Homeowners in the Camp Verde, AZ area use water for consumption, bathing, cooking, and cleaning. Local authorities monitor the water supply to ensure it is safe. However, there are some unique challenges that people may face with the quality of water in their homes. Methods of water filtration and purification can be used to address water quality problems. Goettl's High Desert Mechanical can assist with determining what your options are to help you improve your home’s water quality.
Camp Verde Water Quality Concerns
Water concerns can focus on specific contaminants in the water, such as chemicals, heavy metals, sediment, and more. Some contaminants can come from the process of developing an area, which impacts the environmental dynamics of the area’s water table. You are likely to have access to water quality reports at least once per year, if not quarterly.
The Camp Verde area is very closely monitored for arsenic, which is a naturally occurring element that can result in health issues. You can use this information to determine if there are specific contaminants that you should target. Otherwise, performing a water quality test in your home is a great way to start.
There is a local organization called the Friends of the Verde River. Members of this organization practice local water testing to check for things like E. coli and other pollutants. The information is passed on to local authorities to address issues and create a comprehensive look at water quality over a broad range of time.
Addressing Water Quality in Your Home
If you would like to improve the quality of water in your home, there are several methods you can use. First, consider whether you want to treat drinking water or all the water in your residence. Different systems use different types of filters, which is why it’s beneficial to know what kind of contaminants you’re trying to remove.
While a drinking water system is a great investment for protecting the water quality that you consume, whole-house filtration is ideal. It protects your health as well as your plumbing system and household appliances. If you have hard water, filtration equipment can remove minerals like calcium and magnesium, preventing corrosion that can lead to necessary repairs and replacement.
Home Water Filtration Options
Water filtration systems are usually equipped with a pre-filter, which removes many of the large particulates. There will be subsequent filters that remove some of the smaller contaminants. Carbon filtration improves the taste of your water and can remove chemicals and chlorine. A kinetic degradation fluxion filter may be part of your filtration setup. It is used to remove things like mercury, lead, and chlorine. A final polishing filter removes things that are left behind.
Water Softener Technology
If your home has high levels of calcium and magnesium, consider investing in a whole-home water softener. This equipment uses an ion exchange process to remove hard minerals, replacing them with sodium or potassium. This prevents water spots on your dishes, limescale on showerheads, and corrosion on the inside of your pipes.
A water softener is installed near the main water inlet in your home. It’s relatively affordable and doesn’t require extensive maintenance. You will need to refill the salt in the water softener every few months. A regeneration cycle runs automatically every day or so to refresh the ions in your water softener. Most people have their water softener programmed to run this cycle at night, so it doesn’t disrupt the use of their plumbing system.
Reverse Osmosis Technology
Reverse osmosis is usually used for home drinking water systems, but you can use it for your entire home’s plumbing system as well. Water is forced through a semi-permeable membrane, removing contaminants like minerals, sediment, heavy metals, fluoride, and lead. The water is then stored in a tank until you are ready to use it.
Unfortunately, reverse osmosis systems can be somewhat wasteful. This isn’t ideal if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint. Expect to replace filters once every 6 to 12 months and disinfect the storage tank at least once per year. There is additional tubing that may require replacement over time.
UV-C Light Sanitation
By exposing viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens to UV-C light, this damages their cellular structure, so they aren’t harmful to the human body. While UV light sanitation isn’t a form of filtration, it’s a beneficial add-on when you’re using other forms of purifying your home’s water supply. You don’t have to replace any filters with this unit. However, the light should be replaced periodically and cleaned to promote effectiveness.
Filtration at Your Faucet
You can install a simple filter onto specific faucets and fixtures in your home. Most homeowners choose to use this option on kitchen faucets and showerheads. This type of filtration can remove things like chlorine and large particulate matter but leaves a lot behind.
How to Use Home Water Filtration
Consider your water quality results when contemplating what kind of filtration system to invest in for your home. Our team can help you choose what you want to have installed, considering your budget and water quality needs. We encourage you to have our team install your filtration equipment to ensure reliability and effectiveness. We work with some of the top brands in the industry.
Signs of Water Quality Issues
Aside from a water quality test, there are some signs to watch out for that indicate there may be a problem with your water supply. If your water tastes or smells unpleasant, this may be the result of heavy metals or chemicals. Also, look at your water to see if there are visible particulates in it. This can include bits of rust or sediment. It’s best to confirm that you aren’t at risk of backflow in your home if you’re noticing contamination issues.
If you haven’t been feeling well but there’s no known cause for your symptoms, your water quality may be to blame. Gastrointestinal issues are common with unhealthy water, including diarrhea, stomach pain, and bloating. Using well water without filtration can put you in harm’s way, exposing you to high levels of bacteria or nitrates. Pesticide exposure is also a common concern.
The quality of your water can impact how well your plumbing system functions. If you’re scheduling frequent repairs for the same issues repeatedly, consider water contaminants as the problem. Something as simple as hard water can lead to mineral deposits that corrode the inside of your pipes and cause damage. Poor water quality can lead you to replace appliances before the end of their life expectancy.
Our local plumbing services team at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical can help you with choosing a water filtration system that considers specific water quality issues in the Camp Verde area. We can also address any plumbing maintenance or repair needs that you have.
Reach out to our team at Goettl's High Desert Mechanical for assistance with water filtration in Camp Verde today.
