Spazoid's Space

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:24:00 +0000

[Blog] The Story of Stuff: This post isn't directly related to water, but it's related in a way. Annie Leonard put together a website with a twenty minute video called "The... http://s3nt.com/cehw

The Story of Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:24:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2009/02/02/the-story-of-stuff/)
This post isn't directly related to water, but it's related in a way. Annie Leonard put together a website with a twenty minute video called "The Story of Stuff".

In this video she describes the how's, why's of our current environmental train wreck we call the planet earth.

She does this with clarity and foresight, and in such a way to make it clear to everyone why this is happening and what we need to do to save ourselves.

This applies to every resource, including water.

Please, go check out the Story of Stuff and learn how to save the water, the resources, the planet and ourselves. It'll be the best twenty minutes you've ever spent.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:23:00 +0000

[Blog] The Story of Stuff: This post isn't directly related to water, but it's related in a way. Annie Leonard p... http://s3nt.com/cehw

Sulphur burps from water.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:54:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2009/01/28/sulphur-burps-from-water/)
Rachael from Alaska writes:

Hi! I was reading some answers on your website, and have a question. We recently purchased a home on a well. We have a water softner with salt, but do not know the last time it was filled. My family has been experiencing "sulfur burps" since we moved in. Our water smells fine, but I am worried that we are drinking something that is not agreeing with our stomachs. Could there be a way that we can fix this by getting a water purifier on our sink for drinking water?

Hi Rachel, thanks for writing in.

Water softener resin is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. This is especially true if left to sit or run without salt, or proper maintenance. If using a water softener, it is a good idea to have a kitchen tap as non softened water for drinking and cooking with. This will prevent excess salt from the softening process potentially harming you, and prevent contamination from bacteria.

Ground water commonly has sulphur reducing bacteria. This usually departs a ‘rotten egg’ smell in the water when they are in the ground. It is possible that these bacteria are growing in your water softener and you are ingesting them. Sulphur reducing bacteria reduce minute quantities of sulphur compounds to create hydrogen sulphide, which they may be doing in your guts. This is however consistent with the processes of the bacteria, as the hydrogen sulphide they produce is a gas, which may be why you’re getting these “sulphur burps”.

I wish I could give you more information on the particular processes of these bacteria or if this is even the case, but I am not a health care professional. I do know that sulphur reducing bacteria are not considered a health problem and hydrogen sulphide is considered only a nuisance.

I would be careful of counter top water purifiers like Brita or other carbon filter based products. Most of these products are only for improving the aesthetic quality of already potable water, and in fact could foster further bacteria growth (carbon, like softener resin, is considered ‘housing’ for bacteria).

To protect your water supply it needs to be disinfected. My advice is to ensure that you do have at least one kitchen tap free of softened water for drinking and cooking. You may want to invest in a sediment filter and a whole house U.V. system. I currently operate twenty small systems with U.V., and use the U.V. Pure product. I feel it is an excellent product and a top notch company, and has served me well for the 5 years I’ve had their product installed. This particular product has built in alarms that assures proper does for inactivating micro organisms, and if the proper U.V. dose drops too low, it will shut down your water and issue and alarm. You can visit them at http://www.uvpure.com. They should be able to point you to a distributor in the area.

If you continue to have these ‘sulphur burps’, I would encourage you to visit your local health care professional for a diagnosis.

I hope I’ve helped. Please do not hesitate to write in again for further clarification or to ask another question.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:54:00 +0000

[Blog] Sulphur burps from water.: Rachael from Alaska writes:
Hi! I was reading some answers on your website, and... http://s3nt.com/b807

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:49:00 +0000

[Blog] A Viable Solution to Water Shortages: I live in Southern Ontario. It's hard for me to imagine a water shortage. The nearby river is full, our ground is full of wat... http://s3nt.com/bz0g

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 00:49:00 +0000

[Blog] A Viable Solution to Water Shortages: I live in Southern Ontario. It's hard for me to imagine a water sho... http://s3nt.com/bz0g

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:00 +0000

[Blog] Shipping Water Across Long Distances: Jessica from Australia asks:
I remember... it would have been about 2001. Queensland was suffering with massive floods while the... http://s3nt.com/bu01

Shipping Water Across Long Distances

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:25:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2009/01/14/shipping-water-across-long-distances/)
Jessica from Australia asks:

I remember... it would have been about 2001. Queensland was suffering with massive floods while the rest of the country was parched. I remember asking my Grade 5 teacher why they didn't just ship all that water further down the continent. He seemed to think it wasn't feasible. Is that true?

