Building a House? Don’t Forget About Water Treatment
Water Treatment Tips, Tricks and Suggestions to Consider When Building a New House
One thing is certain, when building a new home you will need to have a solid water source. Knowing the water situation on the front end will help you budget appropriately for water treatment equipment and effectively plan for a smooth transition into your new space–saving you time, money and headaches in the future.
Here are a few tips, questions and suggestions that can help make sure that you have everything planned for your water needs prior to your build.
What Will Your Water Source Be?
The most common water sources used in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan are wells, ponds, and municipal (city) water. Each come with their own benefits and challenges. Your water source and water quality will determine what type of water treatment equipment will be needed.
A few questions to ask your builder and/or well driller…
- What is their process for helping the homeowner determine a water source?
- What are the known water issues in this area?
- What are the neighbors using?
- What are the depths of the wells in the area and what are the flow rates?
- Is this a known area where there are low yield wells, no water, or high sulfur content?
- Are the contractors local and do they know the area?
The answers to these questions will help homeowners make an educated decision with their builder on how to move forward with their water source. Once that is determined, you will have a better understanding of what type of water treatment equipment might be needed for the home.
More food for thought…
Wells
In some parts of our service area, water is naturally flowing, and plentiful. In other areas, there is simply no water to be found. If drilling a well, you’ll need to make sure water is in that area. The type of water your well produces will determine what type of water treatment is necessary for your home.
If you plan on drilling a well, ask your well driller, neighbors, and/or local water treatment professionals what to expect from the water in the location you will be building.
Once your well is drilled, seek out your local water treatment professional. They will test your water and provide you with recommendations on what type of water treatment equipment is best suited for the quality of the water and provide you with a quote for your budget.
Check out common water quality and quantity issues in Northwest Ohio and Southeastern Michigan in this blog:
What’s in Your Water
Ponds
Many homeowners in our area rely on their pond as their primary water source. This is a great option for those who have no water on their property or have un-treatable or high-maintenance water situations. Pond water treatment systems can be a safe and viable solution. These systems must be installed by water treatment professionals that are certified through the Ohio Department of Health.
If you are digging a pond and plan on using this as your primary water source, appropriate permits will need to be applied for and obtained prior to installation of the system. Approved contractors for digging ponds and installing water treatment equipment can be found on the Ohio Department of Health Website.
It is important to work with your builder, plumbers, electricians and water treatment professionals to make sure that appropriate space and proper hookups are planned to prevent installation delays and additional added costs.
Municipal (City) Water
According to the Water Quality Association, approximately 85% of the U.S. population receives water from community water systems. These systems are required to meet standards set forth by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
If you have city water, ask your neighbors how they treat their water. Many homeowners using city water have water softeners, carbon filters and reverse osmosis systems installed to improve the quality and/or taste of their water.
Budget for Water Treatment Equipment
The cost to treat water will vary based on the water quality as well as the homeowners wants and needs. Working with your local water treatment professional and having them involved in the process can help with identifying approximate cost and maintenance of the equipment.
There are instances in which water treatment equipment will be required by the Ohio Department of Health which include pond water treatments systems and shallow wells. On the other hand, many homeowners will choose to have water treatment equipment installed for aesthetic reasons such a hard water, odor, staining, and taste.
Whatever the case, knowing what you need, what you want, and how much it costs will be an advantage to you in the process of building your home.
Plan Adequate Space for Water Treatment Equipment
Planning appropriate and adequate space for water treatment equipment is essential. You will want to make sure that there is enough space for the installation, and for the future service and maintenance of the equipment. When enough space is not left, it can be difficult for the water treatment professional to install the equipment and can make it difficult to service in the future. This could potentially cost the homeowner in more time and labor.
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Paint colors, siding, lighting, flooring, fixtures…oh my!! Decisions are coming at you from every angle when building a home. Knowing your water and water treatment options from the beginning will eliminate at least one big decision. It can be devastating and costly to homeowners when they find out after their beautiful new home is built that they have poor water quality.
Let us help you #TakeControlofYourWater!
You have probably heard us say this before, and we will say it again—your water is important! Teaming up with your builder and local water treatment professional can help you have the peace of mind and quality of life that you deserve.
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