Water in California

There are usually two sides to every story and when it comes to the issue of fracking, it is not uncommon to hear both. There are known and potential advantages and disadvantages and even serious hazards which is the reason why it has brought about so much controversy in this country lately. Before you can form your own opinion, it is important to understand just what fracking is, and the two very different sides of the controversy. Once you learn what the process entails, you may feel better with a home drinking water system improving the quality of your tap water – even if it’s not fracking that worries you about your water.

What is fracking? Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a technique designed to recover gas and oil from shale rock. During fracking, they drill down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The process is carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer. The process can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.

Those who are in favor of fracking argue that fracking allows drilling firms to access difficult-to-reach resources of oil and gas. In some countries, it has significantly boosted domestic oil production and driven down gas prices. It is estimated to have offered gas security to the United States and Canada for about 100 years, and has presented an opportunity to generate electricity at half the CO2 emissions of coal. On the other hand, fracking uses huge amounts of water that must be transported to the fracking site, at significant environmental cost. The second is the worry that potentially carcinogenic chemicals used may escape and contaminate groundwater around the fracking site. The industry suggests pollution incidents are the results of bad practice, rather than an inherently risky technique. There are also worries that the fracking process can cause small earth tremors.

Could it impact water? Both sides argue that it could or will not impact our drinking water. If you are concerned about contamination from fracking, or any other local industry, you should invest in a reverse osmosis drinking water system for your home. With our water purifiers, the unknown dangers of fracking effects and the contamination of other chemicals or substances are reduced and you are left with high-quality, healthy drinking water. The oil and gas industry may be utilizing new technology to seek alternative national gas extraction methods, but new drinking water technology can also give consumers protection and an advantage to quality tap water without the worry of the unknown effects of fracking or other means of drinking water contamination.

Excerpted from the Chicago Daily Herald, Challenge Issued to Illinois Parents, by Brandon Noel on August 7, 2013 http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130805/submitted/130809941/

Our drinking water systems are the perfect tools for teaching your children how to live healthy and stay active. The lessons you instill in your child’s youth will be habits they form as they grow older. In order to promote healthy families sharing healthy lifestyles, August 4-10 has been proclaimed National Exercise with Your Child Week. On average, children now spend more than seven-and-a-half hours a day in front of a screen, and less than 20 percent of adults meet the 30 minutes of recommended activity each day as indicated by President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. According to Dr. Sue Walsh, associate professor of health science at Concordia University, “It’s important for Illinois parents to know that their involvement can lead to increased levels of physical activity for their children.”

Modeling and supporting activities with your children, from signing them up to participating with them, still shows that you want your child to form those healthy habits.  “Either way, parents should know that simply being involved can create an important emotional bond between them, their children, and being physically active,” Walsh said. Childhood obesity in the United States has more than doubled in children in the last 30 years. In 2010, more than one third of children and adolescents were labeled overweight or obese. Similarly, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDC stated that “overweight and obesity are the result of “caloric imbalance”—too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed—and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.” This means that we need to get our children moving and learning how to live a healthier lifestyle balanced with healthy eating, exercise, and hydration.

About 75% of your body’s weight consists of water. This water is mostly found in your cells and the rest of it is in blood vessels and the spaces in between your cells. When you feel dehydrated this is a sign that you are losing more water than you are drinking. When you exercise, most of your water loss is through sweat. You need to drink after exercising to replace this water loss. Filling up water bottles with filtered drinking water is a great way to prepare for thirst and to stay hydrated before, during, and after a workout. Our drinking water filters with advanced reverse osmosis technology can provide your household with a nearly unlimited supply of great-tasting drinking water that is free of harmful contaminants, thus supporting the healthy lifestyle you want to teach your children. Healthy habits start with safe drinking water.  Teaching your children about safe drinking water and the importance of hydration starts with a phone call to us for information regarding an affordable drinking water system. You may get a good jumpstart this week, but exercise and hydration is something you can do with your children all year long.

