Water Quality Issues in San Antonio, Florida and Recommended Solutions

Introduction to San Antonio, Florida

San Antonio is a small city located in Pasco County, Florida. With a population of around 1,000 residents, San Antonio is known for its rural atmosphere and natural springs. The city is located near the Saint Leo University and is popular for outdoor recreational activities like hiking, fishing, and camping.

Despite its natural beauty, San Antonio faces some challenges when it comes to its drinking water quality. The city's main sources of drinking water are groundwater wells that pump from the Floridan Aquifer. While the Floridan Aquifer provides high-quality water overall, there are some contaminants present that require treatment.

Potential Groundwater Contaminants in San Antonio

Some of the key groundwater contaminants detected in San Antonio's drinking water include:

Nitrates

Nitrates are one of the most common groundwater contaminants in Florida. Sources of nitrates include fertilizer runoff from farms, leaking septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. High levels of nitrates in drinking water can be dangerous to human health, especially for infants.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

TTHMs are chemical byproducts that form when chlorine used for disinfection reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in the water. Long term exposure to TTHMs may cause liver, kidney, and central nervous system problems.

Lead

Lead can leach into drinking water from old pipes, solder, and plumbing fixtures. Lead exposure can cause neurological problems in children and cardiovascular issues in adults.

Radon

Radon is a radioactive gas that occurs naturally in the Floridan Aquifer. It can dissolve into groundwater and get released into the air during water use. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Arsenic

Arsenic is a semi-metallic element found naturally in rocks and soil. Ingesting high levels of arsenic can cause skin damage, circulatory problems, and increased cancer risk.

Iron

Iron shows up as orange/reddish stains in water. At high levels, iron can cause colored water, stained plumbing fixtures, and an unpleasant metallic taste.

Manganese

Like iron, manganese is a naturally occurring mineral that can cause black staining and bitter metallic taste. It can result in clogged water pipes over time.

Hardness Minerals

Calcium and magnesium are the main minerals that cause hard water. Hard water prevents soap from lathering properly and can leave scale deposits on plumbing.

Potential Well Water Contaminants in San Antonio

In addition to the Floridan Aquifer, some San Antonio residents use private wells for drinking water. Common contaminants found in San Antonio well water include:

Coliform Bacteria

Total coliform and E. coli bacteria indicate potential sewage contamination. They can cause flu-like gastroenteritis symptoms.

pH Imbalance

Low pH makes water corrosive while high pH makes it scale-forming. Out-of-range pH affects plumbing and water taste.

Hydrogen Sulfide

Hydrogen sulfide gas produces a "rotten egg" odor. At high levels it can tarnish silverware and discolor plumbing fixtures.

Sulfates

Sulfates naturally occur from the breakdown of organic matter. High sulfate levels can have a laxative effect.

Tannins

Tannins are organic compounds released from decaying leaves and plants. They can turn the water brown and impart an unpleasant taste.

Pesticides

Runoff from agricultural areas can contaminate well water with pesticides and herbicides. Long-term exposure to these chemicals may increase cancer risk.

Recommended Water Treatment Solutions for San Antonio

To address the various water quality issues in San Antonio, homeowners have several effective treatment solutions available:

Water Softeners

Water softeners like the AquaLux remove hardness minerals using an ion exchange process. They prevent scale buildup and improve soap lathering.

Carbon Filters

Carbon filters like the AquaCarbonGuard remove chlorine, sediment, and bad tastes/odors. They are highly effective at filtering man-made contaminants.

UV Disinfection Systems

UV systems like AquaGuard inactivate bacteria and viruses without using chemicals. They provide safe, chemical-free disinfection.

Reverse Osmosis Systems

Reverse osmosis systems like AquaRevive use a semi-permeable membrane to filter out dissolved contaminants like arsenic, nitrates, lead, and pesticides.

Ozone Generators

Ozone generators like HydroClear infuse water with ozone to oxidize iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, and microorganisms.

Whole House Filters

Whole house filters like AquaBlue combine several filtration media to remove a wide range of contaminants throughout the home.

For well water, specialized treatment systems like WellFusion provide multi-barrier protection from bacteria, chemicals, particulates, and scale.

Commercial properties and municipal water systems may require heavy duty treatment like ozone-activated carbon adsorption and membrane filtration with the HydroTech Pro line.

Protect Your Health with Clean Water in San Antonio

Safe drinking water is essential for good health, especially for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. The local groundwater that serves San Antonio contains concerning levels of contaminants like nitrates, trihalomethanes, bacteria, and heavy metals.

Homeowners can regain peace of mind by installing a water treatment system suited to their needs. Systems from leading manufacturers like Aqua-Wise provide robust and reliable water purification using technologies like water softening, reverse osmosis, UV disinfection, and carbon filtration.

With high quality whole home or point-of-use water treatment, San Antonio residents can once again enjoy clean, great-tasting water from every tap.

Schedule a Free Water Test Today

To analyze your tap water and recommend the best solutions for your home, schedule a FREE water test from our experts at Aqua-Wise. Our team has been improving water in San Antonio area homes since 2001. We also offer financing options to help you get cleaner, safer water without breaking the bank.