The problems stem from repairs on Well No. 14 in nearby Montgomery, where Kendall County residents source their water. Independent water samples taken by local residents showed iron content ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 milligrams per liter, well over normal readings.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency states that the ingestion of iron in drinking water is not directly associated with adverse health effects, so mandatory iron regulations are not in place. Agency officials said that based on “aesthetic issues” a level of 0.3 milligrams per liter is considered high.

Culligan water systems can help alleviate stains from rusty water as well as other common water problems.

Have questions about your water? Connect with your Culligan Man® on Facebook or CulliganChicago.com.

This article discusses the recent chemical spill at a water treatment plant in Minneapolis. There is no risk of tap water contamination from the chemical accident.

“A chemical accident at the City of Minneapolis Water Works in Columbia Heights yesterday afternoon, causing staff members to evacuate the building, but city tap water is safe to drink according to a city spokesperson.

The accident, which sent Minneapolis, Fridley and Columbia Heights fire department personnel racing to the scene in silver HAZMAT suits, did not at any time risk contamination of the water supply, he said in a written statement.

No injuries were reported among treatment plat staff or first responders.

According to the Star-Tribune, crews accidentally mixed chemicals used to clean the filtration systems: 6,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid and 500 gallons of caustic soda, also known as lye. The two react, producing sodium chloride, or table salt, and large amounts of heat. That heat was what set off alarms and sprinklers at the plant, the newspaper said.

The building’s sprinkler system ran for about two-and-a-half hours, Columbia Heights Assistant Fire Chief John Larkin said, with excess water flowing into tanks below the building. The water may have helped mitigate the chemical reaction, which generated heat but no fire, he said.

Another thing that helped the situation Tuesday, according to Larkin, was a drill last year in which emergency responders and nearby residents practiced for a leak that unlike Tuesday’s incident caused contamination outside the water plant.”

Have questions about your water? Connect with your Culligan Man® on Facebook or www.minnesotaculligan.com.

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.

Originally printed in The Daily Northwestern by Jia You on February 10, 2012

“New study could change Evanston’s procedure for testing lead in tap water”

“A new round of water testing by the United States Environmental Protection Agency could change how Evanston tests homes’ tap water for lead.

When water is tested, regulators generally test the lead level in the first liter of water coming out of the faucet. One of the new procedures studied by the EPA tested the lead level in the first 14 liters of water sequentially.

The results of that procedure found the seventh to ninth liters contain the highest levels of lead when they tested the tap water in 29 Chicago homes in September, said Miguel Del Toral, a regional regulations manager for the EPA.

Half of those tested homes yielded at least one sample with more than 15 parts per billion of lead, a level that could trigger regulatory actions during a routine testing, Del Toral said. Those regulatory actions would include treating the water or changing the lead service line — which cities such as Evanston use to supply water to residents — if the treatment fails.

During the study, one first-liter sample from only one of the homes indicated 15 parts per billion of lead. Researchers also found the lead in tap water comes mainly from lead service lines.

“That’s pretty clear from the results you see,” Del Toral said.

EPA conducted the sampling study to review its 20-year-old Lead and Copper Rule that regulates the levels of lead and copper in drinking water, he said.

“We look at all of our existing legislations and…we decided there was an opportunity here to make some changes,” Del Toral said.

He stressed the study captures worst-case scenarios, and the result is still under internal discussion, he said.

Evanston is “in one hundred percent compliance with regulations” in lead testing, said Kevin Lookis, water production superintendent of the Evanston Water Utility.

The city’s latest regular testing in June and July found two of 30 homes tested had measurable lead in their samples but they were still below 15 ppb, Lookis said.

Even if the sampling method changes, replacing Evanston’s lead service line would produce more harm than good, he said. The replacement would cost $5,000 per home, and the lead level would be very high in the initial months after the construction work has been completed.

Both Lookis and Del Toral recommended that residents flush their tap water for three to five minutes in the morning to clear water that has been sitting in the lead line. Such flushing could be incorporated in daily activities such as showers and toilet flushing, they said.

“They’re already taking a shower, they’re already doing laundry,” Del Toral said. “You’ll clear the line by water that’s used just doing that.”

Del Toral also recommended using water filters certified for lead removal.

Lead could delay brain development in children and even cause death, said Helen Binns, a pediatrics professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

But lead exposure from tap water is insignificant compared to sources such as lead-based paint, she said.

“I don’t think we can point to a lot of children who have been poisoned solely for that just because the houses are so bad themselves,” Binns said. “I haven’t really identified an individual child here who has water as the source (of lead poisoning).”

Dani Barker, an Evanston resident who has two children, agreed lead from tap water has not been her greatest worry.

“I haven’t been overly concerned about it,” Barker said. “I think the greater risk was lead-based paint as opposed to lead in the water.”"

Have questions about your water? Connect with your Culligan Man® on Facebook or www.culliganchicago.com.

Hydration is the key to health and wellness. Water is the key to hydration. And proper hydration becomes increasingly more important during exercise. Most people who’ve played a game of volleyball, ran a few miles or shot some hoops in the heat of summer know better than to head outside without a bottle of water. It’s hot, you’re sweating, and naturally, you’re thirsty.

There is a lot of science behind proper hydration during exercise, and you can find some of it in the previous Runner’s World article, but what it comes down to is listening to your body. Sweating and thirsty? Drink. Don’t quite feel the urge to drink? Pass until the next opportunity to drink.

But what about those of us who live in cold-weather climates? Those of us who have to bundle under three layers of clothing in February so we can head outside for a 5-mile run? We don’t sweat nearly as much during cold-weather exercise, and the instinct to drink water just isn’t there. If you’re like many people, the instinct to even bring water along isn’t there. You could find yourself six miles from home, cold, running, without water, and thirsty. But because it’s winter, people naturally (and wrongly) assume they won’t get thirsty and won’t need water like they would on the same route in the middle of July. Another issue people regularly face when they do bring along water is freezing.

According to an article on active.com, one of the biggest nutritional mistakes winter athletes make is failing to drink enough fluids. “Winter athletes need to consciously consume fluids to replace the water that gets lost via breathing. When you breathe in cold, dry air, your body warms and humidifies that air. As you exhale, you lose significant amounts of water,” the article states.

Next time you head out to get active in the winter, whether you’re skiing, running or strapping on some snowshoes, fill your favorite water bottle with fresh, clean Culligan water and remember these tips:

• To prevent your water from freezing, drop a salt tablet into the bottle. The salt will help prevent the water from freezing.
• Store or carry the water bottle upside down. The water will freeze from the top down, so the valve won’t freeze.
• Plan to sip water in intervals (for example, one sip every 20 minutes during exercise) to remember to stay hydrated.
• Hold the water bottle close to your body, to allow the body’s natural warmth to prevent the water from freezing.
• Go to the gym [wink].