Thanks for the question, Jessica.

Because of geology, terrain, the hydrological cycle, and many other factors, it is true that there are some geographic locals that have more water than others. Typically, human civilization has sprung up around vast sources of fresh water. Farming, drinking, shipping - these are but some of the uses of a local and large fresh water supply, and most cities that are near one tend to be better off than those who's water supplies are short.

Water supplies are in high demand, and there's no doubt as our supplies dwindle wars will be fought over them, as they are now over fossil fuels.

It may not seem like it, but water is a very heavy substance. It may surprise you to learn that on average, a full ten percent of all electricity used by any particular city is consumed just to move potable water around water mains. That is a lot of electricity.

The average person in a first world nation, considering the high and low, uses about four hundred liters of water a day. This includes bathing, cooking, drinking, cleaning, laundry, gardening and other miscellaneous activities.

Then a typical family of four would use 1,600 liters a day, and 11,200 liters a week. The typical water truck carries 6,000 liters, so for just one family it would cost two water trucks to make a round trip to wherever it is that has the water.

Consider then a city of 100,000 people. In one week, a city of that size would require a visit by the equivalent of 46,666 water trucks just to keep the reservoirs full of water.

Considering the needs of the rest of the cities that may be low on water, and you can see that the task of hauling or piping water from long distances is just not feasible. There aren't enough trucks, diesel fuel, pipeline, or electricity to meet the demand of today's water consumer.

This would, however be feasible for a short duration of emergency, say after war or natural disaster, when water would be used only for drinking and medical purposes.

The above model also does not take into consideration industrial water use, water wastage during the treatment process, and the inefficiencies of infrastructure (small losses from water mains are typical).

As you can see, your teacher is correct. It is indeed not feasible to transport water over large distances at the current rate of consumption and at the current population.

Better alternatives would be desalination if you live near an ocean. However, because of the current technologies available to remove salt from water, producing a liter of drinkable ocean water costs thousands of times more than a liter of fresh water.

A more realistic approach would be to drastically change the way we as a society uses and wastes water in general. This combined with proper recycling techniques, rain water collection and more efficient treatment practices would solve many problems.

I hope I've answered your question. If you would like further clarification, don't hesitate to ask.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:13:00 +0000

[Blog] A basic guide to home water treatment: Many people are not on municipal water systems. They rely on wells or other sources to supply their homes with water. Some p... http://s3nt.com/bpgf

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:13:00 +0000

[Blog] A basic guide to home water treatment: Many people are not on municipal water systems. They rely on wells... http://s3nt.com/bpgf

A basic guide to home water treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:13:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2009/01/08/a-basic-guide-to-home-water-treatment/)
Many people are not on municipal water systems. They rely on wells or other sources to supply their homes with water. Some people are lucky enough to have good drinking water treatment systems, or have or know those who have the knowledge to put one together. For others, searching for an appropriate water treatment system can be a nightmare, with the myriad of choices, technologies and companies to choose from.

The following is a basic guide to help you understand what to do and your first steps when selecting treatment from your home.

1.It all starts from the source

The first rule for water treatment is having the best and cleanest possible source. Choosing the best source will mean it will be less likely contaminants are in your supply, or are able to contaminate your supply. This means less treatment and it will be much easier on the treatment system that you have.

If you have an older well, it may be time to upgrade. Older dug wells are shallow and susceptible to microbiological contamination and surface water run off (which can carry E.Coli, pesticides, sodium, VOC's and a whole host of other contaminants from the surface).

Newer, drilled wells are the best solution. Your well driller will know the optimum depth for your area to get the most and cleanest water. As well, new drilled wells combine elements such as stainless steel screens, submersible pumps, well casings and an annular seal to ensure that surface water does not contaminate your ground water.

If you're unsure of the viability of your well, call your local well driller for a consultation.

2. What's in your water?

Many companies that sell home water treatment will have you believe that anything and everything is in your well water, just to sell you equipment you may not need. This is untrue. It all depends on the type of well you have, the type of overburden (or bedrock) it's in, how far down it goes, how close you are to possible sources of contamination and the geographical area you are in.

Contact the local branch of the USEPA, a Ministry of the Environment if you're in Canada, or your local municipality. They will have an idea what to look for based on your local, and can point you towards the appropriate accredited drinking water laboratory. From there, most laboratories have water testing packages tailored to your locality and can give you a snapshot of what may be in your water that's harmful and how much is there. From there, you can go about selecting the appropriate treatment equipment.

