Whether your water comes from a public system or private well, it’s probably deemed safe for drinking, bathing and cooking. However, there are many sources of pollution that may alter the taste and smell of your water—and impact your health, as well. A quality water filter can help ensure the taste and clarity of your water—while preventing contact with dangerous contaminants and mineral pollutants like iron and sulfur.

Sources of Groundwater Contamination

• Pesticides and fertilizers: Seeping into rural water systems, common agricultural chemicals like nitrites and herbicides can taint groundwater sources with disease-causing pollutants.
• Landfills: As residents and commercial entities dispose of hazardous waste and mounds of garbage, rainfall carries soluble contaminants into groundwater systems below the dumping areas. Septic tank leaks may also endanger private and public water supplies.
• Microorganisms: In areas of high flooding and overwhelming wildlife populations, bacteria, fungi and parasites can cause groundwater pollution.
• Radon: A color and odor-free gas, radon is produced through the breakdown of uranium deposits. While small amounts of radon are present in many water sources, high levels may lead to increased cancer risks.
• Sulfur: Formed by the decay of plants and other organic materials, sulfur is not a known health hazard. It does, however, cause water to take on an unpleasant, “rotten” odor and taste. A water filter can prevent this undesirable effect.
• Iron: Leached into groundwater from rock formations and high-mineral soil, iron can also impact the taste of your water supply. While it doesn’t generally cause health problems, iron builds up on faucets, fixtures and tubs—leading to unsightly deposits that are hard to remove. When you invest in a water filter, water tastes better and kitchen/bathroom fixtures are easier to clean and maintain.

If your primary water source is a private well, it’s especially important to invest in a water filter and regularly test water for contaminants. And while public water systems have fairly diligent testing schedules, the potential for water contamination still exists. If you’re concerned about protecting your family from water pollutants and maintaining your water’s quality taste and smell, consider installing a proven water filter. A reputable filtration system can improve water quality, remove sulfur and iron, and prevent the chemical spread that may adversely affect your health and well-being.

A significant portion of America, especially in rural areas still use a well to get their drinking water.  While this is a safe method for getting drinking water (and, often the only available method) – the homeowner should be aware of potential issues.  It also is a good idea to have your local Culligan Man come and test your water if you notice any of these following issues:

• Rotten Egg Odor
• Detergent Odor or foaming water
• Gasoline or oil smell
• methane/musty smell
• Chlorine Smell

Many people complain of a sulphur smell in their well water. There’s something decidedly unpleasant about water that smells like rotten eggs.

We’ve covered some of the ways to determine the source of your smelly water – now, we’re listing some of the common causes of sulfur smelling water:

• Decay of organic matter or chemical reactions with sulfur-containing minerals in soil and rock.
• Sulfate-reducing bacteria which convert naturally occurring sulfate and other sulfur compounds to hydrogen sulfide gas.
• Water heaters can produce hydrogen sulfide gas by:
  • Providing a warm environment for sulfate-reducing bacteria to live.
  • The anode, which is usually magnesium, supplies electrons that sustain the reaction of sulfate to hydrogen sulfide gas.

Everyone knows that water is essential to health – and having fresh, clean water in your home is of vital importance. However, most people that aren’t satisfied with their tap water have limited options.  You may not want a whole home water system, so you’re left with purchasing expensive bottled water that’s bad for the environment, or spending tons of money on off the shelf replacement filters.

Another option is to have your local Culligan Man deliver bottled water right to your door! It’s cost, time, and environmentally effective!

Posts Related to Bottle Water

Recently Vetter’s, Inc., a Culligan Water dealer located in the Quad Cities has obtained licensing rights to produce and distribute PURELOCK™, a home and office water system that operates using “bagged water.”

The PURELOCK™ system uses a single-use, three-gallon bag that does not contain Bisphenol A (BPA), a common additive in the production of polycarbonate and PET water bottles. Furthermore, the bags are made of an FDA-approved, 100%-recyclable, low-density polyethylene that can be attached to an existing water cooler through an upgraded cooler top. Lastly, the water used in the PURELOCK™ units is the same used to fill the bottles.

“As a leader in the local water industry and business community, we feel it is our responsibility to continually provide our customers with cutting edge technology and more eco-friendly alternatives,” says Marty McCarthy, vice president of Vetter’s, Inc. “This product offers added levels of convenience and sanitation, plus it drastically reduces the carbon footprint associated with most polycarbonate and PET bottles.”

In addition to the environmental impact of this new technology, Vetter’s Inc. customers see many everyday benefits. For example, each PURELOCK™ unit weighs approximately 20 lbs. less than existing five-gallon bottles, making them much easier for anyone to lift onto their cooler.

McCarthy also points out that the storage of bags is much easier than that of five-gallon bottles.