What about you? How do you keep yourself hydrated during cold-weather exercise?

According to this article by WESH Orlando’s Channel 2, the break was repaired, but residents were advised to boil or treat their drinking water until further notice for their protection. Over the summer we posted this Homeowner’s Guide to a Boil Advisory to help homeowners understand what, exactly, needs to happen in such a case. Check it out!

Remember, even if you have a Culligan system in place, you should still follow all boil advisories. Our systems are an extra precaution against contaminants. If you ever have any questions about your water, contact your Culligan dealer. Trust us and we’ll ease your water woes.

With more cold weather on the horizon, can your water heater keep up with more demand? Check out this blog post to see how soft water can keep you and your family basking in the warmth of hot showers for the next six weeks.

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?

Lead found in some Chicagoans’ drinking water questions current tap water testing procedures.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tested drinking water samples in Chicago homes three times in 2011. The most recent results, taken in September and October, show high levels of lead in about half of the 29 homes tested.

While Chicago’s tap water remains safe to drink and meets EPA’s standards, it is never a bad idea to call your local Culligan Man® to have your water tested annually.

Sources that may cause water exposure to lead include, but are not limited to:

• Older city water service lines made of lead,
• Plumbing and fixtures more than 20 years old that may be made from leaded brass or leaded solder,
• Accumulation of metal and mineral deposits in hot-water tanks and pipes.

The EPA’s results from the Chicago study may lead to restructured testing methods for contaminants in drinking water.

“In homes where researchers tested more than 11 liters of water, most high lead levels tended to taper off by about the 12^th liter. Clearing the pipes of that much water requires a continuous water flow of about three to five minutes depending on water pressure and plumbing, according to Miguel Del Toral, a regulations manager for the EPA Region 5 Ground Water and Drinking Water Branch.”

Have questions about your water? Connect with your Culligan Man® on Facebook or www.culliganchicago.com.

NRD rules already require farmers to wait until after Nov. 1 to apply anhydrous ammonia and other nitrogen sources, but some fall applications of anhydrous are still pretty common, officials say, and more stringent measures are being considered.

According to the article, nitrogen is an important component in maximizing corn yields, but it contributes to water quality problems when it leeches below the root zone and into the water table. In this case, some nitrate readings are closing in on, or exceeding, a federal safety standard of 10 parts per million. Persistently high nitrates can cause a condition called “blue baby syndrome,” in which infants’ blood is unable to keep up with oxygen delivery to cells.

If you’re concerned about water quality in your area, Culligan can provide a free consultation. Large or small, we can help.

Want to learn more about your water quality options? Connect at http://www.facebook.com/CulliganNebraska.

The Question: True or False? It is ok to use sidewalk salt in your water softener.

The Answers:

These are some of our favorites, but every fan answered correctly! Sidewalk salt and softener salt are very different. Sidewalk salt has a variety of other elements in it that can clog and damage your water softener.

Using standard sidewalk salt will likely result in a service call and while we know you love seeing your Culligan Man, we’d rather it be for good reasons instead of problems. Instead, call your Culligan Man for salt delivery. Softener salt is free of impurities and many local Culligan dealers can have pure softener salt delivered right to your door. This winter keep your salts straight and your softener, and your sidewalk, will be happy.

The dealership serves both Pope and Kandiyohi Counties, as well as some areas in southern Stearns County.

Sterling Water Culligan is a third-generation family-owned business operating locations in both Wisconsin and Minnesota. It is the largest and oldest provider of water treatment solutions in the Chippewa Valley area. The company’s portfolio of services includes bottled water, water conditioning, drinking water and problem water solutions for thousands of area homes and businesses.

This latest move strengthens Sterling Water’s presence in the area, which also owns the dealership in nearby Sauk Centre. The Willmar location will be overseen by general manager Aaron Neubert.

“We saw a great opportunity and seized it,” says Bret P. Tangley, president of Sterling Water Culligan.  “Our team is excited to get into the community and start building relationships right away.”

The Glenwood and Willmar dealership has a place in history in its own right as the location represents one of the first 25 Culligan franchises in the international company’s 76-year history. Only three owners have ever operated the office.

Current and prospective customers can expect an upgrade in services and products available and a renewed commitment to regularly scheduled deliveries and maintenance calls. In fact, one of the very first hires by the new leadership was a customer service representative. The dealership plans to round out its staff throughout the coming year.

For more information, please visit www.culliganh2o.com. Connect with the Culligan Man at www.facebook.com/culliganh2oCentralMN.

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?

When it comes to your water-using appliances like a dishwasher or a washing machine, a water softener can help increase their longevity. Indiana has notoriously hard water and softeners prevent the effects of scale buildup in your appliances and will save you time and money down the road.

Your water softener needs attention too though! It’s a workhorse of an appliance, but it needs some tender loving care everyonce in awhile. Culligan will inspect and check any brand of softener in order to make sure it’s performing well, in good condition and protecting your other appliances.

Don’t have a water softener? Contact your local Culligan Man to get more information on the right solution for your home. Visit our website or our Facebook page to get in touch. Hey Culligan Man!

Introduced in 1958, “Hey, Culligan Man!” remains one of the most recognized advertising slogans and an important link between customers and the company’s network of over 800 dealers in 90 countries worldwide.

“Culligan products are in over three million homes and consumers associate ‘Hey Culligan Man!’ with the leader in the water category,” said Curt Hilliard, Culligan’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. “The slogan is completely embedded in our culture, but the image of the Culligan Man was not representing the services our dealers were performing. Although dealers have it shouted out to them everywhere they go, from the largest city to the farm, we need to expand what consumers think about when they say this celebrated phrase.”

To read the complete release and see a video explaining the new changes, please click here.

Release courtesy of Culligan - Chicago, IL (January 17, 2012)  - PRNewswire

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 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.

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.

A handy chart from Popular Mechanics gives a more visual version of our soft water story.

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!

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.

Culligan has dealerships worldwide but what really matters is what they do right at home and this year was no different. Read our blog post to see what other Culligan Men and Women have done this season. Happy Holidays!

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.

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.

1. First, raw tap water flows through a sediment filter to remove dirt, rust and other solid objects.
2. Then the water then flows into a carbon filter which removes 98% of the chlorine and organic chemicals.
3. 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
4. This water is stored in a reservoir tank, typically located underneath the sink.
5. 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!