3. Health risks first, aesthetic problems second

When you size up and design your treatment system, your first priority should be health risks. Take care of aesthetic problems second. Your treatment system should provide appropriate filtration for any sediment that might be in your water. This can be simple or complex, depending on how dirty your water is. After making the water clear, that's when your disinfection processes can work. Both chemical and other (ultraviolet light) depend on clean clear water to work effectively. A disinfection barrier is imperative to ensure you screen out any virus's, bacteria, or protozoa that may be in your water or may find their way into your water supply.

Any other issues your laboratory detects, such as chemical, can be dealt with as well. Once the safety issues are considered, then things such as hardness or taste and odour should be dealt with, as long as it does not interfere with the safety aspects of treatment.

4. Don't buy cheap crap.

Just like anything else, you get what you pay for. If what they are selling seems too cheap, looks flimsy, and doesn't give you a good feeling, don't buy it. This equipment is meant to protect your drinking water, and needs to be of good quality and effective at it's job.

5. Don't get complacent with Maintenance

If you have a treatment system, it needs maintenance just like any other mechanical machine. Many home treatment systems are designed to be low on maintenance, but it's important you don't skimp. If you don't know how or don't have time to learn it, hire somebody on a service contract. Performing the necessary preventative maintenance will go a long way to ensuring your system protects your drinking water at all times, and lasts a long time.

6. Ask around

Your neighbors and friends in the area are in the same boat as you. Find out what they have done and listen to them. They will have similar water quality to you and may have had experience with what treatment equipment to get and what not to get.

When it comes to home treatment, knowing what to do can be a daunting task. But with a little foresight and seeking the right knowledge, getting the best system for you can be easier than you think.

Hardness in a Steam Washing Machine

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:42:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2009/01/03/hardness-in-a-steam-washing-machine/)
Tony from England writes:

I am about to purchase a LG Steam Washing Machine which has
recently been exibited and tested on UK television. I am concerned that as
we live in a "hard water area" that the scale build up could become a
problem especially due to the heat required to produce the steam. What are
the best solutions to ensuring the treatment of the water is sufficient to
minimise the scaling of the internal heaters etc. Ranging from the cheapest
and most effective, either chemical or mechanical.

Hi Tony, thank you for the question.

It is my understanding that many appliances like this one have a minimum and maximum recommended hardness range for the water they use. Your first move should be to read the manual or speak to a company representative for this product. Find out the hardness ranges. The company may have incorporated some sort of internal cleaning mechanism for this issue, or other.

Once you have determined the exact range that the machine can tolerate, you want to find out how hard your water is. If you are on municipal water, you may call your municipality. They will have the hardness there for you. If you are on your own well water, then hardness is a simple and inexpensive test that any drinking water laboratory can do. Look in your phone book for a laboratory.

There are two common measurements for hardness. The older, and most common measurement is grains per gallon, or GPG. The newer measurement is mg/L as CaCO3. When comparing your hardness results to the machine specifications, you can get mg/L CaCO3 from GPG by multiplying by 17.1, and dividing by the same number to get back to GPG.

LG may tell you that the best method for dealing with this is to clean the machine at intervals with CLR, vinegar, citric acid or some other effective de-scaling chemical. That would certainly be your most inexpensive option.

LG may also have a system for adding a chemical to sequester the hardness. Again, LG would be the best place to go to ask about a sequestering agent, both for the method of adding it and the most appropriate chemical so that it does not damage the machine.

You could certainly plumb in an ion exchange water softener to the water lines that go to the machine. You can get a smaller unit if you don't want to soften the whole house. Kinetico has a good under the counter softener for sale, and you can read more about it here. I believe they have representatives in the UK.

Lastly, reverse osmosis filtration removes everything, including hardness. However, to get the flows you need it is very expensive and requires a large amount of maintenance, much more than de scaling your machine.

I hope this has helped point you in the right direction. Please do not hesitate to write in again if you need further clarifications or have another question.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 16:42:00 +0000

[Blog] Hardness in a Steam Washing Machine: Tony from England writes:
I am about to purchase a LG Steam Washing M... http://s3nt.com/bjgr

Why does water not burn?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:55:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2009/01/02/why-does-water-not-burn/)
Mike from Salem writes:

If water is composed of both Hydrogen and Oxygen, both explosive elements, why is water not only not explosive but fire retardant as well?

