Water in California

When it comes to your water quality and the ways you can improve it or soften it, a lot of extensive experience and training is required. If you don’t have a background in installation, maintenance or repairing water treatment systems – or maybe you don’t even know which product to buy – there are professionals available to answer your questions and help you make the right decisions.

Questions to Ask Your Water Professional Before You Buy

Shopping for a drinking water system or home water softener can be daunting with so many makes, models and price points on the market. Not all systems and products are made equal – some have better features and efficiencies that you’ll want to consider prior to making your investment. The easiest way to find the best option is to seek help from our water professionals. Even among our own water treatment products, you’ll find a variety of systems to meet different needs and demands.

These are the main things you’ll want to ask and consider:

• Are you certified by WQA as a Certified Water Specialist, Certified Sales Representative, or Certified Installer?
• Do you have insurance?
• Do you have referrals or customer testimonials? Can you tell me about the history and background of your company? 
• What do my water test results show right now?
• Will the recommended products truly remove harmful or worrisome drinking water contaminants?
• Will this system meet my household’s demands?
• What type of warranty comes with this product and my investment?
• Do you offer maintenance and repairs if I need them?
• Is there an installation cost?
• Do the water quality issues in my home require whole-house treatment, or will I be okay with a single-tap or other Point-of-Use device?
• Is the product eco-friendly or will it cause more harm to the environment?
• Will my energy costs skyrocket?
• Would I be able to maintain the system myself? 
• If I have questions, can I call your company for information for free?
• Will this product save me money in the long run?
• Will you provide free follow-up water testing a few months after installation to ensure that the equipment is doing its job?
• Will I know if the product malfunctions or is not working properly?
• Are there any secondary effects that may take place?

You Have questions? We Have Answers!

Sure, that is a lot of questions, but that is okay! This is a major investment (not just financial) in improving the overall quality of your water and the lifestyle and health goals you want to reach. Meeting your household needs and demands is what we set out to do each time we make a delivery, appointment, installation or repair.

Our water treatment systems are some of the top products on the market, and you can find the answers to many of these questions right here on our website. For more questions or direction, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Each year, several major health organizations join forces for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week . The goal is to inform citizens and raise awareness on lead poisoning and the health effects associated with childhood exposure to lead. By working together, we can all take action and make a change. From having your child tested to investing in a home drinking water filter, you can make the greatest impact with your own family while sharing this information with others.

Why is childhood lead exposure such a serious issue?

According to the CDC, there are no true safe lead blood levels – and children can be exposed to lead in a number of other ways, too. From lead paint dust inhaled or ingested, to corroded pipes leading to lead in tap water, we need to work hard to ensure we provide a safer environment for our children, should lead be present.

The CDC, EPA, HUD and WHO all explain that childhood exposure to lead (especially the higher levels) can lead to some very serious documented health and developmental issues down the road. These include:

• Damage to the brain and nervous system
• Slowed growth and development
• Learning and behavior problems
• Hearing and speech issues

These developmental delays can cause:

• Lower IQs
• Decreased attention spans
• Difficulty in school

What can individual residents do to reduce lead poisoning in children?

There are a number of things you can do to help the cause. The CDC recommends that parents:

• Have your baby’s blood levels tested.
• Test for and remove lead paint with the help of a professional.
• Check labels on toys that have been imported.
• Clean floors and toys often.
• This CDC Fact Sheet has several other suggestions. 
• Reverse osmosis systems are proven to reduce lead and other harmful contaminants where your baby or child could be at risk for lead exposure.

At Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton, we offer a safe and effective solution for reducing or eliminating lead exposure. Our home water filters will remove the lead from your tap water, making it pure, safe and worry-free. The benefits of this investment go far beyond a peace of mind.

Interested in learning more? We are ready to help you pick out the best system for your home and your family.  This is a cause we truly believe in and we know you will, too. Contact us today!

We know … it sounds funny to ask if you have added your water quality report to your current reading list. But, maybe you should. 