Culligan of Algona and Emmetsburg services Emmet, Kossuth and Palo Alto counties. Founded in 1936 by Emmett Culligan, Culligan continually develops new technologies to treat hard water and rid water of 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. If you are concerned about your water check out our website for information on how Culligan can help you.

Visit Culligan of Algona and Emmetsburg on Facebook and congratulate District 9′s top Culligan Man on his award. Congrats Andy!

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.

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!

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.)

TORONTO — More than a decade after the Walkerton disaster, much of Canada’s tap water remains at risk from contamination despite initial progress in front-line monitoring and treatment, a new report concludes.

In its third such report released Tuesday, the environmental group Ecojustice warns that while some jurisdictions have stepped up water protection efforts in the past five years, most have not done enough.

In 2000, seven people died and 2,500 fell ill in Walkerton, Ont., when the town’s poorly monitored drinking water was contaminated with E. coli from farm runoff.

The tragedy prompted most provinces to review and revamp their drinking water laws with mixed results — but that burst of enthusiasm has faded in recent years, according to the report.

“In many places, the health of Canadians is still at risk,” the report concludes.

“The lack of recent progress also seems to indicate that the impetus for improved water protection, spurred by events like Walkerton, is on the wane.”

The report called “Waterproof 3″ finds only Ontario among the provinces worthy of an A grade for its water protection efforts, while Alberta lags with a C-.

The federal government gets an F for a record that continues to worsen, the report states.

In particular, the report criticizes Ottawa for a lack of progress on the legislative front, poor water quality for First Nations, and budget cuts it says will hurt Environment Canada’s ability to monitor the situation.

“The federal government is failing in almost every aspect of water protection, even though it should be setting rigorous standards,” the report says.

For the first time, the report has expanded to include source-water protection efforts — the idea that the best way to provide safe tap water is to ensure the water does not get contaminated in the first place.

The findings are not encouraging.

“Full-fledged source-water protection — a critical first step in achieving safe drinking water systems — has been implemented to some degree in only seven of 13 provinces and territories,” the report states.

“(It) is notably lacking in industry-heavy areas where the risk of contamination is high.”

According to the report, Prince Edward Island leads when it comes to protecting water sources. Almost everyone getting tap water from systems covered by legally binding source-water protection plans. On the downside, the province does not mandate water treatment.

Alberta has no legislation in place to protect water sources, and its standards for testing and treatment have not changed in five years, the report finds.

The report praises Ontario for implementing “the most ambitious source-water protection program” in the country and having the tough standards for treatment, testing, operator training and public reporting.

Among the territories, Nunavut does not legally protect water sources and its treatment standards are “among the lowest” in Canada. The Northwest Territories gets a nod for an “ambitious” review of its laws.

Canadians living in rural and remote areas are most vulnerable to the “alarming deficiency” when it comes to warnings about contaminated water, the report finds.

Overall, the report concludes, the biggest threats have shifted over the past decade from deficiencies in front-line water protection to unprotected source water, climate change and government cuts.

For example, it cites Ontario research that pharmaceuticals are increasingly finding their way into drinking water but testing for them is generally not mandatory and treatment does not always remove them.

Ecojustice — formerly the Sierra Legal Defence Fund — is a national group of lawyers and scientists who work on environmental issues.

Want to learn about solutions? Connect at facebook.com/TheCulliganManCanada.

Hundreds of Iowans across the state are drinking tap water polluted with poisonous arsenic as health workers move to rein in the problem.

The problem is so widespread that health officials statewide gathered last week in Des Moines to discuss remedies. Large public water supplies routinely test for arsenic. But health officials are now stepping up efforts to encourage private well owners to pay for their own tests, which cost about $20.

The element occurs naturally in Iowa’s soil. It leaches into ground water, which is the source of tap water for 55 percent of Iowans.

Drinking large amounts of arsenic over decades could lead to cancer of the skin, bladder, lungs, liver and prostate, as well as cardiovascular and respiratory problems. Short-term exposure to very high levels can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and skin problems, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Five public water systems currently violate arsenic standards, and 15 others have had violations over the past decade, Iowa Department of Natural Resources records show. The five now in violation are the towns of Lanesboro, Mallard and Scranton, and two rural subdivisions, Gallery Acres West near Solon and South Park near Iowa Falls.

“All of them have arsenic problems,” said Diane Moles of the DNR water-supply staff. “They need to either put in treatment or be able to blend them down” by mixing in clean water from other uncontaminated sources.

In addition, a recent University of Iowa study found that nearly half of the 475 private wells checked between 2006 and 2008 tested positive for arsenic, with 8 percent over the limit for drinking water.

Cerro Gordo County health officials have been tracking arsenic for more than a decade, and currently are testing rural wells as part of a federally funded program.

Arsenic accounted for about 3 percent of drinking-water standard violations last year among the state’s 1,900 public systems, the DNR reported. Total coliform bacteria topped the list, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the violations. Nitrates resulted in about 8 percent.

Water quality rules require 1,400 of Iowa’s systems to check for arsenic. In addition to municipal water supplies, some small systems serve rural subdivisions or businesses such as truck stops.

Moles said most water plants quickly fix the problem by using a handful of tested solutions. One method is to treat the water to remove iron, which also removes arsenic. Or the system can dilute tap water with clean supplies from another source. Some drill new wells, or hook up to another arsenic-free water system.

For one system near Solon, though, none of those solutions is available. So 41 customers of the Gallery Acres West system in Johnson County continue to drink water with too much arsenic. The water isn’t being treated, in part because there is no sewer to carry the wastes that would result from the process.

Gallery West has recorded 22 arsenic violations in the past decade. Officials there could not be reached for comment.

“We are already in the process of looking into new treatment options to rectify this situation as soon as possible,” city officials wrote in a letter to the more than 500 residents.

Some of the five systems in violation of arsenic standards learned only recently of the high readings, Moles said. All but the Solon-area system have found a way to treat the problem.

Scranton and Mallard recorded readings in recent months that were eight to nine times the limit.

Scranton’s violation in July marked the first time in a decade the town exceeded the standard.

Lanesboro is treating for iron, in turn reducing arsenic. The town has had only one violation in the past decade.

Mallard, population 280, had three violations in that period, all recent. The town is changing its water treatment, Moles said. “They are getting it under control, but it’s going to take a little while,” she said.

Mallard residents have complained more about the taste of the chlorine, which at first was added to the water at a higher rate, said City Clerk Becky Larson. When that didn’t work, the water plant cut back on chlorine, which seemed to help. Workers also changed filters, Larson said.

“We don’t know if we’ve come up with the absolute answer,” said Larson. “We are working closely with DNR.”

