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Aquifer
A geological formation that stores large amounts of water which mayt come to the surface through a spring or a well. Most are made of sand, gravel, or permeable rock and are surrounded by clay or another impervious substance. More than one aquifer may exist a various depths in the same location, separated by impermeable layers.
Artesian
Artesian aquifers are surrounded by impermeable rock which puts the water under pressure. When the aquifer is tapped, the pressure forces the water up the well without the use of any mechanical aids.
Hardness:
A water's calcium and magnesium levels add together to determine the water's hardness. Hard tap water (containing a high level of calcium and magnesium) makes cleaning more difficult and causes scaling in tea kettles and the like. Water is softened by ion exchange and the adition of sodium.
Purified water
There are two processes used in order to purify water: distillation and reverse osmosis.
Distillation is a process whereby water is turned to steam and condensed leaving behind all contaminants and bacteria. Many countries without natural source water and the Department of Defense use distillation to provide pure drinking water.
Reverse Osmosis is a process where by water is sieved through a minute filter and harmful contaminants are expelled. Essential trace minerals and friendly bacteria are not eliminated during the Reverse Osmosis Procedure!
Distillation like Reverse Osmosis removes contaminants from the water and during it's process it also eliminates all of the necessary minerals and bacteria that the human body essentially requires. Reverse Osmosis merely filters the water without removing any of the vital organisms!
pH Factor
The pH (potential hydrogen) measures the level of alkalinity or acidiy in water. On this scale, 1.0 to 6.9 is acidic, 7.0 is neutral and 7.1 to 14.0 is alkaline (also referred to as basic). Sour tastes (ie vinegar) come from acids, whereas alkaline substances tend to taste bitter. In the 5 to 9 range, the pH factor plays a very minor role in the overall perception of water.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) or Minerality
The amount of minerals dissolved in water is indicated as total dissolved solids, usually measured in milligrams per litre (mg/l). Most waters fall in a TDS range of 50 to 2,000 mg/l.
Virginality
Virginality indicates how protected a water is from its surroundings. It is determined by the water's level of nitrate, an inorganic compound made up of one nitrogen atom and three oxygen atoms. Nitrate is easily carried through soil by water. In its natural stare, water has less than 1mg/l of nitrate - higher levels typically reveal a compromised water.
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