“Regardless of the method of delivering a beverage — fresh ground, capsules, espresso, instant, you name it — the common denominator among them all is water. Because brewed coffee and tea are 98% to 99% water, this familiar fluid also can be the biggest enemy of quality hot drinks and well-working brewing equipment. Untreated or improperly treated water will result in increased service calls, accelerated equipment and component mortality rates, and degraded taste profiles of the products themselves.” — Matt Greenwald.

The process of water purification is very complex, and the intent of this article is not to be a comprehensive guide to the science of water and water purification. Rather it’s “Water 101,” an effort to point out the importance of understanding how this most basic compound can result in excessive, yet avoidable, expenditures when it is overlooked, as it often is.

The OCS industry confronts this challenge alongside many other industries, from pharmaceutical companies to breweries. The beer many of us enjoy (in moderation, of course) is 97% water, so breweries find themselves spending millions on water purification. For the same reason, innumerable retail coffee locations throughout the world will spend $25,000 or more per store to purify the incoming water supply.

Spending $25K on water treatment would be excessive for our purposes, but not understanding the water conditions in the areas in which we work, and the financial consequences of failing to correct those conditions, will not only lessen the quality of your product, but will undoubtedly result in avoidable expenses that none of us need.

Even though it’s the most abundant compound on the planet, water is fairly complex. Do you remember learning about the periodic table of elements in 9th grade? Here is where you will find the recipe: two parts H (hydrogen) + one part O (oxygen) = H2O, commonly known as water.

When John Guest introduced quick-connect fittings, even our most mechanically challenged colleagues were able to consider themselves plumbers almost overnight. Thankfully, the water treatment industry has done something similar for us; it has developed simple, inexpensive water-testing devices that allow us to quickly determine exactly which water treatment technology is most applicable to each installation.

Pure H2O is not the villain that municipal or even spring water is to our equipment and beverages. If those 1/4″ and 3/8″ copper and poly lines were delivering H2O in its purest form, this issue wouldn’t be as critical as it is. But, alas, pure water is rarely available. We are all challenged by particles, dissolved minerals and chemicals, most of which are your equipment’s and your beverages’ biggest enemies. Even more troubling, those undesirable components are not the same all over the country; therefore, water needs to be addressed specifically for each region.

Municipal water treatment facilities treat the water in many different ways, including the addition of chemical disinfectants, coagulants to precipitate solids, and so on and on. In addition to these additives, water also contains minerals introduced by rocks, among other natural sources, as well as leaching from the water supply. Minerals accumulate throughout the pipeline, even in the piping found in buildings; and that piping variously contains copper, zinc, lead and other metals.

When minerals dissolve, water becomes “hard.” While hard water is safe to drink, it will cripple plumbing systems, coffee brewers, espresso machines and practically anything metal it touches by depositing successive layers of “scale” that obstruct flow and impair heat transfer. To protect equipment, hard water needs to be softened in one way or another.

Though water filtration manufacturers have come a long way over the years in developing filters that assist in softening the water, it is important to remember that water filtration and water softening are not the same. One removes particles and chemicals; the other neutralizes dissolved minerals.

Water filtration restricts the flow of solid particles, generally by capturing them in some sort of membrane that will eventually clog, requiring replacement and cleaning. Particles found in water are most often measured in microns. It is said that the human eye cannot see any item smaller than 50 microns, while the standard OCS water filter will remove anything down to a size of 0.5 micron.

Most of the water filtration cartridges used in the OCS and vending sectors will contain some sort of activated carbon block that is used to help in removing the thousands of different chemicals that can be found in a municipal water supply. The most common of these is chlorine, added to water to destroy bacteria and other patho­gens. It imparts a distinctive smell and flavor to water treated with it, which is why filter cartridges marketed to our industry often times read “Taste and Odor.”

Water softening refers to the neutralization or removal of the minerals and other, dissolved solids that may accumulate during the water transfer process. This is more important in some areas than in others, but it is desirable nearly everywhere.

The most economical and efficient way to measure the Total Dissolved Solids in a location’s water supply is to purchase an inexpensive TDS meter, or something as simple as water test strips. Both methods require a quick sampling of the water to produce a reading of the TDS, usually in parts per million

(PPM).

There are several ways to deal with the minerals (chiefly calcium) dissolved in water that make it hard. The earliest and most widely used is “calgon,” which describes any of several materials that have a detergent effect, retarding the ability of the calcium to come out of solution and plate itself on the inside of the hot-water tank. This is widely used to protect espresso equipment, but it has been strongly discouraged for use in vending machines and conventional gravity brewers, since the calgon also impairs extraction of soluble solids from ground coffee. For that reason, Everpure devised a polyphosphate sequestration method, half a century ago, that keeps the calcium ions in solution without giving the water that soapy, softened feel, and does not degrade coffee flavor development. Other sequestration methods seem to be in use now, but they all do the same thing.

A reverse-osmosis water treatment system will remove all the minerals and leave them on one side of its semipermeable membrane, while pure water on the other side can be used in hot-water equipment without anything coming out of solution (because there is nothing in the solution). Water treated with reverse osmosis is, basically, distilled water, and so is not very interesting to drink. Some people like distilled water for brewing coffee; others think that some mineral content enhances the flavor — but not calcium.

