Water in California

Water is a huge component of our life; we need to drink at least 64 oz. of it every day for our health. Our bodies are made up of 55% to 75% water. We all know that we need to drink water, what we may not know is that the things in our water may actually do us more harm than good.

A team of researchers in Canada have recently completed a study showing that children exposed to high concentrations of manganese in drinking water performed worse on tests of intellectual functioning than children with lower exposures. For this study, they examined 362 Quebec children between the ages of 6 and 13, living in homes using individual or public wells. Researchers measured the level of manganese, iron, copper, lead, zinc, arsenic, magnesium, and calcium for each child’s water supply. They calculated the amount of manganese consumed from both tap water and food from information gathered on a questionnaire. Completing the study was a battery of tests assessing cognition, motor skills, and behavior. The researchers concluded that there was a significant shortfall in the IQ of children exposed to higher levels of manganese in drinking water. The average IQ of children drinking tap water in the upper 20% of manganese concentration was 6 points below those children whose water contained little or no manganese. The levels of manganese found in these different drinking water sources were well below the current guidelines. The authors also stated that the amount of manganese present in food showed no relationship to the children’s IQ levels. To read the entire article click here.

Manganese is a mineral that naturally occurs in rocks and soil and is an essential nutrient at low doses. It is also naturally occurring in many surface and ground water sources. According to the EPA, the detection frequency of manganese in the U.S. ground water is high due to the ubiquity of manganese in soil and rock, but the levels detected in ground water are generally below levels of public health concern. Manganese is also found in a variety of foods including many nuts, grains, fruits, legumes, tea, leafy vegetables, infant formulas, and some meat and fish. While manganese is essential for proper function of some enzymes and for the activation of other enzymes, adverse health effects can be caused by adequate intake or over exposure. Manganese deficiency in humans appears to be rare because manganese is present in many common foods. The greater danger is in over exposure.

According to the Connecticut Department of Health, exposure to high concentrations of manganese over the course of years has also been associated with toxicity to the nervous system, producing a syndrome that resembles Parkinsonism. This type of effect may be more likely to occur in the elderly. However, it is a particular concern for bottle-fed infants. Some baby formulas contain manganese, and if prepared with water that also contains manganese; the infant may be getting a higher dose than anyone else. In addition, younger children appear to absorb more manganese than older age groups and excrete less. This adds up to a greater risk in children and infants.

The best solution to the entire manganese question is knowledge. Knowing what is in our drinking water can bring great peace of mind. We can’t simply stop drinking water, so we must know that the water we are drinking is safe and clean. Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton can help you test and identify the proper water treatment system for your home or business. Reverse Osmosis, Ion Exchange, and water softeners will all remove manganese as well as other metals from your water source. Now you can have the very best water with the very best of convenience. Peace of mind is worth it, invest in your own home water treatment system, and guarantee your child’s IQ won’t be the product of the water you are drinking.

Every hostess’ nightmare is setting the table and discovering the good crystal isn’t exactly sparkling clean. It is even frustrating in a normal day to begin to unload the dishwasher and ask “I did run this, right?” However, running it again may not actually solve the problem and bring about cleaner dishes. This would be true if the problem is in the water and not the actual function of the appliance.

Residents from Brainerd, Baxter, and the west side of Gull Lake – and likely many other communities across our country – have been turning up at their local appliance store seeking advice regarding a white film on glasses and other dishes. According to a recent article, Chuck Schroeder of Schroeder’s Appliance Center says they have noticed a very high frequency of people having this problem recently and have been coming in to purchase new dishwashers, assuming the appliance is wearing out.

Perhaps you’ve noticed spots on your glasses too? These spots are evidence of unseen hard water minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and manganese in your water. These minerals will dry and harden on surfaces, leaving them dull, filmy, and powdery feeling. Because the inside of most dishwashers is white, the film generally only stands out on the clean dishes, so most people assume that the dishwasher is not getting their dishes clean.

Tired of water spots? You have a few options. You can use vinegar, citric acid crystals, or a water softening product in your dishwasher. You can also experiment with using different detergents and different amounts of detergent. Or, you can take care of the problem throughout the entire house or business with the use of a home water softener.

Research shows the benefits to having a home water softening system. This system could save you a lot of time, frustration, and money in wasted water. Just think of all the times you have simply filled the soap dispenser again and run the dishwasher a second time with the same dishes desiring a different result. That’s a lot of water and detergent going down the drain and leaving the same white film behind. If it’s time to make a household change, look up your local Rayne dealer for more information to guide your decision to better living.