Water quality reports are sent out to residents and have an abundance of information, sometimes good and sometimes concerning. In either case, it is important to know what is in your water, what your drinking water is being treated for, and what you can do to improve the quality of your water. 

There are recommendations on how to read it, when, and most importantly … why. It’s time to add the 2020 City of Fullerton Water Quality Report to your reading list. 

What will be in my water quality report?

The EPA requires all community water systems to send a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), also known as an annual drinking water quality report, to all of their customers by July 1st of each year. (Renters should contact their building owner for this report.) 

These reports provide residents who get their drinking water from community water systems with some information about their local water quality. Knowing these facts can help you make more informed decisions regarding the water you’re drinking and whether or not you need a home water system like reverse osmosis.

What should I look for?

The required topics will be helpful to focus on. They include things like:

• The source of your drinking water
• A list of regulated drinking water contaminants and detected levels
• Any potential health effects from drinking contaminated water 
• Contaminant levels in your water compared to those of national standards as well as any violations of regulated levels

Will I be able to understand the table?

If you know what you’re looking at, then you should be able to. You’ll find various tables from CCR to CCR, but they typically include data on things like Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, Maximum Residual Disinfection Level Goals, Maximum Contaminant Levels and Ranges Detected, Violations, Sources of Water, Treatment Techniques and more.

What can I do if I am concerned about local water quality?

This information will help you make informed choices – and these choices will help keep your family safer and healthier. If your water quality report reveals contaminants that may be deemed safe but you’re uncomfortable with them, or if you see high levels of something being treated but you don’t want to rely on external systems, we offer a variety of solutions for your water needs. 

Our reverse osmosis systems are eco-friendly and efficient. But, most importantly, they’re super effective at improving drinking water quality by drastically reducing the presence of potentially harmful contaminants. Ready to learn more? Give us a call and our experts will help you make the best choice for your home and your loved ones. 

Okay, so we know that National Protect Your Groundwater Day may not have made it onto your calendar, but we think that it’s worth telling you about. And, who knows … maybe you’ll celebrate somehow after all!

Acknowledging such an important day doesn’t mean we throw a party, but we could simply think about the quality of the groundwater around us. And, we can consider all of the ways we impact, consume, improve and protect it.

We all rely on groundwater in some capacity. The quality of our drinking water often relies on the quality of the groundwater around us. As such, we all need to protect our groundwater to help keep it safe and pure.

When is Protect Your Groundwater Day?

National Protect Your Groundwater Day is an annual observance which takes place on the first of September. It was established as a way to highlight the importance of responsible “development, management and use of groundwater.” Pretty important stuff, huh? It’s during this time that well testing and well management is emphasized. Your private well water is often at risk for contaminants. And, without a drinking water system in place to filter your well water, you could be unaware of what is in it.

Can we protect groundwater at home?

There are many things that we can do to protect our groundwater. For example, limiting pollution is a great start. Many surface water bodies are connected to groundwater – how we treat it is crucial!  We can also think about how important groundwater quality is for those municipal water systems that draw from and treat it. They are not always 100% effective, but the better the groundwater, the lower the treatment cost. And, the better the water may turn out.

Finally, groundwater is essential for families, farms or businesses on wells. When you have a private well, YOU are in charge of testing and maintaining the system. Groundwater protection helps reduce risks and contaminants in your tap water.

The fundamental keys

According to the experts, here are the two most important things to know about your groundwater:

1. Keep it safe from contamination.
2. Reduce groundwater waste by using it wisely.

How can we protect our water?

When it comes to your drinking water, you can protect it with a water filter. There are naturally occurring contaminants in groundwater, but there are also ways that humans can contaminate it too. These include things such as chemical spills, flushing or dumping pharmaceuticals, improper use of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides or such, improper storage or disposal of hazardous substances in general, poorly built or maintained septic systems, wells that are placed on poor sites or not maintained … the list goes on.

Reverse osmosis drinking water systems are extremely effective at removing contaminants at the tap. By protecting groundwater and also protecting your home with a water filtration system, you can feel good about the improved quality of drinking water for your family. If you’re interested, we can provide you with even more information and guidance.

