Environmental Water Systems Page 4

Environmental Water Systems Page 4

For more information, call Western Safety Products at 206-264-0808 or email sales@westernsafety.com.

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**Environmental Water System**
The Environmental Water System combines in one appliance, a high grade of Granular Activated Carbon to filter water to the whole home and our ICN Conditioner(s) for physical conditioning, as an alternative to salt softening. Environmental Water Systems (EWS) filters and conditions all your water to your home for a healthier lifestyle. EWS Water Conditioning causes a physical change in how naturally found calcium and magnesium minerals react in your water and on your surfaces. EWS keeps these essential minerals in your water for a pure, fresh taste while helping to solve the problems associated with hard water. In each appliance, water is filtered through the media bed of Granular Activated Carbon (GAC), and then conditioned as it passes through the ICN Conditioner(s) on its way to your home. The ICN Conditioner breaks apart the calcium and magnesium minerals, that easily adhere to surfaces (including your skin), from the bonds of the water molecules. Once in suspension, the minerals become attracted to each other and form concentric patterns which no longer adhere to surfaces, actively inhibiting scale formation. EWS Conditioning will inhibit scale formation in your pipes and water heaters while making better use of soaps and cleaners and an easier wipe up of water spots in your daily routines. In use Worldwide, our catalytic process is called, Increased Calcite Nucleation (ICN). Baking soda and other surfactants have been used in soaps and detergents for years to create the same ICN reaction, allowing soaps to work regardless of water conditions. EWS Water Conditioning should not be confused with water softening. Softening is the exchange of naturally found minerals for either sodium or potassium chloride. Softening is not a filtration product. Softening can be very aggressive and has many trade-offs, disadvantages, slippery feeling, routine maintenance, and even legal restrictions. EWS employs an environmental approach to water hardness issues, while allowing you to enjoy filtered water throughout your home. The Environmental Water System is like having a bottled drinking water factory in your home. Most filtration systems, some of which we also manufacture, are devices that hook directly to the cold water supply under your sink. This provides you with varying degress of filtered water limited to that tap only. EWS Filtration is designed to provide you filtered water to the entire home. EWS provides filtered water for your consumption and usage at all your sinks, and filtered water for your consumption, absorption and inhalation during bathing, showering, steam or sauna. EWS Filtration provides a healtheir, cleaner, quality water environment for you, your family, and your home. In addition, EWS Conditioning helps solve those problems associated with hard water without the disadvantages of salt-softening and brine discharge. EWS saves you money. Now you can filter and condition water to your entire home without the continual maintenance. Environmental Water Systems uses no salts or other additives and EWS filtration is provided for years before GAC media needs replacement. Enjoy the benefits of conditioned and filtered, quality water for fractions of a penny per gallon. Your professional plumber or builder can install an Environmental Water System to the main water supply to your home in a couple of hours. The EWS Appliance incorporates the EWS Digital Technology Valve and is extremely user friendly. The system automatically backwashes itself, once installed, it’s set and leave it alone.The EWS system also takes up less room than a soft water system, does not take up vital kitchen cabinet space, there are no bags of salt to lift, or filters to buy. Quality, clean, healthier water from every tap, for all your uses, every day.
Read across the chart starting with name of the test, the unit of measurement, and the maximum contaminant level allowed. These are grouped by type; organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, radionuclides, aesthetic standards and additional parameters.
PRIMARY STANDARDS - Mandatory Health-Related Standards			PRIMARY STANDARDS - Mandatory Health-Related Standards
Parameter	Units	MCL	Parameter	Units	MCL
Microbiological			Inorganic Chemicals
Coliform Bacteria	# acute violations	0 (none)	Aluminum	mg/l	1.0
Organic Chemicals			Arsenic	mg/l	0.005
Total trihalomethanes	mg/l	0.10	Barium	mg/l	1.0
Endrin	mg/l	0.0002	Cadmium	mg/l	0.01
Lindane	mg/l	0.004	Chromium	mg/l	0.05
Methoxychlor	mg/l	0.01	Fluoride	mg/l	1.4
Toxaphene	mg/l	0.005	Lead	mg/l	0.05
2,4-D	mg/l	0.1	Mercury	mg/l	0.002
2,4,5-TP Silvex	mg/l	0.01	Nitrate	mg/l	10.0
Atrazine	mg/l	0.003	Nitrite	mg/l	1.0
Bentazon	mg/l	0.018	Selenium	mg/l	0.01
Benzene	mg/l	0.001	Silver	mg/l	0.05
CaroonTetrachioride	mg/l	0.0005
1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane	mg/l	0.0002	Radioactivity
1,2-,4-Dichlorobenzene	mg/l	0.005	Gross Alpha Activity	pCi/l	15
1,1-,2-Dichloroethane	mg/l	0.005	Gross Beta Activity	pCi/l	50
1,1-Dichloroethylene	mg/l	0.006	Tritium	pCi/l	20,000
1,2-,3-Dichloropropane	mg/l	0.005	Strontium-90	pCi/l	8
Dichloromethane	mg/l	0.005	Radium 226 and 228 combined	pCi/l	5
Ethylbenzene	mg/l	0.680	Uranium	pCi/l	15
Ethylene Dibromide	mg/l	0.00002
Molinate	mg/l	0.02	SECONDARY STANDARDS-NON-HEALTH RELATED Aesthetic Standards set by CDHS
Monochlorobenzene	mg/l	0.03
Simazine	mg/l	0.01
Sytrene (Styrene)	mg/l	0.1	Parameter	Units	MCL
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane	mg/l	0.001	Color	units	15
Tetrachloroethane	mg/l	0.005	Odor-Threshold	units	3
