Every home deserves clean, fresh water, but many residents across Nebraska and Iowa face water quality challenges. As Nebraska’s highest-rated water treatment company, Futuramic’s Clean Water Center helps homeowners identify and solve water issues. From hard city water to water contamination in rural wells, we understand the unique problems in local communities.
Let’s explore common water problems in our area and some proven solutions.
Hard Water
Hard water is one of the most common water problems in Iowa and Nebraska. Hard water contains high amounts of minerals, like calcium and magnesium. Over time, these minerals accumulate in pipe systems, inside water-using appliances, and throughout your home.
You might notice spots on dishes, scale buildup on fixtures, or dry skin and hair. Soap scum may stain glassware and shower doors. You’ll likely start to experience poor water pressure as scale builds up in pipes and fixtures. Additionally, hard water can cause you to use more soap and detergent and make clean laundry feel stiff.
Solution: Water Softeners
Our water-softening systems remove excess calcium and magnesium from water. With a water softener, you can protect your appliances and improve daily living.
Iron & Rust Issues
Red or brown stains in sinks, toilets, tubs, and on laundry often signal high amounts of iron in your water. This problem is especially common in well water systems. You might encounter signs of iron bacteria as a result.
Sometimes, rusty water can point to acidic water causing pipe corrosion, and other times it’s due to well contamination.
Solution: Iron Filtration
Our iron filtration systems remove metals like iron and manganese, preventing stains and that metallic taste some homeowners experience.
Chlorine Taste & Odor
While chlorine keeps municipal water safe by killing bacteria, its taste and smell can make using tap water unpleasant
Solutions: Activated Carbon & Reverse Osmosis
Our filtration systems remove excess chlorine while maintaining the quality of your water, providing great-tasting and odor-free results. Filtration methods include:
- Activated carbon filters
- Reverse osmosis (RO)
Lead
A common Omaha water contamination issue is lead in drinking water. Lead contamination poses serious health risks and typically enters water through old plumbing.
Solution: Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis systems quickly target lead in your tap water. Once you have a filter installed, our team can help you plan a strategy for optimal lead removal for your plumbing setup.
Nitrates
People living in agricultural areas often have elevated nitrate levels in their water. These contaminants can cause negative health effects and require specialized treatment, especially for households with infants or pregnant women. Babies who consume formula mixed with water containing nitrates may develop methemoglobinemia, or “blue baby syndrome,” a deadly condition.
Nitrates can get into water supplies through runoff from fertilized farmland and animal feedlots, as well as septic systems and urban drainage.
Solution: Reverse Osmosis
Our reverse osmosis systems effectively remove nitrates through a special filtering process.
Bacteria
Bacteria in contaminated water can pose serious health risks. Public water systems are treated with disinfectants to make the water safe to drink. If you use a private well, comprehensive water filtration and treatment are essential to protect your health.
Solutions: UV Treatment, Chlorination, & Ozone
UV (ultraviolet) light treatment, chlorination, and ozonation all protect against harmful microorganisms in water.
- UV water treatment disrupts the DNA of bacteria, stopping their reproduction. This leaves bacteria unable to cause illness and infection.
- Chlorination is used worldwide to purify water. Chlorine effectively destroys bacteria through chemical disinfection.
- Ozone oxidizes bacteria and breaks them down, disinfecting water rapidly.
Tannins
If your water has a tea-like color or leaves light brown stains behind, tannins might be the culprit. These natural compounds often appear in water from shallow wells or surface water sources. Usually, they are not harmful, but they can cause unpleasant smells and flavors.
Solutions: Reverse Osmosis, Activated Carbon, & Sediment Filters
At Futuramic’s Clean Water Center, we offer specialized tannin removal systems that clear up your water and eliminate staining. These systems include RO, activated carbon, and sediment filtration.
Sulfur Odors
If your water has a “rotten egg” smell, it usually comes from hydrogen sulfide gas linked to sulfur-reducing bacteria. It can also occur as a result of chemical reactions inside water heaters. If your water smells like sulfur, you may notice black stains on silverware and fixtures, slime in toilet tanks and pipes, or plumbing corrosion.
Solutions: Activated Carbon, Aeration, & Chlorination
There are a few solutions for sulfur-smelling water, including:
- Activated carbon filters: Carbon filters trap and remove hydrogen sulfide molecules.
- Aeration plus filtration: Aeration involves injecting air into water, enabling the hydrogen sulfide gas to dissipate into the atmosphere. Any remaining molecules are then caught by a filter.
- Chlorination plus filtration: Chlorine oxidizes hydrogen sulfide. Once the gas turns into solid sulfur particles, a filter removes them from your water. Chlorine also helps kill sulfur bacteria and prevent bacterial growth.
Agricultural Runoff
In Nebraska and Iowa, water contamination from agricultural runoff is not uncommon. Rural areas can experience contamination from pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, which can cause serious health problems. Nitrates, as mentioned above, are a perfect example of this issue.
Agricultural runoff typically enters water supplies through surface water drainage and groundwater seepage from treated fields and livestock operations.
Solution: Multi-Stage Filtration
Our multi-stage filtration systems target and remove numerous agricultural contaminants through a combination of filters designed for chemical removal.
Sewage Contamination
Sewage contamination introduces dangerous bacteria, viruses, and parasites into water supplies. This health hazard can cause severe illness and requires immediate treatment. Common signs include foul odors, murky water, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Contamination often occurs from failed septic systems, sewage line breaks, or flood conditions that overwhelm treatment facilities.
Solutions: UV Treatment, Chlorination, & Ozone
UV purification, chlorination, and/or ozonation can eliminate harmful contaminants in water caused by sewage.
Radium & Arsenic
These naturally occurring contaminants pose serious health risks. Both radium and arsenic are tasteless, odorless, and invisible in water, making testing essential. These elements typically enter groundwater through natural deposits in rock and soil.
Solutions: Specialized Ion Exchange & Reverse Osmosis
Specialized ion exchange systems can effectively remove both radium and arsenic, providing safe drinking water for your home. Reverse osmosis can also remove these dangerous elements.
PFAS
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), often called “forever chemicals,” are synthetic compounds that can cause serious health issues. These chemicals don’t break down naturally in the environment or human body. PFAS enter water supplies through industrial contamination, firefighting foam, and consumer products.
Solutions: Activated Carbon & Reverse Osmosis
Carbon filters combined with RO technology effectively reduce PFAS in water to protect your family’s health.
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Solutions for Every Water Problem
At Futuramic’s Clean Water Center, we’ll start by testing your water to identify the problems you’re facing. Our experienced team will then recommend the right combination of equipment for your situation.
Every home’s water is different, which is why we offer custom solutions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Our American-made equipment and local expertise ensure you get the right fix for your specific water challenges.
Call us today at (402) 453-5730 to schedule a water test. Learn more at our FAQs page.