Eau bernier - slogan

Calculation of the amount of fine particules in suspension in the water, causing the dispersion and the adsorption of the luminous rays (could be associated to the clarity of the water).

It could cause the sterilization systems not to be as much efficient, because it hides bacteriological presence and could supply a bacteria protection against certain methods of sterilization. 

Solution: Practically, all water treatment systems can reduce the turbidity but the filtration is quite oftently used. It is with the physico-chemical analysis that we determine the appropriate treatment type.

Here is a picture to demonstrate the efficiency of a reverse osmosis used on lake water installations; we can see the treated water on the left(filtrat) and the rejected concentrated water on the right.

Of yellowish colour, often associated with an unpleasant smell, tannin is often mistaken with oxydized iron. Tannin comes from vegetable decomposition like we frequently find in rivers and lakes, also it is possible, even though it is often rare, to find some in artesian or surface wells. 

SOLUTION: The efficient ways to treat tannin are the chloration with a carbon filter, the reverse osmosis or a conditioner with cationic resin. 

The chloration needs a carbon, because we inject a good quantity of chlorine in order to oxydize the tannin and, because the carbon is an excellent adsorbant used to eliminate chlorine and its sub products, this allows us to find no trace at the faucets. The other advantage to use this method is to be assured of the micro-biological quality of the water at all time.

The reverse osmosis is very efficient and versatile, this system can be part of a process used to eliminate cyanobacteria. 

We strongly recommend the first two systems as they give an exceptional water quality.     

The last one is fluently used because of its cost being lower than the other ones, but is not very ecological with its excessively high salt usage and its frequent backwashs. Even more, this type of resin is very sensitive to salt shortage and to standard cleaning products. It represents a choice of last resort.          

Cyanobacteria is the scientific name given to the blue-green algae that float in rivers and lakes. The toxines produced by them can be divided in different categories:some of them will attack the liver(hepatotoxines)or the nervous system(neurotoxines), as others will only irritate the skin. Even though a lot of people have been sick by being exposed to the cyanobacteria toxines in soft water, it is however possible that a persistant exposure to lower levels of cyanobacterial hepatotoxines could have long term or recurrent effects on humans. If you swallow water, eat fish or blue-algae based products containing high levels of toxines, you could end up with headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pains, nausea or vomiting. Even though the presence of toxines in the water cannot be detected by taste, odour or appearance, you can presume that they are present as long as analysis have not been taken.  

SOLUTION: The treatment combines the action of the activated carbon and a reverse osmosis. The reverse osmosis eliminates a large amount of toxines and cyanobacteria. The carbons are used for the absorption of the toxines and to protect the components. All the water taps in the house have to be treated, because even the contact with the skin can cause problems. The carbon has to be replaced every year and at a precise time in order to assure a better efficiency.   

IMPORTANT: Boiling water will not eliminate the toxines.

Arsenic is a heavy metal found in its natural state in the earth's crust.  It is found in an inorganic anion shape(Arsenic-5(easier to treat) indissoluble in water or in a molecular shape(Arsenic-3), and is present in surface waters as much as in underground waters, its concentrations being generally higher in the last one.  We find, in most provinces and territories in Canada, areas where we can detect the presence of arsenic in the drinkable water sources.  The CMA "Canadian Medical Association" acceptable maximum concentration of arsenic in drinking water is of 0.010 mg/l  (10 µg/L) based on the faesibility by the technological treatments at municipal and residential scales.  The Department of the Environment has standards set at 0.025, but according to the Public Safety Commission, they will change the standards as soon as there is an amendment to the Groundwater Catchment Regulation.

Health Canada and the International Research Center on cancer consider arsenic as a carcinogenic substance for the human being.  Drinking water containing a high level of arsenic on a daily basis can increase the risk of cancer of certain internal organs such as the bladder, the kidney and the lungs.  The body absorbs the arsenic present in the water that you drink and the blood brings it into the organism. Arsenic cannot get into the organism through the skin or  inhalation during a bath or a shower.  In the long run, arsenic accumulates in fingernails and hair where the concentrations are the highest.  The body gets rid of it mostly by the urine, but small quantities are eliminated by the skin, the hair, the fingernails and the sweat.

Source : Santé Canada

SOLUTION :

The reverse osmosis is the easy and efficient way to treat arsenic. In our region, the type of arsenic found is treated usually very easily with this system.  On the other end, when we find high concentrations, we prefer 2 steps of treatment as for example the oxyfilter or the anionic exchange resin similar to the one from a water softener. The results always have to be confirmed with regular analysis to be sure that the system is workly properly.