Without a water softener, many homeowners attempt to deal with the obvious and annoying side effects of hard water. Until you live with softened water, you may be spending too much time, energy and money on your everyday home chores. Cleaning, laundering, showering, and doing dishes become difficult and time-consuming tasks that could be easier and less demanding with a water softener. Our water softeners cost less and do more than the effects of hard water alone, making it no competition for our products. 85% of homes in the United States live with hard water, making it a problem that is known by many but eliminated by few. Hard water is high in minerals like magnesium and calcium. Although not harmful to human health, it does cause harm to appliances which use water and make them less efficient down the road.

Hard water effects can include leaving a film on your skin after showering, causing frizzy or dull hair, requiring extra soaps or detergents to clean clothes, and leaving stains on dishes. When hard water film is left on the skin, it may prevent bacteria or dirt from washing off. Likewise, it leaves a buildup on shower heads, shower walls and can also keep bacteria and dirt in the places where you are trying to stay clean. When you wash clothes in hard water, soap curds lodge in the fabric and shorten the life of the clothing. Another costly effect is the buildup in pipes or appliances which use water. Clogs due to scale in these plumbing fixtures reduce water flow and will eventually require that you spend money on new fixtures. The operation of the water-using appliances also increases with hard water because it takes more energy to run the appliance as it must work harder. Most consumers who deal with hard water may realize the effects during household chores but do not realize the extra money they are spending on their energy bills.

Our water softener systems make all of these household chores and operations easier and more cost-effective. Soft water from our products will produce better function, efficiency, extended lives, and appearances of your skin, hair, and even your clothing and dishes. Clogged pipes and water lines are virtually non-existent with a water softener and your appliances will last longer. When your daily chores such as laundry, cleaning showers, or bathing become easier, your life becomes easier. Our water softeners can even reduce your home’s carbon footprint by over 14%, just on water heating! But an actual water softener must be able to reduce the total hardness to 1 grain per gallon or less, expressed as calcium carbonate equivalent. If you are buying a water softener, make sure it is WQA-certified S100 or similar standard. Our water systems have received the WQA Gold Seal for the highest industry standards.  Our water softeners come in different models, available for purchase or for rent so that all  consumers can enjoy the benefits of soft water. When you want the best water for your home, it is important to choose the best products. Contact us to see which water softener  will give you what you need and what you deserve when it comes to water.

Well, it is officially upon us, June 21st marked the first day of summer and another season of … swimsuits.  Let’s be honest, many of us have to work for months to be ready for another season of beaches, vacations, fun in the sun and the dreaded swimsuit unveiling.  Now that summer is here, let’s keep ourselves looking and feeling stellar all season long – with drinking water.

One of the huge pitfalls of picnics, barbecues and the various parties we attend during the summer is unhealthy, calorie loaded drinks.  So many of the beverages we consume today are harmful to our bodies; however there is an easy, healthy solution.  You know the answer already, it is water and while that may sound plain and ordinary, don’t disregard its effectiveness.  Water gives us energy, helps prevent illness, keeps our skin looking healthy and fresh, moves oxygen through the blood stream and even helps us lose weight.  The beauty of water is that it can be the foundation for wherever our imagination takes us.  We can jazz it up to make some really scrumptious and healthy drinks or leave it pure, whatever we decide, the benefits are readily apparent.

If you are in the mood for something a little different, Prevention® came up with some Sassy Water Recipes that can help us curb the need to indulge in unhealthy drinking habits.  Not only are they beautiful drinks filled with healthy ingredients, they are delicious.  Their Cherries Jubilee recipe is downright delectable, and that is just one of the 25 recipes they have created.  The first step to making these drinks as yummy and healthy as possible is to use filtered water which effectively reduces harmful contaminates, chlorine and odor as well as dramatically improving the taste of tap water.  When we start with great tasting, healthy water we can create some delicious alternatives to the commercial, chemical laden drinks so prevalent today.

The benefit of recipes like these is that they are quick, simple and good for us.  They can be made at home using filtered water from your RO System or from a convenient water cooler that can be installed right in your kitchen.  Serving one of these inspired drinks at your next party or even if you just want to enjoy one at home while lounging on the patio listening to the sounds of summer, is one small step to keeping you healthy, fit and hydrated all season long.

