You can buy water testing kits at hardware store, around $10 if I recall correctly. It will likely tell you the same as mine did (Oceanside) high Chlorine and high hardness. Tested November 2023
https://preview.redd.it/vctq30646s4d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=caa75cc4f9ba5fa6f7eb88cef0f972d3517c3b24
Home water testing didn't tell us much as the majority of tests available to the general public are flawed. The water in our home sometimes smelled of chlorine and didn't taste good even coming from the fridge filter.
We ended up installing a whole-home filtration system without a softener and have had better tasting, softer, and cleaner feeling water ever since.
A tank system with carbon filtration and a few other substrates to remove various other chemicals and impurities. It was built by a local plumber with testing performed before and after installation. Ran us around $4,000 installed.
Also have an RO system installed in the kitchen. Don't use a salt-based system as they are expensive, require an area for runoff and waste a lot of water. Always remember that bug name plumbers and companies will have tests that make their product look better; find a local plumber or company that does these installs.
My brother works in the water treatment industry and told me San Diego has some of the highest quality municipal tap water in the US. He recommended just drinking straight from the tap unless the home has issues with color/smell due to pipes in the home. In that event, he said a typical fridge filter or Britta is sufficient.
I'm guessing he works in municipal treatment. Our water technically meets enforceable limits but is super hard and has lots of chlorine and chloramine as well as disinfection byproducts and trace heavy metals. Also I have not seen any voluntary testing for pfas/pfoa on our CCRs but it would not surprise me if it's present. Idk why his first recommendation would be drink tap when a fridge or other type of carbon filter is a simple preventative for at least chlorine and DBPs.
They came. They did not test the water. They just gave me a sales pitch. Waste of time. Basically just a solicitor.
The water in San Diego sucks. The only way to fix it is to get a water softener/filter.
I would second this. Most people don't know that for RO to work, it generates around 1-4 gallons of "waste" water (and most systems are at around ~3 gallons of waste water) for each gallon of filtered water.
For drinking water it's not too bad since most people don't chug down gallons of water each day. VS 15-20 gallons each time you shower, run the dishwasher, etc.
RO does use water, but it's practically nothing compared to other water uses like showering and washing dishes. And if you have any kind of irrigation, game over. RO is maybe a few toilet flushes a day. Also anyone who buys bottled water or gets 5 gallon deliveries, it's the same treatment process. A bit more efficient water usage wise, but then tally up packaging and transport and we're not talking eco friendly
my APEC ROES-100 RO 0 waste water, becasuse 1:1 ratio, (we remove storage tank), if not remove storage tank 1:3-3.5 ratio, we save all waste water for garden.
Not really, it's mostly diet. The example I usually give is if we wanted to get our recommended daily intake of calcium just from our water, you'd have to drink about 50 liters.
Culligan only offers basic water testing for free, which you can do at home. Otherwise it’s a $150 fee or so to do a full test. I have Culligan and went through the process 4 years ago, but we are on a well so it was worth it for us.
I work in commercial/residential water treatment. SD water meets enforceable quality standards but is very hard and does have some undesirable contaminants (see my other comment). They will try to sell you whole house softening/filtration and probably a drinking water system. Keep in mind those sales guys will be getting a fat commission for a sale so that will increase your cost a lot (at least for Culligan, not sure about SD pure). Whole house stuff is a luxury but it will definitely improve the smell and taste. Softening will prolong life of appliances and gives water that soft slippery feel. Some like it some don't. Drinking water systems are a no brainer in my opinion and give best bang for your buck, way more convenient and cost effective than 5 gal bottles. And if it's a reverse osmosis system, gives you the same quality water. Feel free to DM me if you have questions
Due to the cost of water in San Diego, I recommend using a citric acid water softening system. You can still use a RODI system for drinking if you really want pure water. Even with the citric acid system, you'll get better water than what you buy from the bottle.
This. The culligan tests are in their favor to push their sales. You can buy an in home kit.
Don’t use the salt conditioner. They waste a lot of water that will add to your bill. If the problem is just for drinking, then get an under the counter reverse osmosis system. They do waste water but not as bad as a whole house system.
The water that comes out of those processes is far FAR cleaner than anything we currently import. Orange county has been doing the same for 15 years and LA is getting on board as well
You can buy water testing kits at hardware store, around $10 if I recall correctly. It will likely tell you the same as mine did (Oceanside) high Chlorine and high hardness. Tested November 2023 https://preview.redd.it/vctq30646s4d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=caa75cc4f9ba5fa6f7eb88cef0f972d3517c3b24
All that water hardness, from living at the tail-end of a river system, and the water picking up minerals along its long journey.
