Evolution of the Culligan Man
All icons go through their share of changes.
This week marks the most recent evolution of the most recognizable symbol in water as Culligan International announced the latest Culligan Man update.
Take a look back throughout the years to see how the newest version stacks up against its predecessors.
The Original (Emmett Culligan, founder of Culligan International)
The Authority
The Smile
The Everyman
What’s your favorite?
Dr. Oz and Reverse Osmosis
A few weeks ago on his talk show Dr. Oz did a series on the safeness of your tap water. He and other experts discussed the possibility of contaminants in drinking water, whether from wells or municipalities, and the potentially harmful effects they could have on you and your family. The head of the EPA even stressed the importance of having a reverse-osmosis (RO) or other type of filter in the home. Dr. Oz also told viewers the only way to know for sure about the quality of your drinking water is to have it tested – and he is right.
That’s where Culligan comes in. Your local Culligan Man can test your water for impurities and recommend the right solution for your needs. Culligan has a variety of systems, from softeners to ROs that will fit your household. A Culligan RO system removes the impurities in your water thus giving you safer, better tasting drinking water.
Dr. Oz also referenced Consumer Reports’ “GreenerChoices Products for a Better Planet” list. The Culligan Aqua-Cleer is recommended as one of the top reverse-osmosis systems in the Consumer Reports February 2012 issue. While this model is more expensive than the bargain buys, Culligan has the experts to back up their products. You local Culligan Man may also have special offers to help you with the rent or purchase of a Culligan system. Visit your local Culligan dealer’s website for more information or connect with us on Facebook.
If you don’t know it by now, we are fans of soft water.
We wax philosophic about it on this very blog almost every week. But mostly, we concentrate on the benefits (you know, the silky hair, soft skin and optimal-perfroming appliances.)
Today, we focus on the process or purging those hard water minerals and give a very basic description of what happens in your water softener.
The Enemy
Hard water contains varying amounts of calcium and magnesium, the two culprits that cause hard water problems. In broad strokes, a water softener replaces those minerals with a “soft” element (sodium) in an ion exchange.
The Fight
First, the water enters the softener before being distributed to the rest of the household.
The first stop for incoming H2O is the mineral tank, which is filled with resin (charged plastic beads.) As the water passes through the beads, the positively charged calcium and magnesium jump ship and cling to the beads.
Weaker sodium ions are forced into the water after the calcium and magnesium saturate the beads. But it’s a trick – because, now, we regenerate.
The softener has the magnesium and calcium right where it wants it – cornered on the beads with nowhere to hide. A brine solution from the attached brine tank is then flushed through the mineral tank (this is where all the softener salt your Culligan man brought you comes in.) The influx of so much sodium knocks all the magnesium and calcium off the beads, and then the pressure of the system drains the water of the remaining hard water minerals.
The Happy Ending
You now have soft water, and one heck of a chemistry lesson.
The Disclaimer
Remember, models and brands of water softeners all differ in their exact calibrations and schematics.
A handy chart from Popular Mechanics gives a more visual version of our soft water story.
2011: Culligan Highlights
Before Culligan rings in 2012, let’s look back at 2011…
Culligan turned 75 in 2011 and we celebrated all year long. Our convention in sunny Flordia was a huge success. From humble beginnings in 1936, we have grown and evolved as a company bringing our technology and dedicated service to countries all across the world. As our year long 75th birthday celebration draws to a close let’s pat ourselves on the back one last time and look toward another 75 years!
2011 also introduced the Culligan HE - the world’s most efficient softener. Dealer H.B. Riggs from Tucson, AZ said with this advancement, “we have a platform for the future,” and we couldn’t agree more. With customers inevitably saving money, salt and energy we can tout the benefits of our new technology with confidence.
Finally, 2011 brought a lot of changes to the Culligan system. The re-franchising of all corporate owned dealerships, “shows huge commitment by dealers to the Culligan System,” said Kevin Gillett of Waterloo, Iowa. There are also signs of positive movement in the economy compared to past years which bodes well for the overall economic climate.
What do you think 2012 has in store for Culligan? We can’t wait to see. Happy New Year from Culligan!
To: My House – From: The Homeowner
Most people don’t think to get their home a Christmas present (and we don’t blame them – the idea seems kind of silly.) But what if you got your house a present that you could benefit from as well? That’s right. A present for you and your home. This year, give your house the gift of soft water.
The appliances, pipes, dishes and all the taps throughout your home can benefit from soft water. The scale buildup that hard water leaves can significantly decrease the life of appliances such as your water heater, not to mention it leaves ugly stains in your sinks and tubs. Spotty dishes are a friend to no one and hard water can even affect your coffee maker. A water softener removes harsh impurities from your water supply leaving it more suitable for running household appliances.
But how does a softener help you? Simple. It starts with your shower. The excess minerals in hard water can dry out your skin and leave your hair with a lackluster shine. Softeners can improve the quality of your water so much so that you’ll notice a big difference. Soft water is also better for washing clothes because it rinses soap more efficiently than hard water. And forget all the time you spent cleaning hard water build up. With stains and scale gone you’ll have more “me” time.
So this year don’t forget about your house at Christmas. It will appreciate it, and so will you! Happy Holidays from Culligan.
‘Tis the Season
People yell “Hey Culligan Man!” all over the world. They yell it in Australia and Argentina. It can be heard in Nova Scotia and Texas. So, yes, Culligan is truly a global brand – but it’s your Culligan Man who matters. It’s that local dealer who helps you out when you are out of salt, or need more water for the office.
But Culligan dealers have been giving back as long as they have been selling softeners. This year was no different, and a few examples below highlight the charitable spirit of Culligan Men and Women all over the continent.
The Packard organization, which operates dealerships throughout the U.S., was in the giving spirit this December.
Culligan Water Conditioning & The John Packard Family recently pledged a donation of $50,000 in support of the facilities expansion fund at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare. Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare is an independent, not-for-profit hospital located in St. Paul, Minnesota and is internationally renowned for a superior level of pediatric expertise. This expansion will allow Gillette to continue to grow and to provide even more exceptional care and become even more welcoming for patients and their families.
The Good Water Company donated $1,000 to the Adopt-A-Child Campaign. This program buys winter coats, boots and mittens for under privileged kids in the region. The charity was under budget so the company increased its annual contribution from $850 last year to $1,000 in 2011.
Rob Kitzman and his Culligan team in Morro Bay, California raised money for Lifewater over the past few months. Between the dealership, customers and the community they raised $18,000. Lifewater is a charity committed to providing sanitary and hygienic water to communities without access to clean water.
While only a few dealers are noted in this post, many dealers are incredibly active in their communities. If you want to report a humble Culligan Man or Woman for their good deeds, connect at facebook.com/ILoveCulliganWater.
The Ins and Outs of Reverse Osmosis
“Bottled water is better than reverse osmosis water,” or ”It isn’t healthy to drink reverse osmosis water.”
As Culligan dealers, we’ve heard all the rumors about reverse osmosis (RO) systems. So here’s a little science lesson to teach you exactly how reverse osmosis works, and what’s true and what’s not.
Reverse osmosis is the process by which water molecules are forced through a semi-permeable membrane under pressure. Think back to high school science lab. Remember the experiment with an egg in a glass of water? Once the shell was removed, water traveled through the membrane to balance out the pressure. Culligan RO systems work in a similar way – just reversed.
- First, raw tap water flows through a sediment filter to remove dirt, rust and other solid objects.
- Then the water then flows into a carbon filter which removes 98% of the chlorine and organic chemicals.
- The third step is what differentiates an RO system from other filters. Here, pressure greater than the normal osmotic pressure is applied to the water. The reverse osmosis membrane then separates up to 99% of the dissolved contaminants from the water molecules. These removed impurities are rinsed down the drain leaving behind only pure, clean water
- This water is stored in a reservoir tank, typically located underneath the sink.
- The final step involves pushing water through a final carbon block “polishing filter” accessed through a special faucet on your sink or refrigerator dispenser before it reaches your glass.
But what about the rumors? Most bottlers actually use RO systems like Culligan’s in their purification process. Next time you have a bottle of water, read the label. You could be getting the same quality water right in your own home. Reverse osmosis water is also safe to drink. It removes up to 99% of potentially harmful bacteria and impurities leaving you with safe, pure water for consumption.
Now that you’ve sat through our science lesson (and we’re pretty sure you will all get A’s) let us know if you have questions or think about applying what you learned to the real world. Visit us on Facebook today!
The Season That Was in the Big Ten
As a proud sponsor of the Big Ten Network, it is only fitting that Culligan looks back on the season that was and forward to the game that will be. The Badger and the Spartans will have a chance for an epic rematch in Indianapolis on December 3rd at the inaugural Big Ten Championship game.
With the Culligan brand turning 75 this year, we know how important it is to look back on where it all started. In this case, that means August and the Big Ten Preview Tour.
The Big Ten Network crew talked to Russell Wilson as hype started to build around Wisconsin’s season. The Badgers will represent the Leaders division in the title game.
Kirk Cousins is shown here only a few months before heaving a Hail Mary to defeat UW, the team they will have to face again on Saturday. The Michigan State Spartans are the Legends champs.
Congratulations to all the teams for their hard work this season. Interested to see how all the other Big Ten teams fared? Check out the Big Ten Network.
Be Thankful
Ah, Thanksgiving. The traditional, “What are you thankful for this year?” circles around the table, followed by mashed potatoes and the gravy boat. We exchange a myriad of answers, including our good friends and family, and big life changes.
These are all expected, as it is the time of year we really take a moment to value those around us. But this year, along with your traditional Thanksgiving thoughts, step back and consider how fortunate you are to have a roof over your head, good food to eat and access to pure, essential water.
According to the United Nations each person needs 20-50 litres of safe freshwater a day to ensure their basic needs for drinking, cooking and cleaning. Unfortunately more than one in six people worldwide – 894 million – don’t have access to this amount of safe freshwater. In the United States we’ve come to take fresh water for granted, but if we are aware of water problems around the world we can do our part to help.
So tomorrow when you wake up and shower, begin cooking your Thanksgiving meal and sit down with your family and friends take an extra minute to think about how lucky we are. Happy Thanksgiving from your Culligan Man!
Revisionist History
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Culligan brand. The brand’s slogan may be a memorable as anything else every featured in advertising.
Say you were tasked with coming up with Culligan’s tag line, what would be your spin on a marketing classic? We want to hear your original Culligan slogans (no crude language please.)
Culligan: A Case Study
We know Culligan’s residential water systems are great solutions for household water issues. They are extremely effective but they are also very small compared to the scale of some of Culligan’s biggest and best commercial products. Did you know that Culligan has systems in hospitals, hotels and beyond? One specific solution saved Georgia Pacific upwards of $50,000 annually. Want to know how Culligan can help your business? Read on…
Who: Georgia Pacific Building Products
What: Manufacturing of interior hard board paneling, including paint and finish.