To read the entire article sited above, click here.

All of us require safe drinking water every day of our lives. It is important to make our water supply the focus of our attention. September 14th is National Protect Your Groundwater Day; we all can do a few simple things to ensure safe drinking water not only for ourselves but for generations to come.

Groundwater is water that flows beneath the surface through small openings in the rocks and soil. The majority of available fresh water is groundwater. In many places nearly half of all water used in public water systems comes from groundwater. Groundwater is naturally replenished by rainfall, streambeds and run off. The water moves down into the ground until it reaches a depth where the ground is filled, or saturated with water. Groundwater is stored in the ground in gravel or sand and other similar materials. It’s a bit like the earth is a big sponge holding a lot of water.

Most groundwater is clean, but it can become polluted or contaminated. Pollution from leaking underground tanks, leaky landfills, or excess fertilizer or pesticides are just a few of the more common types of groundwater pollution. There are also more personal types of contamination that everyone should be aware of. Consumers need to be aware that inappropriately disposing of household cleaning products, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals can contribute to contamination of groundwater just as much as leaky tanks and landfills.

There are several things we can all do to protect our water supplies. We need to be sure that no chemicals are poured down the drain or on the ground outside. Instead take these items to a hazardous waste collection location and dispose of them there. Also take used motor oil to a recycling center. All medications and personal care items should be mixed with coffee grounds and placed in the trash not flushed down the toilet. These few simple steps are things we can do every day to help ensure safe, clean, unpolluted water.

Along with clean, safe groundwater, we should also be aware of conservation of water. There are a few simple habits we can begin to have that will conserve a lot of water. We can remember to shut off the water while we brush our teeth, take shorter showers, make sure the dishwasher and washer are full before running them, and water our lawns and plants only as needed. Choosing high efficiency appliances guarantees that not only our water usage will be decreased, but generally our electric bill as well. Even choosing Portable Exchange Tank Service if you have a water softener in your home can make a difference. Every one of these habits will save a tremendous amount of water.

On September 14 you can start forming a good habit – begin doing your part for protecting one of our most important natural resources–groundwater. Your friends at Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton will be observing this very important day of action – join us and make your household water wise.

Most Americans are becoming more aware of their drinking water and what it may or may not have in it. It is so important to be aware of what we are infusing our bodies with and how it might impact our life in the long term as well as the lives of others in our household. We are all deserving of a long, healthy, full life. Drinking water is so important to good health; we must be drinking clean water.

In all water, ground and surface water, nitrates are a compound that is commonly found. In nature, nitrogen and oxygen combine to form nitrogen-containing compounds. Plant growth requires nitrates, so we have learned to make concentrated nitrogen-containing fertilizers to use on our lawns, gardens, and fields in agricultural areas. When plants decompose, they naturally release nitrogen which combines with oxygen in the air and forms nitrates. During a rainfall, surface water runs through and over the soil coming into contact with this nitrogen and carries it down to the underground drinking water. Obviously nitrates are a part of our natural environment, add to that the man-made nitrates and we have a nitrate overload. This overload is part of the reason we are finding higher levels of nitrates in drinking water supplies.

Drinking water isn’t the only place we are exposed to nitrates; we have it coming at us from meats like bacon and sausage and vegetables like cauliflower, collard greens, broccoli, spinach, and root vegetables like potatoes, beets, and turnips. Fortunately the human body is equipped to deal with a certain level of nitrates and is capable of disposing of them. However, when we have nitrates coming at us from every angle, there is an increased risk. Further, the exposure to nitrates creates an even greater risk in infants, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and elderly people. For example, in infants under 6 months, the enzyme system for counteracting nitrates is not developed so methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) can occur. This also can happen in older individuals who have impaired enzyme systems.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a level for nitrates at 10 milligrams per liter (mg/l). Public water supplies with higher levels are required to notify the health department and take corrective action. Shallow, rural domestic wells are most likely to be contaminated with nitrates. The most commonly contaminated wells are those in areas where nitrogen-based fertilizers are in widespread use. A recent U.S. Geological Survey study showed that more than 8,200 wells nationwide were contaminated with nitrate levels above the EPA standard. In fact the EPA has estimated that approximately 1.2% of community water wells and 2.4% of private wells exceed the nitrate standard. During drought conditions and during spring melt off both domestic and public water systems using surface water as a source can show increased nitrate levels.

