Many people don’t really have an understanding of where their water comes from, but we need water in every corner of our homes to carry out a wide variety of tasks. Most people are supplied with water from a municipal source and others from a private well. But, sometimes the water supplied from a municipal source can be sourced partially from a well. So, the water coming into your home can actually arrive from three sources, a private well, the municipal water supply and/or a city well. Understanding the source of your domestic water can be very helpful in helping you to choose a water treatment system to improve your water quality.
How to Determine Your Water Source
If your source of water is your local municipality, you can check with your water supplier to find out more. Their contact details will be located on your water bill, and you should receive a drinking water quality report online or in the mail every year. This report will tell you where your water is sourced from, what it contains and it could include the water hardness. If your water is sourced from a private well, there is no water report because you will have a septic system instead of access to a sewer system.
Well Water Quality Differences
If your water is supplied by a private well or if you discover that a portion of your municipal water comes from a city well you may have some concerns about the water quality. A municipal water supplier treats all of their water sources, and this includes water sourced from a city well. This will ensure that the water is clean and safe to drink and fit to use in your home.
If your home is supplied with water from a private well, it’s accessing groundwater. In this case, the homeowner is responsible for servicing and maintaining the well, and this will include periodic testing for contaminants, such as bacteria, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and many other contaminant types. Well water often contains more sediment and mineral content because soil and sand can easily enter a well through cracks. If your well water is hard, it will also contain elevated levels or water hardening minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and iron. These water quality issues can clog up plumbing fixtures and valves and cause damage to water heaters and other water using appliances.
Choosing the Right Water Softener
If your home is supplied with well water, it’s a great idea to invest in a water softening system that can soften your water and remove the extra sediment. Another key consideration is the presence of iron, water is an extremely effective solvent, and iron can dissolve in water completely. Unless your water has turned a yellow or orange color, you may not notice elevated levels of iron for some time. This can be fixed by adding iron removing salt pellets to your water softener or if the problem persists a separate iron removing system can be installed.