Problem: Total dissolved solids (TDS) built up in the boiler, and the equipment needed to “blow down” in order to send the impurities down the drain. Prior to the installation of equipment, they were blowing down approximately 4500 gallons of waste water per day. High levels of TDS also caused significant scale build-up. Heating elements in the boiler have to heat through the scale before reaching the water, thus causing high energy use. For boilers, it’s best to have no more than 3-5 grains per gallon or ideally, less than one grain per gallon. Their water had 12 grains per gallon. A solution was needed.
Solution: Decrease TDS rate to improve energy efficiency and lower water usage levels for cost savings.
Results: With the help of an RO system, carbon filter and storage tanks, Culligan helped Georgia Pacific achieve:
- Total annual savings of $52,711.
- Reduced blow-downs from 4500 gallons of water per day to less than 200 gallons per day.
- Estimated energy savings from blow-downs and the savings in water and sewage costs of $31,000 annually.
Culligan: 1. Hard Water: 0. Read Georgia Pacific’s complete success story or contact your Culligan Dealer for more information.
This post was originally shared in July of 2010. As energy efficiency becomes more top of mind, we wanted to share this research again on the false promises of “salt-less” softeners.
Lately, some areas of North America have been barraged by claims of a ‘salt-free’ water softeners and conditioners. Buying airtime by the the bulk, these companies put some major marketing muscle behind their product. Needless to say, more than a few consumers ran to these dealers with the hopes of soft water without the salt.
Sales pitches touted magnets, and homeowners opened their wallets and turned off their softeners. But after a few weeks, one by one, a majority of these new converts began to long for their old softener – all because they did not get the facts.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
There is a reason why most of these products refer to themselves as a “water softener alternative.” Simply put, they don’t soften water. Water softening is an ionic process.
34 separate report papers indicate that physical water treatment does not work in a consistent and predictable way. Title: WQA Magnetics Task Force
2 . A descaler is not a water softener.
Many of these products find a way into your home by promising to reduce calcium and magnesium deposits in your pipes. 
Army Corp of Engineers tested two magnetic (Descal-A-Matic and Aqua Magnetic) and one electronic device (Ener Tec) in 2001. The findings do not support the claims of the manufacturers regarding the ability of their respective devices prevent mineral scale formation in hot potable water systems. Title: Demonstration and Evaluation of Magnetic Descalers
3. If there is no science, there are no results.
The Nittany Lions weren’t fooled.
Penn State University states there is virtually no valid scientific data to support any water treatment benefit from magnetic devices. Companies use testimonials from “hundreds of satisfied customers” to support their claims Title: Magnetic Water Treatment Devices
More of this independent research can be found on www.culligan.com.
Halloween Hydration
Zombies. Goblins. Ghouls, ghosts and monsters. October can be a fright-filled time of year, but one thing that shouldn’t scare you is your water. It’s important to remember to keep drinking water even after the hot, steamy summer months have left. Everyone knows about the recommended eight glasses a day, but that can be harder to achieve than you think – especially when you don’t “feel” thirsty.
When you exercise or spend time outside in the heat it’s easy to notice the water you’re losing through perspiration. Your beads of sweat are an obvious reminder to consume more water. Once the weather turns you should make a more conscious effort to stay hydrated. In the spirit of Halloween grossness a good way to tell if you’re getting enough water is the color of your urine. If it’s clear to pale yellow you’re doing a good job, but we wouldn’t recommend sharing that little tidbit with everyone.
Also make sure to compensate for over consumption of sugary drinks like dragon’s blood (Kool-Aid) or witches brew (adult punch) which can easily leave you high and dry.
So this year save the tricks for Halloween night and treat yourself to some fine, pure Culligan Water. Otherwise you’ll end up like this:
Happy Halloween from your Culligan Man!
Airing the Dirty Laundry
There are few pleasures on this earth that rival fresh laundry. Clean sheets alone can soothe the soul of any man, woman or child, and most of the world’s problems can be traced back to the lack of soft towels.
While we may lament the actual process involved with doing a round of darks and whites, delicates and “hand dry onlies,” the product is worth the toil, worth the hanging and the folding.
But water quality can turn this dream into a nightmare in one spin cycle. A study by the Water Quality Association delved deep into the relationship between hard water and laundry.
First off, the research showed that stain removal performance increases dramatically when water hardness is removed – in some cases a 100% improvement. What’s more, homes using soft water need 50% less detergent to achieve that level of cleanliness.
Anyone who does laundry regularly (and we sincerely hope that is most of you) also knows how important water temperature is when doing a load. Tests run in the Softened Water Benefits Study showed “washing can be carried out in 60 degree (F) cold water instead of 100 degree (F) hot water and achieve the same or better stain removal.” So, a beautiful byproduct will mean extra energy savings without sacrificing clean socks.
Whatever day your laundry day lands on, take today to test your water.
Flashback Friday
We’ve dubbed today Flashback Friday and in honor of this proclamation we’re bringing you some old-school Culligan culture.
Everyone knows if you yell, “Hey Culligan Man!” your trusty Culligan dealer will show up in his or her delivery truck with the precious cargo (Culligan water of course) tucked safely inside.
Was that always the case? Culligan has been providing soft, pure water to households since 1936. Surely the Culligan Man’s wheels were not as cool as they are today, right?
Wrong! With WWII at an end, automotive manufacturers were now free to build more consumer and commercial vehicles including trucks. Over the next few years, Culligan developed a number of standard ways to customize trucks in order to carry Culligan’s unique products. They may not have had flames on the side, but we think the retro delivery trucks are pretty cool, and certainly set a standard for our delivery service today.
Respect the Inspect
A water softener is like any other appliance in the home. It needs some attention from time to time to ensure it’s running at peak performance. That’s why Culligan Men and Women around the country offer great deals and discounts on these types of inspections because water conditions and plumbing set-ups are unique to almost every single home.
According to A.J. Jameson, a Madison, Wis.-based Culligan residential sales manager, there are certain things that should prompt a call to your local dealer.
” Leaks, water spots and unusual amounts of salt being used usually points to a problem,” says Jameson. ” But most of the time, the softener is simply set incorrectly. Regular inspections before these issues arise can usually be enough to avoid any costly damage.”
Robert Leslie, a Culligan Man from Belleville, Ontario, offers his insight into what an inspection often entails.
” A Culligan Man will manually take the softener through all the cycles to see if each cycle is operating properly,” remarks Leslie. “ They’ll check the throat and nozzle to ensure there are no blockages – same with the backwash flow control.”
When asked about common issues when dealing with water softeners, Jameson warned customers to ensure the softener is the right size for their home. Contractors or plumbers who do not deal with the technology every day can install a softener than cannot handle a home’s needs. Leslie also says system pressure is often the reason a Culligan serviceman is brought to the home. Luckily, the technicians can usually pinpoint the cause of the issue and resolve it.
Both men agreed that most often the softener is simply incorrectly set.
An inspection is a great, cost-effective investment for any softener owner or renter to sidestep problems and keep that soft water coming.
Brew a Better Beverage
September 29th is National Coffee Day and in honor of this java-filled holiday we’re telling you how you can improve the taste of your beverage – and ultimately your whole day.
Whether you drink one cup or six, coffee is a morning-essential for many people. Did you know that the quality of your water can greatly affect the taste of your drink? According to Hunter Bay Coffee‘s “Coffee 101″, “There are five general causes of poor quality water: minerals, algae, sediment, chemical contamination and chlorine… each of which will impart a range of flavors described as ‘harsh, muddy, acidic, bitter, chemical, metallic, or dirty.’ These off flavors become harshest as water reaches its boiling point.”
In order to achieve the perfect cup, experts at Hunter Bay suggest using filtered water, “The neutral qualities of filtered water make a perfect base to allow the natural flavors of fine coffee or tea to “blossom” in the cup without the interference of “off flavors” imparted by unfiltered water.”
Think about that the next time you reach for the coffee pot. Try brewing your beans with filtered water and see if you can taste a difference!
Don’t forget about your coffee brewing equipment either. Just as hard water can affect the performance of your appliances like the dishwasher and water heater, it can also affect your coffee pot. Any scale buildup you see decreases the efficiency of these appliances and could be the culprit for subpar coffee.
Culligan offers a variety of systems to solve home water issues. You’ll not only feel better about the water you drink – but the taste of your coffee and other beverages like tea or hot chocolate can improve. Visit our Facebook page for more information or to locate your nearest Culligan dealer.
Home Water Tests
The last few posts have dealt with a variety of water issues. But we are not just grossing you out for no reason. (Even thought it was fun.)
Most of us are lucky enough to live in an area where clean water is simply an expectation and not a daily gamble. That complacency can get people in trouble when we live in a time where water contamination still grabs headlines. The Culligan blog team will be delving into professional tests in the coming weeks, but as a primer, we wanted to offer some tests that can be done at home quickly to help diagnose some problem water symptoms.
1. Check your ice cubes. If they are cloudy, you may have a water issue.
2. Take the sniff test. Does your water have an odor? Is it similar to a swimming pool smell? Or a rotten egg smell?
3. If you have a pet, pour some water from a bottle in a bowl and some tap water in another bowl. If your pet chooses to drink the bottled water, you may have high levels of chlorine in your tap water.
4. Make a cup of tea with bottled water and one with tap water. Put the teas in a glass. If the tap water tea is darker than the bottled water tea, then you may benefit from a reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water system.
5. Track how much you spend each week on single-serve bottled water. If it’s more than $5 weekly, you could put a virtual “bottled water plant” under your sink for only pennies a glass.
Making Sense of Hard Water
Impress the Culligan Man by learning the many signs of hard water. Simply use one or more of your senses to determine if you have a water problem.
Seeing is believing
Need to convince someone they need a Culligan system? Just show them the spots on their dishes after washing. Or the ugly brown stains in their toilet or tub. Or the nasty build-up inside a water heater using hard water. They’ll be hard pressed to argue with you after seeing those signs.
Aftertaste
Often hard water will leave a metallic taste in your mouth. This is a sign of a high levels of Total Dissovled Solids (TDS). TDS levels can also leave your water tasting sour, salty or bitter. Nobody wants to stay hydrated drinking bad tasting water. It just wouldn’t be any fun.
A rose by any other name, still smells.
So can your water. And it’s usually pretty stinky. Ever turned on the faucet only to be bombarded by the smell of rotten eggs? No, that’s not your breakfast but it is your water. Private wells can contain sulfur which causes very unpleasant odors.
Can’t Touch This
Wash your hands. Now rinse. After a few seconds, do your hands still feel like they’re coated in soap? You could have hard water. Same thing goes for sudsing up in the shower. The longer it takes to feel fully rinsed is a good indicator of hard water in your household.
Hear no evil
Ok, we have to admit. If your only sense was the ability to hear, you might find it difficult to diagnose hard water. There is one sound, though, that would reassure you your water problems are about to be solved. Can anyone guess?
A simple “Hey Culligan Man” will do the trick! Visit our Facebook page and tell us how you discovered your hard water.
UPDATE: Name that Stain!
Scroll down for answers
Pair up the problem water stain with the right location.
1. Bathtub
2. Toilet
3. Sink
a.
b.
c. 
Answer right on the Facebook page or Tweet the answers with the hashtag #HeyCulliganMan.
