EWS-1054 - Environmental Water Systems

EWS, Inc. / Environmental Water Systems
What do these water standards mean and how do they affect you?
Most municipal water districts are attempting to do the best job of providing safe drinking water to their communities.
There are many issues concerning our health and that of our families. Air, water and food supplies are all suspect. It is
our goal to make some sense of water issues and provide information, in order for consumers to make educated
decisions.
The following are excerpts from the standard language provided to consumers requesting information about their water
supply in their community. This is a great place to start because it sets the table for a good general understanding of
water issues and how we may compliment the water through filtration or reduce any particular issues of actual concern.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems,
agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water
runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and
residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, that are by-products of industrial
processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, agricultural
application, and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities.
All municipally-treated drinking water is subjected to extensive testing, not only for regulated contaminants, but also for
non-regulated as well. For example, the Cities of Vacaville, CA. and Las Vegas, NV. performed more than 70,000 tests
on water samples throughout the year, which is typical of most water districts. Water districts also conduct source
Water Assessments and Vulnerability Studies. This study evaluates the quality of the water used as drinking water
supplies for local communities. The assessment survey examines activities associated with the specific waterway and
surrounding areas to determine potential contaminiation. Any potential contributors are then compiled into a Vulnerability
Summary.
Now, what is a local door-to-door water salesman going to test for?
Usually, the naturally-found calcium and magnesium minerals, which are not contaminants (see water standards) in
order to “pitch” a water softener. A reverse osmosis system will be added to the “pitch”, in order to remove the salt, the
softener put in, so you have something to drink! Interesting to note, those assessment studies have been making
recommendations in over 30 states to restrict softeners due to the brine discharge. The use of reverse osmosis
systems have been questioned. They are greatly misapplied and can waste up to 20 gallons of rejection water for every
gallon of water produced.
Water in the News
Security is an issue that conerns us all. Federal, State and Local Agencies, partnered with the various water agencies,
are taking precautionary measures to provide safe, clean drinking water to their citizens.
However, a toxic chemical introduced into a municipal system would dissipate over millions of gallons of water rendering
it harmless.
The Flavor of the Day, Chromium, Arsenic, MTBE, Trihalomethanes (THMs) are samples of many items that may create
issues with our water supplies.
Ironically, chlorine used to disinfect our water, is one of the most toxic chemicals on any list.
You can smell and taste it and easily test for it. It is the reason most people buy bottled water or filter at the sink. EWS
can filter the chlorine and the associated volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) once the chlorine has disinfected the
water.
Special Information
Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised
people such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ transplants,
people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from
infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers on appropriate means
to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants.
Most people simply want better tasting water, others have greater concerns.
EWS Filtration to the whole home takes care of the chlorine and VOC’s and is a great compliment to most municipal
water for most people. EWS Filtration to the whole home is also a healthier water environment for skin, hair and body
systems due to absorption and inhalation. However, specific sink applications are available, and can be combined with
whole home filtration for specific problems or concerns at the sink for drinking, cooking and other uses.
www.ewswater.com office: 702-256-8182 (m-f; 8:30-4:30, pst) fax: 702-256-3744 customerservice@ewswater.com