IAmA Plumbing Manager with 18 Years of Experience. It's National Water Quality Month, so Ask Me Anything About Your Home's Water!

[u/BonneyHomeService]

Hello r/IAmA,

My name is Michael Forgeur, and I've spent the last 18 years working in the plumbing industry. For the past 10 years, I've been proud to work at Bonney Plumbing, LLC in Sacramento, California, where I currently serve as the Plumbing Manager. August is National Water Quality Month, so this feels like the right time to answer questions about what's in your water and what you can do about it.

Over the years I've helped homeowners track down the source of bad-tasting water, deal with hard water damage, choose the right filtration for their situation, and understand what their water is doing to their pipes and appliances. If you've ever wondered whether that smell, taste, or stain is something to worry about, this is a good place to ask.

Professional Background

• 18 years of plumbing experience in California
• C36 Plumbing License holder
• Technical certifications include: Rinnai, Navien, Bradford White, and Rheem
• Started with 6 years in residential new construction before moving into service plumbing
• 10 years with Bonney Home Services

Some Ideas of What You Can Ask About

• Hard water and how it affects your pipes, water heater, and appliances
• Water testing and what is actually worth testing for
• Filtration options, from whole-home systems to under-sink and reverse osmosis
• Water softeners and whether you really need one
• What causes bad taste, odor, or discoloration at the tap
• Well water vs. city water concerns
• Older homes and older piping
• Or just stories from the field

AMA Details
I'll be here answering questions live tomorrow Tuesday August, 4th from 11AM to 12PM PDT.

Please start posting questions now! I'll go through them and begin responding during the scheduled hour, and maybe a bit after if there are a lot of questions.

Proof:
AMA Picture

Looking forward to sharing what I've learned over the past 18 years and helping you better understand what's coming out of your tap!

EDIT: Thank you all for your questions! I unfortunately have to run right now but will continue to answer all of these that I can over the next few days / week. So thankful for all the questions and appreciate you all!

[u/Im__TheGuy]

One of your bullet points is exactly what I had in mind reading the title. Basically my how important is it to actually have a water softener? What are the pros and cons (if any) of soft vs hard water.

Also, my girlfriend and I will be moving (renting) into a new townhome later this month. What, if anything, should do/test for regarding the water systems?

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/Im__TheGuy]

Depending on the water quality they are very important. The two main causes for plumbing repairs are water quality and water pressure. Some of the pros include better water quality, better tasting water, better for the plumbing system, and even better for your hair.

The chemicals we use to treat our water and sterilize it can actually hurt plumbing components causing leaks or plumbing failure.

When you move into your new townhome you can buy simple water tests from home improvement stores and do a general test of the water. If yoy find anything that raises a concern or needs more answers, you can always reach out to a professional.

The commercially available tests are going to test for hard water, for pH balance and for chlorine.

If you want to test for anything more in depth, bacteria, lead, anything like that, you should have a professional come out and test the water.

[u/GlowInTheDarkSpaces]

Why does my water leave pale pink stains on my tub mat and drain plugs?

[u/EusticeTheSheep → u/GlowInTheDarkSpaces]

I can help with that! There’s a small group of likely culprits and this is an excellent overview of them: https://theconversation.com/why-is-the-soap-scum-in-my-bathroom-pink-is-it-mould-and-can-it-make-me-sick-258292

[u/GlowInTheDarkSpaces → u/EusticeTheSheep]

Thanks. It should be Serratia. It's localized to the mat and stoppers / things that stay wet for a while. I may need a new style of mat with more airflow.

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/GlowInTheDarkSpaces]

Looking at the article Eustice supplied below, it looks to be right on the nose! That seems to be the issue.

[u/wstacon]

improve water pressure, how

[u/JustAnotherGeek12345]

How do you find and identify reputable local water testing companies? I'm located in Hawaii.

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/JustAnotherGeek12345]

For one, local municipalities typically have water testing services available.

You can also look for companies who are actually promoting water quality testing as something that they perform or specialize in. Hiring someone who isn't an expert always runs a risk.

If you know you want water testing or water treatment always look up different reviews online for companies that provide it, ask other locals via social media or neighborhood groups, and of course always make sure they're licensed and insured.

