Elko Drinking Water Reports and Guide
Water softeners are very effective at reducing hardness, but cannot do much for iron and manganese which require filtration.
Iron and manganese can affect taste and cause staining of fixtures and laundry. Iron is often referred to as “rust”. Manganese can cause black, gummy stains in fixtures.
The City Council has been planning for a water treatment plant that would reduce the iron and manganese; however, the costs for this type of plant are high for a smaller City.
- Soft Water
- National Hardness Average
- Elko Hardness
Elko Water Softener Recommendations
The national average for water hardness is 5gpg (grains per gallon). Elko water hardness is 24gpg, which is almost 5x harder than average.
A water softener will protect your water heater, plumbing, and appliances from hard water damage. A high efficiency water softener will offer the same protection, but will use far less water and salt.
Elko, MN Water Reports
The City of Elko, MN does regular water testing and publishes the results in Annual Drinking Water Reports. These reports explain which water contaminants, and what levels have been found.
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MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level
The legal limit for a certain contaminant
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level GOAL
The level with ZERO HEALTH RISKS, aka the “Health Limit”
All water contaminants meet the EPA’s “Legal Limit”. Contaminants that exceed the EPA’s Health Limit have been highlighted below.
Inorganic Contaminants
Inorganic contaminants include natural and manmade salts and metals. You are mostly exposed to inorganics through drinking water, most do not easily pass through skin. Carbon Filters (refrigerator and faucet filters) have almost ZERO impact on these contaminants. Reverse Osmosis very effective at removing inorganic contaminants.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | 0.06-0.1 | 2 | 2 | Increase in blood pressure |
| Manganese | 0.069 | 0.05 | 0.05 | Lowered IQ in children, black stains, damage to plumbing and appliances |
| Strontium | .391-.433 | 1.5 | 4 | Negative bone and dental changes, increased risk of bone cancer and leukemia |
Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts
Disinfectants are added to kill bacteria. Disinfectants like Chlorine react with other chemicals and create “Disinfection Byproducts. These chemicals enter the body through inhalation, absorption through skin, and drinking water. A Whole House Carbon Filter is a good preventative tool in addition to a Drinking Water System for these compounds.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | 0.3-1.6 | 4 | 4 | Eye/nose irritation; stomach discomfort |
| Chloroform | 2.23-7.1 | 5.7 | 80 | Nervous system depression, increase in kidney and liver tumors |
| Total Trihalomethanes | 3.23-11.1 | 0 | 60 | Increased risk of cancer |
Radionuclide Contaminants
Radionuclides in water may occur naturally, or come from oil and gas production or mining activities. These can be inhaled, or consumed through drinking water.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Emitter | 8.74-15.54 | 0 | 15.4 | Increased risk of cancer |
| Radon | 589-919 | 0 | NA | Increased risk of cancer |