Water Treatment
Besides the need to ensure that well water is safe to drink, many homeowners face more aesthetic problems caused by the mineral make up of the water.

TOWN OF GRAND BAY-WESTFIELD Water Conservation Program

Bacteria and other hazardous chemicals such as pesticides, de-icing salts, PCBs, petroleum products can enter your well via surface run off and contaminated elements such as nitrates, sodium and arsenic can enter your well from below. Each well is different and the water quality can change over time. No water treatment is universal.

COMMON AESTHEIC WATER PROBLEMS

Magnesium/Calcium: otherwise known as hard water. Kettles, cooking pots and appliances build up a scale; soap is hard to lather up and causes rings in the tub and toilets.

Chloride: can be caused by the intrusion of sea water into the aquifer; tastes salty (brackish) and corrodes metal pipes.

Iron: at concentrations above 0.3 mg/L the water may look rusty, leave rust stains on the laundry and toilet; potatoes cooked in iron rich water can turn black.

Iron Bacteria: creates rust coloured stringy slime inside faucets, toilet tank and well/pump systems; build-up can slow water supply and make water smell or taste unappetizing.

Sulphur: easily recognizable, rotten egg smell, in the hot water can tarnish silver and corrodes pipes and restrict water flow.

Most problems can usually be treated without resorting to drilling a new well. Options include: reverse osmosis, ion- exchange, usually in combination with activated carbon filters, water softeners and for more bacterial problems a water disinfection system may be required such as, chlorination, distillation, ozonation or infrared UV Light filters, and a micro filtration system. Contact a professional to determine the best solution based on your water quality analysis.

Continuing updates will be provided in the mail and on the Town Website as the year progresses.