Fortunately there are solutions to this situation. There are water treatment options that will help remove the nitrates from your drinking water. Reverse Osmosis systems and water coolers are the most common and economical for the home user.

If you are choosing to use a nitrate removal system, it is very important to choose a system that has the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification. The NSF is a not for profit, non-governmental organization that provides standards development, product certification, education, and risk management for public health and safety. Any drinking water system with their certification seal will deliver on its promise to supply clean, healthy water.

Being healthy and living longer fuller lives is becoming more of a focus. We all want drinking water we can trust to be both safe and healthy to drink. We want to know that the water we infuse our body with will not have long term devastating effects for ourselves or our children. Research and information can be very beneficial in helping us make choices to guarantee our health. Choose your water treatment system wisely. Remember clean, healthy, great-tasting water doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Do you know what’s in your municipality’s water? If not, do you know how to find out? Every year, every public water service is required by law to file a report called a Water Quality Report and make it available to the public. If you do not receive this document in the mail, you will be able to download it off the internet. This week, we thought we’d give you a general overview of Fullerton’s water report.

Fullerton, California’s water report looks pretty good overall. They are constantly checking water levels for contaminants, bacteria, and other harmful elements. According to the 2010 water quality report found online, all levels of substances are under state and federal standards. But towards the bottom of the report, something pops out; a small section outlining the dangers of lead in tap water. The City of Fullerton admits that they will provide high-quality drinking water, but cannot take responsibility for the materials in plumbing components, and service lines. They suggest that if you are concerned about the amount of lead in your tap water, to get it tested.

Another problem inevitably found in tap water in this area is hard water. As water flows over rocks and soil, it picks up many naturally occurring elements as they dissolve. Many minerals end up in the water, making it “hard.” The higher the concentration in the water, the harder the water is. While hard water doesn’t pose health threats, it does cause problems for common household activities like showering, washing clothing, and washing dishes.

Most times, hard water is visible through the results it creates. For example, hard water usually results in soap scum, film left on the body and hands, hair that is limp, dingy and short-lived clothing articles, increased scale in pipes and kitchen appliances like coffee pots or pasta pots, and clogged pipes due to this buildup.

Hard water shortens the life of your appliances and clothing, costing more money than necessary. It also reduces the ability of your soaps and shampoos to actually cleanse and do their job. The “squeaky clean” feeling on your body after washing is actually a tell-tale sign of hard water. It promotes a false feeling of cleanliness. Eliminating hard water is a personal decision and should work for your home or office. Many people choose water treatment systems or water softeners. Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton is a top water treatment company that combines affordable pricing with eco-friendly solutions and great customer service so you don’t have to choose a company based on just one of these areas. We have a variety of systems like water filters, exchange tank services, water softeners, reverse osmosis, water conditioners, water coolers, and many more. Rayne is the best solution for hard water, which in California, seems to be hard to avoid.

Hard water is perhaps the most widespread problem in American homes today. According to the United States Geological Survey, 89.3% of US homes have hard water – and Fullerton, CA is not exempt from this statistic. Hard water is simply water that has high mineral content, consisting mostly of calcium and magnesium. Hard water is generally not harmful to one’s health; however it is hard on one’s pocketbook and belongings.

The simplest way to determine the hardness of water is the lather/froth test: soap or toothpaste, when agitated, lathers easily in soft water but not in hard water. Hardness in water can cause water to form scales and a resistance to soap. In fact the calcium and magnesium causing the water hardness partly block the oil emulsifying action simple soap formulations use in cleaning action. The calcium and magnesium form an insoluble precipitate observed as a soap scum and extra large amounts of soap have to be used to counteract this. This obviously shows that having hard water costs your pocketbook in the amount of soap you must use in the shower, the clothes washer, and the dishwasher to simply get things clean. The long-term impact that hard water can have on household plumbing and appliances can be extremely costly. The calcifications left behind from hard water can cause corrosion that leads to expensive repairs or even appliance replacements for water heaters, washing machines and dishwashers.

There is a simple way to stop this invariable leak from your pocketbook; a good quality water softening system will solve that hard water problem. With a water softener installed in your home, you will see a considerable decrease in the amount of soaps and detergents needed for even the largest of projects. Less soap and detergent means a longer lifespan of usefulness for clothing and household fixtures. Clothes can last 33% longer with up to 80% savings on soap and cleaning aids and up to 75% savings on wear and tear of your plumbing and appliances. A good quality water softener can save an average family of four between $1,400 and $1,700 per year and can be quite inexpensive to purchase or rent.

