If you need more assistance, check out our Problem & Solutions Center at our Water Center website for an interactive guide to assist you with your water problem.
Stains / Buildup / Appliance Failure
Symptom: Soap scum, bathtub ring, toilet ring, dull laundry, dry or itchy skin, cloudy glassware, mineral deposits, early appliance failure, low sudsing, high soap
Cause: Hardness causing minerals
Treatment: Water Softener or a Salt Free Softener
Red, Brown, Orange Stains / Discoloration
Symptom: Reddish-brown or orange stains, red or brown tint to water, pink or red slime, brown or rusty sediment
Cause: Presence of ferric or ferrous iron, possible iron bacteria
Treatment: Low amounts of iron removed by a Sediment Filter, higher amounts by a Birm Filter and possible Water Softener
Blue-Green Stains / Metallic Taste
Symptom:Blue-green stains in sinks and showers, metallic taste
Cause: Acidity in water dissolving copper and/or brass from plumbing
Treatment: Acid Neutralizer using calcium or a Chemical Feed Pump using soda ash
Black / Gray Stains
Symptom: Black or gray stains in fixtures or laundry
Cause: High levels of manganese
Treatment: Low levels of manganese are treated with a Water Softener, higher levels are treated with a Birm Filter and Water Softener
Cloudiness
Symptom: Cloudiness in water that doesn’t seem to clear or settle
Cause: Turbidity- suspended particles in water that are too light to sink
Treatment: Sediment Filtration and Microfiltration recommend a more detailed water analysis
Stains / Taste
Symptom: Pitted and tarnished silverware, salty taste
Cause: High chloride levels
Treatment: Reverse Osmosis for point of use
Rotten Egg Odor
Symptom: Rotten Egg Odor
Cause: Contamination by hydrogen sulfide gas (occurs naturally in aquifers)
Treatment: Easily removed by a Backwashing Filter (carbon, sediment, neutralizer) in conjunction with an aeration device
Earthy Musty Smell
Symptom: Earthy musty smell
Cause: Caused by algae products in water
Treatment: Wholehouse Carbon Filtration or Point of Use Carbon for single tap
Nitrates
Symptom: Nitrates
Cause: Overfertilization of farm land with surface run-off
Treatment: Reverse Osmosis system or Point of Use Nitrate or Wholehouse Nitrate
Stomach Problems
Symptom: Gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting
Cause: Bacteria, pathogens in water
Treatment: Ultraviolet Light water treatment
Chlorine Taste & Odor
Symptom: Chlorine taste and odor
Cause: Municipal water supplies method of sanitizing the water supply
Treatment: Wholehouse Carbon Filtration to treat the entire home (bathing and drinking) Reverse Osmosis or Point of Use Carbon for single tap treatment
Gas or Oil Smell / Taste
Symptom: Gas or Oil Petroleum products including MTBE
Cause: Caused by underground tank leakage
Treatment: Wholehouse Carbon Filtration using coconut shell carbon- some counties require Ultra Violet Light in the water flow after carbon tanks
Turbidity
Turbidity (fine particles) and sediment (coarse particles) may be caused by sand, scale, rust, organic matter, or clay. In addition to an objectionable, cloudy appearance, these substances may cause plugged piping or fouled water treatment equipment. Turbidity does not settle out readily, but remains suspended for several hours. It is normally present in pond, lake, or river water supplies. Turbidity levels should be less than 5 NTUs (turbidity units) for clear, acceptable water. Sediment/turbidity filters are available to handle such problems and bring water into usable ranges. Ordinary filtration does not generally remove turbidity, but by obtaining an individual water analysis, the best method of treatment may be determined.TURBIDITY AND SEDIMENT
Sediment, particles which settle to the bottom of a container within a few minutes, can be removed with an agraclear or sand type filter. When sand is determined to be present in water, a sand type filter should be used.
Taste and Odor
Tastes and odors are generally considered as one and the same problem, except for taste caused by mineral salts. For example, water with high chloride content will have a salty taste but may be odorless. A quality water supply should contain no trace of objectionable taste or odor.
There are a variety of tastes and odors that may exist in a water supply. Common examples include chlorine odor, musty or moldy taste or odor, oil or gas odor, and rotten egg odor. Each characteristic indicates certain distinct problems and treatments. Tastes and odors, especially if caused by dissolved gases or other volatile matter are best identified at the source since they are often destroyed by oxidation.
Chlorine, musty or moldy tastes and odors, and oil or gas odors are commonly treated by carbon filtration. Rotten egg odor is caused by dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas. Hydrogen sulfide is not only unpleasant to smell, but is corrosive to most metals and tarnishes silver readily. Hydrogen sulfide levels of up to 2 ppm can be removed by an oxidizing type sulphur filter. Levels in excess of 2 ppm are treated by oxidation.
Atlantic Blue retail store is located in Carroll County Maryland, convenient to Finksburg, Westminster MD, Taneytown, Hampstead, Manchester, Sykesville and Eldersburg.