget, their lifestyle and most-importantly, to address their specific water chemistry.

Being a dealer for Hague Quality Water is a huge benefit.  The WaterMax is truly the most flexible system out there and can be configured in many ways, rarely requiring multiple units to treat residential water.  It is not just the most-efficient system on the market, it is backed by the longest warranty, and a complete support team involving the local dealer AND the dedicated support staff of the manufacturer.

This home was the exception to that rule though - they needed one unit, a WaterMax 61-AAN, to treat their iron and their hydrogen sulphide (H2S gas,) and a (WaterMax 61-AAA) to remove tannins, colour and odour from the water.

In the end, the system requires almost no maintenance, cost them less than the old one, and is guaranteed to work for 25 years.  Living on an acreage or farm can be a wonderful experience - and your water situation doesn't have to scare or confuse you.  If you aren't happy with your current situation, give us a call - we can make what you have work, or replace it with something that will work great for you.  Period.

Sherwood Park's Environmental Service Industry

The Sherwood Park News ran an article this week featuring the Chamber of Commerce's newly-launched Environmental Committee.  The committee's focus is two-fold: to promote the green-ness of the Alberta Energy Sector and to highlight the new industrial developments in the environmental sector - a service industry that has sprung up alongside the traditional energy sector to both service and to augment the energy re harvest via more-conventional means.

The article discussed some new key players: Clearflow Technologies, a company that uses their proprietary technology to speed up tailings pond reclamation into days instead of months and years, and has a novel approach to combating soil erosion - a definite issue that must be dealt with anywhere energy is mined.

Sherwood Park, a few years ago, launched a world-class residential recycling program servicing the residents of Strathcona County.  It has reduced materials going to the landfill by over 80%!  Where it falls short is the fact it doesn't address the commercial or industrial sectors (basically all non-home-based businesses) at all.  A new company, Tri-Line Disposal, is addressing this shortfall for commercial clients.  This will supplement the activity and further-reduce unnecessary landfill use and increase the use of renewable energy in Alberta.

Our sister company, Renew Kitchen and Bath, got a great mention as well. The mandate of that company is to eliminate the replacement of fixtures like counter tops, bathtubs, showers and tiles that have years of life left in them, but whose only crime is being outdated or damaged (chips, scratches and water damage are all repaired,) and a new surface is sprayed on leaving a brand new finish and giving years of useful life for the fixtures.

There is a lot of new development in the burgeoning environmental sector - kudos to the Sherwood Park Chamber for bringing it to the spotlight and nurturing its development!