To start with, we have to make sure that the problem really comes from the well: we can sterilize the well(sterilization)and take new analysis. You can also check or have someone check your hydropneumatic reservoir or the plumbing; because they can also be source of contamination. Our experimented technicians can help you out in every step; due to our solid expertise. For example, we are the first to be called in when there are water problems inside the schools in the region. 

There are 3 types of micro-organisms that we can find in drinking water:bacteria, viruses and protozoas. They can exist in a natural state or be the result of contamination from human or animal faeces matters. Some of them can cause sicknesses on human beings. The surface water sources like the lakes, the rivers and the reservoirs are most likely to contain micro-organisms rather than the underground water sources.    

A water that does not meet the quality standards will not necessarily make us sick. As a matter fact, a lot of people that have substandard water say that they have not been sick. The 4 types of bacteria are analysed in major part only to identify a bacteriological contamination. Therefore, those bacteria indicate the high possibility for the water to contain other types of micro-organisms. We cannot have the water analysed for all types of micro-organisms because there are too many that can be found in the water and the cost for those analysis would be unreal. So, when the water is considered at risk (or is out of quality standards), it is declared substandard.

SOLUTION...... There are many procedures to eliminate bacteria in the water: we strongly recommend the UV sterilization or a chlorine system, those two systems are very efficient. It is important to take a physico-chemical analysis to determine which of the two systems will be the most appropriate to solve the problem. There are other types of systems such as; (ultrafiltration, ozonation) but their maintenance cost and their complexity make them less interesting for the moment.    

When the water is said to be "hard", it is because it contains a lot calcium and magnesium. The degree of hardness of the water increases with the quantity of dissolved calcium and magnesium. The problems encountered are the reduction of the effectiveness of the soap, the scaling of the home appliances, especially those in hot water. EX: Hot water tank, kettle or even the shower in which we can see the encrusted white deposits. It is responsible for dry and brittle hair.   

SOLUTION: There are two solutions to this problem : the water softener is our first choice because of its simplicity, versatility and performance; it has been the outclassed system in decades. The reverse osmosis to which we find more and more applications and which could become a choice of the future. A water analysis will tell us what is the best appropriate solution.   

Take note that the water softener with ion exchange resin is the only process to totally remove water hardness.   

Be careful of those so called "miraculous" products to fight against water hardness, but their capacity is yet to be verified because each year new products come out and even more disappear from the market because they prove to be inefficient. Even more, the magnet systems or electromagnets or the systems able to transform limestone made their appearance on the market, but no serious study can confirm that those systems work efficiently, on the contrary certain customers are very unsatisfied of those systems but cannot have any appeal. The companies distributing those products are not well established, so be aware and make sure that your entrepreneur goes by the rules. If those would be as efficient as they say, we would probably sell them.             

It is very unlikely to detect fuel in drinking water, except in cases of spills or leak of a reversoir.  It is possible to treat this pollutant although it has a quite expensive regular maintenance cost. It is usually only temporarily treated, waiting for the dissolution or complete absorption of the fuel. In some cases, we have had to dig a new well in a secured area and have sealed the existing well.

Solution: The most efficient system recommended is the activated carbon, replaced regularly.  We must do a serie of treatments to be assured that there is treated water 24 hours/day and confirm the results with regular hydrocarbides analysis.  A reverse osmosis can be combined for personal use.

Usually, the drinking water supplied by the Quebec municipalities all the way to your water tap is drinkable on the bacteriological and chemical levels. Drinkable water is not always a safe water. To protect public distribution water from microbiological contaminations, the networks often add chlorine which enters in reaction with the substances present in the water which generates sub-products like the TMH(Trihalomethanes) that can be carciogenic.   

In fact, the water is considered drinkable as long as it does not bring short term health problems. The standards are based in majority on a reasonable analysis and treatment cost. 

We believe that the human body immune system is composed of bacteria in order to defend itself against sicknesses, viruses and infections. The absorbed chlorine cannot define which are the good and the bad bacteria, so  do we disinfect our body too much and have it become weaker?

Your water has a yellowish color and your sinks, bath and shower are stained? It is probably due to a too high level of iron, tannin or manganese, for sure we have to take a water analysis.  

Iron gives your water a metallic and unpleasant taste. Furthermore, it stains clothing, the shower, the bath and encrusts plumbing from a yellow to an orange color. There are many solutions, depending of the quantity and the kind of iron. Often, the oxydized iron is mistaken with tannin because, in its oxydized state it produces a yellowish color.  

SOLUTION: Many water treatment systems can get rid of iron in your water like the water softener, the oxyfilter, the catalyst filters, with or without activator, the chloration and the osmosis; a combination is also possible. A water analysis will indicate the most appropriate solution. 

