- "Floaters" in your water after ice cubes dissolve
- Red rust stains in your toilets or on your laundry
- Oily film on hot drinks
- Unpleasant odor in your water
If you have, you're not alone. These are just a few of the water-related problems homeowners at the Lake experience on a regular basis. Culligan Lake of the Ozarks is here to help you overcome these types of challenges so that you and your family enjoy high quality water for cooking, drinking, bathing, and cleaning. Keep reading to learn about some of the unique local challenges we face and how our Lake of the Ozarks water treatment company can help you overcome them.
High Amount Of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
A common water challenge here at the Lake is the high amount of total dissolved solids (TDS) found in our water. TDS does not refer to bacteria, it simply refers to the total amount of dissolved solids (such as minerals) within the water. Having a high amount of TDS can result in "floaters" in beverages after ice cubes melt, oily film on hot beverages, gummy pasta, and staining of cups.
TDS is measured in parts per million (ppm). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that water becomes "questionable" when the TDS measures 250 ppm, and "inadvisable" at 500 ppm. As a side note, it is important to realize that even with extremely high TDS measurements, that water may still be safe to drink. TDS is not a bacteria test.
Extremely Hard Water
Hard water challenges can present anywhere in the U.S., but they are especially prominent in our area since the Lake of the Ozarks sits on a massive bed of limestone (a certain type of rock). Water is a universal solvent that picks up a little bit of anything it touches, so it picks up some amounts of limestone as it travels through the underground aquifers. These trace amounts of rock are still present in the water when it enters your home, thereby putting a significant strain on your pipes and appliances such as water heaters, dishwashers, ice makers, washing machines, and coffee pots.
Water hardness levels are measured in "grains per gallon" (gpg). The following statistics help demonstrate the remarkably hard water that plagues the Lake Area:
- "Soft water" is water that measures 0-1 gpg
- "Hard water" is water that measures over 10.5 gpg
- The average water hardness in the Ozarks is 15-25 gpg - and it's not unusual to see it as high as 35-40 gpg!
High Iron Content
While high iron content is not quite as prevalent as extremely hard water and high TDS levels in our area, it is still a common issue. Private and community wells are common in the Lake Area. Because of the high iron content in our soil, it is not uncommon for wells to hit aquifers containing iron. This can cause the home's water to have a high iron content, which can result in red rust stains on laundry and in toilets. There are two types of iron in our area: oxidized iron and clear water iron. Because they are treated differently, we must identify which type of iron we're dealing with before we can take action. Many of our customers' homes must be treated for both types of iron.
Culligan Lake Of The Ozarks Is Here To Help!
No matter what challenge you may be facing with your water, your Lake of the Ozarks Culligan Man is here to help. We can install and maintain high quality water softener systems to remove the rock and other dissolved solids (including rust) from your water to make it easier on your pipes and your plumbing.
Water softeners add a low sodium content to the water, and as a result, some people dislike the taste and are hesitant to install water softeners in their homes. A large percentage of our customers enjoy our Point Of Use Reverse Osmosis System that delivers purified water directly from a special tap in the kitchen sink. It removes up to 98% of the TDS and 97% of the sodium produced by the water softener, resulting "bottled water" quality without the bottle. If a refrigerator is equipped with an ice maker and/or drinking water, the system can be hooked up to the refrigerator to produce purified ice cubes and cold drinking water straight from the fridge. If you spend a lot of money on ice and/or bottled water, this system can offer significant savings in addition to convenience.
The longer you wait to fix your hard water issue, the greater you risk the damages becoming. If you have noticed any signs of hard water, high levels of TDS, or high iron content, contact Culligan Lake of the Ozarks today. We look forward to serving you!
277 Lower Business Park Road • Linn Creek, MO 65052 • (573) 346-5221