Operators often need to reach out to a local supplier of water treatment products. These agents can give you a lesson on the water supply in the area, help you understand what challenges you confront and recommend ways to resolve issues.

 

Treat your water well, and your equipment — and your customers — will return the favor.

MATT GREENWALD is the director of vending and OCS at Betson Enterprises (Carlstadt, NJ). Greenwald is a 20-year veteran of the commercial coffee equipment industry, where he’s worked for roasters, distributors and manufacturers. Prior to joining Betson, he was vice-president of a national organization that provides installation, repair and maintenance services to some of the world’s largest retailers, equipment manufacturers and coffee companies.

 

Source: Vending Times.

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Gazette’s Summary:   Boron is not the sexiest of water contaminants, but a lot of it exists in our environment and a lot of it gets into water.   Without boron, Ronald Reagan would probably never have been president.

Source: Pure Water Products.

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For a very basic explanation of the wastewater treatment process, check out this interactive graphic provided by the Water Environment Federation.

High quality wastewater treatment plants are carefully controlled, and testing is an essential part of the process.  Here’s a rundown on the testing done at the Saginaw plant:

Analysis is done daily on water quality with tests for suspended solids, five-day biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen, fecal coliform, phosphorus, pH, ammonia nitrogen. Those analyses are required to ensure the plant is meeting limits set by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued to the facility by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and Environmental Protection Agency, which require regular reports.

In addition to required tests, lab staff also perform a series of tests on a bi-weekly basis to determine if the following industrial contaminants are contained in the water: cadmium, chromium, copper, cyanide, iron, lead, mercury, nickel, silver, zinc, phenol, oils, greases and poly-chlorinated bi-phenyls (PCBs).

 

Reference Source: MLive.com

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 Recent Research Indicates That Viruses From Sewer Pipes Can Quickly Reach Deep Aquifers

It was previously believed that pathogens could not get into water wells that were sunk into deep groundwater aquifers.  Now this is no longer accepted as a forgone conclusion.  Over the past decade many disease-causing viruses have been found in very deep locations in both the United States and Europe.

Recent research shows that the viruses are in fact seeping into deep water well from sewer pipes. 

 

 Can A $31,000 Artificial Fish Help Keep Water Pollution in Check?

For the purpose of tracking sea pollution, a group called SHOAL Corsortium has launched a number of artificial fish off the northern coast of Spain. The fish, which are around  5 feet long and cost about $31,600 each , are designed to swim like real fish.  They have sensors that pick up and report pollutants.

The great advantage is that the technology allows pollutants to be detected and reported in seconds as compared with the weeks required by the traditional method of collecting samples and sending them to a laboratory for analysis.

According to one writer:

Equipped with artificial intelligence, the fish can navigate their surroundings and find their way back to shore when their batteries need to be recharged. If one fish detects significant or unusual pollutants, it can communicate with the others so that all can search together for the source, potentially spotting leaks or spills much faster than by conventional means. In addition to detecting pollutants, the robotic fish might also be used for applications like underwater security and search-and-rescue efforts, their inventors say.

The development of the robot fish was funded in part by the European Union aided by a weapons maker and various universities.

The fish were made to resemble real fish because Nature’s excellent design gives them a short turning circle.  They are even provided with an alarm system to alert monitors of mishaps, such as being caught by fishermen.

If all goes well, the Consortium hopes to produce the fish commercially.

The Causes of Color in Water, and How To Get Rid of It

 

If you live in the city, color coming from you kitchen tap is most likely the result of pipes.  Copper pipes might lend a bluish or greenish color, and red water almost always comes from aging iron pipes. The water may be cloudy for a time, and this usually means there is air in the city’s water line.  The test is to run it into a glass and watch it as it clears; if it clears from the bottom upward, it is air.  Brownish and rusty colored water can also result from city activities like repair of water lines and flushing of fire hydrants.  The cure for these is rinsing until the water runs clear.

With private water sources like wells, rivers or lakes,  the color issue is more complicated.  Color is commonly a problem of only surface water; it is rare in water from deep wells or springs.  Here are some common colors and what they indicate:

Yellow. Often referred to as “tannins,” indicates that humic acids are present. Water with an tannins often appears tea colored.

Reddish water indicates precipitated iron. The red color may be found on bathroom fixtures and laundry.

Reddish brown is also an indication of iron which will precipitate when the water is exposed to air.

Blue indicates the presence of excess copper. The water may leave green stains on fixtures.

Green water can be caused by algae growing in rivers or lakes at certain times of the year.

Dark brown or black indicates the presence of manganese and sometimes hydrogen sulfide.

There is an arbitrary color scale that is applied to water samples to give a framework for comparison. EPA regulations recommend that potable water should score at less than 15 color units.

 

 Treatment for Color in Water 

Activated carbon is the most commonly used color reducer.  All  carbons are not equally effective.  In general, macropore carbon, carbon with large pores, is preferred. Carbon made from Eucalyptus is best, but it is difficult to obtain.  Of standard carbons, carbon made from lignite coal is probably the best color remover.  A carbon’s ability to remove color is measured by a property called the “molasses number.”

