Water in California

It doesn’t matter where we look these days – on a billboard, in the mail, or on television – we are constantly bombarded with messages to reduce waste, stop pollution, drink more water, and save the environment, among others. While some messages may play to current environmental trends, we really can do a lot to preserve this Earth for future generations to enjoy, and we believe it starts with how we interact with water.

Reduce, re-use, recycle.

Many of us have grown up with the 3 R’s of environmental responsibility; reduce, re-use, recycle. But what does that have to do with water? Well, we believe it has a LOT to do with it.

Water conservation

Many areas of the world, including California, suffer from drought at various times throughout the year, making water conservation an important environmental aspect to consider. At the same time, much of California is faced with the pesky reality of hard water, making water softening systems a must-have for most homeowners. Many traditional water softeners, however, are salt-based, discharging large volumes of salt, potassium, and water into septic systems each day. This wastes water and the salt discharge can be harmful to the environment.

So, what is the eco-friendly solution?

One option is using a Portable Exchange (P.E.) Tank Soft Water Service. The water is conditioned off site at a state of the art facility, stored in portable tanks, and transported to your home by a water service technician. Once the tanks are empty, they are returned to the same facility for regeneration and re-use. Not only does this mean less time required by you to maintain a water softener system, it also means that no household water is wasted, and salt discharge is kept out of your septic. Furthermore, the portable exchange tanks do not use electricity, so your utility bill will be reduced, when compared to using a traditional home water softener system.

Drinking water

While water conservation measures are important when it comes to household and commercial water use, most experts agree that the opposite is true when it comes to our own health; we need to use MORE water, in the form of drinking it.

Some research estimates that 4 out of every 10 Americans DON’T drink enough water, and that includes many older adults. Some use the excuse that they don’t like the taste of water, while others say it just isn’t convenient. Thus, the advent of the plastic water bottle – a promise of fresh tasting water that is convenient to take on the go.

It appears that many more Americans are getting the “drink more water” message, as studies show that over half a billion bottles of water are purchased every week in the United States.

While bottled water may be a good solution for getting people to increase their water intake, it has proved to have negative environmental effects. A lot of energy is used in the making of the plastic and the transport of the finished goods, yet most bottles are used only once.

Furthermore, harmful chemicals in the plastic can find their way into the ground when people choose to throw the bottles away instead of recycling them. In fact, about 80% of disposable plastic water bottles never get recycled and instead, end up taking years to decompose in the landfill.

Is there an eco-friendly solution for drinking more water while also protecting the environment?

Drinking water solutions at home

The answer is YES! There’s no reason you can’t have great tasting water and save the Earth too. At home, a great place to start is with a Reverse Osmosis (RO) Drinking Water System. An RO system fits under your sink and provides filtered water through a separate faucet.

The benefits of a Reverse Osmosis System include a continuous supply of safe, filtered water that is obtained simply by turning on the faucet. Just fill up your cup or re-usable bottle and drink! No need to lug cases of bottled water home from the store, keep them stashed in the pantry, and then cart them to the fridge to get cold. That also means fewer trips to the recycling bin with disposable plastic bottles and less waste making its way to the landfill because of those who don’t recycle.

Water filtered through an RO system also tastes great, making it easy to drink on its own. There is also the added benefit of improving the taste of your coffee, tea, juice, oatmeal, or any other food prepared with water.

Drinking water at work or on the go

So, what if you don’t stay at home all the time? Is there still a way to drink more, fresh, great-tasting water when you go to work or go out to run errands? Of course! The answer is a convenient water cooler, perfect for home or on the job.

If you have a Reverse Osmosis system at your tap, you can always fill your travel mug or bottle with great tasting water to go, but if you don’t, a water cooler will provide the same convenience. In fact, contrary to what the name might imply, a water cooler can also provide hot water at the flip of a switch, making it an easy solution to make tea or instant coffee to enjoy now or later. Water coolers are available for both home and office use and are maintained for a low monthly fee that still allows you to save money over using bottled water.

Environmental responsibility starts with YOU

 As you can see, there are ways that each of us can get the water we want and need, and still be environmentally responsible. Contact us today to get the eco-friendly water solution that makes the most sense for you.

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Do you have hard water? Are you wondering if you should do something about it? Well, before you make a decision about whether or not to treat it, we want to make sure you are armed with plenty of information first.

