Why You Should Care About Water Quality and the Top 5 Solutions for Your Home
Water Shortage in CA
In recent years, the San Francisco Bay Area has been experiencing a drought, which has caused us all to be more conscious of water conservation methods. This has lead to developments such as: switching your natural lawn to artificial grass and our plumbing fixtures (toilets, faucets and showers) now have a lower water volume usage. This is part of CalGreen’s initiative to help in water conservation by decreasing the requirements for water volume in our fixtures. What most do not realize and overlook discussion on is how the drought has affected our water quality. Many homeowners do not put much thought into how important the water quality is in your home. Water is essentially our life. Our bodies are up to 60% water, we bathe in water, we cook with water, we drink water, we wash our food with water, wash our clothes, and so on. Water quality is so vital to our health and my educated guess would be that most homeowners have no clue what is in their water. Your water quality is in fact a public record.
You can check your tap water quality here: https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/
How does the drought affect water quality? Reduced stream and river flows can increase the concentration of pollutants in water and cause stagnation. Higher water temperatures in lakes and reservoirs lead to reduced oxygen levels. These levels can affect fish and other aquatic life and water quality. This causes municipalities to add more disinfectants in our tap water such as: chlorine, ammonia or a mixture referred to as chloramine. Poor water quality not only affects your everyday life with consumption and bathing (skin and hair), but it also has a negative impact on your plumbing fixtures. Poor water quality can faucet parts to fail with a lower life expectancy and also cause your brass fixtures to pit or calcify quicker as well.
So what are your options? There is a solution for everyone.
Protect your family and fixtures with whole house water filtration
The Best Solution (Most Recommended) - Whole House Water Filtration. A large filter is installed on your main water supply and provides filtered, alkaline water throughout your home and in every fixture. If you have a family and children, this is the best solution to protect your family from poor water quality.
Investment: $5,000 +
Maintenance: Filter lasts for approximately 10 years, depending on usage.
Benefits: Filtered water throughout your home. Safe to consume and fixtures/appliances will have a longer lifespan.
Installation: Must have access to main water supply. Garage install is ideal. Must have 120V outlet nearby.
The Luxury Option - Zip Hydro All-in-One Water Filter. A single kitchen faucet tap that provides: filtered boiling hot water, filtered chilled sparking water, filtered chilled still water, and standard hot + cold tap water. For those who love to cook and entertain at home, it does not get much better than Zip Hydro.
Investment: $5,000 +
Maintenance: Annual filter replacement and CO2 tank refill (pending usage).
Benefits: Having 5 different varieties of water available within 1 single tap. Can be added on with whole house water filtration as well.
Installation: Must have ample cabinet space and 120V outlet.
Zip Hydro Tap, the only kitchen faucet appliance with boiling hot water, chilled still water and chilled sparkling water all from one tap.
3. The Practical Option - EWS Max Flow Filter. A larger, under counter filter that can tie right into the cold line of your existing or new kitchen faucet.
Investment: $300 + Installation
Maintenance: Filter lasts for approximately 1 year, depending on usage.
Benefits: Cost effective way to provide filtered water through your existing kitchen faucet. Great for cooking and consumption.
Installation: Must have access space in cabinet.
4. Honorable Mention - Point of Use Filtration. For those that do not want to make the investment on a Zip Hydro System, but would still like to have a point of use filter to have instant hot water or cold filtered water.
Investment: $700 (and up) + Installation
Maintenance: Most filters require bi annual replacement.
Benefits: Having instant hot (not boiling) and cold filtered water available at your fingertips.
Installation: Must have access for a hot tank and filter in the cabinet. 120V outlet is required.
5. Appliance Water Conditioner - Aqua Rex. An advanced electronic water conditioner that is used for the treatment of hard water. Can be used for swimming pools, appliances and steam system generators.
Investment: $300 (and up) + installation
Maintenance: None
Protecting your appliances or swimming pool from damage caused by calcium build up.
Benefits: Cost effective and will save money on future repairs. Protects against hard water.
Installation: Must have 120V outlet nearby