Moreover, “bagged water” technology positively affects the overall function of the water cooler. For instance, the PURELOCK™ system reduces the airflow necessary to operate existing systems. This reduction of airflow can lead to less bacteria buildup over time, and consequently result in a healthier drinking system. In addition, the cooler upgrade unit is easily removable and is dishwasher safe making it easy to clean any time.

“All in all, this is a great product that offers the consumer so many added values,” added McCarthy. “In a value-driven and environmentally-conscious world, we feel this product is an example of creative problem solving and an example of our commitment to our community and customers.”

Vetter’s, Inc. currently services most of Eastern Iowa and parts of Western Illinois. For a limited time, the company is providing upgrade units free of charge.

A common complaint about local tap or well water is that it occasionally has a sulphur (or, rotten egg) smell.  This is caused by Hydrogen Sulfide gas (H2S) that occurs naturally, and gives water its trademark “rotten egg” smell and taste.

Is Sulphur Smelling Water Dangerous?
Most of the time, no.  A sulphur smell in your water likely doesn’t relate to the sanitary level of your water.  However, it IS possible that exposure to sewage or other pollution, and you should have your local Culligan Dealer test your water.

Here are a couple general tips to go by when identifying the source of your sulphur smelling water:

• If the smell is only from the hot water faucet the problem is likely to be in the water heater.

• If the smell is in both the hot and cold faucets, but only from the water treated by a water softener and not in the untreated water the problem is likely to be sulfur bacteria in the water softener.

• If the smell is strong when the water in both the hot and cold faucets is first turned on, and it diminishes or goes away after the water has run, or if the smell varies through time the problems is likely to be sulfur bacteria in the well or distribution system.

• If the smell is strong  when the water in both the hot and cold faucets is first turned on and is more or less constant and persists with use the problem is likely to be hydrogen sulfide gas in the groundwater.

An easy solution to this is to set up a whole home water treatment system – such as the reverse osmosis water softening equipment provided by Culligan dealers in your area.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, a common herbicide atrazine has been found at three times the recommended level for safety.

From the Iowa Independent Article:

The study included data from two Iowa watersheds — the Nishnabotna River in western Iowa, where 82 percent of samples taken contained atrazine, and Wolf Creek in Black Hawk and Grundy counties where 96 percent of samples taken contained atrazine. In Wolf Creek samples, the maximum peak atrazine concentration was 10 parts per billion (ppb), more than three times the EPA standard atrazine level for drinking water.

The study also looked at 12 public water systems in southern Iowa. The highest concentration of atrazine in raw water was found at the Winterset Water Treatment Plant in Madison County, where the maximum concentration was 47.5 ppb. This system serves approximately 4,768 people and uses water from Cedar Lake.

Atrazine has been shown to cause problems with the development of reproductive organs.  Exposure to this chemical in your local Iowa tap water is preventable.  Your local Iowa Culligan Dealer can help you put together a package to help filter your water and keep you safe from contaminants.

Culligan’s corporate office recently launched a press release covering their new product – the world’s only certified whole-house arsenic filtration system.

Here are some excerpts from the release:

To address consumer concerns about arsenic in their water, Culligan, the leader in home water treatment solutions for more than 70 years, just introduced the only certified Whole-House Arsenic Reduction Filter on the market. The entire system has been tested and certified by the Water Quality Association (WQA) against NSF/ANSI Standard 53 for the reduction of total arsenic (pentavalent and trivalent). Homeowners can be assured that the new Culligan solution is backed by third-party certification experts who uphold independent testing standards to validate which devices are successful at reducing arsenic and other contaminants. Whythird party certification is important to consumers is the entire system passed laboratory tests (including arsenic reduction performance), material review, structural integrity, and literature compliance.

As you can see – this is another step forward by your local Culligan man to improve the quality of your drinking water. If you’d like to learn more, please contact one of the Culligan dealers in your area.  Here’s links to a few areas of interest:

Iowa City Home Water Softener
Binghamton Home Water Softener
Winnipeg Home Water Softener

Proudly Serving Iowa and Johnson Counties in Iowa with water treatment systems, water filtration systems, and bottled water – Vetter’s Culligan has joined other dealers at our site to help share even more information about the quality Culligan products available to consumers.

You can view more information about Iowa City Culligan here.

This report is published by the Environmental Working Group – and is a result of tests performed on the Iowa City, IA Water Department. The full report is available for viewing here.

Pollution Summary:
Contaminants found in your tap water (1998 – 2003): 18

Health effects or target organs of contaminants found: Cardiovascular or Blood Toxicity, Cancer, Developmental Toxicity, Endocrine Toxicity, Immunotoxicity, Kidney Toxicity, Gastrointestinal or Liver Toxicity, Neurotoxicity, Reproductive Toxicity, Respiratory Toxicity, and Skin Sensitivity.

Overall Water Contaminant Information:

Iowa City, IA Water Quality Report