Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/352529
8 WINNIPEG FrEE PrESS, SATurDAY JulY 26, 2014 a Q u a s u r e W a t e r t r e a t M e n t g r o u p S chwartz, owner of Aquasure Water Treatment Group Inc., is opening a new branch in St. Andrews this fall. He says he is the only certified specialist in Manitoba with a 111 rating from the Canadian Water Quality Assoc. (CWQA), a watch- dog organization. But he says the industry is like any trade that does not have a governing body with the power to police it. "Anyone can call himself a roofer, just as anyone can call himself a water specialist without any formal training," he says. "It makes it nearly impossible to catch cheaters." Some salespeople use bait-and-switch tactics to lure customers by advertising a reputable product at an attractive price. Then, they denigrate it in favour of another product offered at a much higher price, according to the CWQA. Salespeople may make exaggerated claims about products, and Schwartz says he knows of people who've paid more than $5,000 for a new water system when all they needed was a $400 water heater. "If you are experiencing a water problem, my suggestion is to get a second opinion before you shell out thousands of dollars on a remedy that may not solve your difficulty," Schwartz says. There is so much misinformation on the Internet that consumers are baffled as to what product they should purchase to soften or eradicate odours from their water. "The basic sodium or potassium chloride water softener remains one the least expensive and effective ways to treat hard water," he says. Calcium, magnesium and other trace elements are the main cause of hard water. Water softeners work by exchanging salt ions for calcium and magnesium ions in a mineral tank filled with resin beads that attract the hard water elements. A secondary brine tank filled with softener salt regenerates the beads when they become exhausted and contain nothing but calcium and magnesium. Softeners will also remove iron bacteria from water, though an occasional purge with iron remover may be required to flush excess bacteria from the system. Attaching an iron filter to a softener will help to reduce the iron bacteria content of well water before it enters the system; however, in most cases it is less expensive to purge the softener periodically with a chemical than to add a filter that will need to be cleaned in any case. Schwartz suggests that anyone considering buying a softening system do their homework before they spend their money. Testing a water sample for hardness should be the first step in selecting the most cost-effective and efficient system. "Once we know the hardness of the water, we can calculate the size and type of softener required based on daily usage and other factors." When it comes to solving problems, Schwartz says he has many contacts in the water-treatment industry to which he can turn for help. He says his company helped Health Sciences Centre reduce the amount of salt its water-softening unit was consuming by over 50%, and this spring, he solved a problem at Investors Group Field in which water pipes had frozen because they had not been drained in the fall. "I have three pieces of advice for my clients," he says. "Keep it simple, get a second opinion and be wary of salesmen who come knocking at your door." ❙ Be Well inforMeD It's buyer beware on the water front By David Square for the Free Press Beware the salesperson who comes knocking at your door with an expensive new water-treatment gadget. Water specialist rick Schwartz says rural homeowners, many of whom rely on drilled wells to provide potable water, are often taken in by "fly-by-night" salespeople who flog water- treatment products, then disappear when it turns out the products either do not work or need repairs. Rick Schwartz advises consumers to do their homework before buying a water-treatment system. Photo by Darcy Finley salesPeoPle May Make exaggeraTed claiMs abouT ProducTs, and scHwarTz says He knows oF PeoPle wHo've Paid More THan $5,000 For a new waTer sysTeM wHen all THey needed was a $400 waTer HeaTer. FOLKLORAMA AUG.3-16, 2014 Immerseyourselfaswecelebrate45yearsof cultureanddiversityfromaroundtheworld. Howwillyou Folklorama? FOLKLORAMA.CA FUNDERS SPONSORS ® VickarAutomotive GroupFunPacks, MiniFunPacksand VIPWorldTours nowonsaleat Folklorama.ca Request a copy or download our Visitor's Guide or tourism map! www.oakhammockmarsh.ca 1-877-468-3752 www.interlakesummerfun.com WhereLifelongMemoriesareMade... DETECT: TheArts,Culinary Treats&Nature beyondcompare!