FAQs about us….

Q: I’ve heard about a lot of free water tests. Why would I pay you?

A: There are a lot of free water tests out there but those are conducted by people who work for a water treatment provider. They are, essentially, sales people and you’ve just given them a great lead.

Mountain Stream Resources does not sell equipment. We will test your water and recommend the best system for your problems. We earn our keep by properly testing water and have no interest in “up selling” you a system you don’t need. Contracting us could save you thousands of dollars.

Q: What kind of qualifications do you have?

A: All our employees are certified by the Ministry of the Environment under the OWWCO program. Additionally, most of our employees are Water Treatment Technicians, and are certified by the Canadian Water Quality Association (CWQA).

Q: How long will the test take?

A: That’s a bit of a hard question to answer because every water contamination issue is different, generally speaking though, you should expect us to be testing your water for a couple of hours.

FAQs about water….

Q: My city reports our water is fine. Why should I worry?

A: City water testing is conducted at the treatment plant, in the time that water leaves the plant and arrives at your home it can pick up substances that become a part of the water you receive. Lead and other pollutants can leach into the water from antiquated pipes particularly in older delivery systems. Sediment and odors can also infiltrate the water. Many of these contaminants can have serious health implications for your family.

Q: How does a water softening system remove hardness?

A process called “ion exchange” removes hardness minerals. Hardness-causing particles are positively charged ions (cations). The water runs through the softeners resin bed, which has millions of (anions) negatively charged exchange beads. Through this process, calcium, iron and magnesium (cations) are drawn to the resin bed and are replaced by dislodged sodium ions.

Q: How much sodium will be in my treated water?

A: Very little, thanks to advances made in today’s ion exchange regeneration systems. In most cases, you’ll find less sodium in a glass of softened water than in a slice of regular white bread. If your doctor recommends a sodium-free diet, a POU (point of use) drinking water system such as a reverse osmosis or distillation can reduce the total sodium content to very near zero.

Q: My brother-in-law works for a manufacturing company and he says that his company de-mineralizes their water. Is that the same as softened water?

A: No. Softened water has had the hardness minerals that are problematic in the home removed. De-mineralized water is the end product of a similar, but much more complex treatment system, one employed in sensitive manufacturing processes like pharmaceuticals or computer chip manufacturing. The resulting water is much purer than would normally be required for in-home use and as one would expect, significantly more expensive.

Q: Is activated carbon a safe method of filtration for drinking water?

A: Yes. Activated carbon filtration is recommended by Health Canada, The CWQA and others for use in the removal of trihalomethanes (THMs) and disinfection by-products (DBPs) from a chlorinated municipal supply.

Q: Why does water need to be disinfected?

A: Disinfectants are required because they prevent the spread of dangerous germs that cause diseases. Years ago, before disinfectants, like chlorine were used for drinking water, diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery were common. Drinking water disinfection has vastly improved the safety of drinking water.

Q: Will carbon filtration remove any other impurities from my water?

A: Yes. Activated carbon filters have the ability to effectively remove some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pesticides, industrial solvents (halogenated hydrocarbons) that may be contaminating a water supply. Lead can be removed, but only by a very specific type of activated carbon (AC) block filter.

Q: I’m on a well, will a softener alter the pH level of my water?

A: No, that is to say not that you would notice immediately. However, if the pH has been altered and is causing problems such as corrosion, we can recommend a suitable solution.

Q: Why does my water appear milky or cloudy?

A: A milky or cloudy appearance is usually caused by gas contamination frequently methane and / or hydrogen sulphide. These gasses, particularly methane are highly explosive and water containing them must be aerated and vented to the outside. On the other hand, a defective well pump may contribute air bubbles to the water, which pose no health risk. If the water is allowed to sit, the air / gas will dissipate and the water will clear. If the cloudiness does not disappear, further investigation will be required. Proper testing should be undertaken to identify the contaminant issue.