www.allamericanaqua.com - Blog by Johnwww.allamericanaqua.com - Blog by Johnhttps://www.allamericanaqua.com/blogs/author/johnSun, 22 Mar 2026 14:45:07 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[What exactly is reverse osmosis?]]>https://www.allamericanaqua.com/blogs/post/what-exactly-is-reverse-osmosisReverse osmosis is one of the most effective forms of water treatment, and is readily available and affordable today.  But what exactly is revers ]]>

Reverse osmosis is one of the most effective forms of water treatment, and is readily available and affordable today.  But what exactly is reverse osmosis? Read on to find out what reverse osmosis is and what it can do for you.


Reverse osmosis is a mouthful to say, but it's pretty simple to understand once you understand the natural process of osmosis. In nature, when there are two solutions separated by a semipermeable membrane, the more concentrated solution will migrate to the solution with less concentration. This process is very important in biology since it guides the way water moves about in living things; for instance, it's the reason why there are distinctions between "freshwater" and "saltwater" fish and also how plants maintain their turgor. 


Reverse osmosis is just the process of osmosis in reverse. However, a key difference is that osmosis is passive; that is, done without external energy. Think of it like a ball rolling down a hill due to gravity. Performing this process in reverse means that highly concentrated water can become pure water on the other side of the membrane, but it will require energy greater than osmotic pressure. In the case of an undersink RO system, this external energy comes from your home's water pressure.

The stages of a typical undersink reverse osmosis system


1. Sediment filter
First, the water runs through a depth filter, which is usually a string (wound) filter or a meltblown (polypropylene) filter sized to 5 microns. This filter stops dirt, rust, and sand from getting into the system. 

2. Carbon filtration
After running through the depth filter, water is passed through one or two carbon blocks that remove chlorine and chloramines, as well as other contaminants that cause water to smell and taste bad.

3. Reverse osmosis membrane
The treated water is now ready for the heart of the system, the membrane. This semi permeable membrane allows water to pass through while routing dissolved solids like lead, arsenic, and many others into your home's sewer system. The resulting water has had 95-99% of its total dissolved solids (TDS) removed.

4. Water storage
Because the purifying process of undersink reverse osmosis is relatively slow, the cleaned water will usually be stored in a pressure tank so that fresh water can be accessed on demand.

5. Polishing/additional filtration
The clean water is run through a final polishing filter filled with granulated activated carbon (GAC) to ensure the water tastes fresh and is odor free. Some systems will also have additional filtration to add back minerals or otherwise further clarify/disinfect the product water.

Is reverse osmosis right for you?

If your water doesn't taste or smell good and your family can't stop buying bottled water, then an RO system is the product for you! Contact us today to find out which system best suits your needs!

]]>Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:44:44 -0400<![CDATA[What are "Forever Chemicals?"]]>https://www.allamericanaqua.com/blogs/post/what-are-forever-chemicalsPFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a large group of human-made chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. ]]>

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a large group of human-made chemicals used in various industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. Known for their resistance to water, oil, and heat, PFAS have been utilized in non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, firefighting foams, and many other applications. PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate) is one of the most well-known and studied compounds within the PFAS family.

Due to their slow degradation rates, these chemicals, often called 'forever chemicals,' can persist in the environment and our bodies for decades. This persistence raises concerns about their potential impacts on human health and the environment. However, it's important to note that these concerns have led to increased scrutiny and regulation by health organizations and governments worldwide, reassuring us that global efforts are underway to manage this issue.

PFAS comes from a variety of sources.

Where do they come from?

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Where do they end up?

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Health Concerns

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The EPA rolls back the rule

A water softener works through the simple process of ion exchange. This means that ions (postively or negatively charged atoms) trade places with other ions as water passes through; in the case of a water softener, it means that hardness ions (mostly calcium and magnesium) are exchanged for sodium ions as water passes over the resin bed inside the softener.

Is a water softener right for you?

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Does your water softener need fixed?

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]]>Wed, 13 Aug 2025 20:50:47 -0400<![CDATA[How Does a Water Softener Work?]]>https://www.allamericanaqua.com/blogs/post/how-a-water-softener-worksA water softener typically has two connected systems; a media tank filled with resin that has a mechanical control valve, and a brine tank filled with ]]>

A water softener typically has two connected systems; a media tank filled with resin that has a mechanical control valve, and a brine tank filled with salt. Everyone knows that water softeners are supposed to be filled with salt, but why exactly is that? The answer lies in how a water softener functions.

Ion Exchange

A water softener works through the simple process of ion exchange. This means that ions (postively or negatively charged atoms) trade places with other ions as water passes through; in the case of a water softener, it means that hardness ions (mostly calcium and magnesium) are exchanged for sodium ions. 



Water enters the inlet of the valve and then travels into the media tank, passing through the electrically charged resin beads. Since hardness ions are more strongly charged than sodium, they exchange places with it when they pass through the resin. Softener resin may also be used to attract other positive ions like iron, manganese, and barium. 


The now softened water passes through a bed of gravel that serves as a stable base for the resin bed and into the distributor, a long riser tube that connects to the control head. At the bottom of the riser tube is a basket with narrow slits, which is designed to keep resin from exiting the softener and clogging the homeowner's plumbing; the softened water passes through and exits the control valve, ready for use.