Answers: 1. b 2. c 3. a
An Ode to the Shower
Consider this a love letter to one of the greatest innovations in modern hygiene: the shower. Its roots can be traced back to ancient peoples using waterfalls to clean themselves, and then the Greeks taking it one step further with more modern plumbing. Today, a shower is a daily ritual (for almost everyone, we hope) and its luxuries cannot be overlooked. The unique acoustic environment is also perfect for belting out Journey and/or Katy Perry.
We have talked about showering in hard water before, and unless you like the feeling of magnesium on your skin, soft water can make all the difference. But that is not the gospel we are trying to preach today. No, today we are talking about the only thing better than a shower: the hot shower.
The hot shower is one of those simple pleasures you do not fully appreciate until it is taken away at a weekend at a lake house where Dad claims, “This is how the pioneers washed themselves.” But for that water to get to that dulcet temperature, it takes an efficient water heater so you get consistent performance without costing an arm, a leg and a loofah.
In fact, a recent study and recent blog post reports:
Hard water can lead to as much as a 24% loss of efficiency in water heaters. Each 5 grains per gallon of water hardness causes a 4% loss in efficiency and 4% increase in cost for gas storage tank water heaters when using 50 gallons of hot water per day.
When it comes to electric water heaters, 30 pounds of scale deposits can accumulate if the heater operates on hard water. As a Facebook conversation pointed out, “That’s like a small dog!” Woof.
Next time you hop into the shower, take a minute to think about the water. If it takes a few cups of coffee to get hot, hard water may be robbing you of the wondrous steamy stream. Lather, rinse, repeat.
Economic Savings with Softened Water
Did you know: Water heaters represent up to 14% of an average household’s energy consumption. That being said, picking the best and most efficient model for your home is an important decision.
When researching your water heater options, keep in mind the below information from the Water Quality Association’s Softened Water Benefits Study:
Gas Storage Tank Water Heaters:
- With softened water – Gas storage tank household water heaters operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime.
- With hard water – Hard water can lead to as much as a 24% loss of efficiency in water heaters. Each 5 grains per gallon of water hardness causes a 4% loss in efficiency and 4% increase in cost for gas storage tank water heaters when using 50 gallons of hot water per day.
Tankless Heaters:
- The economic savings of softened water with instantaneous tankless water heaters can lead to recovery of the cost of a water softener and operating supplies in a period as short as a year, if the incoming is sufficiently hard.
- With softened water – Indoor instantaneous gas water heaters (tankless heaters) operated on soft water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15-year lifetime.
- With hard water – The study found that tankless water heaters completely failed to function because of scale plugging in the downstream plumbing after only 1.6 years of equivalent hot water use on 26 gpg hard water. Softened water saves 40% of costs compared to operating on 20 gpg and saves 57% compared to operation on 30 gpg hard water.
Electric Water Heaters:
- Up to 30 pounds of calcium carbonate rocklike scale deposits can accumulate in electric water heaters.
- Each 5 gpg of water hardness caused 0.4 pounds of scale accumulation each year in electric storage tank household water heaters.
- “the life of the heating element can be expected to shorten due to scale buildup increasing the operating temperature of the element” in the electric storage water heaters operating on unsoftened water, says Batelle Memorial Institution.
Carbon Footprint:
- The carbon footprint increases 18% for gas tank water heaters when operated on 26 gpg hard water for 15 years as compared to the same operation on 0 gpg softened water.
- For instantaneous-type natural gas water heaters, this same carbon footprint increases 4% when operated on 26 gpg hard water versus 0 gpg softened water over 15 years.
Do you know how hard your water is? What model water heater do you have?
Homework and Hydration
It’s that time. Kids wearily watch as the calendar boxes fill up and parents gleefully count down the days until school starts. A trip to the store fills carts with folders, pens, crayons and highlighters as Mom and Dad sashay down each aisle.
Summer is over.
Kidshealth.org reminds returning students to ” eat a healthy breakfast and get enough sleep.”
The Culligan Men and Women know that water can help with both of those tips. For example, a glass of water should be drank first thing in the morning as your body will be a little dehydrated from 8+ hours of no fluid intake. Dehydration is also one of the main culprits behind mid-day fatigue.
8 glasses of water a day, and you might get straight A’s! (Well, maybe. )
Touchdown, Culligan!
Football fans have a lot to look forward to this year. The NFL lockout is over. College football starts in a few short weeks. Weekends will soon be filled with tailgates, rivalries and touchdowns.
While fans eagerly await their team’s first kick-off, the players have been busy training and preparing for the season. Obtaining peak physical condition takes a lot of hard work and the most important factor for athletes is proper hydration.
According to WebMD.com, the American College of Sports Medicine recommends that people drink about 17 ounces of fluid two hours before exercise, to promote adequate hydration. During a workout, athletes should have water breaks at 10-15 minute intervals. If a workout lasts longer than an hour it’s important to also consume sports drinks to replace electrolytes.
Culligan recognizes the necessary role water plays in athletes and individuals’ performance alike. We’ve donned our team colors in anticipation of the 2011 season and we’ve also decided to sponsor the Big Ten Network Preview Tour. Keep an eye out for the Big Ten Network bus which features the Culligan logo. Visit our website CulliganChampions.com for more info and see special insider photos on our Facebook page, I Love Culligan Water.
Summer is the prime season for house hunting and buying. If you have ever purchased a house or condo, you are aware that there are lots of factors to be considered when looking.
Things like…
- Condition of house
- Price
- Neighborhood
- Taxes
- Water source & quality
While the water source and quality is rarely the first thing that comes to mind, it is an important purchasing factor. Home inspectors generally check the water source and quality. But be proactive and ask the realtor or current homeowner about the water quality and source.
In rural areas, homes usually do not have connections to municipal water. For drinking water, homeowners rely on privately owned or shared wells. When moving into a home with a well, ensure that the water is safe to drink. Contact your local Culligan Man or Woman to come out and test the well water.
Also be aware of the water’s hardness level, which is measured by grains per gallon (gpg). Homes with more than 3 gpg are strongly encouraged to invest in a water softener. Your local Culligan Man or Woman can also help you with this! Hard water is full of calcium and magnesium, causing mineral buildup on your skin and appliances. Not fun.
While searching for your home, did you consider the water source and water quality? Did these factors make a difference in your purchasing decision?
Home Sweet Home…Filter
Every home has its jealousies. The living room wishes it was the TV room. The half-bath prays to be whole, while the basement is just trying to shed it’s “scary” rep. Regardless of the highlights of a home, water affects every facet and faucet.
A Culligan Whole House Water Filter ensures every nook and cranny feels the love.
A whole house water filter “reduces the sediment, chlorine, iron, acid, sulfur and other impurities that affect the taste, smell, look and feel of your water.” For example, sulfur can give water an oh-so-delectable rotten egg odor with every turn of the tap. Excessive chlorine makes a shower feel like a swimming pool minus anything fun associated with swimming pools.
A filter will ensure those pollutants don’t run wild which will lead to better smelling and tasting water; less scrubbing from stains; less corrosion on pipes and more.
Every home has its flaws, its water shouldn’t be one of them. Keep your house happy.
Homeowner’s Guide to a Boil Advisory
The city issues a water boil advisory. Panic sets in. What do you do? With the help of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection we’ve created a guide:
1. Don’t panic – There are plenty of simple precautions.
2. Purge – Rid your kitchen of any ice, juice, stored water or uncooked food that may have been prepared with tap water during the contamination period.
3. Call your Culligan Man! Culligan has a wide variety of bottled water coolers that can be delivered right to your door. The best part is once the boil advisory is lifted, you’ll still have filtered Culligan water available in your home.
4. Boil or Buy – Use only boiled water or bottled water for any activities involving water consumption. This includes brushing your teeth, washing foods, making ice cubes or rinsing dishes.
To Boil Water: Bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute.
*Note* Even if you have a Culligan system in place, you should still follow all boil advisories. Our systems are an extra precaution against contaminants.
5. You’ll have to keep yourself and your family clean, but don’t worry – you can shower (as long as you don’t swallow the water). Watch young children in the bath as they have a tendency to drink up, despite the soap and scum in the tub.
6. When the advisory is over, flush all your taps – indoor and out. This includes water softeners, heaters, faucets, showers, etc.
7. Return to your normal life where the living is easy and the water is pure. And remember – if you ever have any questions about your water – contact your Culligan Dealer. Trust us and we’ll ease your water woes.
Pack Water.
Can you believe it’s the middle of July?
Can you believe it’s the middle of summer?
Believe it, because it’s hot and it’s getting even hotter. Now is the time to escape north to a body of water of some sort, or perhaps an escape to the air conditioning will do.
No matter your preferred escape – cabin, cottage, lake house, camping – when preparing, remember to pack plenty of water to stay cool during those very hot days.
Our two best suggestions to guarantee great drinking water all weekend:
1) Contact your local Culligan Man or Woman to have him or her deliver a 5-gallon bottle of water. Add a small pump to your 5-gallon bottle for easy dispensing around the campfire for a weekend’s worth of fresh, filtered water. Perfect for coffee, drink mixes and good old fashioned ice water.
2) 5-gallon too heavy? Stop by your local Culligan dealership to pick up a case of Culligan on-the-go-bottled water. Take this top-quality drinking water anywhere. You can’t beat this convenience. Remember to recycle!
Thirsty? Call your Culligan Man or Woman today at 1-877-35-Culligan.
Questions? Post a comment below or visit us on Facebook at I Love Culligan Water (US) or The Culligan Man (Canada).
Cloth diapers are really popular with the latest generation of parents as recent conversations have shown. As a parent himself, Emmet Culligan started a water revolution based on one simple need: cleaning cloth diapers.
Emmett Joseph Culligan came from a farming background in the hard water areas of South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. He was well aware of the difference between hard well water and the soft rain water most families collected in cisterns. On January 9th, 1921 he was pacing the halls at St. Joseph’s Hospital as an expectant father and ended up in the boiler room, where he struck up a conversation with the maintenance superintendent. Next to the boilers were two large cylindrical tanks which the superintendent proudly announced softened the water to prevent scaling in the boilers and save soap in the hospital laundry.
The superintendent then explained how he could prevent diaper rash by building his own softener and softening the water used to wash his baby’s diapers. Emmett was very interested in the hospital water softener and finally convinced superintendent to give him a coffee can full of the greenish-black mineral, called Zeolite, which “magically” removed the hardness from water.
The superintendent explained to Mr. Culligan that he could punch some pinholes in the bottom of a coffee can, put about an inch of sand in the bottom, then fill it with the Zeolite. The superintendent told him to hold this “coffee can softener” under the faucet, letting the hard water trickle through, resulting in water that was softer than rain.
Emmet Culligan was so fascinated during his first encounter with ion exchange that the expectant father almost forgot why he was at the hospital. The nurses had searched, from one end of the halls to the other, before locating him in the boiler room to announce that he was the father of a healthy baby girl!
And the rest is history.
But besides diapers, what benefits from soft water?
Every part of the continent’s water is different, so find your Culligan Man or Woman at Facebook.com/ILoveCulliganWater and invest in a test.
