Having represented the Hague Quality Water brand for years and having had nothing but success deploying their solutions, it seems odd that I would be suggesting a GE product for a client we're working with for an acreage near Sherwood Park.
The clients live in a high-end acreage in a beautiful subdivision in the Edmonton area. They just purchased the home and are finishing the basement, as well as performing some other renovations. With the steam shower they are installing and the high-end fixtures, it only makes sense to have high-performance water feeding their home's plumbing system.
Initially, due to the high flow rates, we were looking at either a dual residential softener system or a single commercial unit, depending upon the client's needs. The WaterMax system has the highest flow rate of any residential water conditioner or water softener at 13 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) but that still may not handle the high-end, multiple nozzle steam shower with body sprayers the client is getting installed. In order to effectively soften and remove the chemicals and chlorine, two units need to be installed in parallel, effectively doubling the maximum flow to over 20 GPM.
The down side to this is cost. Clearly, for more performance, most people expect to pay more money. In this case, instead of a traditional water conditioner plus reverse osmosis drinking water system, we explored a whole-home reverse osmosis system by GE - a new system called "PureOFlow." This cabinet-style system will soften all the water and remove chlorine and chemicals for the whole home - without the need for additional plumbing to run lines to separate faucets for a traditional reverse osmosis drinking water system.
With this configuration, all the home's water would be purified, leaving all existing taps delivering bottled-water (or better!) quality throughout the home. This is accomplished without the use of salt, a necessary addition to a traditional softener or water conditioning system. In terms of price, it actually cost about $1000 less to go this route, and as a bonus, the repressurization system included with this PureOFlow system will deliver up to 22 GPM of water flow to the home - enough to run the steam shower unit without any additional hardware.
It turns out once again that it pays to work with a water professional that keeps up on technology and offers multiple solutions - not trying to force the same answer to solve every problem.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Savings are Crystal Clear
Independent research has confirmed something people with water softeners have known for years - soft water just plain works better! Not only do you get the less-tangible benefits of softer skin, using less (if any at all) moisturizer and less itchiness, soft water has proven effective at helping every household's bottom line.
According to independent research done by the Water Quality Research Foundation people with soft water can cut their laundry and dishwasher detergent costs by 50% AND switch to lower temperatures -saving money on energy and making homes friendlier to the environment as well.
According to the study, soft water users, using 50% less detergent and switching from 100 degree to 60 degree water temperature achieved the same results OR BETTER than traditional setups.
The same or better stain removal and whiter whites! The same savings goes for dishwashers - less soap, less energy and little if any rinse agent chemicals (like "Jet Dry") needed to get spotless dishes.
This is something we've known for years, conditioned water doesn't cost money, it pays!
For more information and an overview of the study, please see: www.wcponline.com/pdf/1103Undesser.pdf
According to independent research done by the Water Quality Research Foundation people with soft water can cut their laundry and dishwasher detergent costs by 50% AND switch to lower temperatures -saving money on energy and making homes friendlier to the environment as well.
According to the study, soft water users, using 50% less detergent and switching from 100 degree to 60 degree water temperature achieved the same results OR BETTER than traditional setups.
The fact that softened water combined with the least amount of detergent and lowest temperature provides the highest degree of whiteness compared to increased hardness with the highest level of detergent and temperature is a noteworthy finding. -Pauli Undesser, Water Quality Association (WQA) Director of Regulatory and Technical Affairs and Toxicology Manager for WQA’s Gold Seal Certification Program
The same or better stain removal and whiter whites! The same savings goes for dishwashers - less soap, less energy and little if any rinse agent chemicals (like "Jet Dry") needed to get spotless dishes.
This is something we've known for years, conditioned water doesn't cost money, it pays!
For more information and an overview of the study, please see: www.wcponline.com/pdf/1103Undesser.pdf
Friday, July 8, 2011
C. Difficile Infections
Another recent outbreak of "superbugs" has the media's attention and is cause for alarm across the country. This time, the culprit isn't MRSA, it is a clostridium strain of bacteria called "C. difficile" (often referred to as "C. Diff" or pronounced "see diff.") This germ is named for it's notoriety as being hard to treat and kill once it infects someone.
One of the reasons we chose to work with activTek Environmental many years ago was because we can very effectively PREVENT these types of infections from occurring in the first place, using patented "active" air purification technology.
Historically, UV light has been used in health care and other indoor air environments to provide continuous decontamination. UV light is a “line of sight” technology and does not provide the most effective means of control. Ideally, a system for continuous decontamination would produce antimicrobials which reduce contamination on surfaces and in the air.
The Photohydroionization Cell, incorporated into all our "active air purification" systems, produces oxidative gases that inactivate microorganisms in the air and on surfaces. These gases can reach all surfaces in health care and related environments.
Broad spectrum sanitizing of air and surfaces is offered 24/7 using this patented Active Air technology. It requires no upkeep and ensure clean environments in between regular cleanings performed. Effective against bacteria, molds, yeasts and even viruses, testing has yet to find a microbe that can withstand the technology, even while maintaining safe, healthy environments suitable for 24/7 occupancy by people, plants and animals.