Eventually, the capacity of the resin to attract hardness minerals is exhausted, but even before that occurs the resin may become channeled; that is, it may form pockets where no resin is present and thus not all water passing through the system will be softened. Restoring the proper shape and capacity of the resin bed is accomplished by a process called regeneration. 

Regeneration


Backwashing 
The first step in regeneration is the backwash. This process reverses the flow of water in and opens the valve to the drain so that excess water is run through the media bed, scrubbing it of dirt and sediment before lifting and expanding it. Our systems utilize a second, shorter backwash after the brine draw to ensure the media is thoroughly scrubbed.

Brine Draw and Slow Rinse
After the backwash cycle is completed, the valve remains open to the drain and trickles out a small amount of water, creating a Venturi effect that draws brine solution into the softener from the brine tank. This brine mixes with water and is slowly rinsed throughout the media bed, knocking off hardness ions and sending them down the drain while replenishing the resin with fresh sodium ions. The system continues to be rinsed with water to ensure no brine solution remains.

Rapid Rinse
Water is sent down the media bed rapidly which flushes any remaining brine as well as residual hardness and other contaminants. This process also serves to pack the resin bed, preparing it for the next service cycle.

Brine Fill
Finally, new water must be added to the salt tank to dissolve more salt and create brine solution to replace what was used during this last regeneration. Once this cycle is complete, the control valve moves to the home position, and your system is ready to provide soft water again. 


Is a water softener right for you?

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Does your water softener need fixed?

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]]>Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:39:56 -0400<![CDATA[Hard water 101: What is hard water?]]>https://www.allamericanaqua.com/blogs/post/hard-water-101-what-is-hard-waterWhat exactly is hard water? Essentially it is water with a high concentration of minerals, especially calcium and magnesium. Although these minerals a ]]>

What exactly is hard water? Essentially it is water with a high concentration of minerals, especially calcium and magnesium. Although these minerals are not harmful for consumption, they can be a real annoyance in the home, as the calcium and magnesium tends to deposit on fixtures, shower doors, and tub walls, making cleaning day an even bigger hassle. Hardness is usually measured either in parts per million (typically abbreviated ppm) or more commonly in grains per gallon (gpg). Below, you can see water hardness represented throughout the United States:

Get Started Now
As you can see, much of the country does not have access to naturally occurring soft water. Unfortunately, this has hidden costs for the homeowner in the form of higher energy and cleaning bills, as hard water interferes with the ability of cleaning products in dishwashing and laundry settings and also coats the heating element in your water heater, requiring more energy to bring the water to the same temperature. 

What's the best way to combat this issue? With an ion exchange water softener. Special resin beads inside the softener act as magnets, attracting the calcium and magnesium ions in the water and replacing them with sodium ions for soft water that no longer stains or causes dry or itchy skin. If you or someone you know is struggling with hard water, then end that struggle now by reaching out to us for a free consultation. 
]]>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 13:12:22 -0500<![CDATA[Types of Iron Found in Water]]>https://www.allamericanaqua.com/blogs/post/types-of-iron-in-your-waterIf your home or business uses a private water source such as a well, then chances are good that you have iron in your water. As little as 0.3 ppm of i ]]>
If your home or business uses a private water source such as a well, then chances are good that you have iron in your water. As little as 0.3 ppm of iron can begin to stain. However, iron takes many forms in water that have different treatment considerations, so before you purchase a water treatment system, read below to figure out what type of iron you are dealing with. 

Ferrous iron

Ferrous iron, also known as dissolved or clear water iron, is soluble iron that when dissolved in water is invisible to the naked eye. However, once the water you use evaporates from your shower or kitchen sink, that iron will stain your home and be difficult to clean. This type of iron can be removed from your water with a water softener, but you must take care to use iron cleaning agents when regenerating your softener, or else the resin will become coated with iron and have less capacity to remove iron or hardness. Depending on water chemistry, this type of iron may be best removed by first oxidizing it into ferric iron and then removing it with advanced oxidation systems from Penguin Water. 

Ferric iron

Ferric iron, also known as particulate or red water iron, is insoluble iron in suspension in water. This type of iron has been oxidized and cannot be removed through a water softener. Special kinds of media like greensand or BIRM can be used to remove this type of iron, and large particles can often be caught in simple depth filters. For most well water customers, we recommend using advanced oxidation systems before treating water with a softener. 

Organically bound iron

Iron can bind to substances known as tannins, forming what is commonly called organically bound iron or heme iron. Tannins result from decomposed organic matter from leaves, roots, and other vegetation, and give liquids like tea their brown color. This organic bound iron, while not harmful, is unpleasant due to smells, tastes, and staining. We recommend treating with special tannin media that operates similarly to a water softener and also regenerates with salt.

Iron bacteria

Some kinds of bacteria consume dissolved iron for fuel and produce gels and slimes, in addition to bad odors and tastes. These slimes can often be found in toilet tanks. While not harmful to human health, the effects of foul smelling and tasting water with staining slimes are certainly unpleasant. Iron bacteria can be removed with the advanced oxidation systems from Penguin Water.

Water testing

Treating iron in water can be difficult, but we're here to help. With proper testing, we can help you determine the right equipment for your application. Click here to schedule your lab panel. and if you decide to purchase our recommended equipment, we will refund you 100% of the cost of your test. 

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