Your Drinking Water Options
We’re going to play a little game of word association. I say “Drinking Water.” You say, “____.”
What was the first word or phrase that came to mind? Tap water? Bottled water? A mountain spring? Tap water may be the easiest but there are lots of solutions to turn ordinary water into purified, clean drinking water.
On the Go
Keeping up with water intake can be hard when you’re out and about. Grabbing a bottle of water at a convenience store is a fine solution but it can be a pricey habit. Refilling your own bottle is more cost-effective (and environmentally friendly) but you will run out and, depending where you are, it could be awhile before you find a water fountain. Some companies are making an effort to have drinking water more readily available like this fill-up station. Grand Canyon National Park also recently installed fill-stations to cutback on bottle waste.
There are also handheld solutions like purification pumps or tablets but those can be time consuming and are more suited to hikers, campers and other individuals who don’t have a close drinking water source.
At Home
Your tap is the most obvious option. If you live in the city your water is already treated, but it can still be hard or have a funny taste or smell. Some people use filter-pitchers to remove unwanted minerals or odors. While these pitchers can reduce the amount of impurities in your water, they do not completely eliminate them.
That’s where the Culligan Man steps in. Having a reverse-osmosis (RO) system installed in your home will give you bottled quality water right at the tap. It’s wallet friendly and when you have great tasting water in your home, you’ll be tempted to drink more which can only be beneficial. Questions? Post a comment below or visit us on Facebook at I Love Culligan Water (US) or The Culligan Man (Canada)
The New Fountain of Youth: Your Faucet
One of the most phenomenal beauty treatments is available to everyone; it’s painless, has positive side affects and an unlimited supply.
It’s water.
Drinking water, according to health and beauty experts, leads to a glowing complexion, clear eyes and the minimization of under-eye circles. If seeking a more youthful appearance, begin by examining your water intake before almost any other step. Opt for a glass of water from a Culligan water cooler or reverse osmosis filter, rather than coffee, soda, juice or even tea. At the end of the day, the simple “eight-glasses-of-water-a-day” rule is an inexpensive way to keep you looking and feeling your best.
Showering with unsoftened water is shown to cause damage and excessive dryness to your hair and skin. Local Culligan dealers say it isn’t the actual shower water that gives you that dry feeling after you bathe, but rather chemicals, such as chlorine, found in almost all unfiltered water sources. When showering with soft water, you can literally see and feel the difference.
According to health experts, the old saying, “beauty is only skin deep” doesn’t cover the whole story. Drinking water is as important for your internal health as it is for your external aesthetic. The water you drink carries nutrients to your cells, eliminates toxins and helps to remove waste from your body.
Furthermore, water keeps your metabolism in high gear and provides you with the necessary energy allowing you to lead a healthy, active lifestyle.
Want To Lose Weight? Drink Water!
As of June 21st, your 2011 summer has officially started. It is time to start that diet you’ve been thinking about since January.
Perhaps you’re asking yourself… “Where do I even begin?”
We suggest you start by incorporating lots of water into your diet. And we’re not just saying this because we are water obsessed. Research shows that drinking more water is a great place to start!
Here is the deal: Metabolic rate (the rate at which our body burns calories) plummets as we age, decreasing about 1 percent each year after we hit 30. Bummer, right? Well, the good news: Research shows there are things you can do to help combat metabolic slowdown. Drinking water, along with building muscles, eating every three to four hours, snacking on proteins and interval training, all help keep your metabolism up.
Studies show that people who drink 8-ounce glasses of water eight to 12 times a day have higher metabolic rates than those who drink four. And according to researchers at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., people who downed water before their first meal of the day consumed an average of 75 fewer calories at breakfast than those who didn’t drink up first.
So… “Where do I even begin?” should turn into “Where is my glass (or bottle) of water?”
Do you drink 1/2 a liter of water before breakfast? Do you drink eight to 12 8-ounce glasses of water a day? Do you find either beneficial? Or is it taboo?
Bottled Water Beliefs
A poll of 632 parents visiting an emergency room in Milwaukee, Wisconsin recently made headlines when results found, “black and Hispanic children were three times as likely to drink only bottled water at home compared to their white peers.”
The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine study found the disparity between races stems from minorities’ belief that bottled water is safer, cleaner, better-tasting and more convenient than tap water.
While bottled water is certainly more beneficial in some environments, earlier research also notes children drinking bottled water have more diarrhea than those who stick with tap water.
Cost is another big issue. The study reported, “minorities spend $20 a month on bottled water and whites shell out $12.”
While $20 a month might not seem like much, “more than one in 10 blacks and Hispanics said they had to give up other things to buy bottled water, while only half as many whites did.” (Source: ‘Minorities see bottled water as safer, buy more’)
The future of bottled and filtered water is constantly evolving and affects cultures and the environment on a daily basis. If people are concerned about their water, technologies like RO filters offer people home filtering solutions based on their needs.
But where do these perceptions come from? Is the message about water delivered to minorities versus whites that different? What makes a family give up other necessities to purchase water? Thinking caps on, Culligan Community. We’d like to hear your thoughts.
Heat Highlights Hydration and Health
Unpredictable weather patterns are becoming…well…predictable.
People in every corner of the continent are scratching their head as winter seemingly barreled into summer, leaving spring to chase after the minivan of seasons as it pulled out of the driveway. In keeping with that trend, record highs swept through North America, assaulting the senses of an unprepared population not quite ready for this kind of drastic warm-up.
The world- famous Mayo Clinic breaks down the top risks associated with the severe heat.
Heat Stroke
Definition: “Heatstroke is a life-threatening condition that occurs when your body temperature reaches 104 F (40 C) or higher. Heatstroke can be brought on by high environmental temperatures, by strenuous physical activity or by other conditions that raise your body temperature.”
Symptoms: High body temperature; a lack of sweating; flushed skin; rapid breathing, racing heart rate and strong pulse (tachycardia); headache; neurological symptoms; muscle cramps or weakness
Dehydration
Definition: “Dehydration occurs when you lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn’t have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don’t replace lost fluids, you may get dehydrated.”
Symptoms: dry, sticky mouth; thirst; sleepiness or tiredness (children are likely to be less active than usual); decreased urine output (no wet diapers for three hours for infants and eight hours or more without urination for older children and teens)
Stay hydrated. Stay cool. Stay safe.
The Organ Man
Considering the human body is anywhere from 55% to almost 80% water, don’t you think you should be very aware of the quality of water you’re consuming? When you think of everything that your family’s tap water is used for, shouldn’t it be as clean and healthy as possible? Tap water may contain harmful contaminants like Chromium-6 and farmland runoff.
Think about it like this… one of the reasons you buy organic food is to protect your family from pesticides and chemicals. Well, that protection should continue in regards to elements in tap water. A Culligan Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System can give you peace of mind while improving the taste of your food, beverages, or even baby formula.
Now, let’s take a look at how water affects your body – organs, muscles and bones. 
Do you drink a healthy amount of water? Next time you’re feel fatigue or have a headache, grab a glass of water. It’s your body’s way of telling you it’s thirsty.
The Great Water Bottle Debate
BPA Free? Aluminum? Stainless steel? Plastic? One trip down the sporting goods aisle will overwhelm you with water bottle options. We’ll try and break down what we know so you can find the best bottle.
Good
Plastic bottles (like the ones from vending machines or at concession stands) are an okay option but they are made to be used once and recycled. Bacteria builds up quickly and according to Livestrong.com the plastic can begin to break down at 75°F. Think about your car in the summer, inside temps can easily surpass 75°F! Plus, even if you recycle, there are greener options.
Better
For an environmentally friendly approach, try reusable BPA Free plastic bottles. These bottles can be washed, reused and don’t contain the often talked about BPA. Good Housekeeping has three top picks. There’s every shape and color imaginable, so you can find one that fits on your bike, in your car and never have to worry if it coordinates with your outfit.
Best
The best water bottles are made from aluminum and stainless steel because there’s no risk of either material breaking down. They are more expensive but very durable. Check out these top-rated drinking vessels. They even make insulated bottles in case you decide to put something other than water inside, but make sure you wash it well after!
What water bottle do you use? If you have suggestions for our followers, don’t be shy. Share them with us!
Lately, a slew of trade and consumer reports reiterate a very basic fact: your water quality is important.
I’ll take a second as everyone collectively rolls their eyes… done?
Great. Moving on.
While this may seem common sense, here are some very re-postable, re-tweetable (every statement is less than 140 characters) facts about h2O.
Drinking Water:
- Lack of water is the #1 cause of daytime tiredness. #NoCoffeeNeeded
- A chicken is about 75% water. #CluckCluckCulligan
Softened Water:
- Soft water makes water heaters more efficient. Heating water is the 3rd largest energy expense in the home. #GoGoH2O
- Soft water can increase stain removal performance in dishwashers on 70% less detergent per load. #BattelleorBust
Culligan Water:
- Emmett J. Culligan became interested in softened water when researching proper ways to launder cloth diapers. #FightDiaperRash
- Culligan celebrates its 75th Anniversary this year. Milk was 48 cents a gallon when Emmett Culligan started the company. #Awesome
Use Water Sense
Yes, this photo makes no sense.
Water filter pitchers also make no sense. While they provide a quick fix for better tasting water, this minor purchase prolongs the major purchase of a household reverse osmosis (RO) filtration system. And according to the Environmental Working Group, a reverse osmosis filtration system is the best way to remove contaminants like chromium-6.
Certain water pitchers only reduce a few impurities from the water. As stated on their website, Brita® Pitchers/Dispensers reduce copper, chlorine and mercury. While the Culligan Aqua-Cleer® Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System reduces impurities like lead, radium, chlorine, and arsenic. The Aqua-Cleer® system’s 13 interchangeable water filters can be customized to address your specific water problems. Oh yea, and the water goes right to your tap – no re-filling the pitcher is necessary.
May the force be with you. Not lead, radium, chlorine or arsenic.
May Drinking Water Challenge
The Challenge: Replace all soft drinks and coffee breaks with a clean glass of water.
The Competitor: You
May is National Drinking Water Month and for the next few weeks we challenge you to drink more water. Water is the ultimate beverage. Proper hydration will:
- Keep you alert (no more secret work naps)
- Brighten your complexion (healthy skin = healthy glow)
- Help with weight loss (yes, swimsuit season is coming)
If your well or tap water has a funny smell and taste, don’t throw in the towel! No one wants to drink eight glasses of smelly water a day. (We would never force you to do that.)
Instead, contact your local Culligan water expert. He or she will discuss your drinking water system options, including reverse osmosis filtration systems and bottle-less water coolers.
Once you have great tasting drinking water this challenge will be a breeze. We’re sure you’ll pass with flying colors and you might even like it!
Think you can handle it? Tell us about your drinking water experience on Twitter @culliganh2o or on Facebook!
April Showers Bring…Water Contaminants?
This year, almost every corner of the continent saw heavy precipitation. With that rain and snow, well water can come under attack.
What to know about your well:
- “Spring runoff” is a term used to describe the influx of contaminants leeching into water systems after snow melts or rivers overflow as the temperatures rise during March, April and May.
- Gallup listed water concerns as the top 4 issues Americans are most worried about, including “pollution of drinking water.”