No one has complained about the health risk, said Larson. “After we cut back on the chlorine, I haven’t heard a thing from anyone for probably four months,” she said.

South Park had one violation in the past decade, and routinely has readings close to the limit, Moles said.

Have questions about arsenic? Connect with your Culligan Man at facebook.com/HawkeyeCulligan or facebook.com/CulliganCentralIowa.

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.

Originally found at http://www.recorder.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3348134

Posted 13 days ago

Brockville’s Culligan bottling plant has moved to the head of the class following an annual audit by the Canadian Bottled Water Association (CBWA).

The Waltham Road plant scored 98.5 per cent in the unannounced audit, which considers a variety of food safety and sanitary measures, and will receive an excellence in manufacturing award from the CBWA in recognition of the accomplishment.

“Our operation is small but we can go head-to-head with anyone in the industry,” John Worsnop, plant manager for the past 10 years, said in a statement.

Worsnop said the Brockville plant has a quality staff and the proper technology to remain a leader in the industry for years to come.

The local plant provides bottled water to six dealerships for Culligan of Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec, as well as to locations in Peterborough and Belleville.

Hugh Grout, president of the regional Culligan operation, said the city plant is “a small operation with big aspirations and this distinction is the culmination of a lot of hard work.

“The team here has had a goal: to be the best of the best. Mission accomplished,” Grout said in a Culligan news release.

CBWA spokesman Elizabeth Griswald told The Recorder and Times the award of excellence in manufacturing will be presented in February.

Bottled water businesses must achieve 97 per cent or higher on the audit to receive the award of excellence, she noted.

“The scoring system is quite difficult,” said Griswald, who said the audit considers more than 160 elements, including safety measures taken in the manufacturing process, in maintenance of the equipment and in the transportation of the bottled product to dealers in Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec.

Overall hygiene, record-keeping of maintenance and analysis of the source water and finished product are also part of the audit, she said.

Inspections are done by a third party, NSF International, to avoid potential conflicts, she added.

Griswald didn’t have the most recent figures available, but she noted in 2009, the CBWA presented 21 awards of excellence to member businesses across Canada.

Connect with your Culligan Man at facebook.com/TheCulliganManCanada.

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.

1. 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.

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!

Hey Culligan Man!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Most Culligan dealers are either too busy for social media, or don’t truly understand Facebook, Foursquare or Twitter. Many chose to delegate social media duties to office managers or coordinators but social media works best when the experts – you as Culligan dealers – share your knowledge. We recommend co-managing your social media with an agency. An agency will help you define your goals and work with you to create the best content, resulting in more authentic interactions with your community.

1. Your Customer Knows Best
Social media has little to do with you; it’s about whomever you’re trying to reach. Think like your customer thinks. Not sure if your customers spend their time on Facebook versus Twitter? Ask them.

2. Social Media Isn’t Necessarily Free
You can set up a blog, fan page and Twitter account without paying a dime. No software or costly media buys. However, social media is far from free. It requires time, energy and effort. It’s a never-ending commitment to create interesting content, listen to conversations and respond.

3. Don’t Measure Success by Follower Counts
As a small business, don’t get caught up in the numbers. Growing your community is important, but be focused on who’s engaging with you and at what levels. Having a devoted, enthusiastic community is the goal. Be patient. The growth is organic, and that doesn’t happen overnight.

4. Social Media Doesn’t Equal Self-Promotion
Focus on the customers, not your company. Show that there is a person behind the company and that you care about what your customers have to say.

5. Learn From the Experts
Experience social media as a customer and take note of various social media campaigns that appeal to you. Learn from the work of others, while tailoring their experiences to your own particular needs, goals and customers.

via: http://mashable.com/2011/04/14/small-business-social-media-tips/

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.

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.

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

• Culligan Hydration Station, Dan Patch Av. and Cosgrove St.

The fairgrounds are riddled with clever but semi-useless handouts — ketchup-flavored lip balm, anyone? — which is why it’s a relief to learn that the aptly named Culligan Hydration Station offers a genuinely practical souvenir: free, bottomless pours of refreshing filtered water. Not only does each sip act as a palate cleanser against the culinary crassness of the Great Minnesota Deep-Fried Get-Together — but it’s also the best deal going, considering a 20-oz. bottle of water can run $2.50 or more. (Runner up: the aromatic free samples of Peace Coffee’s Twin Cities Blend, a medium dark roast that’s available inside the Progress Center/Eco Experience from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. One warning: It’s regular, not decaf.)

Connect with the Culligan Men at facebook.com/MinnesotaCulligan.

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.

Downtown student government promises to install water filters on drinking fountains throughout the campus have been fulfilled following months of delays, after initial plans were made in late 2010.

The filters, designed to remove inorganic chemicals and chlorine content from drinking water, are located at the Mercado buildings, the second floor of the University Center and the first two floors of the Walter Cronkite School. More filters are to be installed in the rest of University Center and the first two floors of the College of Nursing and Health Innovation buildings.

The filters are intended to reduce student and faculty usage of bottled water by encouraging the use of refillable bottles, said former student government President Christian Vasquez.

“Having filtered water available on campus was the best option,” Vasquez said. “Not only does it promote students refilling their water bottles, but it also promotes students drinking a lot more water in general.”

Initial plans for a filtration system on campus originated with students from the School of Sustainability, who began seeking out water supply vendors over two years ago. Last year, student government began arranging a contract with the filter and bottling company Culligan.

“Most important, I think, was their concern over the large quantity of bottled water that was being delivered to the campus,” said Bill Hansen, a representative of Culligan who worked on the installation. “There’s a lot of water wasted in the production of bottled water, and then secondly, there’s a lot of fuel used in the delivery of it.”

The filters installed are Culligan’s Preferred Series 250, a cartridge system chosen for its enhancement of the taste of tap water without producing environmental waste.

The installations were initially slated for completion in the spring 2011 semester, but the project faced complications and delays. Delays emerged due to “miscommunications between the company and the folks that actually handle the building management,” said Vasquez, who continued to work on the project for several weeks after his graduation.

“We had to reevaluate which company we were going to go with and then which type of filtration we were going to do,” he said. “That took the better part of our spring semester.”

The current Downtown student government said it supports the project. President Joseph Grossman released a statement saying ASU is a leader in building sustainable communities.

“The filters further that commitment and will provide students with cleaner, better-tasting water and save them money, too,” he said.

Want to know more? Visit http://www.culliganwater.com/ or connect at facebook.com/CulliganTucson.