Does your water leave stains and residue on dishes and glassware? Are your shower and bathtub walls covered with an embarrassing film that is hard to clean? Does your hair and skin look and feel dingy and dull? Does it require an excessive amount of soaps and detergents to clean clothes or create suds?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, then it sounds like your hard water is having a bad effect on your home!

You’re certainly not alone. Research shows that about 85% of American households deal with some level of hard water – and many of those don’t treat their water with a water softener or water conditioner, simply because they don’t know what kind of treatment would work best for their particular household.

We know there are numerous products on the market today that claim to soften water, and trying to choose the right one can seem like an overwhelming task. But with a little bit more information, we can help you select which water treatment options would work best for your household’s water demands and for your individual family’s needs.

Hard Water Classifications

For starters – what actually determines a water’s hardness and what levels you should pay extra attention to?

According to the USGS, calcium and magnesium dissolved in water are the two most common minerals that make water “hard.”  The degree of hardness becomes greater as the calcium and magnesium content increases and is related to the concentration of multivalent cations dissolved in the water. To determine the classification of your water refer to the following chart.

Hard water minerals are not going to impact human health, however they are going to impact your home in many ways. From your own bathing and washing practices, to your pipes and appliances, hard water is … well HARD on a home and you!

Benefits of a Water Softener

One of the biggest benefits of installing a home water softener tends to be the decrease in time and effort spent on household chores and the amount of detergents and soaps that you’ll have to buy. Another important benefit of softening your home’s water is that you’ll reduce the risk of clogged pipes and appliances – a benefit we will get into more as you continue reading.

It is expensive to have to deal with hard water issues. From the money spent on extra soaps and detergents to replacing inefficient or failing appliances, you’ll be spending a fortune living in a home that is plagued by hard water. Your pipes can become clogged with scale that reduces water flow and ultimately requires pipe replacement – and this is not just household pipes. It includes scale and buildup in smaller appliances that will reduce their lifespan as well.

So now that you know what it is and what effect it has, let’s think about interpreting your results. The hardness of your water will be reported in grains per gallon, milligrams per liter mg/l or parts per million ppm. One grain of hardness equals 17.1 mg/l or ppm of hardness. You can refer back to the amounts listed above to see where your household water falls.

Much of this information comes from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which establishes the standards for our drinking water in this country. There are primary and secondary standards. Primary standards are based on the necessary health considerations of the tap water you consume and secondary standards are based on classifications such as taste, odor, color, corrosiveness, foaming, and staining properties of water. There is no Primary or Secondary standard for water hardness.

So we know it is a serious nuisance and we know it isn’t necessarily dangerous to our health; yet we still need to consider the removal of hard water minerals to reduce the time and tasks in our daily routine as well as to save money on replacing appliances and the extra cost of energy it takes to utilize those appliances. It has been proven that softened water allows for less energy, thus costing you less money on your energy bill.

Hard Water Solution

So how exactly can we remove these minerals and what do water softeners do?

Our water softening products use an ion exchange process in which the hard minerals are traded out for sodium. During the process, beads with a negative charge are in the resin. Calcium and magnesium in water both carry positive charges. This means that these minerals will cling to the beads as the hard water passes through the mineral tank.

The sodium collects on the beads, replacing the calcium and magnesium, which go down the drain. Once this phase is over, the mineral tank is flushed of excess brine and the brine tank is refilled. There is of course, more technical aspects to this process, but this gives you a general idea of what is happening inside the water softener.

The water softeners we sell here at Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton are not only exceptionally efficient, but also extremely durable. They also come with a great warranty so you won’t have to worry that your product is going to fail leaving you in a bind.

Living with hard water can be difficult but it doesn’t have to be. We can help you replace your hard water with soft water that will not only be more enjoyable for you, but will save you time, money and effort in the long run!

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The flu season this year has been unbelievable! The CDC reported that there have been almost 28,000 hospitalizations already this flu season – and that’s only the ones who actually went to the hospital with flu symptoms!

So what can you do if you get sick? One of the most common recommendations by doctors is to rest and get plenty of fluids. This is best way to help your body fight the virus. It’s also important to note that all “fluids” aren’t created equal. Drinking plenty of water will help prevent dehydration. However, the real question is, what exactly should you be drinking … coffee, tea, juices or just plain ole’ drinking water?

Drinks that ease flu symptoms

Some drinks are great for easing those awful flu symptoms, while others may make them worse. An article from WebMD listed four drinks that can help when you are sick.