In March 2010, a study specifically on the efficacy of killing C. difficile was performed at Kansas State University's "Food Science Institute" confirming this is a great solution to protecting environments from this, and so far any other Superbug known.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the information regarding C. difficile sanitization, please contact Greg Douglas at Douglas Environmental Solutions.
One of the reasons we chose to work with activTek Environmental many years ago was because we can very effectively PREVENT these types of infections from occurring in the first place, using patented "active" air purification technology.
Historically, UV light has been used in health care and other indoor air environments to provide continuous decontamination. UV light is a “line of sight” technology and does not provide the most effective means of control. Ideally, a system for continuous decontamination would produce antimicrobials which reduce contamination on surfaces and in the air.
The Photohydroionization Cell, incorporated into all our "active air purification" systems, produces oxidative gases that inactivate microorganisms in the air and on surfaces. These gases can reach all surfaces in health care and related environments.
 | |
| Lab Testing on Assorted Microbes |
Broad spectrum sanitizing of air and surfaces is offered 24/7 using this patented Active Air technology. It requires no upkeep and ensure clean environments in between regular cleanings performed. Effective against bacteria, molds, yeasts and even viruses, testing has yet to find a microbe that can withstand the technology, even while maintaining safe, healthy environments suitable for 24/7 occupancy by people, plants and animals.
In March 2010, a study specifically on the efficacy of killing C. difficile was performed at Kansas State University's "Food Science Institute" confirming this is a great solution to protecting environments from this, and so far any other Superbug known.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the information regarding C. difficile sanitization, please contact Greg Douglas at Douglas Environmental Solutions.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Sulphur in the Water
I just had a client that I met 19 months ago call me up to come re-test her water last week. First time I'd been out to her place to check the well, it was pretty standard well water - 25 grains of hardness and 3 parts per million (ppm) iron. TDS was around 500 - nothing too outrageous or difficult for us to treat.
We discussed her options and she decided to go with the Hague WaterMax well water conditioner, model 62-AMQ. This can handle up to 10 ppm of iron and a compensated hardness of 90 grains before needing any expansion or further treatment equipment. The beauty of this system, and the reason she chose it over a conventional well water filtration system is that it is modular; it's expandable.
So here we are 19 months later and she has a "rotten-egg" odour in the water. A quick test confirms that her well, like several in the Strathcona County area has become contaminated with sulphur. Normally this requires an additional system to treat, but the modular nature of the Hague WaterMax allows us to simply open the service port, load sulphur treatment media ("SulfurStat") into the vacant upper chamber of the WaterMax, and close it back up.
Not only is the time required to complete this service call short (under 20 minutes) this upgrade will actually reduce the amount of regenerant (in this case, plain sodium salt for the brine tank) by about 30%. The SulfurStat media will not only filter out the sulphur, but also a good portion of the iron, lessening the burden on the fine mesh resin that would normally be tasked with removing those from her well water.
All it took was a 20 minute service call, and a total cost of less than half what would normally be charged to install a new, dedicated sulphur treatment system - and she will use less salt now, AND the whole system including ALL the media is covered under the factory 25 year warranty. How sweet is that? (not to mention she doesn't have a second system to maintain or something like potassium permanganate (KMnO4) to stock and mess with in addition to the salt the system uses to clean itself.)
We discussed her options and she decided to go with the Hague WaterMax well water conditioner, model 62-AMQ. This can handle up to 10 ppm of iron and a compensated hardness of 90 grains before needing any expansion or further treatment equipment. The beauty of this system, and the reason she chose it over a conventional well water filtration system is that it is modular; it's expandable.
So here we are 19 months later and she has a "rotten-egg" odour in the water. A quick test confirms that her well, like several in the Strathcona County area has become contaminated with sulphur. Normally this requires an additional system to treat, but the modular nature of the Hague WaterMax allows us to simply open the service port, load sulphur treatment media ("SulfurStat") into the vacant upper chamber of the WaterMax, and close it back up.
Not only is the time required to complete this service call short (under 20 minutes) this upgrade will actually reduce the amount of regenerant (in this case, plain sodium salt for the brine tank) by about 30%. The SulfurStat media will not only filter out the sulphur, but also a good portion of the iron, lessening the burden on the fine mesh resin that would normally be tasked with removing those from her well water.
All it took was a 20 minute service call, and a total cost of less than half what would normally be charged to install a new, dedicated sulphur treatment system - and she will use less salt now, AND the whole system including ALL the media is covered under the factory 25 year warranty. How sweet is that? (not to mention she doesn't have a second system to maintain or something like potassium permanganate (KMnO4) to stock and mess with in addition to the salt the system uses to clean itself.)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Well Water vs Cistern Water
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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.
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.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
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.
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.
Friday, June 3, 2011
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!
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!
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