Summer months can get heated, and it is easy to reach for a soda or other sugary beverage to cool you down. But not only will they have an impact on your dental health, they do not support a healthy, balanced diet. And while water is of course the best beverage to stay hydrated and limit your calorie intake, there is another beverage out there gaining popularity and showing its potential for being a healthy alternative to juices and soft drinks. June is National Iced Tea Month and we here at Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton want to show you just how many benefits unsweetened iced tea can have for your health. While there are plenty of iced teas to choose from at the grocery store, brewing your own iced tea at home is a much healthier and cost-effective way to drink it.

With so many varieties of iced tea available in different areas, it can be difficult to tell if you are consuming a drink with health benefits or something that is fully of unnecessary ingredients. Sweetened teas or artificially flavored teas are obviously not the best choice for your health. They add extra calories when you could be reducing them with unsweetened iced tea. Most people tend to stay away from iced tea that is unsweetened because they think it is strong or without flavor. But the tea is what you make of it, and you can always add flavors through fresh fruits or other low calorie flavor bursts. Any time that make a point of cutting sugar and added unnecessary calories from your diet you are helping to avoid diseases such as obesity or diabetes that can cause significant damage to your body.

Other health benefits come from antioxidants which are beneficial for your body. According to dieticians, antioxidants are increased if you drink tea that is flavored with lemon or lime. Drinking tea with citrus elements will also provide additional nutrients such as vitamin C which provides a great deal of benefit for your body.  Some iced teas also include mint which adds additional antioxidants and adds flavor without adding sugar which contributes to health issues. According to md-health.com, “unsweetened tea also gives your body the ingredients it needs to eliminate free radicals in your system. These free radicals cause damage throughout the body including cancer. This benefit does not limit itself to a specific type of cancer, which dramatically increases the benefit that it can serve the body overall.”

Great-tasting iced tea starts, however, with great-tasting water. Without a Rayne Water of Fullerton drinking water system, your water could have poor taste or smell due to contaminants like chemicals, organisms, or metals from your pipes. This will alter the taste of the iced tea or any other food or drink made from your tap water. Our drinking water filters deliver safe, natural water as it was meant to be. Our RaynePure Plus® Water Purifier  uses the most advanced reverse osmosis technology to reduce waste water, save you money, and provide you with a continuous supply of sparkling, clean tap water perfect for all of your household needs. Enjoy your iced tea this summer and feel good about the water you’re using.

Hard water doesn’t come easy. In fact, it comes with many problems and extra work for you. Although it may not be dangerous to your health, it could be dangerous to your good attitude. Homes dealing with hard water without a water softener are using more chemicals to remove stains and buildup, buying more soaps and detergent to clean clothes and hair, wasting time and effort the whole time. The energy we waste cleaning and the energy we waste with our appliances is alarming once you realize the benefits of our water softeners.

Hard water is simply water that is high in mineral content. These minerals typically include magnesium and calcium and are a nuisance because of mineral buildup on fixtures and poor soap or detergent performance.  It can also be found on the insides of pipes, water heaters, tea kettles, coffee makers and industrial machinery. As water passes through soil and rock, it dissolves tiny amounts of minerals and holds them in a solution. The degree of hardness becomes greater as the calcium and magnesium content increases.

A water softening system works by removing the minerals from the water and gets to the heart of the problem. In most water softeners, calcium and magnesium switch places with sodium ions. The exchange eliminates both of the problems of hard water because sodium doesn’t precipitate out in pipes or react badly with soap. The amount of sodium this process adds to your water is quite small. In most water softeners, the ion replacement takes place within a tank full of small polystyrene beads, also known as resin. The negatively charged beads are bonded to positively charged sodium ions. As the water flows past the beads, the sodium ions swap places with the calcium and magnesium ions, which carry a stronger positive charge.