Warm decaffeinated tea can help to soothe sore throats, upset tummies, stuffy noses and even chest congestion. Plus, how comforting is a warm cup of tea when you feel like covering up your head and dying? If you choose an herbal tea with ginger, your immune system may get a small boost, as well. Even better, add a small spoonful of honey to your tea – it can help soothe a cough and help you sleep.

Drinking filtered water with lemon is another great drink to try when you are feeling rough. Lemon is high in vitamin C, which may help fight off your virus and have you up and running a bit faster. Water, either hot or cold works to keep you hydrated and will help loosen up stuffiness and congestion.

Soup might not seem like your typical “drink”, but it does wonders when you drink it. The heated soup can relieve inflammation, break up mucus and give your body some much needed calories when you don’t have an appetite.

If all else fails, and you can’t seem to keep anything down, reach for the ice chips or a popsicle. They can help with hydration and will soothe a sore throat better than most things.

Drinks to avoid when you are sick

Most physicians advise against drinking sports drinks, fruit juices, ginger ale, coffee and alcohol when you are sick. The sugar in most of these drinks is not going to make you feel better and has little nutrients to improve your health. Likewise, caffeine can make you dehydrated, which isn’t good when you’re already at risk for dehydration.

If you are one of the unfortunate ones suffering from the flu this season, don’t forget your water and DRINK UP! Hopefully you will be feeling ready to conquer the world again in no time.

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When you’re a homeowner, you’re often concerned about the quality of your drinking water and any drinking water contamination that may occur. For homes with wells, testing and water treatment are left to your own responsibility. In both situations, a home drinking water system with advanced filtration technology can eliminate dangerous contaminants like that of arsenic, which can be very dangerous to humans who have it in their tap water.

In the past, there were higher levels of arsenic in drinking water because the EPA’s rules allowed for more. However, a recent report in the New York Times has some good news! Arsenic reductions in drinking water, thanks to the EPA’s revisions, and lowered allowed levels, have resulted in fewer instances of lung, bladder and skin cancers. It has only been a little over a decade that these changes were made, but we are already seeing positive results proving that arsenic contamination is deadly. This regulation does not apply to private wells, however.

How do they know? Research and survey results! Using data from a national health survey, urinary arsenic levels from 2003 were compared to those in 2014 after changes had been made and fully implemented. According to the article, they found a 17 percent reduction in arsenic levels among those using public water systems. The researchers estimate that the new rule resulted in 200 to 900 fewer lung and bladder cancers and 50 fewer skin cancers annually.

But what about the arsenic still left in our tap water? Should we be concerned? What about folks who have a private well? To reduce arsenic in drinking water, we encourage you to consider investing in a home water filter. Policies come and go, changes are made, but only you have the true power to protect the quality of your drinking water and peace of mind. You can control what is in your drinking water more than you know. We have plenty of products flexible to the water demands, budget and needs of your household. Give us a call today and let’s continue to reduce cancer rates by reducing your drinking water contamination!

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Reports show that there are currently about 50,000 marijuana farms in the state of California. Not all of these farms are legal or following the regulations and guidelines set forth by the state to protect the groundwater and public health. In fact, only about 16,000 are predicted to apply for growing licenses next year! When farmers don’t follow proper growing procedures or use banned pesticides on their crops, it can affect the quality of our drinking water and experts have already begun to see issues with pesticide contamination in our water.

According to a recent report from U.S. News, these illegal marijuana farms hidden in the forests of California are leaking toxic chemicals into the rivers and streams that feed the state’s water supply. The presence of potentially deadly pollutants in eight Northern and Central California watersheds is the latest sign of damage to the environment from thousands of illegal cannabis plantations, many of them run by drug cartels serving customers in other states, according to law enforcement.

There is enough fear that both humans and animals may be at risk, to have officials working on a plan to address the issue. But while they take time and strategize for financial and business logistics, YOU need to do something to protect your family NOW! A home drinking water system which can filter your water at the tap can remove harmful contaminants leaving you with safe, quality drinking water regardless of what is currently controllable when it comes to how marijuana farmers are running their business.

We don’t know where all of these marijuana farms are situated and we, as homeowners, don’t know which growers follow the proper guidelines. All we can do is control the quality of our own tap water and hope that in time, we can eliminate illegal growers in our state. Many of the illegal growers use fertilizers and pesticides long restricted or banned in the United States, including carbofuran and zinc phosphide. Take control of the quality of your drinking water with a water filtration system that is able to filter and improve your tap water as you need it. Give us a call today!

