Generally speaking, most bacteria and other microorganisms are harmful to people’s health. However, there exist some healthy bacteria out there that are beneficial to our health. For example, we use bacteria to make yogurt, and this bacterium helps maintain the body’s pH levels. Therefore, getting rid of every bacterium is not really a good idea. Does a water softener kill bacteria? Unfortunately, many do not perform this function, but that is not necessarily a deal-breaker.
A water softener transforms hard water into soft water by exchanging ions such as iron, magnesium, and calcium. These ions are responsible for the hardness of water, and a water softener will replace them with potassium and sodium ions. Minerals that cause hard water are not necessarily a health hazard for many people. If used in the long-term, the water will become a nuisance in your household or commercial operation.
Hard water leaves soap scum around your appliances’ sinks and faucets and mineral deposits. The minerals will shorten the life span of your equipment or cause a lot of maintenance issues. Hard water may also cause itchy skin, hard and brittle hair, and faded clothes. On the other hand, soft water has so many advantages. Even though it does not kill bacteria and microorganisms, it does not cause as many headaches as hard water.
How Can You Tell if Your Water Has Bacteria?
We categorize bacteria into two groups. The first is pathogenic bacteria which are harmful and cause illnesses and diseases. Some examples of pathogenic bacteria found in water are E-coli and salmonella. Conversely, non-pathogenic bacteria are harmless and quite beneficial for one’s health. This is the kind of bacteria you find in Kombucha or yogurt.
Water contains both kinds of bacteria, and the most common type is iron bacteria which is red and lives in water that contains iron. This type of bacteria is easy to detect, and it’s not harmful to our health. It is very difficult to detect pathogenic bacteria because most do not have a distinctive color and are often tasteless and odorless. Additionally, the effects of bacteria in the body are not felt immediately, such as vomiting, stomach ache, and fever. Regrettably, the only way to know if your water contains harmful bacteria is by testing in the laboratory.
As a homeowner, you should know that bacteria is a serious health hazard. It primarily impacts rural or city homes with a much older water system. This does not mean that those who solely depend on municipal water are free of this problem. Even though the government tries to meet all health standards, sometimes the water will acquire bacteria as it travels to your home.
Many experts do not test water supplies for specific bacteria. This is because many forms of pathogenic bacteria are found in water, and the testing process may be expensive. The tester will also need to handle and culture the organisms with exceptional care that requires training and specific equipment. In most cases, the water supply will be tested for Coliform bacteria which ir found in plant and soil minerals, and inhuman and animal digestive systems. Coliform bacteria are not pathogenic, but it’s a great indicator that other disease-causing bacteria are present in your water.
How do Professionals Test For Coliform?
We recommend a water test that specifically targets coliform bacteria because it’s often cheap, available locally, and easy to perform. Most municipalities apply a standard test known as total coliform. The goal of this test is to eliminate coliform in public drinking water altogether. If coliform is present in a water sample, then the tester will report the sample as total coliform positive.
According to federal regulations, if public drinking water tests positive for coliform, it will have to undergo a fecal coliform test. It is important to test for fecal coliform bacteria, which is found in human and animal waste, because it should not be found in any concentration.
How Can You Treat Water With Bacteria?
There are several safe options for treating and removing bacteria from your water:
- Using Chlorine: One of the best options for eliminating bacteria is disinfecting your water supply using chlorine. This method is especially suitable for bacteria contamination that has occurred once. You can perform the chlorination yourself, completely killing the bacteria. However, bacteria contamination is rarely a one-time event. The contamination is often ongoing, and if you do not identify its source, it will continue to reoccur. You can find basic chlorination guidelines in trusted sources on the internet or through an instruction manual when purchasing chlorine. You can also consult a local expert. The general standard is to feed 3 to 5 ppm chlorine into the water and maintain a residual of free chlorine at 0.4 ppm for at least half an hour.
- Using a UV water system or a UV light disinfectant: Installing a UV system is also a feasible way of eliminating bacteria. You will need to install it in your basement or where the water enters the house. This way, the system will kill the bacteria in the water as it enters your home. A UV system has several advantages, and it does not change the taste of your water or add any chemicals. Instead, it uses UV radiation to simply deactivate the bacteria.
- Using a Reverse Osmosis water system: A reverse osmosis system is your best option. This system uses a filter to remove 99% of bacteria. Moreover, it also eliminates other chemicals such as fluoride and chlorine and leaves your water clean, pure, and safe for drinking. You have the option to install a whole reverse osmosis filter that will take care of the water that enters your home, or if you already have a water softener, you can add the filter under the sink tap.
How to Obtain Healthy Water
Evidently, using a water softener in isolation will only remove the hardness of the water. It cannot eliminate other contaminants such as bacteria, dissolved solids, and volatile compounds. You will need more than a water softener to obtain healthier water for your household. We recommend using a staged approach that involves at least two systems; a filter and a softener. We advise you to find a pre-filter that can eliminate sediment, a softener to remove hardness iron, and an RO or UV system to get rid of bacteria. You can even add a carbon filter in the end to improve color, taste, and odor. Consult a local expert to determine the systems you need.