Houston Water Softener – Upgrade your water
In this article, we would like to discuss our local water quality. We have already talked about hard water, how a water softener works, and the multiple benefits of having one in your Houston metro area home. Moreover, the water in Houston is considered hard water because it falls between 130 and 135 ppm.
The following classifications are used to measure hardness in water:
| Water Hardness | Parts per million (ppm) |
|---|---|
| Soft Water | 0 – 17.1 ppm |
| Slightly Hard Water | 17.1 – 60 ppm |
| Moderately Hard Water | 60 – 120 ppm |
| Hard Water | 120 – 180 ppm |
| Very Hard Water | 180 – on up ppm |
As we have mentioned before, having hard water in your Houston home can be expensive and it can also have a negative impact. For instance, softening the water in your home can help protect and extend the life of the fixtures, plumbing, and water-using appliances.
RO System in the Houston area
While the water in the greater Houston metro area is generally safe to drink, it, however, does not mean that it is healthy to be drinking it. Part of the safety of tap water is measured by the levels of coliform bacteria that might be present in it. One commonly recognized coliform bacteria is E. Coli. It is often harmless, but it can cause serious illnesses depending on the strain. But more importantly, other contaminants like harmful environmental organisms and inorganic chemicals are also measured. Above all, long-time exposure to these organisms and chemicals can prove to be very detrimental to your health. In addition, all water in the United States has trace amounts of PFAS. They have been linked to certain cancers and other ailments.
In 2018 Harris County conducted a water study analysis – the largest county in the state. The study revealed that out of 63,000 water samples, only 150 had coliform bacteria. That low level might sound reassuring. However, the presence of inorganic contaminants was noticeably higher. The study found 7.6% out of 24,300 samples exceeded the region’s limits for possible industrial waste contaminants. In other words, it is safe to drink, but not the healthiest choice.
The Environmental Working Group conducted a comprehensive study of water quality in the United States. They feature a database that shows what contaminants are present in your local water supply. You can enter your zip code to find out precisely what is in your water.
Firstly, these limits for contaminants in tap water have not been updated in almost 20 years. Secondly, the legal levels of contaminants do not necessarily equal safe drinking water. However, getting a passing grade from the federal government does not mean the water meets the latest health guidelines.
The following table is from the EWG database for the City of Houston
| Contaminant | EWG Health Guideline | Detrimental Health Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 528 x | Cancer |
| Bromochloroacetic acid | 257 x | Cancer |
| Bromodichloromethane | 101 x | Cancer |
| Chloroform | 39 x | Cancer |
| Chromium (hexavalent) | 37 x | Cancer |
| Dibromoacetic acid | 25 x | Cancer |
| Dibromochloromethane | 17 x | Cancer |
| Dichloroacetic acid | 94 x | Cancer |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5)† | 268 x | Cancer |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9)† | 599 x | Cancer |
| Radium, combined (-226 & -228) | 24 x | Cancer |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)† | 215 x | Cancer |
| Trichloroacetic acid | 61 x | Cancer |
| Uranium | 4.2 x | Cancer |
However, the use of an RO System from Aqua Life of Houston can remove up to 99% of all these contaminants. Providing you with the highest quality and best tasting water.
In conclusion, Aqua Life of Houston has the experience and equipment that will provide you with safe-to-drink soft water for your family to enjoy. We know that you can always buy bottled water, but firstly, it is more expensive, secondly, the environmental impact of the plastics and the carbon footprint of transporting are both reasons enough to switch to a whole home water filtration system from Aqua Life of Houston. In other words, having one of these systems in your home can save you money but, above all, it can help to keep your family healthy.
What is in your water?