Water in Barrington, IL

Barrington Water Needs Improvement

Find Out How to Protect Your Home and Health!

Is Barrington water safe to drink? Unfortunately, recent studies show that the Chicago suburb has many dangerous toxins lurking in its water. The good news is you can keep your family safe from consuming dangerous pollutants.

Keep reading to learn the following:

  • Where Barrington water comes from
  • Which contaminants are present in the drinking water
  • How to keep yourself and your family healthy
  • How Angel Water can help you stay safe while drinking Barrington water

Where Does Barrington, IL Get Its Water?

Barrington gets its water from a shallow aquifer. A shallow aquifer system is comprised of gravel, sand and other materials left by melting glaciers. Barrington’s shallow aquifer is about 250-300 feet deep and recharges itself using precipitation. However, because groundwater is used to restore it, there’s a chance for contamination.

Furthermore, Barrington’s water supply is susceptible to depletion and drought. Although groundwater levels continue to increase, it’s important for residents of Barrington to conserve their water whenever possible.

Does Barrington Have Hard Water?

Barrington water has a hardness level of 36 grains per gallon, which is incredibly hard and can cause the following problems for residents:

When water is hard that means it has significant mineral buildup. In comparison to other cities, Barrington’s numbers are high. Though, there isn’t too much need for worry. You can get a water softener from a trusted company like Angel Water to help resolve the problem.

What’s in the Drinking Water in Barrington?

So, how do you find out what’s exactly in Barrington water? Well, you can look at the numbers presented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA set standards that every city’s water must abide by. However, these numbers haven’t been updated in years and don’t represent what it takes to protect human health.

Instead, we recommend looking at the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) website to get an unbiased opinion of what’s really in Barrington water. The EWG is an independent non-profit organization that analyzes what contaminants are in a city’s water supply.

Here is an overview of what contaminants detected in Barrington water exceeded EWG guidelines:

CONTAMINANT TOTAL
EWG RECOMMENDED
Haloacetic Acids (HAA9) 3.38 ppb 0.06 ppb
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1.59 ppb 0.15ppb

Haloacetic Acids (HAA9)

The haloacetic acids are nine disinfectants that form as byproducts of water treatment with chlorine and chloramine.

Along with reporting the totals for the whole group of acids in its report, the EWG also reports totals for individual acids. Dibromoacetic acid was the only haloacetic acid that exceeded health guidelines on its own. However, the report also shows significant amounts of dichloroacetic acid and monobromoacetic acid in the water.

These contaminants pose significant health risks for people who consume them. These include cancer and problems during pregnancy.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

Like Haloacetic acids, total trihalomethanes can also form during the water treatment process. Not only did this group of pollutants exceed EWG health guidelines as a group, but bromodichloromethane and chloroform also surpassed the limits individually. Significant amounts of another TTHM, dibromochloromethane, were also found in Barrington water.

Excessive exposure to TTHMs has been linked to bladder, kidney, and liver cancer.

Other Contaminants Detected

The EWG also found other contaminants in Barrington water. These include:

  • Barium
  • Fluoride
  • Manganese
  • Molybdenum
  • Strontium

None of these contaminants tested above EWG guidelines. Yet, it’s important to know they were detected since they all pose serious health risks. You can learn more about all of these pollutants on the EWG’s Barrington page.

So, What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?

Fear not! There are things you can do to ensure the water you’re drinking is safe. Read more below to discover the simple steps you can take to get the healthiest water possible!

Step 1: Have Your Water Tested

It’s important to have your water tested regularly. Yet, it’s even more critical if you notice your water tastes metallic or if there are spots on your dishes. The test will help you identify what contaminants are causing the problems and make an informed decision about what water treatment equipment to get.

Step 2: Get an NSF/ANSI 58 Certified Reverse Osmosis System to Remove Contaminants

The water test might reveal that you need a reverse osmosis system to solve your problems. Reverse osmosis systems remove more contaminants than traditional filters. For example, these systems get rid of:

  • Chromium (Hexavalent)
  • Chromium (Total)
  • Germanium
  • Haloacetic Acids
  • Molybdenum
  • Total Trihalomethanes
  • And more!

The reason why RO systems are better than other filters is that they have a membrane where additional filtration takes place. Your RO system should be NSF/ANSI 58 certified. NSF/ANSI 58 certified RO systems have gone through extensive tests to prove they’re effective.

Step 3: Think About Getting an NSF/ANSI 44 Certified Water Softener to Get Rid of Hard Water

What if hard water is the thing causing problems? In this case, your best solution is an NSF/ANSI 44 certified water softener. These systems are the most effective at reducing water hardness and can also filter out harmful contaminants like radium 226/228.

Step 4: Get Your Systems Installed by the Pros and Make Sure to Maintain Them

Finally, you should have your water treatment equipment installed by a professional. Trying to do things on your own can lead to things being installed incorrectly and plenty of frustrations. Regular maintenance should follow installation. Angel Water has this part of the process covered, too

We Want to Provide Barrington, IL with Clean Water

Unfortunately, we’ve seen that Barrington water is full of contaminants. Though this might be disheartening, there are things you can do to improve your water quality in this city. Consider getting an RO system or water softener to resolve your issues. Remember, a professional should always test the water first to discover the problem and help install whatever’s necessary. Call us at (847) 382-7800 to figure out what’s happening with your water today!

Please call us today at (847) 382-7800

or fill out the form below to talk with an expert or schedule a free consultation!

Get A Free Water Test!

Would You Like to Know More About Water Quality in Barrington?

If you want to understand the quality of the water your family depends on everyday, contact us today. One of our representatives is standing by to help you schedule your free water test. We’ll send one of our local water expert to test the water at your tap and explain common problems and solutions for your specific water composition so that you can rest easy, knowing that your family is drinking the healthiest water possible.

We love to help! Just ask your neighbors:

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