- In the U.S., The 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act, which regulates all drinking water systems, does not apply to private wells with less than 25 service connections.
- According to the Ministry of Health in Canada: “Get in the habit of water testing. Next to properly maintaining your well, testing is your best strategy for playing it safe. Test your well water at least three times a year for bacteria. Always test water after major plumbing work or after a flooding.”
- Bacterial contamination may provide the greatest threat to private well users. Ultraviolet sterilizers and chlorine treatments are examples of proven techniques used to fight contaminants such as E. coli.
Invest in a water test, and remove harmful contaminants, as well as uncertainty.
As Earth Day approaches, we wanted to highlight new ways to conserve energy when it comes to water. (And we are not just talking turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth. You should still do that, though.) A study released by the Water Quality Association just last week demonstrates how your household water affects everything from how much detergent to use to how efficiently a water heater can operate.
Did you know heating your water is the third biggest energy consumer in the home behind general space heating and cooling? You do now, and we have enclosed a chart to prove it. Everyone likes charts.
Household Energy Usage
Hard water problems can consistently grow your carbon footprint, but a water softener can help neutralize that impact.
Soft water can help a home:
- Use up to 50% less laundry detergent per load while on lower water temperature settings, which saves energy in two ways.
- Increase stain removal performance in dishwashers on 70% less detergent per load
- Increase water heater efficiency for up to 15 years
Be good to the earth, be good to your home and invest in soft water.
Celebrating Culligan’s 75th
Hello from sunny Orlando!
We are in Orlando with Culligan men and women from 17 countries and 44 states and provinces in North America celebrating 75 years of Culligan.
Take a peek at a few photos from yesterday’s opening session.
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- Bret Tangley Speaking at Culligan Convention
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- Culligan Lady Poster
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- CDANA President Paul Moorman Speaking
The recent natural disasters in Japan have prompted Culligan International to donate 200,000 single serve bottles of
water to the tsunami-afflicted nation. The company, synonymous with all things water, is working with Missouri-based Convoy of Hope to distribute the materials.
In a letter to employees and franchise dealers, Culligan CEO Mark Seals wrote:
We have been providing [Convoy of Hope] with a constant supply of single serve bottles which are being distributed to residents in the hardest hit areas. Right now we have over 200,000 single serve bottles earmarked for relief efforts and we are prepared to do more as the situation evolves. Providing clean drinking water is our business, but being able to deliver it to those in need is a real blessing.
This latest international action comes after Culligan donated 250,000 bottles of water and three UF-P2 water purification systems to Haiti in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake last year.
This ad changed the world of water forever. If you have a story similar to Dan’s (see below), let us know – a lot has happened in 75 years.
CULLIGAN HISTORY LESSON: 65 years ago (in March 1946) LIFE Magazine published an article about hard water problems. Culligan created an ad for the April edition piggybacking the March article. As a result, the number of operators grew from 250 to over 1,200 between 1946 and 1949.
Dan Halsted, Culligan of Merillville: This very ad is the one that my late grandfather “Pete” Halsted answered while working in the mill and farming. Story goes, he yelled to grandma Alice while sitting on the pot and reading LIFE magazine, telling her he wanted to look into this soft water thing. He proceeded to purchase a franchise for $500. That was in 1946.
Happy World Water Day!
On March 22, 2011 countries around the world will celebrate World Water Day. Organized by the United Nations, World Water Day takes place every spring to recognize the necessity of fresh drinking water and the growing number of individuals living without a proper water source. The focus of this year’s events is our response to urbanization and our ability to bring clean water to expanding populations.
According to the World Water Day site, every second the urban population grows by two people and 827.6 million people live in slums lacking adequate water supplies and sanitation facilities. At this rate, keeping up with urban growth becomes a bigger challenge everyday. Opportunity lies in more efficient water treatment technologies and increased recycling and reuse of water and wastes but the question remains; how do we integrate these resources into underdeveloped cities?
The official World Water Day 2011 event takes places in Cape Town, South Africa. Spanning three days, this event features researchers, organizations and workshops dedicated to sharing knowledge about drinking water. While it will take more than three days to bring fresh water to growing urban areas, every action helps. Being more conscious of your water consumption at home or aiding in relief efforts are small steps towards responding to the challenge. In January 2010, Culligan International donated 250,000 bottles of water and three UF-P2 water purification systems to Haiti after the earthquake. This gesture provided Haitians with 45,000 gallons of drinking water per day, helping them get back on their feet.
Clean drinking water is essential and although we take it for granted, we can do our best to think of those without water and play our part towards achieving clean water supplies throughout the world.
Fix a Leak Week
As the weather gets warmer we start noticing all the projects we need to complete around the house in order to spruce it up for springtime.
A little dusting here, some new paint there, but one chore that might not make the top of your to-do list and is especially important this time of year is checking your pipes for leaks and testing your water.
This week, March 14-21, is the EPA’s WaterSense Fix a Leak Week. According to the EPA, leaks account for over 10,000 gallons of wasted water per household in one year. That’s enough to fill a backyard swimming pool! Fixing leaks not only makes your house more efficient, it’s also better for the environment and can save you money.
Testing your water for total dissolved solids and other chemicals is another good springtime task. Culligan can analyze your water and recommend solutions for cleaner, healthier and better tasting water. Soft water coupled with newly mended pipes will make your home one of the most efficient on the block!
You can visit the EPA’s Facebook page for more tips on how to check and fix your home’s water leaks. Or, contact your local Culligan man for a free water analysis. Happy spring cleaning!
National Groundwater Awareness Week
With spring hopefully somewhere around the corner, it is an important time to spotlight one of the world’s most important resources: groundwater. That said, this week is National Groundwater Awareness Week.
To celebrate, we would like to remind everyone how important groundwater is to the health and well-being of humanity and the environment.
Groundwater awareness should be important to you – whether you’re on a public water system, private well, or just interested in water resources and the environment in general.
If you are a private well owner, it is your responsibility to protect your underground water reserve. Regular well maintenance and water testing is important in the interest of your family’s health.
Wasted Energy?
Shower: Check
Brush teeth: Check
Wallet: Check
Caffeine: Check, Double Check, Triple Check….
Almost every morning in almost every household starts off in almost the same way. You get up, get ready and get your caffeine. Heck, you may get your caffeine before you even start thinking about getting ready. After lunch, you usually find your way to the coffee pot or the vending machine for a pick-me-up. But that tired feeling may simply be a case of dehydration mistook for lack of sleep or other excuses – especially for women.
According to the Indy Star:
Drinking a lot of Diet Coke? That’s a problem for some women, particularly those on diets, said Dr. Theresa M. Rohr-Kirchgraber.
Whatever the caffeine choice, women tend to use it to energize, rather than drinking water or other fluids to hydrate when they’re tired. If you’re dehydrated, she said, your brain temporarily shrinks a little, but water or other non-caffeinated fluids will help.
So next time you feel you are ready for a post-meeting nap, drink some water before reaching for a soda.
Do You Buy Organic?
Washing Food?
Do you buy organic foods? If yes, why?
Personally, I prefer to splurge and shop the organic aisle at the grocery store for the same reason I prefer drinking filtered water. To avoid consuming pesticides, chemicals and more. The USDA’s own tests show that most non-organic produce contain residual pesticides even after washing. And according to the USGS, pesticides and degradates are typically present throughout most of the year in streams draining watersheds with substantial agriculture or urban areas. Health Canada reminds us that whether to eat organic or non-organic grown produce is a personal choice.
If you prefer organic food for the same reason that I do, consider your food preparation. If you do not have treated, filtered water you are potentially washing and preparing your organic food (expensive organic food, I might add) with the pesticides and chemicals you are looking to avoid consuming. The long term effects of consuming these pesticides has not been sufficiently studied, but they can’t be good for you.
Just a little food for thought.
Making Flowers Last Past February 14th
Yesterday, millions of flowers were delivered across the country. If you were the lucky recipient of some of Cupid’s handy work there’s a better way to care for your beautiful buds than ogling them all day, and it’s simpler than you may think.
The secret to long lasting flowers is fresh, clean water.
Just as good water is important for you, the quality of the water used to nourish your flowers is important to their longevity. Hard water minerals such as magnesium and calcium can damage your pretty petaled pieces. On top of those contaminants, watch out for your water’s acidity and level of Total Dissolved Solids.
According to WholeBlossoms.com, it’s also important to trim the stems and remove any leaves that sit underwater in the vase. This will stop bacteria growth, prolonging the life of your special delivery.
If you’re unsure if your water is fit for flowers, look around your home. Is there residue on dishes or in the shower? Is there mineral build-up around the faucets? These are signs of hard water that can be fixed.
So sure, your bouquet is pretty to look at but why don’t you also use it as a reminder to check your water? You could make your flowers, and your special Valentine, last that much longer.
Softener Salt vs. Sidewalk Salt
There has been a lot of talk on Twitter this winter about salt. Yes, salt. I mean, it’s winter so it makes sense…
- When the roads are icy? Use salt.
- When the sidewalks are slippery? Use salt.
- When the car needs more weight in the back to avoid spinning out? Put salt bags in the trunk.
- When food is bland? Add salt.
- When the water softener is out of salt? Call the Culligan Man to fill it with salt.
Salt is salt, right? Wrong! There is a big difference in both price and quality of sidewalk salt and water softener salt. Sidewalk salt has only one job – to melt ice. Water softener salt is much more refined. Water softener salt comes in a variety of grades and is used specifically for water softeners. It is either rock salt, which is cleansed and bagged, or processed salt tablets or solar salt.
Lesson: Do not use water softener salt to melt ice (and definitely do not add it to your popcorn).
Social media is great for many things, from finding funny pictures of cats to keeping tabs on sports teams. But this communications revolution boasts a wide variety of other benefits, including service, education and reassurance.
When Tweeters have problems, @Culliganh2O and @CulliganCanada ride to the rescue with 140 characters of concern.
Customer Twitter Compliment
Facebook is a great place for people to grab our latest offers, and to connect with local dealers.
Culligan Special Offers on Facebook
On this very blog, we want to help educated you on everything from radon to phosphates to your water reports.
So use technology for more than hilarious YouTube videos of baby monkeys riding pigs, and connect with us for all your water needs.
Water on the Move
Knowing that humans generally can’t survive more than two days without water makes it hard to believe that the demand for it would ever decrease, but 2009 proved that even basic human needs are no match for economic hardship. Water sales dropped 10.2 percent that year. While the majority of businesses are just now beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, water was able to rebound a bit earlier. Last year, sales crept up 4.2 percent. And as we uncork 2011, the water industry predicts that we are headed for new heights of hydration, expecting a sales increase of 3 percent.
From New Year’s weight loss resolutions to water-centric health campaigns, sales aren’t the only things trending about water. More public figures such as the President, First Lady, and Newark mayor Cory Booker have been spouting off about the importance of staying in motion and drinking healthy. A number of recent events have been held featuring heavily-trafficked ‘Hydration Stations’ for initiatives such as “Let’s Move” and “Go For Green.”
With the swelling recognition, the water industry is tasked only with keeping up with our needs.
