Water Filter Systems in Florida
- Filtration can improve a home's water quality.faucet image by Laura Dynan from Fotolia.com
Water quality in Florida is poor. The sulfur, calcium salts and magnesium salts from the water table create hard water with foul taste and odor. There are a few ways to correct these problems with the water at the tap and before the water enters a house's pipes. The best solution is to correct the water quality before the water enters residential supplies because the water hardness can allow blockages and deterioration of the pipes. To improve quality further, the filtration systems can be used in combination. - Water hardness is caused by calcium and magnesium salts in the water. It can affect the effectiveness of soap or detergent, and the chemical salts within the water allow scaling in pipes and cookware.
The ion-exchange process, using zeolite, is the solution for water hardness. The water passes through a layer of zeolite, and the material's sodium ions overtake calcium and magnesium, leaving sodium salts in the water. This removes the hardness, but the water's sodium salts may affect those who must avoid too much sodium in their diet.
The zeolite water softeners cost between $500 and $1,000, and they can be automatic, semi-automatic, demand-initiated or portable. The softeners can be purchased at a home improvement center or provided as a monthly service. - The sulfur and other organic matter in Florida water can be removed using filtration through activated carbon. This method is the most popular form of filtration, and it can be used at the tap, in water pitchers, and in home water treatment systems.
Water passes through the activated carbon, and the composition of the carbon pulls organic materials, fine solids, and dissolved gases out of the water. Activated carbon filters are cost-effective, but the filters must be replaced on a regular basis, depending on the application. - Aeration water treatment systems expose the water to air by forcing water over perforated plates. This creates droplets of water with more surface area exposed to the air. The water has a greater oxygen content which removes the odors from hydrogen sulfide, oxidizes iron and manganese and reduces the corrosive effects of carbon dioxide.
Aeration water treatment is expensive and may require regular maintenance. Systems can run from $2,000 to $5,000, but the quality of the water is excellent.