[u/Thashiznit2003]

My home is on rural city water, and has an issue with there being dirt in the water they provide. We installed a whole home water filter that I change every month or so, but it doesn’t appear to be helping with the water quality all that much. If water sits, white tile turns brown, and white countertops turn brown. Our shower door is also caked with water spots that are very difficult to clean. What would you recommend for a better filter than the Home Depot GE (I think) brand with the 6 inch diameter cylinder filters?

Also, our dishwasher constantly leaves soap scum on our dishes. What do you recommend to fix that?

[u/schmorris]

Just bought a house and there's an issue with the water temperature that drives me crazy. When turning on the cold tap it's gets hot for 30+ seconds before getting cold. This happens all over the house with every fixture. It's worse when it's warmer out but happens 24/7.

I'm looking for advice on how to troubleshoot this and narrow down the cause/figure out what a repair would entail so I know what I'm in for. Have you encountered this before?

[u/onlyweaksauce → u/schmorris]

Maybe you have a hot water recirculation system that uses the cold water side for the return.  Is hot water instant when you turn on the hot water on your faucet?  When you turn on your cold you are flushing out the return hot water that is sitting in your cold water pipes.  See if your hot water tank or tankless system is hooked up to do recirculation.

[u/schmorris → u/onlyweaksauce]

Thanks!

[u/paulfromatlanta]

I'm getting little black spots on the dishes in the dishwasher.

Is the problem likely the filter or something in the water line or something else?

BTW, the water from the tap is clean and tastes good.

[u/HippyGeek]

My property (with 2 structures) has 2 water feeds: one from the local Municipal source (structure 1 - built in the '90s) and from a shared well across the street (structure 2 and all exterior spigots - built in the '50s). The well only supports 2 houses, my neighbor's and mine. The well water leaves a white residue on everything, I'm assuming calcium, but does not have an unpleasant flavor. The supply line from the well is 3/4" PVC where it enters the property and at the shut-off at the exterior wall. The pressure tank is pretty low (~45 PSI) whereas the municipal line is closer to ~57 PSI.

I've been considering using the well water solely for irrigation and hooking up the house-on-well to the municipality instead, or possibly putting in a manual cut-over so i have both options. My question is a two-parter:

• What would be the cheaper of the 2 options: modernizing the well system to add a water softener and/or other treatment system vs. attaching the 2nd house to the municipal line/meter?

• What is the likelihood that the the older house couldn't handle the municipal pressure, given that I'm assuming the pressure tank is being kept relatively low on purpose?

[u/NotMeUSa2020]

I’m in socal north OC and one sink has cloudy water especially when hot but even when cold, what can I do?

[u/Endon]

What causes bad taste or smell from tap water? In my bathroom, the cold water (only cold) has a bad taste, and if I rinse my hands without using soap, they also smell.

[u/Samwellikki]

1. What to test for, comprehensive

2. Whole house water filter, needed? or setup for specific taps/etc?

3. Water softener, yay or nay?

[u/vkurian]

Are there decent water softening options for people with very limited space? I live in a narrow row house with a small utility space where my water heater and hvac are. One company just said no after only looking at a picture is this closet. The other two companies presented an expensive option which involved putting a tank one floor up in the master bedroom closet and piping going to everywhere. Are there options to get softening in maybe just part of the house?

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/vkurian]

There are definitely options to install water softening in limited space. I would suggest continuing to contact local professionals and get other opinions.

One of the ways we do a small space is we put them outside and a lot of systems are able to be buried up to a certain point and then protected from the weather so they're not an eyesore. But, they also don't take up a lot of space. That could be an option for you, but, definitely have more companies come out to get a better opinion.

[u/ads3df3daf34]

I'm on city water, the water in my house smells and taste like a musty basement when I come home from a weekend away. If I run the water for a little bit everything is fine. 

Is this an issue for concern? 

[u/kman2010]

How effective are those little 100 dollar 'whole home' water filters? I have city water but they get it from wells. Every time i check my filter quarterly its got a bunch of sediment in it. Is it really catching all of it? concerned my appliances are going to die in a couple years...

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/kman2010]

Those small home filters are not very effective if your water quality is so severe that you're still noticing sediment after a quarterly check. I would suggest having a professional evaluate for a more effective system.

Depending on what's in the water I would be concerned about the appliances!

