The Water Softener Blog

  🚿Onion's in the shower! If you’ve walked into your shower only to be greeted by a sharp, pungent odor reminiscent of an old, forgotten onion, your shower curtain is the prime suspect. This distinct, unpleasant aroma isn't a mold or mildew issue—it's caused by one tiny, specific type of roommate: odor-producing bacteria . The main culprit is often the bacterium Staphylococcus\ hominis , a common resident on human skin. 🔬 The Culprit: What You’re Really Smelling The onion smell is the result of the bacteria consuming the organic residue on your curtain—sweat, skin cells, and soap scum—and then releasing an extremely potent byproduct: thioalcohols . Thioalcohols are sulfur-containing compounds. They are the same chemical molecules that give onions and garlic their characteristic, sharp scent. Because your shower curtain is a perpetually damp, warm, and sticky surface (thanks to soap scum), it creates the perf...

If you live in a Great Lakes city, you've probably heard of zebra mussels. Those small, striped invaders that cling to rocks and boat hulls. But what you might not realize is that these tiny shellfish are quietly attacking something you never see: your city's water supply inlet . As they clog and coat the intake structures and tunnels that feed your treatment plant, they drive up operating costs, strain equipment, and ultimately show up on your monthly water bill. This problem goes far beyond just annoying boaters — it affects every single glass of water you pour at home. Why the Great Lakes Are the Perfect Breeding Ground for Zebra Mussels Zebra mussels didn't evolve in the Great Lakes. They arrived in ballast water from ships in the 1980s and found a nearly perfect environment: Plenty of calcium in the water to build their shells. Few natural predators are capable of controlling their population. Massive hard surfaces on rocks, dock...

If your home relies on municipal water, the water leaving the treatment plant has already undergone extensive chemical disinfection. Without these disinfectants, harmful microbes—bacteria, viruses, protozoa—could spread rapidly through the system. But there’s a hidden side to this water treatment chemistry. When chlorine and chloramine react with naturally occurring organic matter, they form unintended chemicals known as disinfection byproducts (DBPs) . These include THMs, HAAs, nitrosamines, haloacetonitriles, haloketones, iodinated DBPs, and more—most of which never appear in your annual water report. This guide explains what chemicals cities add, how DBPs form, and the whole-house and point-of-use filtration systems that protect your family. Why Cities Add Chemicals to Your Water Cities use disinfectants to keep water microbiologically safe through miles of pipes: Free chlorine Chloramine (chlorine + ammonia) Chlorine dioxide Ozone UV light (n...

Radon and uranium in private well water are classic “silent” problems: you can’t see, taste, or smell them, but they can be present at levels that matter for your family’s long-term health. If your home relies on a private well, it’s up to you—not a public utility—to understand the risks, test properly, and choose the right treatment. This guide explains where radon and uranium come from, how often to test, and the best whole-house and point-of-use treatment methods, along with annual maintenance and how to handle spent media and resin safely. Why Radon and Uranium Show Up in Well Water Radon and uranium both occur naturally in certain rocks and soils. As uranium in bedrock breaks down over time, it creates a decay chain that includes radium and radon gas. Groundwater flowing through these formations can dissolve uranium and carry radon gas into private wells—especially in regions with crystalline bedrock (granite and certain metamorphic rocks) or uraniu...