Anion exchange (usually following a water softener) is a common treatment for tannins, and certain types of macropore carbon are also effective at tannin removal.

Iron and manganese coloration are treated in the standard ways that iron and manganese are treated. These can be as simple as a sediment filter for rusty water (oxidized iron) or a full-fledged oxidation/filtration treatment.

There are also ozone treatments that are used to remove color from water in swimming pools. Super-chlorination and potassium permanganate are also used for color treatment at times.

 

More about color in water.

We have written previously about how useful garden hose filters are for providing chemical free water for organic gardeners, keeping spots off of patios or driveways rinsed with a hose, and for filling outdoor fish ponds with water that won’t kill the fish.  They’re also great for providing clean water for horses or spot-free car wash water for home car washers.

Cartridge-style garden hose filters are versatile because they can be made to perform different services simply by changing the filter cartridge.  The small,

disposable garden hose filters sold on many websites, by contrast, are one trick ponies: they remove chlorine.  Cartridge filters can be made to not only remove larger amounts of chlorine and chloramine, but to remove bacteria, fluoride, nitrates,  sand and other sediment,  hardness,  cysts, viruses, and even iron.  They can be used to raise the pH of acidic waters or to “sequester” hardness to prevent scale buildup.

In short, there are numerous uses.  We’ve featured articles previously about special applications like providing water for backyard chicken farms and we’ve mentioned unusual applications that our customers have told us about like using a garden hose filter to soften water to prevent spots on solar panels.

Here’s another very interesting application:

Our customer Grace Works of Balwin, MO makes a unique product called Flexi Fountain that uses a standard Pure Water Products garden hose filter to provide excellent, chlorine-free drinking water.

The Flexi-Fountain is a portable six station drinking water fountain that can be easily moved into place for any event where thirsty people.  It provides water without the need for paper cups and without lugging around heavy water cans or dispensers.  It works any place that can be reached with a garden hose.  Typical uses include football games, soccer, tennis, softball, baseball, cross country races, summer camps, booster club events, marathons, special outdoor celebrations, outdoor weddings,  child care and school playgrounds.

The garden hose filter gives thirsty outdoor water users excellent quality water without the need for plastic bottles.

We think Flexi Fountain is a great product.

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Witnesses said the hole opened up in the 9600 block of South Houston Avenue about 5 a.m. and eventually was the entire width of the street.

Two vehicles fell in first, a parked car and then a silver pickup truck driven by Mirko Krivokuca, who lives on the next block and was driving to work.

Krivokuca was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for “a couple of scratches,” his father, Petar Krivokuca, said as he stood in the rain , staring in disbelief at the massive hole.

Ola Oni said she was about to leave for work when her parked car dropped into the hole. She was just glad she wasn’t in it.

“It could have happened to me,” Oni said. “I am lucky. I’m happy.”

 

Giwa, too, had been about to go to work when she saw the sinkhole and ran back into her son’s home to call police. First responders arrived and told her not to go near the hole, she said.

Less than an hour later, the strip of concrete where Giwa’s car was parked caved in. Her car rolled upside down into the expanding hole.

A fourth vehicle was towed from the edge as it was about to fall in, witnesses said.

“I was really upset,” Giwa said later as she flipped through the pictures she’d snapped that morning. A few captured her shiny white car sitting next to the hole. The last showed an empty space where her car had been.

“I’m looking at my car going in the hole,” she recalled.

The sinkhole was caused by a water main dating from around 1915 that gave out and breached the sewer below, city Water Department Commissioner Thomas Powers said.

“As the water was flowing from the broken main, it undermined all of the soil underneath the pavement and washed it into the sewer,” Powers said.

Ald. John Pope, who represents the 10th Ward where the hole appeared, said the rainy weather “certainly (hadn’t) helped” the situation but that aging infrastructure was to blame for the street’s collapse.

Source:  Chicago Tribune.

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Source: Washington Post

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Israel Joins Other Advanced Countries in Ending Compulsory Fluoridation of Water

The debate over the fluoridation of water for the purpose of preventing dental caries has gone on for decades.  Most industrialized nations have dropped compulsory fluoridation of water, with the US being the one of the few advanced countries that still support the practice. Israel just took a strong step toward ending compulsory fluoridation via drinking water this month.

Israel’s Health Minister Yael German announced in April that municipalities and local authorities would in a year no longer have to fluoridate their drinking water.

German,  a former mayor,   who has in the past stated opposition to forcing residents to take a fluoride treatment with every drop of water  they drink,  said there were more effective and safer ways to protect children’s teeth – such as fluoride pills, toothpastes and education.

She said she signed new regulations for stricter supervision of water supplies that included canceling mandatory fluoridation. German then even appealed to the High Court of Justice against the Health Ministry’s requirement – since 2002 – that water be fluoridated in every authority with at least 5,000 residents.

As expected, there was strong protest and promise of overthrow of German’s ruling by the usual proponents of fluoridation, including the World Health Organization.

 

Source: Jerusalem Post.

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