Thanks guys for all the answers so quickly, deltap you nailed it. I had 3 saleman at 3 different stores basically tell me the way I should process the water. Is there a way to treat the water with out breaking the bank and getting some stuff I do not need. I do not want to overkill it, heck anyone can fix it like that. I had one guy/salesman tell me I could spend 5k on it. Know I have had my own Auto Tire store for 40 years so I got some common sense. I do not need anthing elaborate , my neighbor has a large 6 foot cylinder with caltrate or whatever in it. Then some saleman want to put like 3 big cannisters and other stuff. I will do whatever it takes I just do not want to overkill it. Any ideas of a good reputable sytem that will do the job. Thanks guys
First, get your TESTS made!
"Worst case", presuming small family after 40 years a biznessman, isn't horribly costly.
My "worst case" taking our Hong Kong flat, Wife & M'in-law the year-round residents, as an example.
Two water sources are plumbed as city-wide "standard". Bottled water a "regular" as the third.
It is then down to how we use each.
#1 is the raw seawater, plastic piped, for flushing toilets. Only. Your UNtreated incoming would be the equivalent.
#2 Is "potable water", safe but just barely so. That covers laundry, baths & showers, other washing needs, but not food prep, directly.
Two 4" X 10" cartridge filter in series, one particulates - iron & mud-like rust, mostly, then the second dual-mission with activated Charcoal and pesticide/solvent trapping resin serve a separate tap at the snk and another on the cookstove top.
"Segregated' IOW, from the UNfiltered one for washing dishes and cleaning vegetables.
The filtered water is then boiled first, and stored in a heated to near-boiling Japanese electric rig, pushbutton pumped out for cooking, tea, coffee, noodles, etc. These "boilers" MUST be cleaned, and OFTEN! I use white vinegar first, lemon juice, second, twice a week, here. Daily would be wiser, yet, and we do, air-dried overnight, for the one in Hong Kong.
#3 is now bottled water, and/or soft drinks, fruit juices, etc. for direct human intake. Needed only for cold drinks or carried-with when stepping out for a hike, sports, excursion by car, or long trek to markets, be that by wheels, public trans, or feet, alike.
This is "the way" for a majority of Hong Kong's 7-plus million. No massive filters. Just segregated consumption for appropriate and economic safe use.
I've duplicated the filters here, even though Loudoun Water does a far better job than Hong Kong, and off FAR safer raw water!
With far more space, the resin filter is last of THREE, serving special taps at two double kitchen sinks.
A 24-pack of bottled water is bought about once a quarter whilst I'm here alone, once in two weeks when Wife & M'in law are here, about the same in Hong Kong.
Shorter answer?
It doesn't have to be any sort of "BFD" for a small family. Just arrange your PLUMBING to use what you have more appropriately.
- Laundry and baths, garden hose, carwashing, watering plants not treated at all. Change your detergent, use enhancers if need be to get clothes clean instead.
Give the kitchen the best treatment. Smaller cartridge for the bath(s) - guests especially - for brushing teeth, etc. A separate SPOUT is good so the filters need not get used-up washing hands.
I
did have to give up drinking out of the toilet, too. But it wasn't really helping my bent-over back all that much anyway.
2CW
... actually? I'm told I
never drank out of the toilet, even as a young kid. OTOH, it would have been REALLY hard to do .. since we did not HAVE a toilet back then... only an outdoor privy!