Water testing

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networkn

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#205976 5-Dec-2016 14:54

We live in Auckland, and we notice our shower glass gets "dirty" quite quickly after a shower, even though we rinse down the glass each time. Our stainless steel fittings always look terrible after just 1-2 days. We are wondering if we might have a water quality issue.

What is the best way to get the water from our shower, analyzed cost effectively?

MikeAqua

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#1682587 5-Dec-2016 15:04

I'm guessing you have some sort of lime issue. Try watercare, they do fee for service testing.

Mike

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#1682590 5-Dec-2016 15:10

Interestingly, c/w tap water at our previous house, the rain water at our current place doesn't cloud up the glass or fittings at all. Never thought Auckland tap water was hard enough to make a difference, but I guess whatever dissolved solids are in there obviously leave some kind of deposit.

Jaxson

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#1682594 5-Dec-2016 15:18

Are you on a town supply?

There's genuinely not much you can do about this, unless you want to purchase your own water softener. Lime/Calcium are dissolved solids, so there's nothing to filter out via your traditional filters.

If you're on a rainwater supply, this won't likely be an issue.

If you're on your own bore water supply, then the solution is as above, or switch to rain water.

networkn

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#1682595 5-Dec-2016 15:20

Jaxson:

Are you on a town supply?

There's genuinely not much you can do about this, unless you want to purchase your own water softener. Lime/Calcium are dissolved solids, so there's nothing to filter out via your traditional filters.

If you're on a rainwater supply, this won't likely be an issue.

If you're on your own bore water supply, then the solution is as above, or switch to rain water.

Watercare are coming out within the hour or so apparently. They will do a "flush" and take a sample back to the lab for testing.

Jaxson

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#1682609 5-Dec-2016 15:51

networkn:

Watercare are coming out within the hour or so apparently. They will do a "flush" and take a sample back to the lab for testing.

Good stuff, hope they can sort it man.

RUKI

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#1682883 5-Dec-2016 20:20

networkn:

We live in Auckland, and we notice our shower glass gets "dirty" quite quickly after a shower, even though we rinse down the glass each time. Our stainless steel fittings always look terrible after just 1-2 days. We are wondering if we might have a water quality issue.

What is the best way to get the water from our shower, analyzed cost effectively?

"Rinsing down" is not a good idea. Use wide blade silicon T-shape wiper with the handle instead to wipe down all the water - that not only makes it look better but also reduces humidity in the room. As for testing:

I use Water PPM meter EC/DTS/TEMP COM-100 (PPM - particles per million)

E.g. water in Greenlane is different from water in Onehunga (where it is from under the surface) - in Onehunga where friends lived once - it is much worse (3 times).

Glass of water from your place - I can test it for PPM.

Aredwood

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#1683548 6-Dec-2016 23:49

Watercare have a lot of cast iron, aspestos cement, and cement lined steel pipes in use. Some over 100 years old. They increase the PH and mineral content to make all of these pipes last longer. Also the Waikato river water will most likely have a naturally high mineral content.

Agree with regards to rainwater.

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networkn

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#1683550 6-Dec-2016 23:56

Watercare came out and did a flush, said it wasn't great, much better now according to notes, too early to say. I asked if they took samples for testing, no they didn't. Coming back tomorrow to get samples. Takes 6 days+ for results.