Let’s all think about the ways we can improve how we impact the groundwater around us. Consider the list mentioned above and do your part to conserve water, too. Together, we CAN protect our groundwater!

Let’s face it, not all water softeners are created equal. And, some of the experiences that consumers have had are not all that great. That’s what creates water softener myths in the first place. Sometimes, you’ll read that water softeners are not effective, efficient or worth the money. But, the truth is, those bad experiences that people have had are clouding some of the truths about the benefits of water softeners.

There are a lot of myths or misconceptions (call them what you want) out there. We’d like to give you some information and some TRUTH about why you may want to consider leasing or purchasing a water softener for your home. If living with hard water isn’t enough, we hope that some of this consumer information will help!

6 Common Water Softener Myths

There is too much salt in softened water. It tastes too salty and it is very unhealthy.  

This is an understandable misconception, but also one that needs to be explained. Water softeners use an ion exchange process to treat the hard water – and the exchange happens with sodium ions, not to be confused with salt. The amount of sodium that is “added” also depends on the hardness of your water. Research has shown that there are no adverse health effects from drinking or bathing in soft water.

Soft water won’t rinse the soap off my body.

Not true. When using softened water to bathe or shower, you’ll actually feel your real skin and your body’s natural oils.

Household water from municipal sources doesn’t require a water softener.

Water treatment facilities may filter your drinking water, but they do not remove hard minerals. Plus, the degree of hardness varies so widely across the nation. So, yes … it’s helpful to have a water softener even if your water source is a municipal one.

Water softeners waste too much energy.

Some water softeners do use water and salt in the regeneration process, which can waste some resources. However, newer and more improved systems and technology use less electricity, water and salt. Our portable exchange tank service is the ultimate energy saving solution. We will deliver softened water to you and no maintenance is even needed on your part!

Softened water also helps lower the energy use in your home overall. For example, one study discovered that a water heater can maintain its efficiency rating for 15 years when it uses soft water. In contrast, its efficiency can be reduced by 48% with hard water. Wow!

Water softeners will remove minerals that I need in my diet.

When you hear that minerals like calcium and magnesium will be removed through water softening, you may think that those minerals will now be missing from your diet. Drinking hard water is not the same as getting these minerals from food – it won’t benefit you.

My water filter will soften my water.

Water filters will remove contaminants and purify your water, but they do not soften it. Likewise, softeners are not going to purify your water.

We could go on and on, but now you know the truth about these water softener myths. With so many benefits to a water softener, are you ready to choose? Simply contact us today and we can help with that!

Maybe your region is known for specific drinking water contaminants. Or, maybe you just want to protect your home from potential contaminants or leaks. Whether there is something in your water now, or you are concerned about what could be in there in the future, many consumers opt to install a drinking water filter to improve the quality, safety and purity of their drinking water. Tap water is economical and efficient – but you want to ensure that it is the best quality possible, right?

When shopping around for a new drinking water system, you’ll want to know just what to get. There are SO many water filters on the market for you to choose from, but some are better than others.

Why should you consider filtering your tap water?

American tap water is good compared to many other places, but even so, we cannot take it for granted. Many of our outdated water treatment facilities are lacking the ability to remove all contaminants. Then, there are those contaminants which they don’t even test for. Our drinking water can be the host for bacterial, viral and chemical contaminants at times. Filtering out these impurities will make your water safer for consumption.

Traditional water filters and carbon filters are not all bad. In fact, they will still remove many of the contaminants we are talking about, including chlorine, dirt, sediments, rust, heavy metals and so on. Reverse osmosis systems tend to remove a bit more.

What exactly is reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis is the process in which water passes through a sediment filter, then a carbon filter, then a semipermeable membrane to remove any impurities. The process finishes by water going through a final activated-carbon filtration to improve taste and quality for household use. Meanwhile, the removed contaminants are flushed away. 