Purchasing or renting a water softener  has several benefits. Softened water works better with soaps and detergents, leaving your plates and glassware shinier and your clothes softer and cleaner. Your hair and skin will feel better and smoother when you use softened water, too. Housework is decreased because you can use less of cleaning supplies and you won’t have to scrub so hard, and fabrics last longer and whites stay white without the dingy gray caused by hard water. Our water softeners  preserve the life of your appliances by eliminating the buildup which causes blockages and breakdowns. According to Consumer Reports, a water heater protected by a water softening system will also reduce the yearly energy cost of that appliance by 22%-29%. With all of the savings you will see with our water softeners, do not wait any longer. Contact us today to see which model would be right for you and start enjoying all of the benefits a water softener can give you!

Safe drinking water is necessary for survival.  We know that.  But have you ever thought about its other uses?  Take a moment to ponder this!

Much of our day involves this natural resource.  Washing our hands, taking a shower, cleaning our house, washing our clothes and dishes.  Since water is a major part of our life, we need to be educated and make informed decisions on how it’s used.

There are two types of water; hard and soft.  Hard water is just that…HARD!  It has a high mineral content that can be damaging to the objects it comes in contact with.  The scale it produces clogs your plumbing, which will often cause your showerheads, faucets, dishwashers, clothes washers, and water heaters to stop working properly.  While damage to these units is extremely frustrating and costly, let’s look at how hard water affects YOU personally.

Do you suffer from dry, itchy, irritated skin?  Dull, limp hair?  Are your clothes color-faded and looking dingy?  Do you dread the water spots that are left on your glassware and bathroom fixtures?  Hard water can be very irritating.  But don’t worry!  There’s an easy solution!

We have a full line of cost-effective water softeners that will turn your hard water soft!  So, what does this mean?  By softening your water our units remove calcium, magnesium and other minerals that are found in hard water.  This extends the lifetime of plumbing and is easier on everything that your water touches.  Including you and your family!  By softening your water, you’ll experience soft, smooth, silky skin.  Glistening hair and vibrant colored clothing.  Not to mention, your dish sets and glassware will sparkle.  And remember those hard to clean calcified water fixtures?  No more!  With softened water, your sinks, faucets, bathtubs and showerheads will shine and look freshly polished.

How does soft water make all of this possible?  Aside from taking out the harsh contaminates, soft water also produces more lather than hard water.  Therefore, less harsh soaps and detergents are used.  Watch this video as Rick demonstrates the difference between hard and soft water.  You’ll be amazed by what you see!

Need more proof that soft water is the way to go?   Check out Battelle Memorial Institute’s recent study that gives the cold, hard facts on hard water versus soft water.

Don’t let hard water get you down.  The simple, cost-effective instillation of one of our fabulous water softeners will provide you with the soft, silky, smooth life you’ve always dreamt of!

May 13 – 19, 2013 is American Craft Beer Week, a time when small brewers and craft beer lovers across the country will raise a glass to their favorite craft brewed beer. While sipping a pint of one of your favorite beers, you may appreciate the hop and malt flavors, the fruity or spicy character from a distinct yeast strain, and the bracing acidity from a long secondary fermentation. You likely aren’t considering how the water used to make it can accentuate the in-your-face bitterness or how soft water can facilitate the pale color and delicate bitterness in your glass of pilsner.  In fact water is often overlooked, but it’s the most abundant ingredient in beer and therefor plays the most important role in determining its flavor.

It wasn’t until the 19th century that water’s effect on beer was fully understood, however brewers did notice that certain areas were better for making certain types of beer. Today many brewers use their municipal water source but this can lead to problems due to the chlorine content.  If the chlorine is not removed it can react with other ingredient and cause off-flavors. Beyond the chlorine, brewers still need to consider the various minerals dissolved in the water, or the water’s “hardness.” Reverse osmosis is the only economical way to reduce the water hardness.  Using a RO filter on your water produces water that is virtually free of ions giving the brewer a blank slate on which any water chemistry profile can be constructed. Once water has been filtered through a reverse osmosis system, a desired amount of minerals can be added back in for taste and chemical function.

Whether you are an experienced brewer or have been recently considering embarking upon the art of homebrewed beer, water is the first ingredient that needs to be considered. If you reside in a portion of the country where hard water is abundant, it is important you invest in a reverse osmosis system. RO water filters are available in several models, both for residential and commercial use.  Find your local water dealer (http://www.rayneoffullerton.com/index.php) and look into an under-the-sink water filter or a commercial reverse osmosis system. This will make brewing your own beer quick, easy, and tasty too.

