Low pH Water in New England
Green Staining & Corrosion due to Low pH
Low pH water can be quite a nuisance, as it has the potential to wreak havoc on your pipes and fixtures. pH is the measure of how acidic or alkaline your water is, with 7 being neutral. Water with a pH below 7 means you're dealing with acidic water, whereas anything above 7 indicates basic (or alkaline) water. Acidic water is no stranger to New England's water supply, and it can cause some serious problems, including:
- Leaching of metals from pipes and fixtures such as copper, lead, and zinc
- Damage to metal pipes, which can lead to costly replacements
- Causing a metallic or sour taste in your water
- Staining your laundry
- Turning your sinks and drains into a blue-green wonderland (thanks, copper!)
- Creating "pin-hole" leaks in your piping system
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn't regulate the pH level in drinking water, but they recommend keeping it between 6.5 and 8.5. Think of it like Goldilocks – not too acidic, not too alkaline, but juuuust right. While the EPA considers pH a secondary drinking water contaminant, the consequences of low pH water can be pretty severe.
If you start seeing any of the aforementioned issues, it's time to take action and get your water back on track.