The IBWA is the international governing body for the bottled water industry, and its Code of Practice sets a rigid series of guidelines for bottled water products and services. Members of the IBWA must submit to annual audits in order to remain in good standing, and companies that consistently outperform standards are awarded “Excellence in Manufacturing.”

Both Culligan’s physical plant, as well as the company’s paperwork, was scrutinized during a recent third-party inspection.

“This is an outstanding distinction to receive from such a respected organization,” says Darrell Sather, general manager of Culligan of Central Wisconsin. “The team is incredibly professional and dedicated to their mission of providing our customers with the highest quality water.”

Culligan of Wausau provides bottled water to Cuilligan dealers from Madison up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

“We work hard, and it’s an honor to have that hard work recognized,” adds Tim James, operations manager of Culligan of Central Wisconsin. “The IBWA seal stands for a lot in this business, and we will continue to ensure our work can meet the high bar they have set.”

Culligan of Wausau also offers carbon treatment, softening and reverse osmosis filtration.

For more information, visit www.culliganh2o.com or connect at facebook.com/culliganh2oCentralWI.

For more information on the IBWA, visit http://www.bottledwater.org.

Go green! Go white! Think blue!

THIS IS SPARTA!..or the Michigan State practice field.

Michigan State QB Kirk Cousins meets with the BTN crew on his 23rd birthday.

Some Wolverines put their skills on display for the Big Ten Preview Tour with drills that your local Culligan dealer should probably adopt.

Protect that ball/salt delivery drill.

The "Carry It Like a Culligan Man" drill

You may be asking yourself, what does a reverse osmosis system actually do? If my water needs to be filtered, why not use one of those water pitchers, my refrigerator filter or a screw-on faucet filter?

To understand the benefits of reverse osmosis, and what differentiates it from a filtered water pitcher, begin with understanding the process of osmosis. Osmosis is the natural movement of a lesser concentrated liquid through a semi-permeable membrane, into a solution of a higher concentration. Osmosis equalizes the concentration of the liquid on both sides of the membrane. Simply put, it mixes clean purified water with contaminated water.

Reverse osmosis reverses this process by creating pressure to force the contaminated water through a semi-permeable membrane that removes the gunk and junk; thus producing delicious drinking water. Moreover, a reverse osmosis system is made up of four carbon filters. Each filter removes specific contaminants from the water.

Function of each filter:

• Filter One: This filter removes sediment; the big stuff.
• Filter Two: Allows the sediment-free water to travel through the filter, trapping and removing organic chemicals and chlorine. These are the smaller particles that water pitchers, refrigerator filters, and screw-on facet filters definitely miss.
• Filter Three: This membrane removes 90-98 percent of the chemicals left in the water, depending on the water pressure and temperature. The trapped sediments are then dumped into a drain. The filtered water flows into a two to three gallon storage tank.
• Filter Four: When the water is ready to be enjoyed, the stored water flows through this final carbon filter removing any possible taste and odor left in the water. Essentially, polishing the water.

A reverse osmosis system’s filter process pushes water through four filters, in comparison to a filtered water pitcher, refrigerator filter and a screw-on faucet filter that runs water through a carbon filter once. A reverse osmosis system, like Culligan’s Aqua-Cleer Drinking Water system, provides you with an endless-supply of clean, safe drinking water right at your kitchen sink.

Visit HawkeyeCulligan.com or connect at facebook.com/HawkeyeCulligan to learn more about the difference a Reverse Osmosis system can make in your house.

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. )

Take a second to watch this YouTube (via BottledWaterMatters.com) showing the complex process of turning municipal water into a packaged drink. Go behind the scenes and look at the steps involved in further purifying tap water before it gets bottled.

Steps include: pre-filtering, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet, ozonation and adding minerals for taste.

The process is carefully monitored and tested for quality and safety. As you watch, decide for yourself if it’s just “tap water in a bottle.”

Refreshing Culligan bottled water is a healthy choice. With bottled water, kids tend to drink less soda and sugary drinks. Plus, doctors recommend eight glasses a day for dieting, exercising and a healthier lifestyle. Contact us at Culligan of Rothesay CulliganRothesay.com for more information.

Culligan was on hand and on the minds of the cast as they previewed the Black and Gold.

Culligan is never far away....

Boom.

Both Culligan and the Big Ten offer a big welcome to Big Red and the Blackshirts!

Coach Bo gets interviewed.

BUT

labs do more spilling than drinking, so we’d be broke. They like the bottles though!”

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.

Gas fueled the bus. Culligan Water fueled the cast and crew.

Minnesota Gopher football coach Jerry Kill

Minnesota QB MarQueis Gray talks to Dave, Gerry and Howard.

Here is a simple FAQ to remove all doubt from your collective couponing experience.

Q: How heavy are the bags of salt?

A: On average, the bags of salt are 40 pounds.

Q: Am I obligated to a certain number of deliveries? I have my own cooler, can I use that instead? I also have a couple leftover bottles from a previous use, can I exchange those?

A: You can use your own cooler, if you already have one. The 5-gallon bottles should work with other coolers.

Q: Is this deal good anywhere in Minnesota?

A: The deal is good throughout Minnesota.

Q: I already have Culligan salt delivery; can I purchase to use for that?

A: If you are a current customer with a delivery schedule, just notify the dealership so they know to expect the Groupon.

Q: When does this expire?

A: The offer is good through February 13, 2012. After the expiration date, dealers will accept Groupons at the value paid.

Q: Do I have to buy the water cooler also?

A: The cooler is not included in the offer, so if you’re interested, check with the Culligan dealer in your area for rental rates.

Q: Do they deliver on weekends?

A: Delivery schedules will vary by dealership.

Here we see QB Russell Wilson take center stage with Dave Revsine, Gerry DiNardo and Howard Griffith. Culligan, though, is always within reach .

Photo Credit: The Big Ten Network

According to the Big Ten Network’s website, ” [t]he first preview show will air at 8 PM ET on Aug. 14 from the University of Wisconsin. Subsequent shows will air nightly at 8 PM ET, continuing with Minnesota (Aug. 15), Nebraska (Aug. 16), Iowa (Aug. 17), Illinois (Aug. 18), Indiana (Aug. 19), Ohio State (Aug. 20), Penn State (Aug. 21), Michigan (Aug. 22), Michigan State (Aug. 23), Purdue (Aug. 24) and Northwestern (Aug. 25).”

As you watch your favorite Big Ten team this season and the preview show before that, visit CulliganChampions.com or connect on Facebook for updates, specials and more.

The Environmental Protection Agency is studying what the levels mean. The agency took water samples for the most recent tests using different methods and found widely varying results.

State records show that 52 water systems have reported high lead levels since 2008.