Thiobencarb	mg/l	0.07	Chloride	mg/l	500
Toluene	mg/l	0.15	Copper	mg/l	1.0
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene	mg/l	0.07	Foaming Agents (MBAS)	mg/l	0.5
1,1, I-Trichloroethane	mg/l	0.200	Iron	mg/l	0.3
1,1,2-Trichloroethane	mg/l	0.032	Manganese	mg/l	0.05
Trichloroethylene	mg/l	0.005	Sulfate	mg/l	500
Vinyl Chloride	mg/l	0.0005	Zinc	mg/l	5.0
Xylenes	mg/l	1.750	Total Dissolved Solids	mg/l	1,000
Cis-l,2-Dichloroethylene	mg/l	0.006
Trans-l,2-Dichloroethylene	mg/l	0.01	Additional Constituents Analyzed MCL - No Standards Set (nss)
Trichloroftuoromethane (Freon 11)	mg/l	0.15
Carbofuran	mg/l	0.018
Glyphosphate	mg/l	0.7	Parameter	Units	MCL
Chlordane	mg/l	0.0001	pH	units	nss
Heptachlor	mg/l	0.00001	Hardness (CaC03)	mg/l	nss
Heptachlor Epoxide	mg/l	0.00001	Sodium (NaCl)	mg/l	nss
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate	mg/l	0.004	Calcium	mg/l	nss
Alachlor	mg/l	0.002	Potassium (K)	mg/l	nss
Dalapon	mg/l	0.2	Magnesium (Mg)	mg/l	nss
Dinoseb	mg/l	0.007
Diquat	mg/l	0.02
Endothall	mg/l	0.1
Oxamyl	mg/l	0.2
Pentachlorophenol	mg/l	0.001
Polychlorinated Biphenyls	mg/l	0.0005
MCL = maximum contamination level
What do these water standards mean and how do they affect you?
Most municipal water districts are attempting to do the best job of providing safe drinking water to their communities. There are many issues concerning our health and that of our families. Air, water and food supplies are all suspect. It is our goal to make some sense of water issues and provide information, in order for consumers to make educated decisions. The following are excerpts from the standard language provided to consumers requesting information about their water supply in their community. This is a great place to start because it sets the table for a good general understanding of water issues and how we may compliment the water through filtration or reduce any particular issues of actual concern. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, that may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agricultural livestock operations, and wildlife. Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, that can be naturally-occurring or result from urban storm water runoff, industrial or domestic wastewater discharges, oil and gas production, mining, or farming. Pesticides and herbicides, that may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture, urban storm water runoff, and residential uses. Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, that are by-products of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban storm water runoff, agricultural application, and septic systems. Radioactive contaminants, that can be naturally-occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activities. All municipally-treated drinking water is subjected to extensive testing, not only for regulated contaminants, but also for non-regulated as well. For example, the Cities of Vacaville, CA. and Las Vegas, NV. performed more than 70,000 tests on water samples throughout the year, which is typical of most water districts. Water districts also conduct source Water Assessments and Vulnerability Studies. This study evaluates the quality of the water used as drinking water supplies for local communities. The assessment survey examines activities associated with the specific waterway and surrounding areas to determine potential contaminiation. Any potential contributors are then compiled into a Vulnerability Summary. Now, what is a local door-to-door water salesman going to test for? Usually, the naturally-found calcium and magnesium minerals, which are not contaminants (see water standards) in order to “pitch” a water softener. A reverse osmosis system will be added to the “pitch”, in order to remove the salt, the softener put in, so you have something to drink! Interesting to note, those assessment studies have been making recommendations in over 30 states to restrict softeners due to the brine discharge. The use of reverse osmosis systems have been questioned. They are greatly misapplied and can waste up to 20 gallons of rejection water for every gallon of water produced. Water in the News Security is an issue that conerns us all. Federal, State and Local Agencies, partnered with the various water agencies, are taking precautionary measures to provide safe, clean drinking water to their citizens. However, a toxic chemical introduced into a municipal system would dissipate over millions of gallons of water rendering it harmless. The Flavor of the Day, Chromium, Arsenic, MTBE, Trihalomethanes (THMs) are samples of many items that may create issues with our water supplies. Ironically, chlorine used to disinfect our water, is one of the most toxic chemicals on any list. You can smell and taste it and easily test for it. It is the reason most people buy bottled water or filter at the sink. EWS can filter the chlorine and the associated volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) once the chlorine has disinfected the water. Special Information Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised people such as those with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, people who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants. Most people simply want better tasting water, others have greater concerns. EWS Filtration to the whole home takes care of the chlorine and VOC’s and is a great compliment to most municipal water for most people. EWS Filtration to the whole home is also a healthier water environment for skin, hair and body systems due to absorption and inhalation. However, specific sink applications are available, and can be combined with whole home filtration for specific problems or concerns at the sink for drinking, cooking and other uses.