There are many products on the market today such as filtration systems, ceramic media, and even magnets that claim to condition your water, but only a water softener or a reverse osmosis /water purifier system can actually soften hard water. With a water softener , your glasses and dishes can sparkle again, your fixtures and shower doors are clear again, and rust and hard water soap scum stains can be a distant memory. A little time and effort spent now on choosing and installing a water softener in your home can save you a lot of time and money cleaning later.

Mother Nature Network (MNN) recently published an article online that reveals the Environmental Protection Agency’s concerns over harmful contaminants found in our drinking water across the country.

Historically, the EPA had almost non-existent oversight of any drinking water limitations. But, after much research in recent decades and concern for health effects resulting from harmful pollutants in drinking water, the EPA created several regulations for amounts of minerals and other present elements in drinking water sources. Still, as new evidence is unveiled, there is a debate over whether or not these regulations are strict enough to keep the American public safe.

The EPA admits in the article that there is concern for the increasing threats in drinking water and that our water is only “generally” safe. Furthermore, data shows that no state in the country, with the exception of the District of Colombia, provides its citizens with purely safe drinking water, and all states have water systems with reported health violations and have a population served by contaminated water systems.

In a time where environmental debate and awareness is at its peak, millions of Americans are still faced with unsafe drinking water without even knowing it, or the levels of harmful substances they are taking in.

The threats that still cause health concerns are occurring for numerous reasons, many of which are outlined in detail in the article. Among these reasons are the bypassing of contaminants in filtration or treatment plants, naturally-occurring formations, water pollution, and underground injection. Currently, the EPA regulates 91 contaminants, but tens of thousands of chemicals leak into water sources each year. These chemicals potentially can have very serious health effects when ingested in large amounts and many Americans face this danger each time they drink from their own well or faucet.

State and national agencies and individuals pledge to continue reviewing regulatory levels and work to improve the technologies used to produce safe drinking water. But what many Americans already know, and others should look into, is that there is already this technology available with one call to Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton. Several options are available, including water coolers, reverse osmosis, de-ionized water and great service at an affordable price for any home or office. Don’t join the once popular phenomenon of bottled water either. Not all bottled water is proven to be any safer than tap water. In fact, besides leaving behind a big price tag, it also leaves behind non-biodegradable plastic waste. It is this waste that leads to the vicious cycle between drinking water and the pollutants that make it unsafe. The drinking water systems offered by Rayne leave behind no waste and are eco-friendly.

For every garbage can on the street, there is an equal number of recycling cans as well, right? Wrong. The EPA states that about 40 percent of the U.S. population has no access to curbside recycling programs, according to the EPA. Americans, while over half of them tend to drink bottled water according to consumer reports, have very limited options when it comes to recycling outside of their own household. An according to an MSNBC article, the amount of plastic waste plaguing our Earth (much of it from these very bottles of water) is enormous. The Environmental Protection Agency states that only 7.1 percent of our plastic waste was recycled in 2008 according to that article.

Why are so many Americans drinking bottled water in preference to tap water? Reports show that tap water dangers include bacteria, contaminants, fluoride, arsenic, toxic chemicals, and much more. And bottled water companies are not afraid to tell people about these harmful effects.

On the other side of the debate, people are also studying the dangers of bottled water and the effects of plastic when it is not properly disposed of. One ecological website exposes the dangers of plastic waste and bottles as pollution in drainage systems, lakes, and rivers, which can also cause flooding and unsanitary water sources. These unsafe waters can carry disease into the household. The burning of plastics also leads to pollution, the majority of which is extremely toxic and can cause a host of health problems (cancer, asthma, etc.). And landfills leak into the Earth with toxic liquids and residues.

So instead of having to make bottled water such an integral part of your family’s health, choose a much safer option like a water filtration system. Why should you have to worry about the minerals or carcinogens associated with tap water? Or the harsh plastic chemicals and lax testing with bottled water? Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton is an affordable solution for any of your water problems. They tackle common household problems that were mentioned above, like contaminations, minerals, toxins, hard water, and many other impurities that are proven to be found in both tap water and bottled water. To read more on the original article about plastics, click here.

