Kaiser-Battistone’s free water quality testing will determine if your water can be improved by filtration or softening. We’re the water experts and can recommend the perfect solution for your home. Call NOW for a FREE water analysis and consultation. We will test for the following:

Hardness
Hardness in natural water supplies varies from 1 to 2 gpg (grains per gallon) to several hundred gpg in certain sections of the country. Almost everyone is familiar with the problems caused by water hardness, such as the reactions with soap and synthetic detergents and hard water scale.

Hardness is most efficiently removed from household water supplies by water softeners utilizing the ion exchange process. In this process, the hardness is absorbed by an ion exchange material and a chemically equivalent amount of sodium or potassium is released into the water. When the supply of sodium or potassium in the exchanger is exhausted, it is restored by flushing a strong salt solution through the tank. After the salt and the hardness are rinsed down the drain with fresh water, the softener is ready for another softening cycle. The ion exchanger is not consumed by this process, but can be used over and over again.

The recommended limit for hardness is < 4 gpg.

Iron
In some respects, iron in a water supply is a worse problem than hardness, because such small amounts cause such severe staining. As little as 0.3 ppm (parts per million) can cause the familiar brown stains on sinks, dishes, fabrics, etc. Most water supplies have iron concentrations in the zero to 10 ppm range, but 20 to 30 ppm is common in some areas.

Iron may be present in water in either of two basic forms or, in some cases, a mixture of both. A water supply containing soluble iron (Ferrous Bicarbonate) may be perfectly clear when it is drawn from a household tap, but after the water has been exposed to the air for several minutes, the well-known reddish brown sediment will appear. It is this insoluble form (Ferric Hydroxide) which causes the troublesome stains. Water softeners are a great tool for removing soluble iron in levels up to 5.0 ppm. When insoluble iron is present, a combination iron filter and water softener is recommended.

The recommended limit for iron content in water is 0.3 ppm.

Manganese
Manganese in water is not as widespread as iron but creates severe black staining at 0.05 ppm. Manganese treatment equipment is identical to iron. Soluble manganese is treated with a water softener when dealing with concentrations less than 1.0 ppm. If insoluble manganese is present, Kaiser-Battistone recommends a combination iron filter and water softener.

The recommended limit for manganese is 0.05 ppm.

pH
pH is the measurement of Hydrogen ion activity in the water supply. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, 7 being neutral. Any pH below 6.9 has corrosive tendencies and can deteriorate plumbing fixtures. A pH reading above 7.0 is basic and shows no corrosive tendency.

pH correction is accomplished with an acid neutralizer using calcite and/or NS-mix when dealing with a pH within a 5.7 to 6.9 range. When correcting a pH below 5.6, a chemical feed pump injecting a soda ash solution must be used. Since the hardness of the water increases when using calcite or NS mix, Kaiser-Battistone recommends that a water softener be installed after the acid neutralizer. The NS Series combination units provide both acid neutralizing and water softening in one unit.

The recommended limit for pH is 7.0 to 8.5.

TDS
Total Dissolved Solids are the sum total of all ionized minerals and metals dissolved in water. Ionized minerals and metals are divided into two categories; Cation and Anion. The Cation minerals and metals have positive charges while the Anion minerals and metals have negative charges. The common ionized minerals are alkalinity, chloride, hardness, iron, manganese, potassium, sodium, and sulfate. High TDS water above the 500 ppm range can create severe mineral deposits in the plumbing system and on water using appliance. High TDS water can be reduced with the use of a Reverse Osmosis System. Whole house reverse osmosis systems are available, but can require the modification of the existing wastewater system for the home or building.

The recommended limit is 500 ppm.

Color
Color, as opposed to turbidity, is due to materials actually dissolved in the water. In most cases, color is due to the presence of organic matter such as tannin or organic iron. No hard, fast rules can be applied to color removal because of the large amount of compounds which may cause the problem.
Recommended limit is < 10 color Units.

And if needed:

Nitrates
Nitrates may be introduced to water in either of two ways. First, they may be dissolved from rocks or minerals in the same manner as other minerals in water. Second, nitrates are one of the decomposition products of animal and human wastes. They may be introduced by contamination of the water supply. Thus, the presence of nitrates indicates that a bacterial analysis of the water should be made by a local EPA registered laboratory. Kaiser-Battistone can arrange for water sampling and delivery of sample to a local lab.

In addition, high levels of nitrate nitrogen (nitrogen present in the water in the form of nitrates) has been known to cause the condition known as “blue babies”. The nitrates can interfere with the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood of very young children who drink the water and, in some cases, death has resulted. Pregnant women and young children should not consume water containing high levels of nitrate. High concentrations of nitrates are rarely found. Thus, aside from the problems described above, their removal is usually not required. However, nitrates can be reduced with the use of Reverse Osmosis Units.

The recommended limit for nitrates is 10 ppm.