Is there a problem with your water and what should you do?
Common water quality concerns explained: Water comes out of tap white and “foamy”, this goes away when the water sits for a time. Air in the water will give the appearance of “foam” or white particles. This is not a health concern and does not affect the quality of the drinking water. Water smells bad, often at only one sink. Sink p-traps become clogged over time with food and other waste residues. As waste residues decay offensive odors can result. This can lead to a backup of odor, especially when the hot water is run. Flushing drains regularly will reduce or eliminate p-trap odor backup. Black particles are in the water. This is often due to the breakdown of the black rubber inside some types of flexible braided hoses connected to the hot water system. Check and replace with hoses that do not contain rubber. Water is yellow or brown only for a short period of time. Occasionally, fire hydrants are opened or water lines are repaired, resulting in the dislodging of particles into the water. When this occurs, open large taps and flush water until the water clears. Strong chlorine smell, water tastes like chlorine. Water supplies can consist of ground water from wells, aquifers, lakes, reservoirs, aqueducts, etc.. All water sources have different properties which affect the way they respond to chlorination. Chlorination is necessary to prevent health risks, but can cause changes in taste and odor. To improve the taste of the water, try leaving the water standing in a pitcher or add a slice of lemon. Water purification filters that contain activated carbon also may improve the taste of the water. Chlorine and other disinfectants used by water districts are “double-edged swords”. On one hand, these chemicals are effective, on the other hand, there is mounting evidence of the problems associated with these compounds. Water causes spots on surfaces. Our water may be considered hard to some extent. This can cause some water spots and deposits on fixtures and other surfaces. Some residents remove the hardness, with is naturally found calcium and magnesium minerals, with a “water softener,” which replaces these hardness minerals with sodium. If a water softener is used, it should only be connected to the inlet of the hot water heater, so not to add sodium to the cold water for drinking. This and every water district in California makes the same statement, unless that area actually has an outright ban on softeners. Note the statement tells a truth a salesman selling softeners is not going to tell you! Softeners add salt to the water and you should not drink softened water. Softeners are not filtration devices and offer no water quality improvement for you, your family or your home. If the salesman offers you potassium instead of salt, bear in mind, he’s playing with semantics. The potassium he’s offering, as a salt substitute, is potassium chloride and is just another salt with all the same problems. Our discussion on softening vs. EWS conditioning will begin, once you have a good perspective on filtration. Know something about your water, call your municipal water district. If you’re on your own well or on a small unregulated system have the water independently tested for complete results on the health of your water. (please see our section on well water and potential problem-solving) Following pages gives you a perspective on how the EWS - Environmental Water System - Whole Home Filtration and Conditioning Appliance can compliment your water by providing great, clean, quality, chlorine-free water to the entire home, to all your fixtures, showers, tubs, steam, sauna, refrigerator, ice-makers, for all your uses. See the GAC information and filtration chart for a summary of removal capabilities and the GAC incorporated in all EWS Appliances. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State Department of Health Services or other state agency, prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Water districts make a commitment to ensure that your water meets the highest water quality standards and is a reliable source. Drinking water may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk.

