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NHDES Technical Bulletin WD-WS-2-1
Considerations When Purchasing
Water Treatment Equipment
TREATMENT DEVICES AND INSTALLERS ARE NOT LICENSED
Many private water wells are treated to improve their water quality. The State of New Hampshire does not approve or disapprove of water treatment devices nor does it license treatment device installers or salespersons. However, there is a licensing program for water well drillers and water
well pump installers.
In addition, there is a program which certifies those laboratories performing compliance testing for public water systems. However, laboratories are not required to be certified for testing water samples from only a private water well serving an individual family.
IDENTIFYING THE NEED
Some objectionable water quality factors have taste, odor, or color characteristics that make their presence known. However, many health related contaminants found in drinking water such as bacteria, radioactivity, arsenic, and industrial solvents (a.k.a. VOCs) may exhibit none of these simple indicators. The presence of these contaminants can only be determined by a laboratory test.
WATER QUALITY TESTING
Prior to selecting a water treatment device, you may want to test for important water quality contaminants common to your type of well or your region. Choosing the correct treatment type may allow two or more water quality problems to be simultaneously addressed by one treatment
system.
The "Standard Analysis" offered by the Department of Environmental Services provides testing for 10 water quality factors at low cost. This initial analysis answers many questions, but leaves some health related contaminants common to New Hampshire untested. For bedrock wells these additional factors include: arsenic, mineral radioactivity (partially identified by total screen alpha test), and radon. For dug wells there are no additional contaminants that merit "across the board" testing.
For either well type it is also advisable to examine the type of land uses upstream of and adjacent to
the well to determine if additional testing is necessary for contaminants such as: pesticides,
herbicides, landfill leachate, or industrial solvents, etc. (See the discussion in Fact Sheet WD-WSEB-2-3 concerning recommended water quality testing for private wells.)
CONSISTENCY OF WATER QUALITY
The quality of groundwater can vary. The sizing of a treatment device depends on the types of
contaminants found, their concentrations and variability. For naturally occurring contaminants, the
chemical make-up of water (i.e., number of chemical contaminants) is normally stable. However,
the concentration of each contaminant can vary due to such factors as: the length of prior pumping,
height of water table, previous rainfall, season of the year and other factors.
For manmade contaminants, the contaminant concentration may increase or decrease over time and
the number and type of contaminants may also vary. This depends on the size and direction of
movement of the pollution plume.
We recommend at least two water quality tests be taken over a period of months before selecting
water treatment equipment.
SIZE OF TREATMENT
Typically there are two sizes of water conditioning devices available:
- those that connect to your sink and treat only a few gallons of water per day; and,
- those that treat all water used within your home.
The type of contaminant typically dictates which size should be used.
IDENTIFYING TREATMENT OPTIONS
It is good practice to request information and study each alternative process before purchase.
Request information from at least two different water conditioning firms. Asking the following
questions will help you make the best selection.
- What is the recommended treatment?
- What other options are available?
- Why were the other treatment options not recommended?
- Ask your neighbors or co-workers if they have the same problem with their water supply and
which type of equipment they used to correct it.
When choosing a treatment device identify the following:
- Understand the chemical or physical principle used by the treatment device.
- How raw water quality changes can affect the device.
- Identify any disadvantages inherent to this treatment approach.
- What chemicals does the treatment add to the water?
- What desirable chemicals does the treatment inadvertently take out?
- Where do the waste products go?
- Does the raw water require any preconditioning steps?
- What factors would cause this process to malfunction and how would these factors be detected?
- What maintenance procedures are necessary for efficient operation?
CHOOSING A FIRM / DEFINING THE WORK
There are typically four cost/guarantee options associated with obtaining water treatment
equipment:
- Purchased - installed and guaranteed by others.
- Purchase new equipment; self-installed - only the equipment is guaranteed.
- Purchased used equipment ; self-installed- no guarantee.
- Rental - installed and guaranteed by others.
In choosing a firm you could determine how long the firm has been in business and where they are
located. Also, call the New Hampshire Better Business Bureau. Ask the firm to provide
references of other local customers, and call some. Identify the guarantees and the level of "after
sales" service provided. If the company recommends the option and installs the system, the
agreement should recognize that you are buying a solution to the contaminant problem and not a
particular piece of equipment. Finally, specify in advance, what represents a satisfactory level of
treatment performance.
Do not purchase a water treatment system under the stress of a "limited time offer" or due to a
"pollution scare" in your neighborhood. Similarly do not purchase equipment based only on water
quality testing done on your kitchen table. Many minerals exist in drinking water that are not
injurious to your health and may even be beneficial.
Ask for a copy of the contract prior to signing. Identify precisely the piping, valves and equipment
to be provided. Identify precisely what will not be covered. Also identify what spare parts will be
provided.
Please also note that the state plumbing code does not require a licensed plumber to connect a
water treatment device to your plumbing. Thus the proper plumbing configuration at the water
main and waste stack should be reviewed. In particular, ensure that there is an "air gap" where the
waste products from the treatment device discharge into the sewer pipe.
DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF THE TREATMENT EQUIPMENT
Some considerations when designing a water treatment system layout include:
- Provide a permanent by-pass of the treatment for that water which will to be used outside of the
home.
- For a "whole house" treatment, have a plumbing by-pass to allow convenient repair of the
treatment device.
- In some cases, such as bacteria, the use of the by-pass could contaminate your downstream
plumbing even after the by-pass has been closed.
- For water softeners and certain other treatment types, evaluate installing a nontreated sink
faucet so as to allow reduced exposure to the treatment chemical added. For a softener this
would allow low sodium water at the sink.
- Have sampling taps for raw and finished water and between each treatment device.
- Have a water meter so that the longevity of the treatment media can be estimated and the
replacement interval identified.
- Place the device in a well lighted, heated area where access is good.
Where cost is not prohibitive and where health factors are being addressed, consider the
appropriateness of two small devices installed in series. The first would do the "heavy
contaminant removal", and the second would "polish" and address possible "breakthrough". Once
the first device is rejuvenated, the plumbing would be revalved such that the lead and lag roles are
reversed.
OPERATION OF TREATMENT EQUIPMENT
- Make multiple copies of the operational instructions and store safely.
- Sample treated water periodically to ensure proper operation.
- Sample raw water occasionally to determine severity of the contaminant concentration and
whether changes have occurred.
THIRD PARTY TESTING AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
The NSF, International has a testing program to evaluate various types of home treatment devices
(i.e., Standards 42, 44, 53, 55, 58, 62). Before purchasing any such equipment you may want to
check for the NSF seal.
The professional trade group of the private home water treatment industry is called the Water
Quality Association. You may also want to look for their membership seal.
NSF, International: 3475 Plymouth Road, Box 130140, Ann Arbor, MI 48113-0140
1-313-769-8010
Water Quality Association: 4151 Naperville Road , Leslie, IL 60532-3696, 1-708-505-0160
DEVELOPING ANOTHER SUPPLY
Where there are many water quality problems, requiring different treatment components, evaluation
could be given to abandoning that water supply source in favor of another. Alternatives could
include a new well or extension of municipal water. If considering the new well option, evaluate
changing from a bedrock type to a sand and gravel well or vise versa. To judge the likelihood of
success of the new well option, ask if you can sample the water quality of wells of nearby
neighbors to determine if those same contaminants are present.
Where your building lot is small, contaminants are extensive, or soils and water table levels are
unfavorable, an alternate supply well may not be feasible.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information you may contact the DES's Water Supply Engineering Bureau at (603) 271-3139. We would appreciate your comments concerning this fact sheet and your experiences in
purchasing water conditioning equipment.