Lake County’s Hidden Water Crisis: Why High TDS Levels Make Reverse Osmosis Essential for Every Home
When you turn on your tap in Lake County, Florida, you might notice an unusual taste or cloudiness in your water. What you’re experiencing isn’t just an aesthetic issue—it’s a sign of elevated total dissolved solids (TDS) that could be impacting your family’s health and your home’s plumbing systems. Understanding why the quality of ground and surface water in Lake County has specific challenges, particularly with Floridan-aquifer water quality issues resulting from saline water movement, is crucial for making informed decisions about your drinking water.
What Are Total Dissolved Solids and Why Should Lake County Residents Care?
TDS stands for total dissolved solids, and represents the total concentration of dissolved substances in water. Common inorganic salts that can be found in water include calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, which are all cations, and carbonates, nitrates, bicarbonates, chlorides and sulfates, which are all anions. In Lake County specifically, surface water is usually less mineralized than ground water but is more turbid and colored, while ground water from the Floridan aquifer can contain elevated mineral content.
The concern isn’t just about taste. The United States has established a secondary water quality standard of 500 mg/L to provide for palatability of drinking water, but many Lake County residents experience TDS levels well above this recommendation. Water with a TDS level between 600ppm and 900 ppm is in the warning zone. It is drinkable but should be filtered. If the TDS level of your water is 600ppm or above, it is wise to have it tested to determine what is in it.
The Health and Home Impact of High TDS Levels
High TDS levels affect more than just your water’s taste. Higher TDS levels can result in an unpleasant taste and cause mineral deposits on surfaces that come into contact with the water. This can affect the quality of drinking water and the appearance of fixtures, dishes, and appliances. Additionally, dissolved solids can produce hard water, which leaves deposits and films on fixtures, and on the insides of hot water pipes and boilers. Soaps and detergents do not produce as much lather with hard water as with soft water. As well, high amounts of dissolved solids can stain household fixtures, corrode pipes, and have a metallic taste.
From a health perspective, if your water has a TDS level above 1,000ppm, it is not considered drinkable. A TDS level above 2,000ppm is deemed to be unsafe. Even at lower levels, the dissolved substances can include harmful contaminants that affect your family’s wellbeing over time.
Why Reverse Osmosis is the Gold Standard for TDS Reduction
When it comes to removing TDS from your drinking water, reverse osmosis stands out as the most effective solution available to homeowners. Reverse osmosis systems can remove up to 99.9% of all substances from water, including total dissolved solids. This remarkable effectiveness comes from the system’s sophisticated filtration process.
RO removes TDS through several stages of prefilters, resins, and membranes to leave your water squeaky clean. RO removes TDS by combining several stages of prefilters to prepare the water for reverse osmosis, as well as postfilters to polish the water and remove any remaining contaminants. Under ideal working conditions (water composition and temperature), reverse osmosis membranes provide a 98-99% reduction in salts.
The process works by forcing highly pressurized water through a very fine, semipermeable membrane. The membrane allows some compounds like water to pass through it, but does not allow larger compounds through (i.e., a semipermeable membrane). Pressure differences cause pure water to pass through the membrane from the dilute to the more concentrated solution.
Recommended TDS Treatment Thresholds
Understanding when to invest in water treatment is crucial for Lake County homeowners. Typically, a reverse osmosis filtration system is recommended if your water’s TDS level is above 600ppm but below 2,000 ppm. The best way to remove TDS is in your home to install an RO system – they’re the most effective at removing all types of TDS and are durable enough for daily residential use.
For optimal results, a reverse osmosis unit, when functioning correctly, will reduce 75-90% of the TDS on the water, though high-quality systems can achieve even better performance rates.
Quality Safe Water of Florida: Your Local Solution Partner
When searching for a reliable reverse osmosis system Lake County, FL residents can trust Quality Safe Water of Florida to provide comprehensive water treatment solutions. Quality Safe Water of Florida is dedicated to ensuring every Florida family has access to clean, safe, and purified water. We are committed to providing the highest quality, efficient, and affordable water treatment solutions, prioritizing the health and well-being of our customers. Our unwavering dedication to this vision sets us apart as Florida’s most trusted water treatment company, never wavering from our founders’ original mission.
Quality Safe Water is a Florida-based water treatment company dedicated to delivering top-tier solutions for residential and commercial clients. Our unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction sets us apart. We take pride in offering the highest quality, safe, and reliable water treatment systems.
Taking Action: Protecting Your Family’s Health
Don’t let high TDS levels compromise your family’s health and home. The only way to know what is causing high TDS is to have your water professionally tested. Once you understand your water’s specific challenges, a properly installed reverse osmosis system can provide the comprehensive protection your family deserves.
Lake County’s unique geological characteristics mean that many residents face ongoing water quality challenges. By investing in a quality reverse osmosis system, you’re not just improving your water’s taste—you’re making a long-term investment in your family’s health and your home’s infrastructure. The peace of mind that comes with knowing your drinking water meets the highest purity standards is invaluable, especially when you consider the potential costs of dealing with TDS-related damage to appliances and plumbing systems over time.