**Hard & Soft Water Facts**
A HARD WATER PERSPECTIVE AND ITS TREATMENT Hard water can be a multi-million dollar problem for individuals and business. Scale formation can increase the cost of equipment maintenance, shorten equipment life, decreased water heater efficiency requires greater usage of soaps and cleaners and can simply waste time and energy. The hardness of water is determined by the amount of calcium and magnesium in the water. Calcium carbonate molecules solidify instantly when they come in contact with any hard surface and then grow upon themselves in every direction. Because of their tree-like shape they are called dendritic crystals. They constitute the beginning of the formation of lime scale. It is important to note that the hardness minerals are a component of the total dissolved solids (TDS) in your water. These minerals and the TDS are generally an aesthetic consideration (as evidenced in your water standards) and not a consumption problem. By definition, hard water has these minerals and naturally soft water is low or devoid of this mineral content. Hard water can build up, yet can be maintained or properly treated. However, it is important to note, soft water is aggressive and corrosive. If soft, water naturally will seek to balance itself by leaching any minerals found in its’ path. This creates problems for a diverse amount of water features such as; copper pipe, finishes, pools and spas, to name a few. Ironically, hard water is considered healthier (note: bottled water adds back minerals and spring water from natural sources all have a mineral content, from low to very high for taste). Hard water has greater properties of assimilation, the opposite of aggressive water. Of all the water on our planet, most is sea water and is undrinkable. Of the limited supply of fresh water available, most is hard to some extent or another. SOFTENING - THE HARD FACTS Softening has been around since the 1920’s. In the process of softening, calcium and magnesium ions are removed from the water and replaced by sodium ions in a process called ionic exchange. The use of sodium or potassium chloride is used in this process. In this process the minerals have been exchanged for a salt, and in fact the TDS remains the same or in some instances is greater. The results are prevention of lime scale in your water heater or pipes, easier wipe up of water spots and the better use of soaps. Dishwasher results improve, but only if you use your appliance properly. However, the disadvantages are an aggressive and corrosive water that needs to be bypassed from drinking and from equipment such as the pool or spa, otherwise you may void their warranty. The exchange of the minerals for a salt creates a two-fold problem; one, the water now lacks the minerals making it soft and aggressive, and two, the water has a sodium or potassium chloride content making the water more corrosive. Remember, your TDS has remained the same. Something has replaced your calcium and magnesium minerals! "Softened" water has a slippery feeling in the shower due to the new make up of the water (it’s the salt, not the natural oils from your skin that the salesman told you!). If a softener is on all your water, you may be asked to put a reverse osmosis at your kitchen sink, so you can remove the salt from the water the softener put in, and have a tap to drink from! Some homes now have soft water loops, because the water from a softener has its consumption and warranty issues. The loop bypasses the softener to provide unsoftened water to your kitchen sink, ice maker and hose bibs. If the water from a softener should be bypassed or filtered, and is not necessarily good to drink, why would you bathe or shower in it? TDS (now with a higher salt content) in water will still require you to maintain swamp and evaporative coolers, humidifiers, steam irons, shower heads, aerators and any items where the water is processed through small pores and restricted flow rates. Due to the corrosive or aggressive nature of softened water you may find a written or implied warranty issue with manufacturers of these and other products. Please note that softeners do not filter, they soften. The marketing of problems associated with hard water relates more to selling softeners than actual fact. How do people achieve results without treatment? You still have to use your clothes washer and dishwasher properly to get good results. Water heaters should be flushed for longer life however if you soften be aware of the corrosion at the bottom of your heater over time. Surfaces can and should be sealed and all detergents are now formulated for low suds, add salt and soaps suds up - suds do not clean! The nature of softening product is a trade off of problems, not necessarily a solution. Last issue is the environmental one; water softeners are already illegal or restricted in various areas in the U.S. (more municipalities are making this a consideration) because of the brine discharge of the softener during the regeneration process. Municipal and waste water treatment facilities have an increasing problem with this by-product, which inhibits the ability of delivering the required quality of water to the community and your home.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONING - INFORMED ALTERNATIVE The ICN conditioner acts as a catalyst in the water. The bonds that trap foreign particles to water molecules are broken and expose those foreign particles to the open solution. The surfaces of these particles become available as nucleation points for the hardness minerals. The hardness minerals cluster together to form microscopic seed crystals around those nucleation points. This process is called increased calcite nucleation (ICN). All the hardness minerals in the vicinity of these seed crystals eventually come in contact with its surface. The hardness minerals solidify there and no longer have an affinity for hard surfaces with which the water comes in contact. In order to understand this easier, look at a box of laundry detergent. Years ago, detergents asked you to add more soap in hard water and suds were the visual test. Since 1980, low sudsing formulas were an improvement (suds do not clean, are hard to rinse out, and bad for the appliance) and the detergent does not care whether the water is hard or soft. Detergents add "water conditioners" or ionic and/or anionic surfactants that attract the hardness minerals to their surfaces in a process called increased calcite nucleation (ICN). A billion-dollar business using the same physical process, incorporated in the Environmental Water System, to the advantage of the consumer and the