Consumers can lessen their exposure to lead by using cold water for drinking and cooking, and by cleaning aerators on faucets, which can accumulate particles.

Lead can cause reduced IQs in children, and heart attacks and strokes in adults.

Visit www.culliganchicago.com or connect at www.facebook.com/CulliganChicago to learn how to protect your family from common water contaminants.

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?

WINNEBAGO COUNTY (WREX) -

Tests turn up positive for gasoline-like material in Winnebago County drinking water. Health leaders trace the trouble to two private wells. A mother of four who lives on Soper Avenue in Rockford says she and her husband thought something was wrong last week. They were giving their one-year-old child a bath and say the water smelled funny. “It smells like a mechanic shop. It smell’s like machinery. It smells like oil. It’s very prominent,” says Nicole Clark.

Turns out Clark isn’t alone. One of her neighbors noticed the same thing. “A resident called the Illinois Department of Public Health and apparently smelled a solvent type odor. They took samples, got them back last Thursday,” says Winnebago County Health Department Director of The Environmental Health Improvement Center, Larry Swacina.

The tests detected what are called “volatile organic chemicals,” VOCs, in two private wells on Soper Avenue. Each well serves one home. Still the news alarms others in the area. “I think it’s pretty unhealthy for us because we take showers in it, wash the dishes, cook with it,” says Manuel Lopez who lives in the area.

No water-related illnesses have been reported. Swacina says representatives knocked on doors to alert people potentially at risk. “Short term, there can be respiratory and eye irritation. There could be nausea, dizziness, memory loss. Longer term, there could be damage to the kidney or liver,” he says.

Visit www.culligannorthernillinois.com or connect at www.facebook.com/CulliganofNorthernIllinois to learn more about getting a water test.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Ground water in the desert is hard because of the amount of rock and minerals in the ground.

It’s never been a huge problem for residents because Tucson Water filters some of it out.

But the level of hardness is about to rise and so could repair bills.

“In southern Arizona I would have to say I see harder mineral deposits,” said Robert William Ashton from Arizona Professional Plumbing.

Tucson Water filters out bacteria and harmful chemicals, but calcium and magnesium are still prevalent.

Those minerals have been known to cause build up and clog water pipes. Soon their levels will rise in the water and so could the damage to your pipes.

“Your faucet aerator and stuff like that accumulate and it’ll slow down your water flow and just be ugly,” said Ashton.

The reason the deposits will rise is the city can no longer afford to keep its current water quality standards.

One city council member blames it on another city issue.

“No one from the city had the guts to stand up to the RTA and allowed ourselves to be rolled by them and now we are paying for utility line relocations for RTA projects,” said Councilman Steve Kozachik.

Kozachik says if the RTA funded the utility line relocations, the city would have enough money in the budget to maintain water standards.

“If that cost allocation hadn’t come over to the city rate payers, we may have the money in the budget to attain these water quality standards that all of us wanted to achieve,” said Kozachik.

After the Citizen’s Water Advisory Committee unanimously voted to allow the hardness of the water to rise, residents may be forced to filter their own water in lieu of allowing sediment to build up in their pipes

“I think it’s the city’s job to make sure the water isn’t going to get you sick, as far water quality and hardness, it’s gonna fall on the homeowner ’cause I don’t see the city being able to make it like that,” said Ashton.

“The city ought to step up and fight for the rate payers here in the City of Tucson,” said Kozachik.

Arizona Professional Plumbing suggest residents get a water softener or reverse osmosis system installed if they’re worried about the hardness levels rising, especially in their drinking water.

Learn about soft water options from the Tucson Culligan Man at www.culliganwater.com, or connect at www.facebook.com/CulliganTucson.

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.

Watch Tim McCardy on ATV News (6:00).

Culligan has a variety of in-home bottled water coolers that can be delivered directly to your residence. To beat the heat with Culligan, contact us at Culligan of Central Ontario on Facebook or our website, HeyCulliganMan.com for more information.

From WJFW News: Greg Zeske, Culligan Driver, has seen the effects of this heat wave first hand. “We have noticed a lot, and an increase in water consumption. Especially the businesses, we’ll drop off extra just for the fact that they are going through it so quick.”

The water is flowing out so fast that Zeske sometimes needs a bigger truck. “Most of the time I go back empty. I have a larger truck, a big diesel that I drive, and it carries anywhere from 160 bottles.”

Kass Schoppe owns Culligan Water in Rhinelander and says it’s hard keeping up with the demand. “The normal amount that they go through in a month is almost doubled with this heat.”

Culligan has a variety of in-home bottled water coolers that can be delivered directly to your residence. To beat the heat with Culligan, contact us at Northwoods Culligan on Facebook or our webiste, Culligan Northwoods for more information.

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.

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.

Watch your Culligan Man in action on KDLT News.

Travis Daws is a deliveryman for Culligan, and he says this is one of their busiest years. “Yea this is definitely the biggest upturn for this business I’ve ever seen in the three years I’ve been doing it.”

If you want Culligan drinking water delivered to your home or office, contact us on Facebook at Siouxland Culligan, or our visit our website. Keep cool!

19.5 million litres seems like a lot, but it’s still less than half the record set in 1988 of 40 million litres. Diane Sacher, manager of water services for the city, credited Winnipeggers for keeping their water use comparatively low by installing water-efficient toilets, faucets, shower heads and appliances.

The increased water flow has resulted in discolored water in at least 53 Winnipeg homes. While this water won’t cause illness, it can have an unpleasant odor or taste.  The city advises residents to run the tap for 10 minutes and then wait another 30. The Culligan Man suggests Winnipeggers contact him on his Facebook page, Culligan of Winnipeg or website for clean water all year round.

(via The Winnipeg Sun)

For more information, visit www.culliganh2o.com or connect at facebook.com/culliganh2oCentralWI.

MERRILL — City of Merrill leaders will move forward with a $1.7 million water treatment project aimed at addressing high levels of manganese.

City Council members last week agreed to implement the plan that will upgrade Merrill’s treatment facility, water distribution main and well house. Bids for the project could be ready for City Council members to review as soon as Sept. 13, Mayor Bill Bialecki said.

The project, scheduled to begin in November, is part of a yearlong effort by the city to manage manganese levels in the city’s water supply. High levels of the element were discovered last spring, when one resident privately tested her water.

City tests then confirmed the manganese levels were more than double the recommended levels. High levels of manganese can damage a person’s central nervous system.

Merrill officials last year quickly worked to address concerns, shutting down one of five city wells.

Kathy Unertl, Merrill finance director, said the city submitted last month an application for a loan through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ Safe Drinking Water Loan Program. The program provides loan funding toward the improvement of public water systems.