This leaves one question: How do you get your water?
And You Thought It Was Cold Outside!
The next time you find yourself complaining about the cold temperatures, watch this YouTube video.
Taken in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada at -30 Celsius, the boiling hot water hits the air and instantly turns to fog. Wow.
She literally turns soft water into hard water!
If you think you're cold...
In case you did not know, it’s National Radon Action Month. While the onslaught of end-of-the-year-loose-end tying and New Years’ Eve hangovers usually overshadow most any other activity, the EPA has flooded the media with mentions of radon.
According to Radon.com, radon is “is a cancer-causing radioactive gas. You cannot see, smell or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. The Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today.”
But everywhere I turn, or strain to listen, there is never a mention of radon in water. It’s always used in the context of air pollution when private well owners should be testing for radon on a regular basis as well.
In fact, the CDC even warns, “While most radon-related deaths are due to radon gas accumulated in houses from seepage through cracks in the foundation, 30 to 1,800 deaths per year are attributed to radon from household water. High levels of dissolved radon are found in the groundwater in some areas flowing through granite or granitic sand and gravel formations.”
Remember, in the U.S. – if a well has less than 25 service connections, it is on the individual to test for safety and quality.
There are solutions out there for concerned residents, and anyone who feels they may be vulnerable to such contamination should seek out a water technologist. Be proactive. Be safe.
We’re thrilled to announce that the world’s most efficient water softener, the Culligan HE, has earned the Seal after evaluation by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute.
Take a look at the latest TV spots for the Culligan HE. And get excited to cut water, salt and energy usage up to 46%!
A recent study concluded by the Environmental Working Group, has raised questions and concerns about high levels of hexavalent chromium in the nation’s tap water.
Considered a “probable carcinogen”, and made infamous by the 2000 film Erin Brockovich, chromium contamination was found to be in high levels in 31 city tap water systems.
Your area Culligan Water dealer does offer a line of products that can drastically reduce both hexavalent and trivalent chromium levels in home water. For example, the Aqua-Cleer Model RO (Reverse Osmosis) drinking water systems are certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for both hexavalent and trivalent chromium reduction.
Culligan dealers urge concerned citizens to contact a professional water technologist for a water analysis if they do fear chromium may be in their tap water. You can get a hold of your Culligan Man by calling 1-877-35-Culligan.
Honey, What’s Wrong With the Dishes?
So you have never, ever had issues with your dishes getting clean in the dishwasher. When you hear about other people’s woes about hard water, you simply scoff and pity them. You think it’s a figment of their imagination, a domestic aberration generated by those who do not clean as well as you.
But wait….what’s this? Lately, your dishes are covered in *GASP* hard water film! Hide your dishes less the neighbors find out.
Take a look at your dish washing detergent now. It probably has a drastically reduced amount of phosphorus – and that is a big deal to your dishes.
In July, 16 states (Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin) imposed bans and limits on the mainstay cleaning ingredient to curb its leakage into waterways.
It is important to know Canada has imposed similar federal sanctions as well.
Major brands like Cascade are expecting more states to join in on the legislation and have begun removing phosphates from products sold in the rest of the country as well.
So what’s the big deal about this new regulation?
“Phosphates are substances containing phosphorus and oxygen molecules. In dishwashing detergent, phosphates help suspend particles so they don’t stick to dishes. Phosphates also soften water, helping suds form. Before the ban, phosphate concentrations in some detergents were as high as 8.7 percent; with the ban, certain cleaners have levels as low as 0.5 percent.”
To simplify, detergents heavy with phosphates acted as liquid water softeners. Without phosphates, hard water is attacking your dishes , even if you have never had a problem with hard water before.
Happy Scrubbing!
Holiday Hangover?
How was your Thanksgiving? Did you get your fill of turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing? If you did, perhaps you are feeling the holiday hangover…
Mmmm Water!
A nice little suggestion – drink lots of liquids. Specifically, water (read this old blog post to find out how much water you should be consuming).
Why water? Well, your holiday meal most likely contained more than the normal amount of salt. And salt causes bloating. Drinking water will help your body flush out and relieve bloating.
So drink up!
Gobble Gobble
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving from the Culliganh2pointO.com team!
Waterborne contaminants are not a new health risk. It has been the topic of discussion for years, inciting debates on policies, restrictions and technology when it comes to the water you use every day. Last year, a study by the University of California-Berkley’s School of Public Health shed some light on a population that may 
be more susceptible that the rest when it comes to contamination: the elderly.
The report showed while some risk levels are acceptable for the public at large, the “immunocompromised” may need to invest in extra precautions.
The article Increased Risk in the Elderly from Tap Water Consumption goes on to say, “…POU drinking water filters were found to reduce stomach illness in the elderly (persons over the age of 55). The incidence of highly credible gastrointestinal disease among those with and without purification systems differed by 12 percent, a statistically significant improvement. It is important to note that the supplied water was from a high quality, treated source in Sonoma County, California that met all state federal water quality standards during the survey period. Thus, the additional rate of illness could be even higher in less quality supplies that are not treated at the POU.”
The overarching theme of these studies is to simply make people aware of their water. It is up to the individual to watch their faucet, and it is up to the individual to do something about it if there is an issue.
Why Culligan?
You may be reading this blog post because you are a Culligan customer. You chose Culligan for a reason. And while we believe we know exactly that reason, we would still love to hear it from you. Prospective Culligan customers may appreciate and benefit from your advice.
Let us know what a difference having a Culligan water system in your home or office has made in your life. Has your Culligan water softener helped reduce buildup on your shower door? Is your treated water leaving you with clear glassware or brighter laundry? Maybe you’v
e stopped drinking soda because you have a Culligan drinking water system. Whatever the reason, please share!
Leave your reason as a comment on this post, or on your local Culligan Facebook Page. Or shout it out to us on Twitter @CulliganH2O.
HalloWATER!
Carving is so last year.
Jack-O-H2O
Get Out Your Smart Phone!
This is a QR code. If you have a smart phone, download a free QR scanner and start getting your water news to go. 
First one to tweet me @CulliganH2O with the web site this leads to will win a personalized movie.
The Thirstiest Office: The Movie
Visit www.facebook.com/TheCulliganManCanada for more.
Minnetonka, MN – In light of recent fraudulent activity and a state-issued warning, the Culligan Water dealers of Minnesota are offering their help when it comes to suspicious water treatment salespeople.
“Whenever a trained professional takes a water sample, they can only really tell you certain problems on the spot, like total dissolved solids,” says Kyle LeMay, sales manager for Culligan Water Conditioning in Minnetonka. “ A third-party, state approved lab would need to conduct a full panel water analysis in order to tell you what specifications and anions are in your water, including harmful elements such as arsenic or bacteria. We provide that information to our customers and encourage questions and follow up, but those analyses usually occur on private well sources.”
The Safe Drinking Water Act and the Environmental Protection Agency outline municipal water guidelines and health limits for a variety of common waterborne contaminants. These public water sources are also required to release a Consumer Confidence Report every year. What’s more, other third-party agencies, like the Environmental Working Group, maintain an extensive database on tap water quality throughout the nation.
Well water, meanwhile, is not covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act if there are less than 25 service connections.
LeMay goes on to stress that every industry is subject to an unscrupulous minority who ultimately give an entire profession a bad name.
“We work and live in the area too, and no one likes to be taken advantage of,” adds LeMay. “With that said, these warnings should not stop someone from requesting or receiving a water test if they have real concerns about their water quality.”
Dealer Spotlight
Do you have a great Culligan Man or Woman? Do they give to charity? Give back to the community?
Do they go above and beyond when it comes to service?
We want your nominations! Leave some thoughts in the comment section below, and then let the H2pointO team go to work. Want to email them in? Send it to praisch@kennedyc.com. Facebook us. @ relpy us.
Give your local Culligan Man or Woman some much needed recognition for doing the little things in a big way.
Few things in life are as important as the morning cup of coffee. Whether you simply enjoy a sip before you start your daily routine or are a certifiable caffeine junkie, water quality has a huge impact on how your daily (or hourly) cup-o-joe tastes.
Straight from Tea and Coffee Trade Online, here are a few water tests to help protect your sacred java:
Test One
Hold a clear glass of water up to the light. It should appear crystal clear. If you see particles or tints of color, the taste of your water and beverages may suffer from a sediment problem.
Tap water often contains microscopic, suspended particles such as rust flakes from pipes, sand grains, and organic matter invisible to the human eye. High levels of these sediments will detract from the appeal of your brewed or mixed beverages. In addition, sediment can clog your beverage equipment, affecting its performance and increasing your service costs.
Test Two
Draw a glass of water directly from the faucet. Immediately hold it to your nose, smell it, and take a sip. Then open your icemaker door to smell, then taste an ice cube. Is there an odor or taste of any kind? If there is, you have a water quality problem that can have several causes.
Chlorine, required in municipal water supplies, can give water a bitter taste and a strong odor. Other tastes and odors, such as “rotten egg” or “musty” smells, result from naturally occurring elements and minerals in both tap water and well water. Achieving tasteless and odorless water is the key for consistently high beverage quality.
Test Three
Check for white lime scale deposits on the hot water faucet on your coffee brewer. Lime scale indicates high levels of minerals that will adversely affect your beverage equipment’s performance and increase service costs over time.
Natural minerals in your water are the cause of lime scale deposits in your beverage equipment. When water is heated or frozen, the minerals precipitate out and continue to leave a deposit. Excessive lime scale deposits or “hardness” of water will affect the performance of heating elements, reduce the volume of water in heating tanks, and clog – or even close – tubing. You’ll see higher service maintenance and energy bills as a result.
The Brain Drain and Water Worries
We blog about water. We blog about how water affects your home, your health and your life in general. While we happily type away about the news of the day like the study that shows a correlation between manganese and stunted child IQ or how water affects weight loss, we want to hear from you.
Yes. You.
Are you worried about a certain contaminant in your area? Confused by a term a technician used? Wondering where to get the next special? Let us know and we will try to answer every question and/or comment. We are H2sOcial.
(Need your questions answered quick, fast and in a hurry? Tweet us at CulliganH2O or CulliganCanada.)
New Culligan Website Template!
The time has come! We’ve finally launched our new Culligan website template.
The new template has an updated fresh feel and design. With a larger format, more content and imagery can be seen with much less scrolling.
And to top it all off Culligan’s social media components are seamlessly integrated – check out the bottom right corner. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and a link to this beautiful blog are right there for users to connect with us.
Check out the Cleveland co-op’s site at OhioCulligan.com to experience our new site first hand!
OhioCulligan.com
A Cautionary “Scale”
As fall weather begins replacing the hot, humid temperatures – water heater use increases. One of our previous posts talked about a recent study highlighting the benefits of softened water on the rest of your home appliances, and water heaters were no different.
Behold our cautionary “scale.”
Like hot showers? Have hard water? Call the Culligan Man or Woman.
Ok, we knew water was good for you. We thought it was healthier than beer, soda and energy drinks. We even knew it was beneficial for your mental health. But now science actually backs up our beverage bravado with a study on water and weight loss.
