Top 5 Contaminants That You Can Remove From Drinking Water

These 5 water contaminants found in your drinking water can become a concern in your home through either an aesthetic impact, such as the taste, look or smell of the water, or health impacts. Common contaminants result in rotten egg odor from hydrogen sulfide, bitter water taste from tannins, stained fixtures from iron or mineral deposits from water hardness.

1. Iron

Iron can be present in almost any water supply, but is most commonly found when well water is the source. While iron is a necessary nutrient, it can also cause real problems throughout your home where appliances running with iron water can lose efficiency over time.

Common signs of iron in your water:

Rust-coloured stains in sinks and tubs
Metallic water taste
Hot water tank issues

How to treat iron:

The most common and effective way to treat iron is through a water conditioner. Conditioners work by removing dissolved solids, like iron, calcium and manganese. Here are a few of our water conditioning options:

ECOMIX ION Filter with Metered Control Valve is an advanced multi-purpose softening material for problem water. It comprises 5 special components made from natural and synthetic materials. After loading a softener with Ecomix, it separates into five layers ensuring efficient and robust operation.

Learn More Here ECOMIX

Birm Iron Filter System. The Birm Filter works by passing water through a compressed pocket of air contained in the tank. The air precipitates the iron into solid form and is removed when it passes through the filters Birm media bed.

Clack HIM Filter (Hardness, Iron, and Manganese) removes hardness, iron and manganese through an ion exchange using a highly efficient “shallow shell” softening resin.

2. Hardness

Hard water contains compounds of calcium, magnesium and, sometimes, other metallic elements. It is common in cities where there is often hot weather, low rainfall and high mineral content in the soil. Hardness can greatly affect the efficiency of water based appliances over time through scale build up.

Common signs of hard water:

Dry, itchy skin
Dull hair
Mineral deposits on dishes and glassware
Stiff, dingy laundry
Scale build up in sinks, tubs, faucets and appliances
Soap doesn’t lather

How to treat hardness:

The most common and effective way to treat hardness is through water softeners. Softeners work by removing dissolved solids, like iron, calcium and magnesium that make water “hard”.

Learn more here: ECOMIX

Clack HIM Filter (Hardness, Iron, and Manganese) removes hardness, iron and manganese through an ion exchange using a highly efficient “shallow shell” softening resin.

3. Sediment/Turbidity

Turbidity is an indirect measure of particulates in the water. It can result from clay, silt, organic matter, plankton or micro-organisms entering the water system. Cloudy water is the result of turbidity. The higher the turbidity level, the cloudier the water looks. Besides affecting the colour and taste of water, turbid water can be difficult to treat effectively.

Common signs of Turbidity/Sediment in your water:

Cloudy, murky like water.

How to treat sediment/turbidity:

The best way to treat turbidity is through a sediment filter & then UV water treatment. This treatment process will first remove the particles that cause turbidity and then the water will be disinfected with Ultraviolet light which will kill micro-organisms and disease causing pathogens. We carry two sediment/turbidity softening options:

UV Dynamics Mini Rack System w/ Standard Filter. UV Dynamics Mini-Rack systems are quick to install, easy to service and provides lasting value.

Check out our full line of UV Dynamics products here: UV Dynamics

Nextsand Turbidity/Sediment Filter. This filter is for silt and sediment removal to approximately 5 microns. Nextstand is a rare natural mineral that is highly processed and graded. It’s unique properties make it a perfect media for virtually every filtration application in the water treatment industry.

4. Hydrogen Sulfide(H2S)

Does your water smell like rotten eggs? That’s because your water has hydrogen sulfide in it. This makes showering, washing clothes and cooking very unpleasant as the water smells like decay. The rotten egg odor results from a chemical process that involves three primary components; sulfur, electrons and bacteria.

Common signs of Hydrogen Sulfide in your water:

Rotten Egg Smell

How to treat H2S:

Catalytic Carbon is specifically designed for the removal of Hydrogen Sulfide in water.

5. Tannins

Tannins (humic acid) are found in water that has passed through a large quantity of decaying vegetation. Tannins can cause yellow water and yellow staining on fabrics and fixtures.

Common signs of Tannins in your water:

Brown staining
Strange sour taste
Yellow or tea coloured water
Musty or earthy odour
Laundry is discoloured and doesn’t smell fresh

How to treat Tannins:

Tannin Removal Filter is the easiest way to treat tannins in your water supply.

If you believe any of these 5 contaminants are in you drinking water, we suggest you bring a water sample for testing to MB Laboratories or MAXXAM. Afterwards, bring your drinking water results to one of our two Van Isle Water locations and we will help prepare a water treatment system that will provide you and your family with safe, better tasting water.