Unertl said she did not know the timing for the loan program or whether Merrill qualified for that type of funding.

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).

But besides diapers, what benefits from soft water?

• Your dishes
• Your appliances
• Your skin and hair

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.

This latest move bolsters Sterling Water’s presence in the region as the company assumes customers located in Wood, Clark, Taylor, Marathon, Lincoln, Langlade Counties, with additional accounts in Vilas, Oneida, Price, Forest and Menomonie Counties as well.

“This deal is a win-win,” says Darrell Sather, general manager of Culligan of Central Wisconsin. “Both Zastrow and Sterling Water are multi-generational family businesses with strong community roots. Knowing that, Zastrow’s excellent reputation and customer service will continue as we get a chance to introduce the Culligan name to a whole new set of consumers.”

Sather notes that while his team will be taking on bottled water business, the entire suite of Culligan products and services outside of bottled water will be offered.

Sterling Water Culligan is a third generation family-owned business with more than 60 years of experience, and operating locations in Rothschild, WI Eau Claire, WI and Sauk Centre, MN.

This acquisition marks the company’s fourth since August 2010.

For more information, visit www.culliganh2o.com or connect at facebook.com/culliganh2oCentralWI.

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)

She spoke with a civil engineering professor who did not recommend drinking lake water. “Anyone who is going to drink right out of the lake should research the levels of pollution or any potential contaminants and find out what can be filtered out and any long-term effects of drinking the water,” he said.

If you do want to experiment, bring lake water to a rolling boil for at least five minutes. Boiling won’t necessarily kill everything, so chlorine tablets and portable UV lights may help. Other possibilities include granular activated carbon or a hand pump filter.

Even with precautions, it can be impossible to predict what will happen if you stick a mug in Lake Ontario and take a swig. It depends on where you drink, how much you drink, and your age and health. While home filtering processes are good for emergencies or camping, you can put yourself at ease by relying on tap water or installing a professional water filtration system in your home. Visit CulliganCanada.ca to see all options we provide!

“MINOT, North Dakota (Reuters) – As record floodwaters began to ebb on Sunday, the swollen Souris River infiltrated the city of Minot’s drinking water supply forcing officials to turn their attention disease prevention.

North Dakota Health Department officials ordered displaced residents in the region to drink from bottled water when possible, and to boil tap water before drinking it.

“People are getting the drinking water they need,” said Dean Lenertz, a Minot city spokesman, adding that extensive tests would determine when they can lift the “boil order.”

“There are plenty of sources for bottle water and people can boil water for a couple minutes and it’s good to go,” he added.

The order also directs residents not to use tap water to wash dishes, brush their teeth or make ice, and to shower with their eyes closed, Lenertz said.

Health Department officials do not know when the order will be lifted.

The Souris, which flows from Canada southeast into North Dakota, crested early on Sunday morning at almost four feet above the 130-year-old record it shattered on Friday, according to the National Weather Service.”

Questions about your water? Ask the local Culligan dealer.

” 34.7 square miles – Drainage area for Menomonee River

18.8 square miles – Drainage area for Kinnickinnic River

696 square miles – Drainage area for Milwaukee River

12,600 – Number of streams and rivers in Wisconsin

84,000+ miles - How far all of Wisconsin’s streams and rivers would stretch end-to-end, enough to circle the equator
three times

19,824 – Number of fire hydrants Water Works maintains in Milwaukee, Greenfield, St. Francis and Hales Corners

30.7% – Percentage of Wisconsin’s land mass located within the Great Lakes basin

$500 – Yearly average cost of municipal drinking water for Americans

$200 – Yearly average that Milwaukeeans pay for their drinking water

6 inches – Necessary thickness of ice on a lake/lagoon before ice fishing is possible

1 – Number of indoor sea-level speedskating ovals in the U.S.: the Pettit National Ice Center

150,000 gallons – Monthly water use for icemaking at Pettit National Ice Center

800 gallons – Water necessary to resurface the speedskating oval

500 gallons – Volume of water a Zamboni can hold

18 million – Pounds of chemicals Milwaukee Water Works uses annually in water treatment ”

Interested in Milwaukee water? Visit Culligan of Milwaukee, or connect with the dealers on Facebook.

But besides diapers, what benefits from soft water?

• Your dishes
• Your appliances
• Your skin and hair

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.

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.

According to a World Health Organization report, dieldrin can cause cancer, particularly in the liver, and it can affect the nervous system, weaken the immune system and accumulate in body tissue.

So why is a chemical that has been banned for decades contaminating wells today? Many of the private wells affected by dieldrin are situated near older golf courses that probably used the insecticide. Dieldrin does not degrade easily, posing environmental and health risks. Officals say it’s hard to tell if the dieldrin has been there all along, or if contamination is recent.

Regardless of if you live in Florida, this is an excellent reminder to have your private well tested. For Florida residents, Culligan of Central Florida can find the right solution for your water issues. If you would like to find the Culligan dealer in your area, visit I Love Culligan Water on Facebook and locate your Culligan Man.

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?

Think of it as a force field protecting this vast source of fresh water.

Recently though, the force field has been deflecting shots from nearby Waukesha County in Wisconsin. Waukesha is drilling deeper and deeper for water and has had to create an elaborate system to make their water drinkable. They could certainly benefit from a fresh water source, but unfortunately Waukesha lies outside of the Great Lakes basin, which means that any water brought in from the Great Lakes would flow away from the lakes.

Cities on the basin border like Waukesha can apply for Great Lakes access, but it’s a tough process. A decision has yet to be made, but if you’re a Waukesha resident you can read the application on the DNR website. Also, don’t hesitate to contact your Milwaukee-area Culligan dealer if you are worried about impurities in your water. Check ‘em out on Facebook too. We’re here to help!

(via “Great Lakes face increasing pressure for water from world, own backyard“)

“A Minden woman changes her pool filter every other day; although the box says, “change every two weeks.”

Across town a local store pours out another glass of dark yellow water and uses bottled to make coffee.

Meanwhile, restaurant owners say they can’t keep the scum from invading clean sinks, and struggle to keep the dishes from forming a residue, because state law requires plates be air-dried.

Nearby, a woman’s apartment sink and tub must be bleached constantly to keep them from looking like her toilet.

These are all stories of Minden residents fighting their battles against dirty city water. City officials say the red, brown, dark yellow and sometimes pink water is completely safe to drink. Many residents said, there’s just no way they’d drink it.

