Pro H2O Articles

Florida water filtration systems are becoming more and more commonplace for residents. Many water purification “experts” would have you believe this is because of a greater awareness of the damaging effects of tap water. The truth more specifically in Central Florida is that Florida’s water supply and aquifer are being contaminated and not getting the attention they require, the population continues to rise, and the government continues to shrug their shoulders over it.

The World Wide Web is typically a great source of information. Unfortunately, there are a lot of companies who don’t have the knowledge or skill set required to properly evaluate the quality of your water, so instead of directing their customers to qualified sources or service providers, they lead you into misinformation to close their own sale. They market this misinformation aggressively to lead you to believe their lies and make their sale easier.

To avoid these scams, protect yourself by getting your water tested by a qualified professional. You can either send a water sample off to your county for testing and pay their fee, or just ask around about your local water filtration service providers. Typically, you should be able to find a local trusted company that offers water testing for free and will perform it in-home, right in front of you, so there’s no question as to the authenticity of the results. This provides you with the benefit of seeing first-hand what is in your water, and what equipment will be necessary to decontaminate it.

Diagnose first, treat second.

It is critical to treat your water specifically for what is in it - especially in Florida. You should not pursue or discuss any filtration equipment until the water is professionally evaluated. There is no such thing as “the best water filter” for every one. Just as we treat different sickness with different medicine, different water requires different treatment. Getting a “best deal in town” package from the first water treatment company you speak to may be tempting, but the money you save on the install will be quickly wasted by over-or-under treating your water with a system that was never tailored to meet your needs to begin with. In other words, your water filtration system needs to be just as unique as your water.

With water filtration systems on the rise, make sure you are doing everything you can ensure the service provider you choose cares just as much about properly treating your water as you do.

For more information about receiving proper water filtration in Florida, feel free to call our experts at Pro H2O regardless of your location, or visit our website and shoot us an email. We’ll be happy to point you in the right direction, or if you’re a local Florida resident, we’ll set up a free in-home water test to show you what a difference it makes in determining what system is right for you.

Here’s a great article from U.S. Geological Survey regarding our water quality and how contaminants can come from many sources:

Water quality is a term used to describe the chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of water, usually in respect to its suitability for a particular purpose. Although scientific measurements are used to define a water’s quality, it’s not a simple thing to say that “this water is good,” or “this water is bad.” After all, water that is perfectly good to wash a car with may not be good enough to serve as drinking water at a dinner party for the President! When the average person asks about water quality, they probably want to know if the water is good enough to use at home, to play in, to serve in a restaurant, etc., or if the quality of our natural waters are suitable for aquatic plants and animals.

As the diagram below shows, assessment of the occurrence of chemicals that can harm water quality, such as nutrients and pesticides in water resources, requires recognition of complicated interconnections among surface water and ground water, atmospheric contributions, natural landscape features, human activities, and aquatic health. The vulnerability of surface water and ground water to degradation depends on a combination of natural landscape features, such as geology, topography, and soils; climate and atmospheric contributions; and human activities related to different land uses and land-management practices.

More and more nowadays we are hearing about situations where the quality of our water is not good enough for normal uses. Bacteria and microorganisms have gotten into drinking-water supplies, sometimes causing severe illness in a town; chemical pollutants have been detected in streams, endangering plant and animal life; sewage spills have occurred, forcing people to boil their drinking water; pesticides and other chemicals have seeped into the ground and have harmed the water in aquifers; and, runoff containing pollutants from roads and parking lots have affected the water quality of urban streams.

Yes, water quality has become a very big issue today, partly because of the tremendous growth of the Nation’s population and urban expansion and development. Rural areas can also contribute to water-quality problems. Medium- to large-scale agricultural operations can generate in animal feed, purchased fertilizer, and manure, more nitrogen and phosphorus than can be used by crops or animals. These excess nutrients have the potential to degrade water quality if incorporated into runoff from farms into streams and lakes All this growth puts great stress on the natural water resources, and, if we are not diligent, the quality of our waters will suffer.

Check with your local water specialists about having your water tested for contaminants. This will often be cheaper and more accurate than buying your own water test kit and mailing it away to a laboratory. Some specialists even offer this service for free.

The article above has been provided by U.S. Geological Survey. Opinions and views expressed are those of USGS and not Pro H2O. Free water analysis available to residents of Citrus County, Hernando County, Sumter County and Marion County in Florida by appointment or in-store through Pro H2O.