Water Hardness Has Risen 2x to 4x Since September
The gradual increase of mineral content in Western Springs water hit a high of 649 mg/L in May, nearly four times the amount necessary to define "hard water."
A water distribution report released by the Village of Western Springs on June 1 shows that the hardness level of Western Springs public water was tested at a range of 218-649 mg/L in May, up from 118-164 mg/L in September of 2011.
The U.S. Geological Survey defines “hard water” as between 121 and 180 mg/L, with anything over 180 defined as “very hard.” Numbers from September through May show a gradual increase in hardness.
However, fluoride levels in the water (tested every three months) have dropped to between 1.23 and 1.58 mg/L in May, down from a high of 2.13 mg/L in November—although these numbers are still double the 0.7 mg/L recommended by the Center of Disease Control, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and American Dental Association.
Village Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator said that the fluctuating numbers were due to the changing degree to which the Village is drawing from its three wells—numbers 1, 3 and 4—for the period during which the plant is unable to soften its water due to reconstruction.
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Well No. 4 has the least hard water, but the highest in fluoride. Well No. 1 is the opposite: high in mineral content, low in fluoride. Well No. 3 is between the other two on both—but must be used sparingly because it has a high radium content.
In fall of 2012, the Village was only using Well No. 4, but began tempering it with some water from Well No. 3 to alleviate concerns about fluorosis and fluoride, which increased the hardness slightly through January and February.
The massive increase in hardness in May (and decrease in fluoride,) however, is due to the necessity of bringing Well No. 1 online as well to maintain water pressure and satisfy the Village’s water demand through the dryness and heat.
The Village has posted several tips for dealing with hard water on their official website, saying that “while the effects of the hard water during the water plant rehabilitation should not have a substantial impact on the plumbing or appliances, there are some things the homeowner can do to make it more tolerable.”
Advice includes using Lemi Shine and citric acid, along with flushing your water heater and using bottle water for small appliances—or just buying a water-softening system.
aa1236@aol.com
7:27 am on Saturday, June 16, 2012
my dishwasher in not cleaning my dishes had it serviced still dirty anyone else have problems with water
Julie Anderson
8:49 am on Saturday, June 16, 2012
My dishes are not getting clean either!! The effects of this extra HARD water is taking a toll!!
Stephanie Holt
10:10 am on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Dishwashers, Lemishine is your friend. You can also google best dishwashing detergents for well water.
..
Right now, I'm more worried about the drought conditions affecting the village wells. My question is, at some point should there be a village-wide watering ban, instead of just restrictions? I know it would not be a popular move, but if we don't get some decent rain, would that be the next logical step?
Billy Gallagher
12:28 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Really? You are more worried about watering bans instead of the water supply being super-hard, ruining expensive appliaces, too much / too little fluoride for the kids, high radium content, dishes, plumbing, etc all being messed up? You can also google the term 'mis-managed'
Paul
10:37 am on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Anyone know where to get citric acid by the pound? Much more cost effective than Lemishine.
joyce
7:05 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Yes, yes, yes. It's at the old Home Economist on Cass Rd. It's now just a bulk food store. Citric acid (sour salt) is the same ingredient in Lemi Shine...call their 800 number. It's perfectly safe...it's from the rinds of citrus fruits. Google it.
I use it along with my dishwashing pods (read the instructions on the Lemi Shine container) and have virtually no spotting. I also dissolve it in water and wipe the spotting on my stainless sink. It's so much cheaper than Lemi Shine
Ashley
12:15 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Our dishwasher does not clean anything as well AND all of our dishes are ruined with a permanent hard scum plastered on the surface. My baby bottles the same. I worry about the effect of all of this on our systems and wonder who is going to replace all my destroyed glassware, bottles, dishes and pots and pans. Very frustrating.
Billy Gallagher
12:17 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Mouse??? How is that lawsuit construction coming along? You will have lots of people interested in joining you.
Mouse
12:10 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
I'll post a website address on here once I get the preliminaries done. I already have a lawyer interested in taking the case.
Billy Gallagher
12:19 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
This will turn out to be the defining 'scandal' of our times in this little town. Mis-managed from the get go it appears.
Stephanie Holt
5:53 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
You completely misunderstood my post, Billy. My point is that my main concern is the drought making the quality of our water even worse than it is now. I would strongly support a watering ban - the sooner the better. I'd rather have brown grass than radium in our drinking water.
Billy Gallagher
6:48 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Ah, thanks for clarifying. Would you agree that even if the ban is enacted, you'd still be scared of drinking what's coming out of the tap?
Stephanie Holt
7:01 pm on Saturday, June 16, 2012
Absolutely. I have been filtering our drinking water with a heavy-duty filter for years. I have always thought the fluoride and calcium levels were unacceptable for ingestion, whether they were naturally occurring or not. I think that stringent water conservation would make sense right now, because, with drought conditions, whatever substances and contaminants are in the wells, would become more concentrated.
Mouse
12:05 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Hi Kids! As I write this there is a water main break in Ridgewood on Grand which evidently started a few hours ago. A law enforcement official was sitting by it but has now vacated the area leaving water spewing out onto the street unabated, as public works is no where to be found. So all the BS about there not being enough water is just that: BS. They aren't doing a thing to stop this colossal waste of water.
As an aside, I tested my water yesterday and the hardness was 855 mg/L. That is not a typo...855!
wsrcaf
9:58 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Does anyone know which well was being used pre-construction?
Joseph Glynn
10:22 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
Can we buy dish washers and water heaters as a group to get a better price on them?
Let's pick a date!
Sally Nold
10:22 am on Sunday, June 17, 2012
I have installed a filter on my water intake pipe to filter out SOME not all sludge, sand, dirt.The filter is to be changed every 3 months. After two weeks the filter is totally clogged with a disgusting orange / copper colored
Thick slime . Skin, hair, appliances, clothes are all affected. My main concern is what is the water which is now extremely hard, full of impurities as well as toxins doing to my body? Is this a law suit waiting to get organized?
joyce
8:37 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
more on citric acid...http://www.livestrong.com/article/138579-uses-citric-acid
and don't forget a weekly cycle with just vinegar (about a half gallon) in your washing machines and dishwashers. I hope their promises of great water will actually happen.
joyce
8:41 pm on Sunday, June 17, 2012
oops...http://www.livestrong.com/article/138579-uses-citric-acid/
RFC1117
8:55 am on Monday, June 18, 2012
I have had problems for over 8 months now and had to buy a water purifier to make the water drinkable. This is a huge mess because WS did not act years ago to replace the old pump house. I have a clear ice machine that is basically unuseable until this problem gets fixed. WS should be more proactive in telling their residents how to handle this terrible hard water issue.