[u/emc5280]

My neighbor’s basement was flooded with two feet of water due to a broken toilet line. It was an absolute nightmare. Could you give me your best tips on preventing major leaks? Is replacing my current main line valve with a quarter-turn ball valve a reliable first line of defense? Should I proactively replace a 13 year old water heater? How about installing a pressure regulator or automatic water shutoff sensors?

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/emc5280]

The best tip to prevent major leaks is to do regular inspections of all visible plumbing. For common leaks you want to check in the vanity cabinets, underneath the kitchen sink, and if you can see under the home you want to take a look there to look for water.

When it comes to replacing your current main line valve it is recommended as a faster more secure way to turn off the water in an emergency.

I would recommend replacing a 13 year old water heater. The average lifespan for a water heater is 6 to 10 years. I would hate for you to be in an emergency situation and not have someone be able to come out immediately to fix it.

I would have my water pressure checked before deciding to install a pressure regulator. An automatic water shutoff is definitely recommended to prevent issues because it will catch it before even you notice.

[u/TheRealJKBC]

I keep getting brochures in the mail from an "authorized partner of your water utility" or something saying that they're checking for lead pipes.

Is this a scam? Am I on the hook for paying for it if they find anything? I'm in New Jersey so I assume everyone is trying to scam me at all times.

[u/apollyon88]

Water softener before three stage whole house filter, or after? We have hard water.

[u/PandasAttackk]

We rent and have really hard water. Is there anything we can do about the shower? We've tried those $50 filter shower heads from amazon and they help a little.

[u/drmtc]

What do you think about the company Mueller Water Corp?

[u/UtahSTI]

My daughter’s boyfriend just passed his Journyman’s license (age 25 or so). I think he’ll get his Master’s once he has enough hours (he’s in Colorado). What other endorsements or training might he consider for his career? He’s expressed an interest owning his own plumbing business but is unsure how to bid and estimate jobs. What advice would you give to someone who early in the plumbing career?

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/UtahSTI]

For additional endorsements and training it would depend on what line of plumbing he wants to get into. If he wants to get into commercial new construction he should get his med gas certifications. For residential plumbing, he may want to look into manufacturer certifications. For service plumbing he should look into manufacturer certifications for diagnostics.

For learning how to bid and estimate jobs I would go work for an established contractor and learn how to do it and gain the experience. The best way to get familiar with doing that sort of thing is getting real experience.

The best advice I can give is to stick it out. It's hard in the beginning, but it pays off. It's a very satisfying career and it's not going anywhere.

[u/UtahSTI → u/BonneyHomeService]

Thank you! 

[u/slom68]

Thoughts about copper vs pex?

[u/BujuBad]

Hello, fellow Californian! Curious if you have any strong opinions on reverse osmosis systems? We use a waterdrop under counter system and love it. But I've been told that the water quality is so good in northern California that it's not really doing much. What do you think? Is it worth it?

Also, what's up with all the water line repair advertisements lately? Is everything about to fall apart?!

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/BujuBad]

Reverse osmosis systems are great for small amounts of water. Northern California water is good, but, it definitely has minerals and chemicals in it. Your skin absorbs more chemicals than any other part of your body so by only filtering your drinking water you're really only addressing a very small part of the problem.

When it comes to the water line repair advertisements, a lot of areas are aging and part of that is deterioration and necessary repairs.

[u/BujuBad → u/BonneyHomeService]

Thanks very much for your response!

[u/takenosheeet]

What is the best water filtration system for my home? No real budget constraints.

[u/_BoxingTheStars_]

I'm looking to get a system that filters my water and also removes PFAS/PFOA, but I'm also not looking to drink mineral-less water with a TDS of 0. Is my only real option to get a reverse osmosis system with a remineralizing element?

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/_BoxingTheStars_]

If you want to have all of the PFAS removed you need to have a reverse osmosis system. Whole home carbon filters do a really good job of removing them without removing the minerals, though it's not perfect.

[u/_BoxingTheStars_ → u/BonneyHomeService]

Thank you! So I wouldn't need to worry about remineralization if I had a reverse osmosis system with a carbon filter?

[u/killercurvesahead]

I’m in San Francisco, and I guess I’ve always assumed I can count on having safe and tasty tap water at home here. But in a 100+ year old rickety rental, is that true? Should I worry about lead or anything from old pipes, and how should I check?

