Water in California

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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With drinking water in the news often lately, residents all over the United States are talking about the quality and safety of their public drinking water supplies. From lead in drinking water in Michigan to water scarcity problems in California, water treatment systems are a popular and important part of any home these days. Whether you want to soften your water or filter it, you’re making a huge impact on your family’s health and your home’s water.

Many people hear water treatment and are unsure of the difference between a water filter and a water softener. They also want to know which would be better to have in their household. In California, the majority of residents deal with hard water issues on a daily basis and could benefit from softened water. Just having a basic understanding of each type of water system can help you to make an informed decision about improving and maintaining the quality of your tap water. Luckily, a recent article from Free Drinking Water and APEC gives you just that – helpful, easy-to-understand information about the most common kinds of residential water treatment systems. 

A water softener treats hard water by utilizing salt and ion exchange technology to remove minerals that leave hard water stains on your dishes and shower walls and create problems with pipes and appliances due to the limescale buildup it leaves behind. Within the water softeners, resins are coated in a sodium solution and when hard water comes into contact with the resin beads, the calcium and magnesium ions migrate out of the solution to the active sites on the resin and are replaced in the solution by sodium ions. 

A water filter like an RO system will not remove hard minerals but rather contaminants like bacteria, pollutants, microbes, metals and chemicals. They can include small RO drinking water systems and also large whole house water filters which treat water throughout the entire home. These filters use a wide variety of water purification technologies to treat water contamination.

Water softeners are excellent water treatment systems that will protect your home from the harmful effects of hard water scale buildup. Likewise, water filters are effective when it comes to other harmful contaminants. Let our water technicians test your water and help you decide which water system would be best for your household.

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Californians are well aware of the water crisis affecting the state, and if the drought wasn’t enough of a concern affecting our water supply, now we have the added concern of sewer clogging and damage due to flushable wipes. Wet wipes are not a new invention, and hey, any of us with babies know what a miraculous invention they were; however, instead of being disposed of in the garbage as intended, many are being flushed instead. This type of disposal is creating quite a problem for both homeowners and waste water plants.

There are several wipes on the market today that are labeled as “flushable” and while they certainly CAN be flushed down the toilet, the question is SHOULD they be flushed? Many wipes, even those labeled as flushable don’t break down fast enough in the sewer lines and are causing thousands, if not millions, of dollars of damage and affecting our water supply. In fact, they are becoming notorious for binding up municipal pumps and blocking both private and public sewer lines.

Currently there is a class action lawsuit aimed at the makers of baby wipes, antibacterial towelettes and some feminine hygiene products. Cottonelle Fresh Care Flushable Wipes, Charmin Freshmates, Scott Naturals Flushable Moist Wipes and Pampers Kandoo Flushable Wipes were some of the companies specifically called out in the lawsuit. The suit is aiming to make labelling more consistent and to have independent third party testing to make sure their product does indeed break down fast enough to be labelled as flushable.

In order for this type of mandate to work, consumers also must become more educated on what types of materials are safe for flushing. Some water utilities are promoting only the three “p’s” to be flushed; pee, poop and toilet paper. While some manufactures are partially to blame, consumers also need to take some responsibility. If an article is not completely biodegradable, it should never go down the toilet; paper towels, baby wipes etc.,

Many of our sewer systems are already over taxed due to insufficient infrastructure, growing populations and climate change. With several California counties already relying heavily on recycled waste water for a portion of their water supply, we need to be careful to protect it as much as possible. Remember that what goes down the toilet WILL end up in our water supply; from wipes to pharmaceuticals, we need to be conscious of what we are introducing into our waste stream.

For good or for bad, tap water quality has once again made its way back into the forefront of the news in our nation. Between drinking water contamination or lack of policy and poor decision making by our leaders, our water needs are changing in a society that is now aware of the dangers of contamination and demanding high-quality water once and for all. Deionized water, the highest purity water, is easy when you have the proper products and company by your side. High-quality water is also necessary for many businesses in our area whose products and designs cannot result in a film of hard minerals. De-ionized water can enhance clarity and outcome for sure.

Before we discuss why you may want to consider deionized water for your business, you may need to know more about what exactly it is. Deionized water is water that has had its ions removed. Tap water is usually full of ions from the soil Na+, Ca2+, from the pipes Fe2+, Cu2+, and other sources. Water is usually deionized by using an ion exchange process. During this process, almost all of its mineral ions are removed, such as cations like sodium, calcium, iron, and copper, and anions such as chloride and sulfate. In general, deionization requires the flow of water through two ion exchange materials in order to affect the removal of all salt content.  

Hard water minerals effectively disappear with our water treatment products. Likewise, our deionized water is perfect for washing cars, washing windows and other manufacturing businesses. Whether you could benefit at home or at your business, our technicians are prepared to offer you get products for a great price all while bringing you the best customer service in the business. High quality, high purity drinking water is needed by all kinds of businesses and homes in our area, especially since our water contains so many hard minerals. This specialty water can be delivered to you, keeping your business running with the best water in the business. We have a variety of specialty products such as mixed bed DI tank service, demineralizers, commercial reverse osmosis services and many, many more. Contact us today to see how you can benefit from high-purity drinking water through the deionization process. Water never worked so good!

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We are exposed to chemicals every single day; the shampoo we use in the morning shower, the Tylenol we take for a headache, the dishwasher detergent used to wash our dishes, the laundry detergent for the gazillion loads of laundry we do. As we look around us, the list could go on and on. So where do you think all these chemicals end up? That’s right, down the drain and directly back into our water supply! CBS News recently reported that when they tested the drinking water in New York City, they discovered that there were 14 different drugs and personal care products found in the city’s drinking water; this isn’t the only place where these contaminates have been found either.

Another study took samples from 50 large size water plants and discovered that of the 56 pharmaceuticals they looked for, more than half of the water tested positive for at least 25 different drugs. While health officials have said that the amounts present in the drinking water would not be harmful for human consumption, they have not evaluated the complete cocktail of these drugs. And to be honest, do we really want to be consuming unnecessary medications – or drinking detergents, even in small doses?

Let’s take a look at the 14 different substances found in New York City’s water supply:

• Acetaminophen – a pain reliever
• Butalbital – a sedative or hypnotic drug
• Caffeine – a stimulant
• Carrbamazepine – an anti-convulsant
• Diltiazem – a drug used to treat high blood pressure and angina
• Gemfibrozil – used to treat high cholesterol
• Cotinine – a byproduct of nicotine, found in tobacco
• DEET – a toxic chemical used in insect repellants
• Ibuprofen – a pain reliever
• Iopromide – used as a contrast in X-rays and medical imaging
• Paraxanthine – a stimulant chemically related to caffeine
• Meprobamate – a sedative used as a muscle relaxer and anti-anxiety drug
• Primidone – an anti-epileptic drug
• Sulfamethoxazole – an antibiotic typically used in conjunction with other drugs

This list is quite frightening actually, there are some serious and scary contaminates in there, particularly when combined. Even if health officials say they are OK – are they really? The good news is that a water filtration system can filter out the majority of these contaminates and then there doesn’t have to be that fear that you are consuming something potentially harmful and unknown. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that while chlorination will remove as much as 50% of pharmaceuticals from drinking water, a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system can remove more than 99% of large pharmaceutical molecules. For more information on RO water filtration systems you can visit our website at www.rayneoffullerton.com.

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