environment. The minerals in your water are naturally found in 95% of all freshwater and under no circumstances are considered contaminants. These hardness minerals (calcium and magnesium) are part of the natural balance of water. Low hardness can make water aggressive and corrosive. Adding salts and replacing these minerals becomes foolish and make for warranty and drinking quality issues (due to the sodium or potassium chlorides) and septic and environmental issues (because of the brine discharge). The Environmental Water System - Filtration and Conditioning Appliance does not have any of these issues or limitations. ENVIRONMENTAL WATER SYSTEMS AND ITS APPROACH The ICN conditioner is a unique product, exclusive to EWS, Inc. and Environmental Water Systems. Incorporated, as part of the riser manifold within the GAC media, the ICN is a cell containing dissimilar metals that have gone through a specific charging process. The three-dimensional field created by the ICN creates the reaction that it is named after. Environmental Water Systems filters all the water to your home or facility and physically conditions the water preventing the formation of lime scale deposits in your pipes and water heater. Furthermore, physically conditioned water is capable of dissolving formerly deposited scale. This water tends to sheet, allowing for faster drying times. Any water that does evaporate on a surface may leave a spot due to total dissolved solids in the water. However, this is easily wiped away, as opposed to untreated hard water spotting, which adheres to surfaces. In addition, aerators and shower heads may develop a ring that should be easy to wipe off, depending on the faucet, water flow and water conditions. A further benefit of our conditioned water is that it allows for better assimilation of anything added to it. You get better lather in your hand soaps and shampoos, and savings on detergent soaps and cleaners. Even the amount of coffee or tea can be reduced according to taste. Along with this conditioned effect, which is a benefit to you, your home and the products therein, do not underestimate the value of filtered water throughout your home. Do not lose sight of the fact that the reason for water is for consumption, to the benefit of you and your family. Environmental concerns and the pollution and improper use of water supplies effect us all. With aesthetics being important in our culture, it is a distant second to the consumption quality of our water and the polluting of our water supplies. COMMON SENSE - BE INFORMED AND NOT SOLD Although nothing is perfect regarding water; you still have to wipe it off the counter, black surfaces will show more, low flow toilets require more work than old ones, small openings will eventually clog, sunlight will bake water on surfaces. We ask to you to use your common sense and be an informed consumer. Both Environmental Water Systems and softeners prevent buildup in your pipes and water heaters. Both allow an easier wipe down of water spots and maintenance of problems associated with hard water. However, Environmental Water Systems conditions and filters all the water to your home, softeners do not. Environmental Water Systems does not use salt or potassium chloride to produce the desired effect and therefore does not require the separate plumbing lines or the maintenance of the softener and other filtration devices at a sink. Environmental Water Systems provide a pleasurable showering experience, where the water feels clean coming on and off; without the slippery feeling the softener provides, yet both systems allow you to wipe down your shower enclosure effectively. As a manufacturer of a complete line of water treatment product, EWS, Inc. makes Environmental Water Systems and, ironically, the most efficient softeners in the market today. We are just providing you, the consumer, a choice in your treatment options. Be Informed, Not Sold
EWS PHYSICALLY CONDITIONED WATER BENEFITS A Common Sense Approach Ask yourself, if the desired water effects are similar, why deal with the nutritional, consumption, quality, maintenance, aggressive/corrosive and environmental disadvantages of a softener, when an Environmental Water System offers benefits similar to the softener without the disadvantages. Ever see the prices on softeners and their companion reverse osmosis systems? They are either higher or competitive with an EWS unit. However, cheap units are available in local markets. These units are just that, cheap! By the time you use your salt or the costlier potassium chloride, the wasted water, the R.O. pre and post-filters and the membrane replacement, your cheap unit is more costly than an EWS unit without all the benefits. Just a note. The ICN conditioner is not a magnet. The ICN conditioner is a unique product that creates a virtually permanent reaction. Magnets and other devices work over short distances and over short periods of time, therefore the results are not as beneficial for residential use. Magnets and pulse devices temporarily suspend the minerals and do not create the nucleation effect that is so effective to physically condition the water. Throughout the U.S., the technique of selling water product at the door is something Environmental Water Systems does not engage in. The appointment setting, the give-a-ways, and the hard sell is left to those that are selling a flawed product. You don’t buy a refrigerator this way?! Why trust your water to this approach? Be informed. Compare our benefits. Environmental Water Systems is the only appliance in the water business. Showcased by the National Association of Home Builders and in a survey selected as a "Favorite 50" product by Builder Magazine and ranked 15 of the top 150 products surveyed by Building Products Magazine. Please read the answers to frequently asked questions and consult with your local appliance, plumbing products dealer or kitchen and bath showroom. Conditioned Water Benefits, An Alternative to Softening Without the Disadvantages Environmental Water Systems conditions your water for a healthier lifestyle. EWS water conditioning causes a physical change in the minerals found in your water. In each unit the water is filtered through the Granular Activated Carbon then conditioned as it passes through the ICN conditioner. The ICN conditioner breaks apart calcium and magnesium minerals that easily adhere to surfaces (including your skin) into small nuclei with concentric patterns which no longer adhere to surfaces and actively inhibits scale formation. EWS will filter and condition your water. What does that mean for you and your family? First, your body is between 70 and 80 percent