Reverse osmosis systems are kind of like the superior water purification process. They remove all those contaminants mentioned above, plus dangerous substances such as lead, nitrates, nitrites and several more!

Our reverse osmosis systems are effective and efficient – and more eco-friendly than most. We use technology that will reduce wastewater and still remove over 95% of those worrisome contaminants from the tap.

Your drinking water will be improved and impressive right from the time of installation. Being an informed consumer certainly has its perks! Contact us to learn more about our RO systems and other home water treatment options!

Saving water during the summer months (or anytime) is one of the best things you can do as a member of your community. During the summer, a family’s water use increases 25-50%, typically occurring outside. Here in California, we have seen firsthand just how important water conservation is during times of drought.  But, saving water even when we are in a better place is an important way to protect the future.

Each decision we make, product we purchase, or shower we take is a chance to do our part and conserve water. We thought that in the midst of the temperatures heating up, we would share with you some of our favorite tips to save on water this summer. We hope you enjoy both the eco-friendly habits and the financial savings you may see, too!

How can I do my part with water conservation?

Habits are easy to make and hard to break! Follow these tips to change your habits and practice smart water usage.

Indoor Water Conservation Tips:

• Check for leaks on all faucets, pipes, hoses, couplings, and toilets. Did you know that even a small drip can waste up to 20 gallons of water per day? A faucet with two drips per minute? That ends up being 105 gallons of wasted water in just one year!  Enjoy instant savings just from fixing a leak!
• Install a reverse osmosis system that is eco-friendly and efficient, known to waste less water than its competitors. Traditional reverse osmosis systems often waste water but our products use advanced technology to limit water waste!
• Install low flow showerheads. Low flow usually equates to 2.5 gallons less water used per minute.
• Insulate your water pipes or monitor your water heater condition. In doing so, you will get hot water faster and use/waste less water waiting for it to get hot.
• Limit the time in the shower. We could all cut back on the singing, soaking and rinsing. A 4-minute shower alone can use up to 40 gallons.
• Use your dishwasher and your washing machine for full loads only. Limiting the number of cycles also limits the amount of water you’re using.
• Use the kitchen sink garbage disposal ONLY if necessary.
• If you tend to wash dishes by hand, don’t leave the water running for rinsing as you wash.

Outdoor Water Conservation Tips:

• Water your lawn ONLY when you need to. (You can actually step on it to test it – if it springs back up, you don’t need to water.)
• Know the right times to water your lawn, plants and flowers – the early parts of the day or later in the evening are best. And, avoid watering when windy. Preventing water loss due to evaporation is key.
• Don’t run the hose while you’re washing your car. Even better – try a car wash that recycles the water.
• You can water your plants and flowers using water caught during the shower in a bucket or such.
• Mulching around your plants can help to retain a ton of moisture (and saves time weeding).
• Adjust sprinklers so they’re hitting just the lawn and plants, not the house, street or sidewalk.
• Check outdoor faucets and hoses for leaks, too.
• Choose to clean your walkways, patios and driveways with a broom rather than hosing them down.
• Cool off with a sprinkler where the lawn could use watering and kill two birds with one stone.

Following the tips above will help you with your water conservation efforts all summer long. For year round water savings, contact us to learn more about our eco-friendly water treatment options!

A water softener has many jobs – but the one question we often get is, will the water softener also purify my water? Different systems can do different things – and before you invest in a certain system or brand, a little research on their functions and capabilities is important. You want to choose the right system for your needs and your wants when it comes to your home’s water.

Water Softeners

The actual job of a water softening system is to remove hard minerals like calcium and magnesium through an ion exchange process whereby the water passes through a membrane and resin bed, and sodium ions are exchanged for the minerals. Once the process is completed, you are left with softened water.

The Answer

Back to the initial question; Does a water softener purify water, too?

Water softeners only remove mineral or metal from the water. If you’re looking to remove any types of microorganisms, chemicals, or other contaminants from your tap water, you’re going to want something in addition to your softener. In this case, for both jobs, a whole house carbon filtration system could do the trick.  New water treatment technology is becoming available to reduce magnesium and calcium during purification – but it may not be as effective and efficient as seeking out both a softener and a reverse osmosis system, which does the job of reducing water contaminates.