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The last several years, homeowners all over Orange County have experienced various plumbing issues; from lead leaching into their drinking water and pinhole leaks in their plumbing to early corrosion of rubber plumbing parts. The only correlation between all of these plumbing problems stems from one source – chloramine in the water supply. So what exactly IS chloramine and why is it causing so many problems?

Chloramine is used as a disinfectant by several municipal water companies, it is a combination of chlorine and ammonia and these two chemicals work together to extend the disinfecting power of chlorine. While they might extend the life of chlorine, they are not nearly as effective as chlorine. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) determined that it is anywhere from 2,000 to 100,000 times less effective than free chlorine for the inactivation of E. Coli and rotaviruses. In addition to that, chloramine has some serious drawbacks other than plumbing as well.

Respiratory problems have also been reported with chloramine use; the fumes can cause individuals to become congested, cause coughing, choking, shortness of breath, wheezing and asthma. The vapor from chloramine treated water in baths, showers, hot tubs and dishwashers contain volatilized chemicals that can irritate the respiratory tract when inhaled. One study even concluded that there was an increase in deaths from pneumonia and influenza in communities where chloramine was used as a disinfectant.  

Water treatment companies are making the switch over to chloramine because it is a more stable compound and lasts longer in the water, which will inhibit bacterial regrowth in water systems. The problem is that homeowners are bearing the brunt end of this switch. Chloramine can cause lead to leach out of pipes and the risk for lead poisoning goes up with chloramine usage. Homeowners are experiencing pinhole leaks in pipes and as a result are out tens of thousands of dollars in repairs, especially if mold is involved.  

So what can homeowners do to alleviate all these potential consequences of chloramine usage? Well fortunately, the answer is easy. Rayne’s Chloramine Buster series of water filtration systems are equipped with a non-chemically impregnated activated carbon which enhances its capability to decompose compounds such as hydrogen sulfide and chloramine. They have the ability to filter out chloramine before it ever enters the house which means that homeowners will never have to worry about plumbing or health issues connected with chloramine usage. For more information on our line of Chloramine Buster’s you can visit our website.

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If you don’t currently own or lease your own drinking water system in your home such as reverse osmosis, you may know someone who does. If still this doesn’t relate to you, then you may know less about tap water these days than you thought. Sure, the United States has some of the best drinking water in the world but even the water treatment from public water systems isn’t perfect and can contain contaminants that put you and your family’s health at risk. Between the contaminants that are not tested or regulated to those that get into your water between treatment and entering your home’s pipes, RO systems are an advantage to any household big or small.

But for many, there are mysteries associated with reverse osmosis. How does RO work? Where do the contaminants go? Is the resulting water really that much better? Knowing how RO systems work can certainly help solve some of the mystery and help grow an appreciation for the wonders of drinking water technology these days.

Reverse osmosis drinking water systems come in all shapes and sizes as well as effectiveness and efficiency. The main principle is the same, however. The key word for this process is “reverse.” Likewise, the word “osmosis” means the passage or diffusion of water or other solvents through a membrane that blocks the passage of dissolved solutes. To explain a little further in depth, the RO system works by forcing water under pressure through a special synthetic semi-permeable membrane. The membrane has the astounding quality of attracting water molecules and repelling dissolved impurities, even those smaller than the water molecules themselves.

We are excited to share this advantage with the world – we waste less water and produce more quality drinking water. Enjoy safe, pure tap water without the worries that unfiltered water can produce. Want to learn more? Contact us today or visit our website at http://rayneoffullerton.com/. We look forward to improving the quality of your drinking water!

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We often focus on making sure homeowners and businesses are making the right water treatment choice for their particular water needs, and this is a very necessary step. If a water softener is installed when actually a drinking water system is needed, the owner is out a significant amount of money and still hasn’t solved their problem. So while choosing the right system for your home is vitally important, we feel that choosing the right water treatment company is just as important.

When you know that your water has a problem, whether it tastes funny, looks off, or leaves residue on everything, you want to make sure you find out exactly what’s wrong and how to fix it. So let us ask you this – who knows your area’s water the best? That’s right, your local water treatment company! Because we deal exclusively in the local area’s water we have extensive knowledge of the water quality; general hardness, contaminate problems, mineral issues and even what chemicals the local water treatment plant uses.

Local knowledge is a huge advantage when initiating a water treatment solution, but you also want to make sure that the reputation of the company you are using is up to snuff as well. One of the first places we recommend customers look to is the Better Business Bureau (BBB).  There you will be able to see how well each business is rated, customer satisfaction and how well they follow up on any issues or complaints. If you are considering a company that doesn’t have a BBB profile, or a good reputation on any other business rating website, you might want to steer clear of them.