water. Water is the key to every body function especially the circulatory, assimilation, digestive, elimination and temperature control systems. Your body takes in vital water from various sources; orally by drinking, direct skin absorption and inhalation. Chemicals and other substances may be absorbed into the body that are contained in the water. Conditioned and filtered water removes agents such as chlorine. Chlorine plays havoc with our skin and hair because it chemically bonds with the protein in our bodies. It makes hair brittle and dry; it can make sensitive skin dry. flaky and itchy. Q: Would you purchase a water system that removes your essential minerals and replaces them with salt? A: Of course not. However, that is exactly what traditional softeners do. Benefits: * Better tasting, quality, chlorine-free water to your entire home * Great for drinking, cooking, bathing, showering and all uses * Healthier skin, hair and body systems * Luxury bath, steam, sauna, and shower * Natural water balance * No slippery, slimy feeling in the shower * Inhibits scale and corrosion in pipes and water heaters * Reduces previous sediment build-up in pipes and heaters * Easier to wipe up and clean up * Use less soaps and conditioners * Reduces drying time and heat to dry * Environmentally safe, no brine discharge * No salts or chemicals to add, No environmental restrictions, No continual maintenance expense * No loops or bypasses to avoid the softened water * No warranty issues with other products as a result of the salts
Over the years we have been asked and have answered many questions. The following are a sample of some popular questions to give you some perspective. Q: How does Environmental Water taste? A: Even though taste is subjective and very personal. Opinions vary, however, customers refer to our water as tasting like "country" water of yesteryear. They report our water is "smooth", natural tasting, has "vitality", is "sparkling clear" and has no odor. Many of our customers report, "We really enjoy drinking our water," and "We are now drinking more water." Water is necessary to the body, which is composed mainly of water. The body loses water through elimination and perspiration from 3-6 pints of water a day. More water is lost if working or exercising hard. This water should be replaced with quality water. The kidneys process 100 gallons of water a day. Clean water (6-8 glasses a day) is a necessity in flushing out impurities. Water is one of the four main nutrients of the body and the most often overlooked. Q: How does the feel of Environmental Water compare to salt softened water? A: EWS conditioned water is not mushy soft nor does it have that slippery, soapy-feel of softened water, that never seems to wash off. EWS water comes on and rinses off completely with a nice clean feeling. Most customers prefer the "squeaky clean" feel of Environmental Water than that of a softener, however this is a personal choice. Q: How do washing and cleaning results compare to salt-softened water? A: Surveys of our customers show that washing and cleaning with EWS is comparable to salt-softened water. Customers use less soaps, shampoos, cleaning materials, than they used when their hard water was untreated. Customers report that they no longer use fabric softener, anti-static sheets, or hair conditioners. They also report that their clothes and hair dry faster, thus saving on time and energy costs. Q: Will the Environmental Water System with ICN help prevent scale in my home? A: Yes. In fact, our system will even help remove the existing build-up in water pipes and water-using appliances. Removing scale and corrosion will prolong the life of your water heater, your appliances, and plumbing fixtures. It will also reduce your energy costs. Hot water heaters with scale build-up require more energy to heat the water. Keep in mind, softeners use salt, EWS does not; Salt is known to be corrosive. Q: Where should the Environmental Water System be installed? A: The EWS should ideally be installed on the main water line of your home to treat all the water in your home. This can be determined by your builder or plumber. If you locate the main water shut off valve to your home, the pipe thereafter will supply all the water to the unit. Be careful of soft water loops which bypass certain pipes that should not be softened. Treat and protect the system like you would a water heater. A garage, basement or utility room install is fine. Take care with outside installations and take the logical steps to protect the systems from the elements. Q: How much maintenance is required of the Environmental Water System? A: Every few years, the GAC media and ICN(s) should be replaced as a replacement kit within the tank. Historically, our field surveys show 7-10 years of useful life. EWS, Inc. typically recommends every 7-8 years depending on local water conditions and usage. Proper application, installation, set-up and backwashing effects the useful life. However, no salt, chemicals, filters, or other supplies need to be bought and added or changed on a monthly or annual basis. The automatic system requires no maintenance. A digital timer is set to automatically backwash (clean out) the carbon bed. The backwash water can be used to water a garden area so no water is wasted. Plants flourish on this water. This water can also be put into a drain line with no detrimental effects to septic tanks or sewer lines. Q: Will my ice cubes be clear? A: No. Water is very unique. Clarity of ice is not a quality issue or consideration. Water expands when it freezes and contracts when heated. Water freezes from the outside in. The minerals,being heavier than water, go toward the center and freeze last. The clouded appearance of ice cubes is due to minerals and air. Likewise, when ice melts, the minerals being heavier may drop in the water. Thus, the little flecks you see are actually the heavier minerals. You'll note these will dissolve or blend back into the water as the water temperature increases. Reverse osmosis water will make clearer ice cubes because 90-95% of the minerals are removed. The average home refrigerator ice cube makers inject a lot of air so that even reverse osmosis ice cubes will not be perfectly clear. Reverse osmosis must be plumbed in plastic to icemakers. Copper tubing, which contains copper and aluminum, cannot be used. RO water is aggressive, and will pull or leach copper and aluminum from the tubing, making the water and ice taste metallic. Please consult your refrigerator manufacturer regarding potential warranty issues regarding softeners and reverse osmosis units. Some ice skating rinks are now using de-ionized water (water with little or no minerals). The drawback is the solvency, (the aggressiveness of water without minerals) reacting to the surface of the rink itself and the equipment. Good Housekeeping Institute’s Appliance Lab states “for crystal-clear cubes, you need a professional ice-making machine”. Commercial ice-makers work on a quick freeze from one side to another so that the minerals are sloughed off, thus producing clear ice cubes mechanically. Q: How will I know when I need to change out the carbon? A: The standard system, the EWS-1054, has 11/2 cubic feet of carbon (approx. 