Water FAQs

Common Questions About Water

Blue water bottle

Should I Have My Water Tested?

Yes. In addition to potential health risks posed by contaminants in drinking water, there can also be various other problems that poor water quality can cause. Poor water quality can lead to corrosion in pipes, fixtures and appliances, as well as staining and weakening the fibers of your clothing and household fixtures. When our technicians and consultants do water sample testing, we’re able to provide recommendations for next steps.

How Frequently Should I Test My Water?

The simple answer is an annual water test is reasonable for most situations. However, there can be reasons to test water more frequently, such as:
  • If there has been a major change in your water supply like a new well
  • If you have recently replaced piping
  • Expectant mothers, as well as infants, are more sensitive to high nitrate levels within the water supply

What Causes Water Contaminants?

Water contamination can have numerous causes. Some of these contaminants naturally occur in the environment, and some are inorganic. Other causes are the residual waste of farming, commercial or industrial waste. We pride ourselves on understanding the root causes of water problems, so we can quickly diagnose and resolve any water. Learn more by viewing the EPA’s Water Contamination Chart.

How Do I Get Better Water?

There are a variety of solutions for removing many of the contaminants in water, as well as delivery systems used to get the water to the point of use more efficiently.

Some decontamination equipment can include:

  • Whole home water treatment systems
  • Reverse Osmosis systems
  • Water conditioning systems
We walk you through every step of the process, so you can understand all our recommendations and what is being done to protect you and your family.

What Can I Do If My Water Pressure Is Poor?

Poor water pressure in a home is frequently the result of faulty or undersized equipment. Our team of professionals can evaluate your water pressure and offer solutions.

Some of the water delivery equipment we use includes:

  • Water pressure tanks
  • Well pumps
  • Water pressure systems
  • Gas and electric hot water tanks
  • Geothermal heat pumps

Why Should a Professional Water Consultant Test My Water if It's From a Municipality?

While city or municipal water is regulated, it does not always ensure that it is the highest quality drinking water or working water (laundry, etc.).

Often, public water isn’t better or worse than well water. Both well water and public water can contain contaminants. Many residents are turning to professionals to install filters and systems to increase the life of laundry equipment, pipes, as well as to ensure their drinking water is of the highest quality.

What Are Geothermal Heat Pumps?

A geothermal heat pump is a system that uses the ground’s constant temperature to act as a balance for the air temperature inside of a house. Despite the fact that surface temperatures can be affected by the air temperature, ground temperatures can be relatively stable several feet below the surface throughout the year. This means that cold or hot air temperatures can be exchanged with the steady ground temperature by water flowing through a geothermal heat pump system. Geothermal heat pumps can also be used to supply hot water to a home as well due to the process used.

How Often Might I Need to Replace My Well Pump?

Well pump replacement can result from a number of causes, making it difficult to say how often they need to be replaced. The general rule is that most well pumps should last around 25 years, but well pumps can fail prematurely for a variety of reasons, such as a loss of well tank pressure, a failure to keep up regular maintenance or even the wear of high levels of contaminants on a well water pump can result in failure. Our technicians are trained to spot the signs of well pump problems and the loss of pressure in water tanks, before they fail.

How Do I Know if I Need to Drill a New Well?

There are several signs to look for if you think your well might be drying up:

  • Water turbidity (murky or muddy water)
  • Pockets of air or sputtering water from faucets
When this happens, our extensive expertise as a well drilling company means that we can give you the best recommendation regarding any well drilling. Often, drilling a new water well isn’t necessary, and the problem can be managed by understanding the positioning of the water pump and the state of the well in general. If well drilling is necessary, our customers can be assured that our well drilling experts will get it done right the first time.

What Makes My Water Smell Bad?

The type of odor your water has can typically help identify what the cause may be. Some common odors, such as a chlorine smell or “rotten eggs” can be caused by chemicals or decaying vegetation or other organic material. Other smells can be caused by different gases or minerals which may occur naturally in the ground around your home. Water odor is one of the best ways to determine that there is water contamination.

What is Alkaline Water?

Alkaline water is water that contains higher levels of mineral compounds that are low in acidity, such as calcium, magnesium, nickel, iron, zinc and sodium. These minerals lower the potential Hydrogen level (or pH level), meaning your body needs to absorb these minerals and contaminants. Water is typically best for people when it has the lowest levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) in water.

What is Arsenic?

As a naturally occurring chemical compound, arsenic is found in most bodies of natural water in the form of salt. Though this is typically found in very small concentrations in nature, this compound is also a byproduct of industrial and agricultural pollution. Continually drinking water that contains arsenic can have a severe impact on a person’s health, especially on the cardiovascular system. Arsenic exposure has even been demonstrated to lead to cancer if large enough quantities are taken for a prolonged period of time.

What is Radon?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is created through the natural decay of uranium, which is found in nearly all soils. This radioactive gas is cancer-causing and is not detectable by sight, smell or taste. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is responsible for nearly 20,000 deaths annually. Radon can enter a building through cracks and holes in a foundation or through the water supply, specifically through well water. Drinking water with radon has been shown to increase a person’s risk for stomach cancer.

While utilizing a “point of use” treatment system is effective at removing radon from drinking water, it will not reduce exposure to radon released into the air from all the other sources of water that are used in the home. Therefore, Carroll Water recommends the use of point-of-entry radon treatment systems for most residential applications.

What is Turbidity?

Turbidity occurs when dirt, sand, or other organic material mixes and dissolves in the water supply. This can occur in both well and public water. If the water contains dirt or is brown when it pours out of a fixture, then turbidity may be an issue you are experiencing. Turbidity can lead to clogged pipes and can increase unnecessary wear on valves, seals, and washers.

What is Methyl Tertiary-butyl Ether (MTBE)?

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether, or MTBE, is an additive that is mixed with gasoline to improve flammability and reduce the amount of carbon monoxide which is put into the air by automobile engines. Unfortunately, MTBE dissolves very quickly in water and some studies have shown that exposure to boiling water that contains MTBE has shown a higher occurrence of malignancy. The overall evaluation by studies focused on the carcinogenic risks of simply drinking water with MTBE is inconclusive. This has led a number of national and international health and environmental agencies to leave MTBE off of lists of known carcinogens, though some of these agencies have admitted that, though there is insufficient evidence at this time, there is indeed a likelihood that MTBE may contribute to occurrences of cancer.

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