Hi Mike, thanks for the question.

That is a very good question. That type of molecular chemistry is a bit out of my expertise, but I'll answer it as to how I understand it.

Hydrogen exists normally in what's called a diatomic state. That is, it likes to pair up with another hydrogen atom. In this state, it's quite inert.

However, when energy is added, such as a spark or a flame, the following happens:

H2 --->(spark)----> 2H

H, or H* (* represents the excited state) is now an energetic and can react with a number of things.

Then you add oxygen to this excited hydrogen, and the following happens:

H* + O2 ---> HO* + O*; O* + H2 ---> HO* + H*; HO* + H2 ---> H2O + H*

As you can see the end result of these equations is more H* atoms. The H* atom will find more oxygen and repeat the cycle until all the immediate available hydrogen is used up. This is a chain reaction and why hydrogen and oxygen burn.

That reaction also produces water. In the absence of a spark, H2 and O2 can produce water without any burning reactions like so:

2 H2 + 02 = 2 H2O

Water does not burn because the hydrogen and oxygen are bound together and must be separated first before the first reactions I showed you above can happen. In order to break those bonds, a lot of energy is required, much more than a spark or open flame is able to deliver.

When you throw water on a flame then, it denies the flame oxygen and that is why it stops burning.

I hope this answers your question. If you would like further clarification or have another question please do not hesitate to contact me at any time

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:55:00 +0000

[Blog] Why does water not burn?: Mike from Salem writes:
If water is composed of both Hydrogen and Oxygen, both explosive elements, why is water not only not explosive but f... http://s3nt.com/bins

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:55:00 +0000

[Blog] Why does water not burn?: Mike from Salem writes:
If water is composed of both Hydrogen and Oxygen, both e... http://s3nt.com/bins

Lack of Minerals in Water - Dangerous?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:29:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2008/12/30/lack-of-minerals-in-water-dangerous/)
Anna from Wyoming Writes:

Hi, we get our water from a well and we use a water distiller for our drinking water. I am totally confused if this is the best water for us or not, because I am concerned about the water not having any minerals in it. Right now I add colloidal plant minerals to add some minerals, but please let me know if you have any better suggestions, the internet makes me scared with all their claims that distilled water leaches minerals out of your body!

Hi Anna, thanks for the question.

Two things happen to water when it passes through an R.O. membrane or a distiller:

The removal of minerals. Water is the worlds most universal solvent, which is why you find naturally occurring minerals and metals in water. Once these minerals are removed, it does allow for very fast ion transfer from a source of high ions (the minerals) to low or no ions (the "pure" water). Think of it like heat - if you have one room at twenty degrees and another room of equal size beside it at ten, eventually both will be fifteen degrees. This can suck dissolved minerals from your body and pass it into your urine, which can be a problem, assuming you have a major mineral deficiency in the first place.

The formation of carbonic acid. With the minerals gone, the H2O is free to combine with the carbon dioxide in your water, forming carbonic acid. This will bring the pH of the water down to around 6.

The real question is will this do any long term damage. The internet supports a lot of sensationalists that like to do fear mongering. Fear mongering gets attention, and traffic, which is what webmasters like. Creating this unfounded fear also drives sales for products that are not needed or just plain do not work, for the profit of these unethical business people.

I have not run across any sufficient long term studies stating if this lack of minerals is truly harmful or not. The concept of "pure" water being harmful is a relatively new one and long term study is required. However, there is no doubt that pure water is in reality an fairly aggressive and effective solvent. That is scientifically valid.

My own personal thoughts are that if you are in good health, and have a healthy, balanced diet, there shouldn't be any problems. However, if you are very young (infant/toddler), very old, weak, infirm, or have or are at risk of having osteoporosis, than ingesting de-mineralized water might be a risk for you, a risk that you might not want to take.

Personally, I drink and cook with the municipally treated tap water available from my taps. As a member of the municipal treatment industry, I am familiar with local and federal regulations as well as industry wide standards and have every confidence that I am getting safe water.