In their report, Virginia Tech researchers concluded that tangible results can be seen from consistently drinking water, in fact this is the first “randomized controlled trial studying the link between water consumption and weight loss.”
While the results may seem obvious, they are no less powerful:
“The researchers divided 48 inactive Americans, aged 55 to 75, into two groups. Members of one were told to drink half a litre of water (a bit more than an American pint) shortly before each of three daily meals. The others were given no instructions on what to drink. Before the trial, all participants had been consuming between 1,800 and 2,200
calories a day. When it began, the women’s daily rations were slashed to 1,200 calories, while the men were allowed 1,500. After three months the group that drank water before meals had lost about 7kg (15½lb) each, while those in the thirsty group lost only 5kg.”
Water is not a silver bullet for all your weight loss woes, but rather one more strategy for a healthier lifestyle. Drink up, and (hopefully) drop the pounds.
Great Day To Be Canadian
Did you love your water cooler but watched it get thrown out in a crackdown of office expenses? Well the Culligan Man is restoring hope, and water, to your office. When you are on Facebook, and yes – we know you are on there right now looking at your high school sweetheart’s vacation pictures – enter to win free water for your office.
1. Go to facebook.com/TheCulliganManCanada
2. Like the page.
3. Submit your email.
4. Upload a photo or video of your office that best represents “Canada’s Thirstiest Office.”
Tell your friends, get creative, win the water – then ask for a raise.
Culliganh2o’s YouTube Channel
Culligan water aims to integrate on all levels. Check out our latest commercials on our YouTube channel, YouTube.com/Culliganh2o.
YOUR Drinking Water Report
One of the best tools on the Culligan H2.O site is the “What’s in Your Water?” widget ( found on the right sidebar, and seen below.)
It is produced by the Environmental Work Group, a third-party watchdog organization on a mission to “expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions.” Their research is incredibly detailed, and their Drinking Water Quality Report is nationally renowned.
What’s more, the widget is incredibly intuitive. Plug in your zip code, press search, and get educated.
A few points worth noting on this site:
- The testing timeline differs from area to area. Some of the analysis was finished in 2007, some as recent as 2010. As you can imagine, the breadth of such a report takes time.
- In some cases, the health standards and the legal standards differ.
- The site is mostly written in layman’s terms.
- Regardless of the limitations of the study, the results are well worth noting.
An example of a query into water in New Ulm, MN (note: this is simply a summary, a much more detailed report is offered):
We are in the beginning phase of our Culligan Facebook page launch, and we’re off to a great start. While it’s second nature to lots of people, others are still trying to put the social in their social media. These localized Culligan Facebook pages are about sharing and building a community. Help us launch the pages successfully by suggesting pages to your Facebook community.
To do this, use Facebook’s “Suggest to Friends” feature. It’s wonderful. The feature assists in the internal growth of fan pages. To use the feature, simply click on the “Suggest to Friends” link, and select the friends you would like to invite to “Like” your Culligan page. When you are finished picking and choosing your friends, hit “Send Invitations” and voila! You’ve successfully spread the word through Facebook with the click of a button.
A Tuesday Throwback
You can never forget your roots! 
Looking For Better Mental Clarity?
Hydration Calculator
Some people travel the world to find mental clarity. Others exercise to clear their head. Most rely on sleep to fix everything. While all three help in the grand scheme of things, simply staying hydrated by drinking clean purified water during your day will give you the clarity you need.
According to Wendy Bazilian, DrPH, RD of Men’s Fitness magazine, “Poor hydration leads to increased tiredness, reduced alertness and impaired short-term memory.” All three are crucial skills to have during a work day.
Considering water makes up 60-70 percent of our body, it is clearly the most important nutrient. Fortunately, most Americans aren’t concerned about death by dehydration, however mild dehydration can begin to compromise your health and suppress the outcome of your workouts. ”Being only 1-2 percent dehydrated has shown to impair cognitive performance — like the ability to perform mental tests and skills requiring thinking,” Bazilian says.
Benefits of staying hydrated exist beyond quenching your thirst and maintaining mental clarity. Weight loss, greater results in the gym and a healthier general appearance are great reasons to consume plenty of water.
That brings up a great question: How much water should I be consuming? It all depends on your age, weight, health, environment and activity level. The Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness created a hydration calculator to help you determine. Try it out!
I learned that to meet my basic daily and exercise fluid needs, I need to drink about 12 cups (101 oz) of water each day. Of which I definitely do! Headed to fill up my fourth glass of Culligan water for the morning!
Contaminated Well Water
In this interview on Nebraska.TV, Bronson Bosshamer of Culligan of Kearney states that putting on a filter at the end of the water faucet, or using a pitcher filter is not going to cure the problem of contaminated water (reminds me of an earlier blog post of ours).
Contaminated Well Water
July 7, 2010
If you get your drinking water from a well, experts warn you might be putting your health at risk. With all the recent flooding in Central Nebraska, water runoff containing harmful contaminants can get into wells. Any well that serves less than 25 people is the responsibility of the well owner—not the city government. These wells need to be tested after flooding, prior to drinking the water, even if it does not smell or taste odd.
As a child, Raymond Ward says he and his family probably drank contaminated water. “I grew up on a farm and at my age no one ever thought about testing their water.”
A lot has changed since those days; he now owns his own water testing lab in Kearney. And with flooding affecting much of Central Nebraska, Ward said there’s never been a more crucial time to get private wells tested for contaminants. “Too many people have never tested their water,” he said.
“After flooding, you get a buildup of water, and it has nowhere to go but down inside the well,” said Duane Omanski, Operations Manager of Ward Laboratories, Inc., “And with it goes anything that’s near that well.” That could include sewage, fertilizers, pesticides and nitrates. Omanski said you need to test and treat it before you drink it.
“You may think it’s safe to drink your water, because you’ve boiled it or run it through a water purification system,” he said. “But that does not take out the nitrates. You still need to test your well water.”
“Boiling—all it does is increase the nitrates in the water sample,” said Ward.
Bronson Bosshamer, a Culligan water expert in Kearney, said, “One of the major misconceptions for a lot of consumers is thinking that by putting on a filter on the end of their water faucet or a pitcher filter that that’s gonna cure the problem. That’s not gonna cure the problem.” They said the only way to find out if there’s a problem is to get well water tested. The cost is much less than the alternative: health problems. “It could get to a point where it’s life threatening so $17 is pretty cheap figure that out,” said Omanski.
Even without flooding, experts said not to go more than one year without testing the water. The officials we spoke with said that nitrates pose a specific risk to infants who aren’t able to digest the chemical.
Moving Means More Than U-Hauls
Next to the Apocalypse, moving day may be the most dreaded day in the human calendar. Limitless logistics clog our brains, and make us irritable and downright irrational. But slowly, a once-empty space begins to fill up with heavy heirlooms and clothes while boxes marked ‘fragile’ are placed upside down and sideways.
Finally, the entertainment center has been installed despite the Dutch instructions, and the glassware has found itself in the right cabinet near the sink. A long day deserves a long shower. Immediately after the shower, you realize you feel, well, gunky. Your hair is dry and does not comb thoroughly, and your skin is akin to dried out leather.
Water is water, right? Why does your new abode’s H2O feel so different?
I hate to break it to you, but you probably had a water softener at your previous location. Say hello to your new roommate: his name is hard water, and he does not plan on paying rent.
Hard water is full of calcium and magnesium, and actually reacts adversely with soap – hence the dryness. Hardness is measured in grains per gallon (gpg) and homes with more than 3 gpg are strongly encouraged to invest in a water softener.
All too often new homeowners become so distracted with granite countertops and hardwood floors, they forget to ask about the water. Unfortunately, bad water affects everything from your body to your pipes to your appliances. You may have noticed your scratchy towel offers no safe haven because the hard water has infiltrated your washing machine.
Consider your linen closet under attack. I can also hear your showerhead scaling up from here.
The summertime is often the most popular time to move, and scenes like this will play out a thousand times over. So be smart, and ask about your water before you make the move.
I’ll Have Water, Please!
Summer is here,
and boy is it is hot out. With this heat, staying hydrated is incredibly important. Be conscious of what beverage you are reaching for to quench your thirst. The popular, calorie-heavy beverages, like soda, are actually increasing your body’s need for water.
Perhaps this is why an estimated 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated. And according to studies, in an estimated 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger. People are eating when they are actually thirsty – a tall glass of water can prevent all of this from happening.
While you’re outside enjoying the holiday weekend, go with the glass or bottle of water to quench your thirst, rather than the carbonated, sugary soft drink. The decision between water and soda should be an easy one. In case you need a little more convincing, these figures should help:
Drinking five glasses of water daily is said to decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, slash the risk of breast cancer by 79% and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.
I don’t know about you, but I’m thirsty – or am I hungry? I’m confused now. Tall glass of water, please!
From The Farmlands To The Faucets
Culligan of Lincoln’s Frank Robak providing expert advice on well water testing on KLKN-TV.
As if we haven’t seen or thought about water enough, there is now new evidence that says your well water could be contaminated by the flood. Especially on flooded farmlands that surround the city. What should you do to make sure none of the chemicals are seeping into your water system? One option is to call your Culligan Man.
Culligan of Lincoln’s Frank Robak suggests people that have well water, get their water tested yearly because the characteristics of wells change, even without the flooding.
How Reverse Osmosis Saved Our Office
Here at Culligan H2pointO headquarters, we like our water. Even though we stock some soda and juice for guests – cold glasses of water keep the wheels on this blogging bus moving forward.
So, what happens when you need to remove the R.O. unit for two weeks while renovating?
The R.O. as it sits waiting to be put back in service.
Mutiny, chaos and all-around crankiness.
I personally watched my co-workers turn from congenial colleagues to thirsty zombies. Needless to say, we went through about 38 single-serve bottles in mere hours and then turned to iced teas and chocolate milk. We then started buying more and more cases of H2O until it was not economically feasible to continue.
As the days turned into a week, and a week turned into a fortnight – the unrest grew. It struck me as I never realized what a perk cold, filtered water is at an office. It is not only refreshment, it is an excuse to get up and walk around. Everyday, our company would file into the building and look longingly at the empty counter top.
Then, it returned.
We toasted each other, and our trusty R.O. We quenched our thirst without feeling bloated, and without shoving sugar into our systems. We drank as though we had spent a season in the Sahara, and promised we would not take our water for granted ever again.
Long story short – water makes a difference, everyday.
Alleluia.
As Summer Temperatures Rise, So Do Risks
Bottled water or filtered water at home – clean drinking water and summer hydration remain a priority.
June 21st marks the official start of summer. Like a starter’s gun, that day often signals more time outside, more activities and a greater risk of dehydration.
Summer is often a hectic time for the family as kids go to camp and barbecues are scheduled. Make sure you keep proper hydration on top of the ‘to-do’ list in order to avoid serious consequences.
- Children may not always realize they are becoming dehydrated. Constantly keep water on hand at the playground, park and pool.
- Simply being thirsty can mean you have already lost one percent of your fluids.
- Just a two to five percent loss of fluid can lead to dry skin, muscle cramps, headaches and noticeable fatigue.