Americans all around the country struggle on a daily basis with their health and weight loss. We diet, exercise here and there, and struggle to make healthy choices with food and drinks. One simple addition to your daily routine could have you losing weight faster and improving heart health. Drinking water is essential and most people know that it is important to fit into their daily routine. They just don’t necessarily understand why it is important or how important it is. Our drinking water filters support increasing water in your diet and help you to become a healthier, happier person with a better quality of life.

According to one medical website, researchers at Loma Linda University in California studied more than 20,000 healthy men and women aged 38 to 100 for six years. The study appears in the May 1 American Journal of Epidemiology several years ago. They found “women who drank more than five glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses. The protective effect of water was even greater in men. Men who drank more water had a 54% lower risk of a fatal heart attack.”  When researchers included the consumption of other liquids such as coffee, tea, juice, milk, and alcohol, the risk of heart attack increased. Women who drank large amounts of liquids other than water were more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack, and non-water drinking men had a 46% increase in risk.

Water is heart healthy for a few reasons. First, it keeps your body hydrated. According to the American Heart Association, keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles remove waste so that they can work efficiently. When the body becomes dehydrated, blood viscosity increases, which makes the heart work harder. Similarly, water is one of the best tools for weight loss because it often replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and juice and alcohol with a drink that doesn’t have any calories. It is also a great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we’re hungry, we’re actually just thirsty. Water has no fat, no calories, no carbs, no sugar, making it a better choice than sugary juices and soft drinks which are bad for so many reasons.

Making healthy choices is a part of life. To live healthy means to choose healthy and the best choice you could give your family. That means contacting us and investing in one of our home drinking water systems. Your water will taste great and contaminants will be removed with our water purifier. By making one phone call and some simple habits during your daily routine, you heart will be healthier and you will have a brand new lifestyle which will truly create a younger, happier you.

Americans all around the country struggle on a daily basis with their health and weight loss. We diet, exercise here and there, and struggle to make healthy choices with food and drinks. But one simple addition to your daily routine could have you losing weight faster and improving heart health. Drinking water is essential and most people know that it is important to fit into their daily routine. They just don’t necessarily understand why it is important or how important it is. Our drinking water systems support increasing water in your diet and help you to become a healthier, happier person with a better quality of life.

According to one medical website, researchers at Loma Linda University in California studied more than 20,000 healthy men and women aged 38 to 100 for six years. The study appears in the May 1 American Journal of Epidemiology several years ago. They found “women who drank more than five glasses of water a day were 41% less likely to die from a heart attack during the study period than those who drank less than two glasses. The protective effect of water was even greater in men. Men who drank more water had a 54% lower risk of a fatal heart attack.”  When researchers included the consumption of other liquids such as coffee, tea, juice, milk, and alcohol, the risk of heart attack increased. Women who drank large amounts of liquids other than water were more than twice as likely to die of a heart attack, and non-water drinking men had a 46% increase in risk.

Water is heart healthy for a few reasons. First, it keeps your body hydrated. According to the American Heart Association, keeping the body hydrated helps the heart more easily pump blood through the blood vessels to the muscles. And, it helps the muscles remove waste so that they can work efficiently. When the body becomes dehydrated, blood viscosity increases, which makes the heart work harder. Similarly, water is one of the best tools for weight loss because it often replaces high-calorie drinks like soda and juice and alcohol with a drink that doesn’t have any calories. It is also a great appetite suppressant, and often when we think we’re hungry, we’re actually just thirsty. Water has no fat, no calories, no carbs, no sugar, making it a better choice than sugary juices and soft drinks which are bad for so many reasons.

Making healthy choices is a part of life. To live healthy means to choose healthy and the best choice you could give your family. That means contacting us and investing in one of our home drinking water filters. Your water will taste great and contaminants will be removed with our water purifier. My making one phone call and some simple habits during your daily routine, you heart will be healthier and you will have a brand new lifestyle which will truly create a younger, happier you.