A concentration as low as .05 ppm can cause problems. In the majority of cases, the manganese will stain clothing, the shower, the bath and the faucets from a purplish to a black color. It can encrust your plumbing and sometimes create odours often compared to stagnant water. In its oxydized state, it produces coloured water. 

SOLUTION: Many water treatment systems can remove manganese from your water such as the water softener, the oxyfilter, the catalyst filters with or without activator, the chloration or the osmosis, a combination is also possible. An water analysis will indicate the most appropriate solution. 

The TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) are inorganic minerals. When the concentration is over 500 mg/l or ppm, it is appropriate to lower it with a reverse osmosis system for the consumption. When the concentration is really too high, the TDS can cause the wear of the plumbing components or leave white spots on dishes, bathroom sinks, cars, etc. Some professional window cleaners need to treat the water to be sure of their effectiveness.  

SOLUTION: We can treat this problem with the reverse osmosis, or with DI resin or a combination. The analysis and a study of your situation will tell us the appropriate solution.    

Those elements are ususally found in the agricultural environment, because they frequently come from chemical fertilizers used in the agricultural domain or on golf courses, but can also come from industrial waste or septic tanks.

The ingested nitrate is easily absorbed by the small intestine and rapidly distributed in all the organism. If the stomach Ph is high, the reducing bacteria proliferate and the nitrate is converted to nitrite. The production of nitrite gets higher with age and is stimulated by the bacteriological infections causing diarrhea.  

Source: Health Canada  www.sc-hc.gc.ca

 High quantities of nitrates affect the blood capacity to carry oxygen. The most vulnerable are the children in lower age and the pregnant women. The maximum standard is of 10 mg/l.

So, a concentration that is higher than the acceptable standard must be removed to prevent any risk for your health.

SOLUTION : The easiest way to do it is by the reverse osmosis.  It is also possible to treat it with anionic resins.  An analysis will indicate the most appropriate solution.  The results always have to be confirmed with regular analysis to make sure of the efficiency of the system.

White Spots (White Deposits)

See: Total Dissolved Solids or Limestone 

Yellowish or Blackish spots

See Iron or Manganese.

Green or Blue spots.

See water Ph.

Water that is too acid (pH less than 6.5) or too basic (pH higher than 8.5) increases corrosion of your domestic appliances, hot water tanks, plumbing and fixtures. When you notice greenish or bluish stains, it means copper oxide, usually caused by an unstable pH dissolving your copper plumbing.   

SOLUTION:  A pH corrector adapted to your water corrects the acidity and neutralizes the pH in your water. It could be an injection of products through a dosing pump or by dissolution through a media.

See the diagram to help you visualize the pH in the water.

The expression "rotten eggs" is fluently used to qualify the taste and odor of the water containing hydrogen sulphur.  A concentration as low as 0.05 ppm is unpleasant for the water consumption. Sulphur is a gaz which oxidizes plumbing and reduces the life of the household appliances. When you take a shower in a sulphurous water, you have the impression that you smell worst afterwards. The solution is variable, depending of the water parameters, but it is often easier to treat in the presence of iron or manganese. 

SOLUTION:

The best way to eliminate sulphur is the oxyfilter which uses oxidation by oxidizing like the chlorine(chloration) or the potassium permanganate. This system is reliable and has a low maintenance cost.

The air injection can remove a high quantity of sulphur, it is economical and can replace the hydropneumatic reservoir. 

As a matter fact, the water softeners are not designed to remove sulphur. Sulphur is a gaz that must be treated with efficient filtration or oxidizing systems. But in practice, a water softener equipped with a high capacity resin can be very efficient, and even during many decades. The system will then have to be re-configured differently. A water analysis showing the sulphur concentration and other parameters of your water will help in choosing the appropriate system for you. 

The conventional carbon is not the ideal solution to remove sulphur from your water. It could even become a source of problems. This method  can work really good, but the efficiency is temporary. Thusmore, we have to replace the carbon regularly. On the other end, if we add a chlorine injection to an activated carbon, we assure ourselves of the bacteriological security and we can even treat iron, manganese and for sure sulphur. This is the most excellent system.   

The catalyst filters without activator are systems where the media generates a chemical reaction which oxydizes the sulphur, but those able to treat it are heavy, thus hard to rinse.  Therefore, they use a large quantity of water and the pumping systems are not always designed for such a debit demand.  

The reverse osmosis does not eliminate sulphur because it is a gaz that is too fine. On the other end, the majority of those systems have either carbon filters,  or a water supply in a storage tank that will eliminate bad odors.