Water Treatment By Your City

If you’re thinking that your municipal water treatment center removes both contaminants and hard minerals from your water, you could be mistaken. Local water treatment will reduce most contaminates, however it will not soften your water. We offer a number of products to address your water softening or water filtration needs. All of our systems are available for lease or purchase and our experts can help you to choose and maintain the perfect system for your household.

Softened water AND purified drinking water is only a phone call away!

There are a lot of things that you cannot control in life. Unfortunately, the quality of your well or municipality’s drinking water is one of them. From old, out-of-date water treatment plants to contaminants picked up in pipes or groundwater, your tap water is what it is. That is, if you do not have a water filter in your home.  If you want to control the quality of your tap water, control it with your choice of a water filtration system. And, knowing what makes the best systems will get you the best water.

Benefits of Filtered Water

Knowing WHY you need a water filtration system is just as important as choosing one. Information is power! You may already know why it is beneficial to filter your water but here are a FEW of the many reasons you may not have thought of:

• You’ll enjoy cleaner, healthier water
• Many consumers experience better tasting water when it’s free of certain pollutants
• Reduction of bacterial contaminants and chlorine
• Fewer health risks associated with certain contaminants
• Peace of mind
• Less usage of bottled water and plastic waste
• Increased hydration, improved digestion and healthier skin

Best Water Filtration Systems

All of the best water filtration systems have certain things in common. Knowing what to look for in these products will help in making the most efficient and effective choice.

• Reverse osmosis is incredibly effective at reducing and removing contaminants and pollutants.
• Find a system certified by the NSF and the California Department of Public Health.
• Consider how cost-effective the choice would be – reverse osmosis is a cost-effective solution.
• Find a system that will produce a continuous supply of filtered drinking water – our RO systems can produce up to 50 gallons of water each day!
• Our systems can even run a line to your ice maker so your ice cubes are safe, too.
• Look for an activated carbon filter to help with taste.
• You deserve a great warranty with your investment.

Our products deliver on all of these and more! The best water filtration systems are effective, efficient and eco-friendly. They do the job of removing contaminants and do it well. Our technicians are ready to answer your questions and help you choose the right product for your household. Give us a call today!

Results of a recent survey show that around 85% of American households have to deal with some level of hard water, but only about 30% of them use a water softener to remove those hard minerals. Anyone living with hard water knows just how much work it is. Investing in the perfect water softening system will make life easier … starting with your chores!

What is hard water?

Hard water is water that has hard minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. Water can pick these up during the water cycle and it can happen with well water and even city water. The more calcium and magnesium that is dissolved in the water, the harder the water becomes. Softened water is water that has had these minerals removed.

How does hard water affect my household?

Hard water is not dangerous to consume, but it simply makes everyday activities a lot of extra work. Some of the most common issues include:

• Embarrassing stains in sinks and tubs
• Higher water and energy bills because water-using appliances have to work harder
• More cost in replacing clothing and linens ruined by hard water
• More money is spent on fixing or replacing pipes or appliances due to mineral buildup
• White spots on dishes or on fixtures
• Clothes and linens look and feel rough
• Skin has a residue
• Dry, flat hair
• Low water pressure due to clogged pipes

What size water softener do I need?

The size of your water softener depends on the size of your household and its demands. There are many products on the market and they come in various sizes and models. A little research before you invest can make the process all worthwhile. Before you buy, you’ll need to answer the following questions:

• What is my water hardness level?
• How much water does my family consume on a daily basis?
• What would be my calculation for my daily water softening requirement?
• How do I calculate my total grain capacity?
• Do I need salt? Do I need electricity?

If these questions seem overwhelming, that’s where we come in. Make your day-to-day activities easier to manage with the right water softener for your home! Talk to one of our technicians who can help you choose the right size, fit and model!