Pricing and purchasing options are another factor to take into consideration. Some of the nationally branded water treatment companies out there have been known to have much higher prices than locally owned water treatment companies, so make sure you check prices before purchasing. Of course this doesn’t mean just look for the cheapest price to make your choice. You will most likely find cheaper water filtration systems or water softeners at big box stores or online, but what you are saving in up-front costs often end up being more expensive when you take features, quality, installation, service, repair and aggravation into consideration.

When you choose a locally owned and operated water treatment company, you are not only making an investment in your community, but you can usually count on better and more personalized customer service. Here at Pacific Coast Water Systems of Fullerton, we are a second generation business and just as we did back in the 1960’s we focus on providing high quality, reliable products with exceptional customer service – all at better than competitive prices. Our office is staffed by friendly, knowledgeable representatives, and with our 24 hour answering service you will always be able to speak to a live person. Give us a call and experience the Rayne difference!

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Water is highly susceptible to microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Typically, if these biological contaminants find their way into your drinking water, you will never know it – until you get sick. Symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, cramps and headaches could be an indication of having ingested contaminated drinking water. While most of our drinking water here in the US is relatively safe and clean, there are certain situations where it can become contaminated; if you have ever lived in an area where there was a “boil water advisory” in effect, it is a pretty sure bet that your water was contaminated by some type of these microorganisms. So how can you protect against this type of biological contamination?

The simplest, low tech solution, is to always boil your water before drinking it, but let’s be honest, that is an unrealistic expectation. A much easier and better option, is to invest in an Ultraviolet (UV) Sterilization Unit for your water system. As the water is exposed to the ultraviolet light, any microorganism that is present in your water will be killed. A UV treatment system works by altering the DNA of the microorganisms so that any viruses, molds, algae, bacteria or other biological contaminants in the water can no longer reproduce, thus eliminating the risk of disease.

Some of the most common water contaminates such as E.coli and Coliform Bacteria are virtually eliminated with a UV sterilization unit, in fact, they are 99% effective against the following microorganisms:

• Bacteriophage (E. coli)
• Influenza Virus
• Leptospira Interrogans (Infectious Jaundice)
• Hepatitis Virus
• Salmonella Typhosa (Typhoid Fever)
• Legionella Pneumophila (Legionnaires’ Disease)
• Coliform Bacteria
• Chlorella Vulgaris

A UV water treatment system is an excellent way to control bacterial growth and reproduction of most unwanted biological contaminates. If you are interested in one of Rayne Water’s UV Sterilization Units,  give one of our water professionals a call.

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As California continues to experience an epic drought, where residents and state officials are desperately seeking ways to conserve their water, there is one industry that feels immune; the bottled water industry. Bottled water companies are needlessly gutting California’s drinking water supply just to provide bottled drinking water to other parts of the country. Nestle, in particular, has five bottled water plants in California, and they alone siphon off over 700 million gallons of water every year!

As you can see by this graphic from Huffington Post, California is being used as a supplier for a number of bottled water companies, despite the drought and water scarcity concerns. They continue to pump hundreds of millions of gallons of water for their own use, and sometimes even from a town’s municipal water supply itself. To add insult to injury, they basically pay nothing to take the water either; in a lawsuit against Nestle, the plaintiffs state that Nestle pays a meager $524.00 per year to siphon water from one creek. For a company that is worth over 247 billion dollars this is insane!

As a water treatment systems company, we understand the need for clean, safe drinking water, however bottled water is definitely not the answer. First of all, plastic bottles are not sustainable. They use massive quantities of fossil fuels and water during manufacturing and they are not biodegradable; just look at the landfills overflowing with the billions of plastic bottles Americans throw away each year.

The quality of the water in bottled water is suspect as well; many times, it is the same water that we can get from our own tap. In addition, studies have determined that bottled water can contain mold, microbes, benzene, phthalates, trihalomethanes and even arsenic, which makes it less safe than filtered tap water altogether. The even crazier part of this, is that consumers are willing to fork out over 10,000 times the cost of tap water just to drink their water from a plastic bottle.

The solution to all of this, is to invest in a good drinking water filtration system at home; no more plastic bottle waste and no more water waste from drought stricken areas. Home water filtration systems provide superior tasting water and have the ability to filter out all those contaminates that bottled water can’t. Every little bit we can do to help the environment and manage the water crisis at home will make a difference.

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