41 lbs.). We use a high grade GAC. Based on general estimates, this amount of GAC will be effective in removing chlorine from normally treated municipal water for approximately one million gallons. Because of variations in water treatment and usage, there is no guarantee on the life of the carbon. The average family uses about 100,000 gallons of water a year in their home (not including what is used on lawn areas for watering). One hundred gallons of water per day per person is the usual estimate on water usage. When the carbon reaches its saturation point (all the internal pore surfaces are filled) the water will change in taste back to your regular tap water. A pool test kit that tests for the presence of chlorine is the easiest way to test if the GAC media is still effective. Q: How is the carbon changed out? A: The system is put on bypass by turning off the water to the system. Relieve the pressure in the tank by cycling the valve into a backwash. Remaining water will expel, then air as pressure is relieved. Disconnect the backwash/drain line and unplug the system. Disconnect the valve head from the bypass, allowing the tank to pull away from the pipes. Unscrew the valve head and lift off. The carbon and water in the tank can either be dumped out, hosed out with water, or a wet/dry vacuum can be used to suck out the water and wet carbon. Once the water, carbon and ICN riser manifold are removed, A complete kit that contains the new ICN riser manifold and the correct amount of GAC media is supplied making this an easy process. The carbon will fill 2/3 of the tank, which allows 1/3 of freeboard area, which is necessary for backwashing purposes. Once media is replaced, pre-fill the tank with water, then screw on the valve head and reconnect the tank to the bypass. Reconnect the backwash line. Follow the same start-up procedures when the unit was first installed. All this information is in our complete service guides and also available on the web. Replacement kits can be easy obtained by contacting your local distributor, plumber, website, or our local representation. Q: Chlorine in salt-softened water? Why don't I get a reading on chlorine if a person has a saltsoftener and the outside water shows chlorine? A: The softener tank with the resin hold 6-10 gallons of water. If the water has been sitting in that tank for a few hours with little or no use, the resin will have reacted with the chlorine, causing it to break down. Chlorine will also dissipate when it sits in the water heater for a few hours. If a person takes a shower or does a load of wash, the water in the tank is used up and the new water going through will not have the prolonged contact time and the chlorine will come through. Be aware - these man-made resins in a softener break down with usage in chlorinated municipal water. The materials that break down and go in your water are a point of interest. Manufacturers compete on the facts that their resin may not add certain known contaminants as much as a competitor. EWS - NO SOFTENER, NO SALTS, NO RESINS, NO BRINE, NO PROBLEMS! Q: What is Potassium Chloride or the "no salt" alternative? A: It’s not bananas or a healthy potassium (K). It is potassium chloride (KCl), a substitute for salt (sodium chloride) to "soften" the water. It is also based on ionic exchange. The drawbacks to potassium chloride are: a) Anyone with diabetes, heart disease or other conditions should be advised that the use of this product with the increased potassium chloride intake might be a concern to their health and may negate the medications used to treat these conditions. Let’s face it! It’s still a salt, but the seman tics make for a good sales pitch. b) The maintenance of adding potassium chloride to the brine tanks is the same as salt, however the potassium chloride is more expensive. c) During regeneration, excessive amounts of chlorides (as well as TDS) are being put back into our municipal water supply. Those with septic tanks should consider that the brine discharge inhibits the bacteria necessary in the septic tank from doing their job. d) Valuable calcium and magnesium are still being removed from the water. Q: How do I determine what system is right for me? A: The size of your home, the number of bathrooms, the size of the family, the size of the pipe supplying the water to the home, the hardness of the water and your personal habits and considerations - all determine the best system for you and your home. Certain considerations will immediately indicate the proper system. The standard home unit (EWS-1054) is proper for most applications with these exceptions: The service line is 1 1/4" or greater, the hardness of the water exceeds 15 grains or 257 mg/1, five or more people reside in the home, the home exceeds 4,000 square feet, and/or their will be a considerable usage of water, two or more water heaters, etc. The upgraded or larger residential unit (EWS-1354 series) is applicable with all the above exceptions. The larger units have valve options to accommodate larger main services and better water flow rates. The increase in tank size allows for an extra cubic foot of GAC for greater filtration capabilities, and an additional ICN conditioner for better conditioning effects and aesthetics. Discuss this with your local distributor. You may have to ask your builder or plumber the correct question or two, but the result is a correct unit for your current and/or future needs. It is our hope......that we have provided you with as much information as possible on filtration and conditioning. Any additional questions you may have, that have not been answered in these sections, may be answered in our installation, customer service and troubleshooting guide. This guide is available, and is enclosed with every unit or available on the web. Do not let your installer discard this information. Installation is very simple, however an incorrect install or a total disregard of start up procedures is usually the only problems (easily corrected) we have had with any systems since our inception in 1979.