“Something needs to be done. I don’t know, cost-effective,” said resident Chris Dolan. “I think they’ve tried to put something in the water. They told us once that the water is pink because of a chemical that they have put in it, but yet you wonder, they’re putting a chemical in it that makes it turn pink, so is that safe? I don’t know what the answer is. I just know that something bigger has to be done.”

If you have questions about filtering options and water quality standards, visit Culligan Heartland or connect with the dealers at facebook.com/CulliganNebraska.

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.

Ken Clark, the general manager of Total Water Culligan spoke with Elishah Oesch from WKOW about how to keep your family’s drinking water safe and clean.

The extreme heat here in Wisconsin has many of us drinking more and more water. While drinking water is absolutely necessary every day, it’s never been more important to drink it in large quantities. As a result, we all need to make sure that our drinking water is safe and free of contaminants.

If you’re interested in improving the quality of water in your home, visit our area dealer website: www.badgerlandculligan.com or share with us on Facebook at Badgerland Culligan.

We bet the water workshop leaders will be nicer than this teacher.

At Culligan we know the importance of understanding water. For that reason we’re sharing information about the Wetlands and Water Quality Workshop in Davenport, IA. This is an award winning educational training opportunity for educators, naturalists and others working to teach youth about water quality.

Participants will be trained on incorporating water quality and enviromental concepts in the classroom and other educational activities. Each participant will receive over $60.00 in educational materials.

The workshop will be held Friday, June 24th, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at Nahant Marsh Education Center – 4220 Wapello Avenue, Davenport, Iowa. Visit Quad Cites Online – Dispatch-Argus for registration info.

If you’re interested in improving the quality of water in your home, visit our area dealer website: www.hawkeyeculligan.com or share with us on Facebook at Hawkeye Culligan.

The Illinois EPA says data show 96.8 percent of people who got Illinois water supplies last year received drinking water that met all health requirements. That’s 1.8 percent better than in 2009.

Testing of your water by a licensed local water expert is the key to determining if you have a water problem, how to solve your problem and what equipment and service you need to protect your family and home. While the water may be filtered to the government’s satisfaction, it may not be filtered to your satisfaction.

Contact your local Culligan Man to schedule a water analysis – free of charge. He will come to your home and provide a complete analysis of your water, fixtures, plumbing and water-using appliances. He’s there to answer any questions you have about your water and provide a detailed report and equipment estimate. The whole process will take about 30 minutes.

Located in the Chicago area? Visit us at CulliganChicago.com or check out Culligan Chicagoland on Facebook.

Located in the Central Illinois area? Visit us at CulliganCentralIllinois.com or check out Culligan Central Illinois on Facebook.

Located in the Northern Illinois area? Visit us at CulliganNorthernIllinois.com or check out Culligan of Northern Illinois on Facebook.

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.

Currently, the Metropolitan Utilities District officials say the rising Missouri River poses no threat to the quality of Omaha’s drinking water.

MUD Director of Corporate Communications Mari Matulka  told KIOS Public Radio that hundreds of tests are run every day on Omaha’s drinking water and the treatment processes can be adjusted to ensure the water remains safe to drink.

Culligan Heartland reminds you the importance of monitoring your water supply during a flood. City officials will always notify residents if there is a problem with the municipal system, but if you have a private well it is your responsibility to have it tested for contamination. Spring floods and runoff greatly increase the risk of well water contamination. Take the steps to ensure your water quality and tell us about it on our Facebook page, Culligan of Nebraska.

“Once you have a low water pressure warning, or a low water pressure in your system you have to notify the Department of Public Health and they issue a precautionary boil water alert because there is a possibility of contamination,” the city’s Utility Superintendent, David Evans said.

Even with a filter or RO system, it’s important to observe boil advisories. While Culligan filters provide an added protection against bacteria, we can never be too sure to what extent water is contaminated during a boil advisory.  As the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry! If you’re interested in a Culligan System for your home visit us at MinnesotaCulligan.com or check out Minnesota Culligan on Facebook.

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.

Big thank you to 93.1 Jamz for making this happen.

93.1 Jamz will be accepting more water donations at West Towne Mall tomorrow.

Don’t forget to connect with Culligan Total Water on Facebook.

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!

“Loss of the filtered water likely will cause the city to temporarily exceed federal radium limits imposed by a court-ordered consent decree, though customers don’t face an immediate health risk. The limits are established to protect consumers who drink radium-contaminated water over a lifetime,” said Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak.

While this filter failure is not life threatening, experts say deep water wells are becoming more and more unreliable. Waukesha is seeking approval from Wisconsin and the other seven Great Lakes states to switch to a Lake Michigan water source. The city would abandon all deep wells in sandstone if the request is approved. Waukesha must be in full compliance with federal radium safe-water standards by June 2018.

If you are concerned about the quality of your drinking water, Culligan of Waukesha can help. Our experts will test your water and recommend the best filtering solution so you and your family can enjoy quality drinking water. Thanks, Culligan Man!

MANSFIELD — Culligan Quality Water of North Central Ohio has been awarded the Emmett J. Culligan Award of Excellence.

The award goes to the top 15 dealership locations in North America.

Criteria include local market presence, a strategic advertising plan, industry participation and up-to-date product and technology knowledge.

“We have maintained an extraordinary team throughout the years,” said Don Karger, president of the local dealership. “Our customers trust us and can rely on us. The relationships are the key. They know the person who answers the phone by the sound of their voice, and they know they are in good hands.”

Culligan has been in north central Ohio since 1939. Karger took over the local dealership more than 25 years ago. Culligan is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.

The Mansfield team attended the international convention in Orlando, where it received the award.

Part of the dealership’s success is based on its service to people suffering the effects of hard water. Hard water contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium, and can damage appliances, plumbing, skin and hair. Culligan water softeners reduce such woes.

The company also offers drinking water systems.

“We live and work in a great community,” Karger said. “Our people relish the role of neighborhood resources when it comes to water quality improvement for homes and businesses. I only see great things in our future.”

OhioCulligan.com

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

Daniel mentioned that “The Culligan name had become synonymous with clean drinking water in some parts of the country.”

Daniel’s friend, Leah Sommer of Northeast Ohio Culligan commented, “I’m happy to be part of a company like Culligan water that cares about people, locally and internationally.”

Culligan, The Good Water Company is also very happy and proud to be a part of such an amazing company.

Click to learn more about Culligan’s recent donations in Haiti and Japan.

Daniel mentioned that “The Culligan name had become synonymous with clean drinking water in some parts of the country.”

Daniel’s friend, Leah Sommer of Northeast Ohio Culligan commented, “I’m happy to be part of a company like Culligan water that cares about people, locally and internationally.”

Click to learn more about Culligan’s recent donations in Haiti and Japan.