If you do feel that your distiller is no longer working for you, I would be happy to help point you in the right direction of other effective water treatments for your well water. But for now, happy drinking!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:28:00 +0000

[Blog] Lack of Minerals in Water - Dangerous?: Anna from Wyoming Writes:
Hi, we get our water from a well and we ... http://s3nt.com/bgo9

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:28:00 +0000

[Blog] Lack of Minerals in Water - Dangerous?: Anna from Wyoming Writes:
Hi, we get our water from a well and we use a water distiller for our drinking water. I am totally c... http://s3nt.com/bgo9

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:24:00 +0000

[Blog] Softener Repair, Sulfur Content, and Copper Pipes: Eddie from Ohio writes:
my water softener broke. we called culigan to come fix it and they sent a salesman out. wit... http://s3nt.com/bfy6

Softener Repair, Sulfur Content, and Copper Pipes

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:24:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2008/12/29/softener-repair-sulfur-content-and-copper-pipes/)
Eddie from Ohio writes:

my water softener broke. we called culigan to come fix it and they sent a salesman out. without looking at it he told me that it will cost $1,400 and that i have a sulfur problem and i need a $2,000 sulfur filter. he said that sulfur eats my copper pipes. my parents live across the street and this has not been a problem in 30 years. do i need a sulfur filter?

Hi Eddie, thanks for the questions.

It seems that you have two questions. I'd like to address your softener question first.

Common sense tells you that you cannot determine the damage to an appliance without actually looking at it. The salesman was hoping to catch you off guard, to agree to the sale of brand new equipment. This is what salespeople do.

There are several things that can go wrong with a softener. The mechanics that initiate back washes etc. can break. The ion exchange resin inside the softener usually will last about ten to fifteen years, depending on how hard your water is and how much water you use. Your resin could also be clogged with iron, in this case back flushing with some Iron Out will solve this problem. The point is, a good service technician will be able to tell in short order what the problem is and if it's worth it to fix it or purchase a new one, and allow you to make that choice.

If your softener is from Culligan, I suggest calling them back and insisting on a service technician. If they give you a hard time, make some calls to local plumbers. Often, plumbers have the experience, and knowledge to troubleshoot and fix softeners and the supplier connections to find the correct parts.

If it does turn out that you need a new softner, I would suggest you consider a company called Kinetico. They make a wide range of water treatment as well as water softeners. They tend to be more expensive than Culligan, but their equipment is of higher quality. You do get what you pay for.

With regards to your sulfur issue, in short, the various forms of sulfur that may or may not be in your water will have no effect on your copper pipes. If you do see some degradation of your pipes, it's likely that you have an issue with your cathodic protection. Again, your local plumber will be able to help you with this.

Sulfur is commonly in your water in one of two ways. The first is as dissolved sulfate. This will not cause any odour or any adverse problems, and the only way to remove it is with reverse osmosis filtration.

The second is hydrogen sulphide, which does cause a rotten egg smell. It's usually present in very low concentrations if it's there. This is only an aesthetic problem, and can be dealt with for much less than $2,000. If you don't smell rotten eggs in your water, it's not there.

I hope I've helped you. If you would like further clarification or have another question please do not hesitate to write back in.

Storage of Water - Plastic or Glass?

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:08:00 +0000

(My Original Blog Post: http://truthofwater.com/answers/2008/12/27/storage-of-water-plastic-or-glass/)
Samby from India writes:

Which are better... Plastic containers or Glass ?? Or is the same? For general day to day home storage.

Hi Samby, thank you for the question.

If it relates to long term water storage, than either plastic or glass is ok, provided you are able to properly pasteurize and seal the container. Please read this article from a similar question I got a while ago:

http://ping.fm/0m2BP

There is another concern with plastics, as certain plastics contain bisphenol A that can leach out into your drinking water. Studies are ongoing, and the amounts of this chemical leached into drinking water are very small. If it is a problem, it certainly is a chronic long term issue and not an acute on. Please read this article I wrote a while back on bisphenol A and plastics:

http://ping.fm/5CnQT

One final comment on this issue, and it is a personal one. At home, I most prefer to drink water directly from the tap. However, if I were to store water at home for later use (such as in your refrigerator) I find that water from a glass container has a much better taste than from a plastic container.

However, if you were to take water with you on the go, glass is not your most friendly option. Plastic does not shatter like glass does. Stainless steel bottles are another popular option nowadays, but an expensive one.

I hope this answers your question. Please let me know if you need further clarifications or have another question.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:07:00 +0000

[Blog] Storage of Water - Plastic or Glass?: Samby from India writes:
Which are better... Plastic containers or G... http://s3nt.com/bd2f

noreply@blogger.com (Mike) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 17:07:00 +0000

[Blog] Storage of Water - Plastic or Glass?: Samby from India writes:
Which are better... Plastic containers or Glass ?? Or is the same? For general day to day home storage.... http://s3nt.com/bd2f