Secondwind Water Systems services a lot of schools and we know how tight their budgets are. So when we learned that one of our longtime customers—a public school in central New Hampshire—was having some serious issues with their public water system, we knew we had to do some quick thinking and problem solving.
No one—from the students and teachers—to the principals and administrators—to the janitorial staff—was happy with the school’s water. It had a metallic taste and was brownish in color. Because it was discolored, it was staining the toilets, which had to be cleaned several times a week!
At a time when we need to be encouraging kids to keep hydrated at school, the absence of quality, good-tasting water was clearly a major concern for everyone involved with the school’s public water system.
Saving an Old Public Water System
Secondwind installed the school’s water treatment system roughly 15 years ago to treat iron, manganese, hardness, and corrosion. “Because it was now old, so our team’s initial thought was that it needed to be replaced” explains Steve Guercia, manager of commercial and public water systems at Secondwind Water Systems. “But we didn’t want to jump to a conclusion, so we took the time to visit the site and conduct testing on the well water itself,” he adds.
The Secondwind team found several problems. Turns out, the well had changed. Its iron levels had increased significantly and most of that increase was in the form of ferric iron. This type of iron cannot be removed by a water softening system. In fact, it fouled the system’s softener and neutralizer, which was there for corrosion control.
Through onsite testing, the team determined that a filter system was needed to remove this type of iron from the water before it went through to the softener. But an important (and expensive) question remained: could we clean the softener and neutralizer the ferric iron had fouled? “We had no idea if we could do this on 15-year-old equipment,” Steve admits.
Exploring Water Treatment System Repair Options
Mindful of the school’s limited resources, the Secondwind team suggested that instead of replacing the equipment, they could try to clean the softener and neutralizer when they installed the filter. “If we could do it, we’d be done. If not, we’d come back to replace anything we couldn’t repair,” Steve says. “Knowing the kind of impact this would have on the school’s budget, we really wanted to try the repair first,” Steve adds.
The customer agreed. When the team installed the new filter, they performed an acid cleaning on the softener. All of its mechanical parts were working properly. “Unfortunately, we weren’t so lucky with the neutralizer.” Steve says. “It was far too gone and had to be replaced when we installed the filter,” he adds. Fortunately, Secondwind had a neutralizer in stock and was able to compete the job in one day.
Quality, Good-tasting Drinking Water
The Secondwind team returned to retest the school’s public water system and found it to be working properly. Gone are the stains, discoloration, and metallic taste. “However, we recommended that the school budget to replace their softener over the next year or two,” Steve points out.
The Right Service for Your Public Water System
It goes without saying that not all water treatment systems companies are created equal. When you select a water treatment company, you want to be confident that they are always working in your best interest, not their interest. “I’m certain that a lot of public water system companies would have simply told this customer to replace everything, rather than explore other cost-effective options,” Steve says. “It’s what we call the Secondwind Difference, and we bring this philosophy to every job.”
Public Water System Treatment, Installation, and Repair
We are certified water supply experts so you don’t have to be. From public water system treatment, installation, and repair, to public water supply administration and management, Secondwind Water Systems is here to help. Contact us to learn more. There is no charge for our initial consultation.
