|
The Florida Aquifer
Florida Aquifer: Dark blue (deep), and light blue (shallow).
Flowing throughout most of the State, this is the underground source of drinking water for almost all of Florida, and
it is being contaminated at an unprecedented rate.
Some of the inorganic impurities found in Florida's drinking water include: Aluminum, Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium,
Calcium, Chlorine, Chromium, Copper, Iron, Lead, Nickel, Nitrate, Nitrite, Magnesium, Manganese, Silica, Sodium,
Sulfate, and Zinc.
Fact: Not only does it taste bad, Florida is rated as one of the 5 worst states for drinking water quality.
| More than 120,000,000 Americans - 43% of the population -
may be needlessly exposed to unhealthy drinking water. "The risk of disease associated with public drinking water
has passed from the theoretical to the real" says Dr. David Ozonoff of the Boston University School of Public
Health. Source: Source: USA Today 9/27/1993 |
Hard Water
You may be experiencing "hidden" water problems... Water affects everything it touches - and water literally touches everything in your home!
The BBB publication "Tips on Water Quality Improvement" says hard water can:
Create extra time in cleaning your home,
Dry your skin,
Spot fixtures, glasses, dishes, and silverware,
Increase the cost of heating your water,
Make washable clothing wear out faster,
Drastically shorten the life of your plumbing and appliances,
Increase soap and cleaning supply costs by 50%!
This publication also states that "Water heating efficiencies on systems using softened water may be increased up to 29% if heating with gas; up to 22 percent if heating with electricity."
Two thirds of the water on earth is groundwater. As it travels through rock
and soil it picks up particles of calcium, magnesium, iron, lead, and other
minerals. For 85% of the country, that translates into "hard water".
"Hardness" refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water,
and is measure in grains per gallon. The table below is taken from the Better
Business Bureau publication "Tips on Water Quality Improvement" and is
the classification standard used in the water conditioning industry.
| Grains per Gallon |
Parts Per Million |
Hardness Rating |
| Less than 1.0 |
Less than 17.1 |
Soft |
| 1.0 to 3.5 |
17.1 to 60 |
Slightly Hard |
| 3.5 to 7.0 |
60 to 120 |
Moderately Hard |
| 7.0 to 10.5 |
120 to 180 |
Hard |
| Over 10.5 |
Over 180 |
Very Hard |
The average home contains thousands of dollars in plumbing, drains, fixtures and appliances, all being deteriorated
by hard water.
The American Water Works Association (city water departments) tell us that hard water causes expensive water using
appliances, such as water heaters, dishwashers, and clothes washers to wear out 50% to 75% faster than they would
with conditioned water.
| "I wouldn't take for granted the safety of this nation's
drinking water. We still have very serious problems." Source: Carol Browner, Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency as quoted in Popular Science 10/96 |
How do contaminants get into water?
Water is the "universal solvent"
Our drinking water goes through the natural process of surface
evaporation, condensation into clouds, then falling to the ground as rain. Water
then runs off into streams and lakes, or filters through the ground where it is
once again brought to the surface, to start the Hydrologic Cycle all over again.
Through each step of the process, water picks up contaminants
from everything that it touches.
| "Water quantity and quality is the biggest environmental
challenge we face in the 21st century." Source: Christie Whitman, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
as quoted in U.S. News & World Report 8/12/2002 |
What is Chlorine (and why is it in my water)?
Chlorine is a greenish-yellow, very poisonous, gaseous element
with an offensive odor. The element is obtained principally from common salt,
and is easily liquefied. It has been used extensively in chemical warfare.
The use of chlorine began in the 1890's to combat water-borne bacteria and
quickly gained widespread acceptance because of its low cost and high efficiency
in killing biological hazards in the water.
The problem with chlorine is that it is a known poison and the safety of
drinking this poison over one's lifetime uncertain. Chlorine combines with
natural organic matter to form potent, cancer causing compounds known as
Trihalomethanes (TTHMs). Some of these carcinogens include chloroform, bromoform,
carbon tetrachloride, and bischloroethane. The EPA attempts to regulate the
amount of TTHM's in our drinking water with a maximum amount of 100 ppb; however
a recent study showed 31 of 112 monitored municipal water systems exceeded that
limit.
If Chlorine is unhealthy, why is it in our municipal water?
|
 |
Simply answered, it is because it is the least expensive way to solve an even worse problem - organic contaminates such as
cryptospridium. A paper
published in AWWA Mainstream is available online (use your browser's
"back" button to return here) that describes why municipal water
systems use chlorine. Is chlorination the only answer? No, but if it is
used, chlorine should be removed from your water. |
| One in six people drink water with excessive amounts of lead,
a heavy metal that impairs children's IQ and attention span. A 1986 EPA study estimated than more than 40 million
Americans drink water that contains excessive lead levels. Source: US News & World Report 7/29/1991 |
| "The World Health Organization estimates 75-80% of cancer may
originate in our water and environment." Source: Forever Living |
| "EPA revealed that dangerous chemicals are leaking out of as
many as 16,000 landfills throughout the U.S., percolating down through layers of soil into the vast underground
water reservoirs called aquifers." Source: Discover Magazine |
|
|
| We are long-time customers and have been very pleased with Florida
Water Works. Keep up the good work! - Nokomis, FL |
| Your service department is very pleasant and they tell us exactly
what they are doing. We really appreciate that. - Bayonet Point, FL |
| Even our daughter enjoys the soft water when she comes to visit. Good
service too! - Sarasota, FL |
| We've been customers for over two years and are very pleased with your
service and the quality of our water. Sarasota, FL |
| We have been very happy with your service. The soft water is great, and
the drinking water is so much better. - Venice, FL |
| Service has been great, and the water treatment has resulted in softer,
less dry skin. - Brandon, FL |
| All of my friends like my drinking water; my clothes come out of the
wash much cleaner too. - Ruskin, FL |
| My system was installed in a timely fashion over four years ago Since
then, your service has been extremely smooth and your service department very prompt. They always answer any questions
that I may have. - Venice, FL |
| I am very pleased with Florida Water Works. I use my Reverse Osmosis
system for coffee, tea, and other beverages. The taste is so much better than before. - Sarasota, FL |
| Since our system was installed four years ago, we have had no problems,
and the quality of our water is greatly improved. - Sarasota, FL |
| I love our system. The water tastes so much better; my family and I are
very happy. - Sarasota, FL |
| The water is SO soft when I take a shower. I really love it!
- Sun City, FL |
| One of the reasons we bought our condo two and a half years ago was
because your system was already installed. We feel we are much healthier due, in part, to drinking cleaner water. We are
very satisfied with your service. - Sun City, FL |
| The soft water helps keep our clothes cleaner, and feels great on our
skin. - Sun City, FL |
| Since having our system installed a several months ago, I've noticed my
skin problem (acne) has almost gone away. I believe its because our clothes come out of the wash so much cleaner than
before, with all of the soap rinsed out. Whatever the reason, I'm thrilled! - Orlando, FL |
| I love to cook, and since our reverse osmosis system was installed I
notice that all of my recipes taste much better. - Orlando, FL |
| Finally, no more lime and calcium build up in our shower. Our glasses
actually come out of the dishwasher looking clear instead of spotted. I wish I had this system installed years ago.
- Orlando, FL |
| Water with no aftertaste, ice cubes that look like ice instead of white
blocks, and ice that doesn't leave stuff floating in your glass when it melts. Yes, I'm very happy. - Orlando, FL |
|
|
