Loretto Water Softener and Drinking Water Guide
The City of Loretto provides drinking water to its residents from a groundwater source. The 615 foot deep well draws water from the Tunnel City-Wonewoc aquifer.
Loretto’s high level of chlorine, total dissolved solids (TDS), and organic matter contribute to a poor overall taste.
- Soft Water
- National Hardness Average
- Loretto Water Hardness
Loretto Water Softener Recommendations
The national average for water hardness is 5gpg (grains per gallon). Loretto water hardness ranges from 24-26gpg, which is 5x harder than average.
A water softener will protect your water heater, plumbing, and appliances from hard water damage. A high efficiency water softener will offer the same protection, but will use far less water and salt.
Loretto Water Reports
The City of Loretto does regular water testing and publishes the results in Annual Drinking Water Reports. These reports explain which water contaminants, and what levels have been found.
The EPA has two standards for drinking water contaminants:
MCL: Maximum Contaminant Level
The legal limit for a certain contaminant
MCLG: Maximum Contaminant Level GOAL
The level with ZERO HEALTH RISKS, aka the “Health Limit”
All water contaminants meet the EPA’s “Legal Limit”. Contaminants that exceed the EPA’s Health Limit have been highlighted below.
Inorganic Contaminants
Inorganic contaminants include natural and manmade salts and metals. You are mostly exposed to inorganics through drinking water, most do not easily pass through skin. Carbon Filters (refrigerator and faucet filters) have almost ZERO impact on these contaminants. Reverse Osmosis very effective at removing inorganic contaminants.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | 0.71-2.14 | 0 | 10 | Skin damage or problems w/ circulatory systems, increased risk of cancer |
| Barium | 0.08 | 2 | 2 | Increase in blood pressure |
| Fluoride | 0.95-2.4 | 4 | 4 | Bone disease;children may get mottled teeth |
| Nitrate | 0.09 | 10 | 10 | Blue-baby syndrome |
Organic Contaminants
Organic contaminants can come from either natural sources like algae, or man-made chemicals. You can be exposed through drinking water, absorption through skin (bathing), and inhalation. This makes a Hybrid Filter System, or Whole House Carbon Filter a good preventative tool.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tetrachloroethylene | 1.7 | 0 | 5 | Liver problems, increased risk of cancer |
| Toluene | 0.001 | 1 | 1 | Nervous system, liver, or kidney problems |
| Xylenes | 0.001-0.004 | 1.8 | 10 | Nervous system damage |
Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts
Disinfectants are added to kill bacteria. Disinfectants like Chlorine react with other chemicals and create “Disinfection Byproducts. These chemicals enter the body through inhalation, absorption through skin, and drinking water. A Whole House Carbon Filter is a good preventative tool in addition to a Drinking Water System for these compounds.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine | 0.14-1.95 | 4 | 4 | Eye/nose irritation; stomach discomfort |
| Chloroform | 0.14-0.4 | 5.7 | 80 | Nervous system depression, increase in kidney and liver tumors |
| Haloacetic Acids | 3 | 0 | 80 | Increased risk of cancer |
| Total Trihalomethanes | 0.14-1.1 | 0 | 60 | Increased risk of cancer |
Radionuclide Contaminants
Radionuclides in water may occur naturally, or come from oil and gas production or mining activities. These can be inhaled, or consumed through drinking water.
| Contaminant | Amount Found | Health Limit | Legal Limit | Potential Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha Emitter | 3.4-8.6 | 0 | 15.4 | Increased risk of cancer |
| Combined Radium | 0.4 | 0 | 5 | Increased risk of cancer |
| Radon | 204.5 | 0 | NA | Increased risk of cancer |
This information was compiled from Loretto’s water treatment reports, the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Minnesota Department of Health(DOH), World Health Organization(WHO), and Environmental Working Group(EWG).