The Perfect Storm - Amanda's Story
The following is a true story, and....sadly we see this in varying degrees almost every day.
CASE STUDY: AMANDA’S HOME, Bountiful, Utah
In Amanda’s home a series of well-intentioned events throughout the years changed the water chemistry. In 1955 a reliable, licensed builder constructed her home utilizing the plumbing materials common for the time, galvanized pipe. Conversely, he had grounded the electrical system of the home by attaching wires to the galvanized pipe water system, which was the standard practice. As the years passed, additions and repairs were done on the plumbing. As in any home the occasional project required certified plumbers, water professionals and contractors and some projects were “Do it Yourself”. Leaks were repaired using copper and later PEX. At one point a water softener was added to protect the various appliances and address the hardness. This softener in turn, did what it was designed to do: removed the Calcium Hardness from the water. Each of these changes altered the home’s water chemistry in subtle ways. Lastly, the plumbing from the water meter to the home had to be replaced and was replaced with a high quality PEX line (again, the newest, best practice was incorporated). However, this change compromised the homes grounding system which in turn accelerated the corrosion of the piping systems within the house. All of these “small” changes combined to create a “Perfect Storm” that resulted in transforming the safe, balanced water supplied to the home into an intolerable, unbalanced and unsafe condition.
The water as supplied by Bountiful City to Amanda’s house meets the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act levels and has natural hardness. However, the water supplied through her homes piping and delivery system to her kitchen faucet can only be described as “Putrid” and is an extreme example of what can happen when the piping, treatment or filter systems in the home are not properly configured.
THE REST OF THE STORY:
Amanda and her family commissioned RETEGO to help them correct and improve the water quality within their home. We set up a team to remove and replace all of the old water supply piping, secured and installed a new Crusader "Enhanced" water conditioner, a Crusader whole house "Active Armour" scale and corrosion control system and a five stage Reverse Osmosis system with remineralization for their ice maker and drinking water. The improvements were noticed immediately and they now have "Fantastic" water. We are watching this closely and will be reporting back on the real cost savings they can quantify.
IN CLOSING
RETEGO has tested water in many homes and in EVERY CASE the issues with taste and odor have been isolated to either faulty equipment, piping, or poor combinations of improperly configured water treatment/softener appliances, plumbing materials and/or improper maintenance.
We welcome the opportunity to show you how you can obtain the BEST results by developing your homes’ Water Quality Management Plan to ensure that your systems are properly configured and balanced.