Ok, so you have your new prescription drug from the doctor, or you have a headache and need some ibuprofen. You get your pills out and grab a glass of water to help you swallow it down. Either way, you know what you are taking and you know the effects it will have on your body. You take it, you feel better and all is well. Well, not anymore.

Studies are now showing that there are pharmaceuticals showing up in tap water. Traces of prescription and non-prescription drugs alike are actually being ingested by Americans everyday. Anything from antibiotics, mood stabilizers, sex hormones, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen, among others, are all present in tap water around the country.

It’s easy enough to understand how the drugs get into the water. People take their medications and the remainder of what is not absorbed into the body is let out as waste. After it has been flushed down the toilet, the contaminated water ends up in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, and water treatment plants. Since the water treatment plants do not remove drug residue, nor are they obligated to, it ends up coming right back out of your faucet. The federal government has not pushed for any laws to regulate this health hazard, which is even more unsettling.

This is a huge problem. Most of the population of the United States is drinking tap water from municipal water systems. That means that mostly everybody is exposed to medications that they don’t need. On top of that, what will happen when their own medications are mixed with any amount of other unknown medications from their water?

The environmental impact needs to be taken into consideration as well. The fish in these waters have already been impacted. What about the wildlife that drinks from these bodies of water and the people that eat the fish and wildlife exposed to this water?

It has been said that the amount of pharmaceuticals in the tap water is so low that the danger is so little. There may not be huge amounts of hazards from one glass of water. But the long term effects are still unknown. Should we not be able to drink water with no danger at all?

The best way to really know what’s coming out of your faucet is to take full control over it. There are plenty of water filters, water coolers, and reverse osmosis systems out there to clean and treat your water. That includes removing unwanted drug residues. You have running water so you can drink it, cook with it, bath in it, and even swallow your own medications with it. Why risk taking someone else’s meds? Don’t waste time worrying about what’s in your drinking water when there are better options. Your health is in your hands.

If you stay tuned to the national and world news, you know that every week there is mention of water in the media – water shortages, water contamination, water boil warnings. Water, like the air we breathe, is absolutely vital to life and the fact that water appears on our news so often tells us that that our water is in constant danger. Fortunately, our country has many safeguards against water contaminations, but obviously mistakes happen, disasters come to pass, and naturally occurring events sometimes cause our water to become unsafe.

If your home does not have a home water treatment system of any kind, consider this: without a water filtration system in your home, then YOU are the filter. Yes, your body has to sort out all the chemicals, sludge, and bacteria before your cells can absorb and use the water you drink.

If your water supply is treated by your community, you may be surprised to discover that the water you drink may still contain chlorine, nitrates, iron, sodium, and medical and prescription drugs. Municipalities simply cannot safeguard every drop of water – sometimes mistakes are made, systems are just unable to filter everything, and sometimes chemicals exist in a water supply that science has not yet decided if they are dangerous or not. So if you do not have a water-treatment system in your home, your body is the filter – responsible for eliminating these toxins from your system.

Private well owners have to monitor the quality of their own water. Wells can produce water with higher concentrations of iron, manganese, sulfates, and even arsenic, gasoline, the gasoline additive MTBE, and pesticides. In the very least, if you draw your water from a well or open water source then your water likely has a lot of silt and sediment in it. That earthy taste and musty smell mean one thing, your family could benefit from a reverse osmosis system.

A reverse osmosis system is an under-sink device that forces your water through a semi-permeable membrane before it comes through your tap. That membrane’s pores are so small that nearly all contaminant molecules are trapped and only clean water molecules are allowed to pass through. The trapped impurities are then flushed away.

A reverse osmosis system is able to filter out much of your water’s lead, copper, arsenic, cadmium, chlorine, giardia, pesticides, salt, trihalomethanes, sulfates, cysts, nitrates, and some bacteria and viruses. Additional treatment options are also available to eliminate hard water compounds like manganese and iron.

Typically installed under your kitchen and/or bathroom sink, a reverse osmosis system delivers up to 25 gallons of fresh and healthy drinking water everyday. The system can also be connected to your freezer’s ice maker for great-tasting ice. This means that you will no longer have to purchase bottled water – or should we say tap water in expensive plastic bottles – again. Not only is that a benefit for your body and wallet, it’s good for the environment as well.

A reverse osmosis system saves money , delivers healthy, great-tasting water to your sink, and stops plastic water bottle waste. So you decide. Get a water treatment system for your home – or let your body be the filter.