- Anything near 10 percent can dim your vision, can cause seizures, shrivel your skin and could ultimately lead to death.
- Cold hands, increased heart rate and hurried breath are all byproducts of a dehydrated body.
- Medical professionals are also quick to point out the long-term effects of dehydration can result in permanent damage to internal organs like the kidneys.
In the last few years, the simple act of drinking water has become the center of attention in its own right. Whether you prefer bottled water, reverse osmosis water or prefer to filter your own – clean drinking water is essential to keep you and your family safe this summer.
Here is a nice video by LiveLife365 discussing the symptoms of dehydration.
The Ray and Tavis “All About Water Show”, based out of Michigan, and immersed in all things water snagged an interview with one of the most important figures in figuring out a solution to the BP oil spill.
Billy Nungesser is the Plaquemines Parish President in Louisiana, and is on the front line when it comes to the tragedy in the gulf.
Listen in as Mr. Nungesser offers his perspective to this national crisis.
BillyNungesserInterview2010Podcast.mp3
Water on the Go
Use your smart phone to keep up with all the water happenings. 
The Benefits of Softening
In an earlier post, we talked about the benefits of softening your water. While there are skeptics out there (and we will find you!) – this is a great illustration to what a water softener can save you from (left is hard water, right is soft.)
Namely, it saves your plumbing and hardware.
Have you ever gotten a quote from a plumber about gutting your home and installing new pipes? Have an ambulance on standby.
Bottom line: Soft water saves you money. Period.
From "The Benefits of Softening" by Rebecca Wilhelm
More than ever, people need to be educated about their water. Sorry it’s blurry.
According to a study just released by the US Geological Survey (USGS,) over 20% of untreated water samples taken from 932 public wells across the US contained “at least one contaminant at levels of potential health concern.” The water samples came from 41 states, and from parts of 30 “regionally extensive aquifers” which represent about one-half of the aquifers used for the nation’s water supply.
Federal, state and local drinking-water programs routinely carry out monitoring of public water systems and the USGS study was designed to complement that monitoring by focusing primarily on source (untreated) water quality, and testing for contaminants that are not regulated in drinking water. Lead scientist Patricia Toccalino said that this testing “helps to track emerging issues in our water resources and to identify contaminants that may warrant inclusion in future monitoring.”
Three-quarters of the contaminants with “greater than human-health benchmarks” (as defined by the EPA and USGS) were from naturally occurring contaminants – such as radon and arsenic – that come from geologic materials in the source aquifers. The other one-quarter of the contaminants – detected in 64% of the samples – were man-made and included herbicides, insecticides, solvents, disinfection by-products, nitrate, and gasoline chemicals. Researchers tested for 337 “properties and contaminants” but did not test for pharmaceuticals or hormones
Culligan Facebook Pages
As many of the Culligan dealers have stated, “Facebook Pages! Culligan is now in the modern world!”
We’re excited to make this happen, and would like to share the Pages with our blog readers. Please, Like your local Culligan Facebook Page!
Culligan of Northern MN and WI
Culligan of Greater Fort Wayne
Culligan of La Crosse-Eau Claire
Culligan of South Central Minnesota
Culligan of Southeastern Wisconsin
Culligan of Rochester, Austin and Mason City
Culligan of Northwest Washington
Culligan of Greater Sioux Falls Area
From the WQA
Lisle, Illinois — In its official annual report, the President’s Cancer Panel is recommending that people use home filtering devices to decrease exposure to cancer-causing agents.
“This reaffirms what independent testing shows,” said Peter J. Censky, executive director of the Water Quality Association. “Home water treatment is a proven final barrier against many harmful chemicals.”
The report is entitled “Reducing Environmental Cancer Risks: What We Can Do Now.” In it, the panel states, “Individuals and families have many opportunities to reduce or eliminate chemical exposures. For example, filtering home tap water or well water can decrease exposure to numerous known or suspected carcinogens or endocrine-disrupting chemicals.”
The President’s Cancer Panel is a three-person body that reports to the President of the United States on the development and execution of the National Cancer Program. Members serve three-year terms, and at least two of the three panel members must be distinguished scientists or physicians. The President appoints one of the members to a one-year chair position.
In addition to cancer-causing agents, water quality experts are examining other emerging contaminants, such as those found in personal care products and pesticides. Many of these are endocrine disrupting chemicals which interfere with normal hormonal function. WQA provides Gold Seal certification for products that remove a variety of contaminants.
Consumers can learn about different treatment systems and find locally certified dealers by visiting the WQA Web site’s Gold Seal and Find A Water Professional features. The Gold Seal program uses independently developed standards to certify devices. A copy of the panel’s report can be obtained at pcp.cancer.gov.
The Water Quality Association is a not-for-profit international trade association representing the residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment industry. Its membership consists of both manufacturers as well as dealers/distributors of equipment. WQA is a resource and information source, a voice for the industry, an educator of professionals, a laboratory for product testing, and a communicator with the public. WQA has more than 2,500 members.
Drink Up – Some Home Water Tests
There is a theme I am hitting on right now, and it’s Drinking Water Month. So, here are some very quick ways to get an indication on how your drinking water stacks up.
- Check your ice cubes. If they are cloudy, you may have a water issue.
- Take the sniff test. Does your water have an odor? Is it similar to a swimming pool smell? Or a rotten egg smell?
- If you have a pet, pour some water from a bottle in a bowl and some tap water in another bowl. If your pet chooses to drink the bottled water, you may have high levels of chlorine in your tap water.
- Make a cup of tea with bottled water and one with tap water. Put the teas in a glass. If the tap water tea is darker than the bottled water tea, then you may benefit from a reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water system.
- Track how much you spend each week on single-serve bottled water. If it’s more than $5 weekly, you could put a virtual “bottled water plant” under your sink for only pennies a glass.
Liquid Comedy
Caroline: Dave, is there a water filter for holy water?
Dave: Yes, it’s a Reverse Os-Moses filter!
Drinking Water Month!
Every year, drinking water quality comes under new scrutiny. Whether the attention comes from lifestyle trends or emerging technologies, local Culligan Water experts are urging residents to take a hard look at the water they use every day.
Below are a few facts about drinking water:
- In December 2009, The New York Times reported, “more than 20 percent of the nation’s water treatment systems violated key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act over the last five years.”
- 15 percent of the nation uses private well water. The Safe Drinking Water Act does not even cover water quality serving less than 25 people.
- Pregnant women are recommended to drink 10, eight-ounce glasses per day.
- Children are encouraged to drink six to eight, eight-ounce glasses steadily throughout the day.
- Children are more susceptible to waterborne contamination as reported in the June 2009 issue of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
This May, we can provide a local Culligan water expert to:
- Provide community-level commentary on the area’s water issues
- Demonstrate how new filtering innovations work
- Including reverse osmosis filtration systems and bottle-less water coolers
- Provide a guest column or byline for all publications, including blogs
Founded in 1936 by Emmett Culligan, Culligan continually develops new technologies to treat hard water and rid water contaminants. All products have been perfected through research and development, set standards in the water treatment industry, and are used by homes and businesses worldwide.
All Dolls Like Soft Water
New tab – “Journalists and Bloggers”
In the 24-hour news cycle, we empathize with the need to find qualified information as fast as you can. That is where we come in. The H2.o team represents Culligan Men and Women from across the country, and can provide a source and materials as quickly as you would need them.
Email praisch@kennedyc.com – day or night.
Need community-level commentary? Below you will find the cities and states you can find a bevy of dealers and water experts to add insight to your story:
- All of Canada
- All of Illinois
- All of Iowa
- All of Michigan
- All of Minnesota
- All of Nebraska
- All of Utah
- All of Wisconsin
- Columbus, OH
- Ft. Wayne, IN
- Indianapolis, IN
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Toledo, OH
- Tucson, AZ
Stefanie Weiss / The Journal-Standard
Looking for Hidden Risks
Larry Lyons has drilled and maintained water wells for the past four decades and, in the process, caught on to a number of trends that occur in the industry.
Every spring he notices a significant increase in the number of water wells that experience contamination.
“The complaints we see for muddy water, cloudy water, they are predominant in the spring,” said Lyons, the owner of Lyons Well Drilling in Stockton.
It seems fitting, then, that the Stephenson County Health Department, along with local water and well drilling companies, are urging local residents to take a close look at their drinking water this spring.
The majority of drinking water in the United States is regulated by the 1974 Safe Drinking Water Act. This law has no bearing on private wells serving less than 25 people, leaving a number of local residents vulnerable to possible contamination in their well water.
In many cases, any lingering issues with well water become apparent during the spring, when heightened levels of precipitation can cause “spring runoff” and lead to issues with residents’ drinking water.
“The rainy season can bring on contamination in wells if the integrity of the well is questionable,” said Duane Eilders, a sanitarian for the Stephenson County Health Department.
Luckily, there are plenty of places to turn to ensure that one’s well water is safe.
Local residents hoping to conduct a well test can acquire testing bottles from the Stephenson County Health Department on Lamm Road. The two bottles, which test for bacterial contamination and nitrates, cost $10.
For an additional $25, the health department can send the samples to Springfield, where a test will be conducted. Lyons Well Drilling also has a lab that can conduct water tests.
The tests are primarily designed to detect the presence of nitrates or bacterial contamination. However, wells can often be contaminated by other chemicals, including arsenic, fertilizers and agricultural chemicals.
Darvin Kiper, who works with Culligan of Freeport, emphasized many wells in Freeport face an increased risk of contamination because of their age.
“A lot of wells in this area are 50 to 60 years old,” Kiper explained.
Hidden Risks
While many residents may assume there is nothing wrong with their water, Lyons emphasized there are often problems that don’t immediately meet the eye.
“The contamination you are concerned with 99 percent of the time is not visible,” Lyons said. “You can’t see it, taste it or smell it.”
Kiper expressed a similar concern, pointing out that many residents assume their water is fine without taking the proper steps to ensure its safety.
“Just because the water seems clean and clear doesn’t mean it is safe,” he said.
Wrapping up CDANA…
CEO Mark Seals talking about the future of Culligan. 
Tweet Station!
Ok, my social water friends. Today we will be having a tweet station set up for all of the Culligan dealers attending CDANA (Culligan Dealer Association of North America) conference. It’s like an omelet statio just for tweets instead of eggs. Check the @Culliganh2O twitter feed to see these dealers make their first venture into the social media world.
I may even get some pictures out of this!
Drink. Tweet. Repeat.
Social Water
Welcome to the next generation of water. This is our hub, our command center for all things water in the midst of the communications revolution.
Got an issue? Need a dealer? Wondering what the heck reverse osmosis is? This is your one-stop-shop for all things agua.
Where else to find Culligan throughout the social media world:
Facebook for Culligan Canada: facebook.com/TheCulliganManCanada
Drink. Tweet. Repeat. Follow us on @Culliganh2O and @CulliganCanada
Also great dealers to follow:
Fort Wayne Culligan Man Jason Teter: @YourCulliganMan
College Station, TX Culligan Man James Garner: @BCSCulliganMan
Welcome to Culligan H2.O. We are water.