The “Salesperson Cometh!” and other amusing, insightful, and useful hints You’ve bought a major appliance and a competitor’s brand has just rung your doorbell. He asks you what you bought and proceeds to tell you horror stories about that product. Low and behold, he has a test – he explains that what you bought is garbage and he can sell you what you need. Sounds ridiculous, but it happens every day in the “water business.” The salesman at your door has something to sell and he earns a nice commission. He will test for minerals in your water, the same minerals found in bottled water (Coca-Cola adds minerals to provide flavor and taste to their Dasani bottled water) and especially those bottled at the source (Evian, Perrier, and Pellegrino, to name a few). The salesman explains that they’re contaminants and that if you don’t remove them, your investment in your home will be doomed. This will be only the first of many lies or pieces of misinformation you will hear, but maybe you’ll receive a nice clock or steak knives for that test and your time. Maybe you’ll even receive a free year’s worth of soap to go with your overpriced softener. Don’t forget the reverse osmosis system for the sink, or maybe bottled drinking water delivery - wait a minute, didn’t you just buy a water treatment system? Why do you need a filter at the sink or bottled drinking water? Don’t forget about salt delivery, a system maintenance agreement, or that wonderful lease (add up your costs). The reality is, our product was either on display or made available through a Kitchen & Bath Showroom, a building/plumbing/appliance supply company, or your builder and/or plumbing subcontractor. No one came to your door with a bogus test which is slanted to their “pitch.” No one sold you. You were provided information on which to base your decision. You purchased your Environmental Water System in the same manner you selected your other fine appliances. With the proper installation and usage, you will enjoy your system for many years to come. Just a note: when the salesman says or shows you that your EWS is not softening because your water is not soft (“this thing is not working!”), just remember that this salesman tested for minerals (calcium and magnesium). He wants to sell you a softener that removes the minerals and replaces them with salt. Consider this: before a softener, you have total dissolved solids of which minerals are a component. After the softener, the minerals are gone, but the total dissolved solids either remained the same or in some cases, increased. What took the place of the minerals? Salt! Look in this addendum. Point: hardness minerals are not contaminants. They are a non-health related, aesthetic issue. Great Point: you should not drink softened water (hey, if we shouldn’t drink the water, why would we bathe or shower in this stuff?). That is why softeners are bypassed or looped away from the kitchen sink and icemaker. They avoid hose bibs (you’ll kill the plants with softened water) and the pool (you’ll void your pool’s equipment warranty). You’ll also need a reverse osmosis system to remove the salt from the water the softener just put in, just so you have something to drink. Point: softeners have a brine discharge that makes it difficult for municipalities to treat the water properly for the same reasons this discharge is not good for septic systems. For this reason and others, softeners have been banned and restricted in many areas throughout the United States. Many other local and state agencies have restrictions pending on softeners. The EWS backwashes water only, there is no discharge. Now you know why salt softeners are sold door-todoor – it’s a hard-sell and a deceiving pitch. The information does not hold up to the proper scrutiny. However, the salesman probably had an answer for everything. Other issues: no electricity units incorporate additional valving, which requires more servicing. The electricity used by the EWS valves is about the same a doorbell. Remember, the salesman may have a “no-salt-potassium” pitch. It’s potassium chloride! It’s another salt! It’s not crushed bananas. Same softener issues, slightly different chemical. These examples are part of the word games and semantics these companies play. We do not play games. We provide the information to allow you to make an informed decision. Previous Softener Owners: You have selected an alternative to a product you either loved or hated, or for most people, never even considered due to the salt and the salesmen. The salt is a hassle, as is the constant cost for upkeep, and the other issues were interesting. For instance, good drinking water was limited to a sink or refrigerator. The water’s slippery feeling can be disagreeable and the water heater rotted out from the bottom due to corrosive salts. EWS provides good drinking water throughout your entire home – it’s not soft, it’s conditioned. That’s correct – if you wanted that slippery, “I can’t get the soap off” feeling, EWS does not provide that (unless you choose to purchase one of our softeners). The slimy feeling was the salt reacting with the soap, not your natural body oils the salesman pitched to you. If you notice more spots with your EWS unit than with your softener, the salt created that effect corrosively. However, you still had to wipe off things with your old softener. Just simply wipe off our spots – it’s easy and noncorrosive. If your skin feels dry, it’s a transition some softening consumers go through because the skin has become used to the salt. It may last up to 2 weeks, and then you will notice a nice and welcome change. Since we do not use salt and we filter out chlorine, these substances are no longer present to dry out your skin and hair. Long-term usage of our system will be highly beneficial to you. You will use less soap. Your softener created a lot of suds because of the reaction to the salt. However, suds do not clean, the soap does. Please feel free to try other, gentler products on yourself that react better with the natural minerals in your water, and not the salt of sodium or potassium chloride.

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