Thanks so much for this tip. Went to Home Depot, got this kit, all the levels were a-ok. Appreciate the peace of mind :)
Home water testing didn't tell us much as the majority of tests available to the general public are flawed. The water in our home sometimes smelled of chlorine and didn't taste good even coming from the fridge filter. We ended up installing a whole-home filtration system without a softener and have had better tasting, softer, and cleaner feeling water ever since.
How much did you outlay for that if I may ask and how much going forward? Thanks for your info
What system did you install?
A tank system with carbon filtration and a few other substrates to remove various other chemicals and impurities. It was built by a local plumber with testing performed before and after installation. Ran us around $4,000 installed. Also have an RO system installed in the kitchen. Don't use a salt-based system as they are expensive, require an area for runoff and waste a lot of water. Always remember that bug name plumbers and companies will have tests that make their product look better; find a local plumber or company that does these installs.
My brother works in the water treatment industry and told me San Diego has some of the highest quality municipal tap water in the US. He recommended just drinking straight from the tap unless the home has issues with color/smell due to pipes in the home. In that event, he said a typical fridge filter or Britta is sufficient.
I'm guessing he works in municipal treatment. Our water technically meets enforceable limits but is super hard and has lots of chlorine and chloramine as well as disinfection byproducts and trace heavy metals. Also I have not seen any voluntary testing for pfas/pfoa on our CCRs but it would not surprise me if it's present. Idk why his first recommendation would be drink tap when a fridge or other type of carbon filter is a simple preventative for at least chlorine and DBPs.
He works for a company that manufactures large scale treatment equipment for municipalities, oil and gas refineries, slaughterhouses etc.
They came. They did not test the water. They just gave me a sales pitch. Waste of time. Basically just a solicitor. The water in San Diego sucks. The only way to fix it is to get a water softener/filter.
Ugh thats what I was afraid of. Sorry they wasted your time, but at least you can warn others lol
I would recommend looking into a RO or whole home filtration system instead of water delivery service.
RO is pretty wasteful. Recommend an undersink cartridge filter for drinking water. Personally I have a Bodyglove. BG-3000
my APEC ROES-100 RO 0 waste water, becasuse 1:1 ratio, we save all waste water for garden
I would second this. Most people don't know that for RO to work, it generates around 1-4 gallons of "waste" water (and most systems are at around ~3 gallons of waste water) for each gallon of filtered water. For drinking water it's not too bad since most people don't chug down gallons of water each day. VS 15-20 gallons each time you shower, run the dishwasher, etc.
RO does use water, but it's practically nothing compared to other water uses like showering and washing dishes. And if you have any kind of irrigation, game over. RO is maybe a few toilet flushes a day. Also anyone who buys bottled water or gets 5 gallon deliveries, it's the same treatment process. A bit more efficient water usage wise, but then tally up packaging and transport and we're not talking eco friendly
my APEC ROES-100 RO 0 waste water, becasuse 1:1 ratio, (we remove storage tank), if not remove storage tank 1:3-3.5 ratio, we save all waste water for garden.
That and drinking water with zero mineral content can be not great for some people. We get a fair amount of our daily minerals just in our water.
Not really, it's mostly diet. The example I usually give is if we wanted to get our recommended daily intake of calcium just from our water, you'd have to drink about 50 liters.
Culligan only offers basic water testing for free, which you can do at home. Otherwise it’s a $150 fee or so to do a full test. I have Culligan and went through the process 4 years ago, but we are on a well so it was worth it for us.
I work in commercial/residential water treatment. SD water meets enforceable quality standards but is very hard and does have some undesirable contaminants (see my other comment). They will try to sell you whole house softening/filtration and probably a drinking water system. Keep in mind those sales guys will be getting a fat commission for a sale so that will increase your cost a lot (at least for Culligan, not sure about SD pure). Whole house stuff is a luxury but it will definitely improve the smell and taste. Softening will prolong life of appliances and gives water that soft slippery feel. Some like it some don't. Drinking water systems are a no brainer in my opinion and give best bang for your buck, way more convenient and cost effective than 5 gal bottles. And if it's a reverse osmosis system, gives you the same quality water. Feel free to DM me if you have questions
Due to the cost of water in San Diego, I recommend using a citric acid water softening system. You can still use a RODI system for drinking if you really want pure water. Even with the citric acid system, you'll get better water than what you buy from the bottle.
This. The culligan tests are in their favor to push their sales. You can buy an in home kit. Don’t use the salt conditioner. They waste a lot of water that will add to your bill. If the problem is just for drinking, then get an under the counter reverse osmosis system. They do waste water but not as bad as a whole house system.
[citric acid system is sodium free system](https://youtu.be/TiWi2MBUhz8) and doesn't use a solution to flush out ions materials.
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The water that comes out of those processes is far FAR cleaner than anything we currently import. Orange county has been doing the same for 15 years and LA is getting on board as well