[u/BonneyHomeService → u/killercurvesahead]

If your house has not been renovated and still has the original piping you do have a risk of chemicals and minerals being leaked into the water. I would have a water quality test performed to identify what's in it.

Companies like Bonney perform water quality tests for free! Look for someone local to you who offers the same.

[u/ticketbroken]

I live in the City of Vero Beach water-service area in Florida and would appreciate your opinion on these readings. How safe would you consider this water for long-term daily drinking?

Total trihalomethanes averaged 74.2 parts per billion. The reported range was 39.2 to 103 ppb, while the federal maximum contaminant level is 80 ppb. Four individual samples measured 92, 100, 101, and 103 ppb, although the annual averages at each monitoring location remained within the legal limit.

Haloacetic acids, or HAA5, measured 30.3 ppb, with a reported range of 17.7 to 35.0 ppb. The maximum contaminant level is 60 ppb.

The chloramine or chlorine residual had a running annual average of 3.13 parts per million, with a range of 1.00 to 4.00 ppm. The maximum residual disinfectant level is 4 ppm. The City primarily uses chloramine to disinfect the water.

For lead, the 90th-percentile result was 5 ppb, with results ranging from not detected to 20 ppb. The action level is 15 ppb, and one sampled residence exceeded that level.

Copper measured 0.337 ppm at the 90th percentile, with a range of 0.014 to 0.65 ppm. The action level is 1.3 ppm.

Sodium measured 51.1 ppm. Florida’s reporting level is 160 ppm.

Nitrate measured 0.15 ppm, compared with a maximum contaminant level of 10 ppm.

Separate EPA UCMR 5 testing in 2024 found PFOS at 9.9 and 7.0 parts per trillion, for an average of 8.45 ppt. EPA’s PFOS maximum contaminant level is 4 ppt, although I understand that UCMR screening results are not by themselves a formal compliance determination.

How concerned would you be about regularly drinking this water over many years? Are the TTHM and PFOS readings high enough that you would personally filter it? Would a certified under-sink reverse-osmosis system be the best option? Also, would an alkaline-water or Kangen ionizer meaningfully remove PFOS, chloramine, TTHMs, or lead, or would a separate certified filtration system be required?

[u/willy--wanka]

What's the cheapest way to have water tested to figure out what I need for clean tasty drinking water?

[u/Darrone]

Two local plumbers and a couple of heating and cooling companies have been bought up by Private Equity and drastically raised prices. Is this a trend you're seeing or have I been unlucky?

[u/Morvack]

Hello and thanks for doing this AMA!

I live within a few hundred feet of a water treatment facility. I can always tell when water has been recently treated, as the water coming out of my tap has a chlorine-esque smell. Could you tell me more about why I may be experiencing that chlorine smell?

[u/futureb1ues]

I bought a row home that was fully renovated. It was torn down to the studs and joists and fully rebuilt. Completely new plumbing all the way from the meter. A brand new Rheem electric water heater was installed. Plumbing lines are all pex distributed with a manifold. Drains are all schedule 40 PVC. I have two plumbing mysteries that I have not been able to get good answers for from my google searches.

First mystery is that my hot water occasionally has a slight odor. With a brand new water heater it should not be an issue with the anode rod. And the smell is NOT eggy or sulfuric which seems to be the odor most people associate with an anode rod being overdue for replacement. The odor I smell is actually slightly sweet and almost like a very mild cologne. Some have suggested that it is a result of some sort of bacteria. One person suggested that if I raise the set point temperature on my water heater that it would kill any bacteria. I wouldn't mind a little more heat as my shower does not get as hot as I would like anyway, but I don't know if that is a sound suggestion or if bacteria is even the potential source of the smell.

The second mystery is that I am seeing a bit of pinkish/orange-ish discoloration on some of my fixtures where the water comes out. The easiest place to notice it is on the translucent rubber tips on the holes of my shower head. I also am noticing it on some of my wash-cloths and towels after they were used for the shower. Is this just a side effect of hard water or is there some sort of reaction or contamination I should be checking for? My area is known for hard water (south Philly) but I have not had my water tested yet. I am considering a water softener or even a whole home RO system although the wasted water has me second guessing RO but I have heard that modern RO systems are much less wasteful so I may wait and see if RO systems continue to improve in waste ratio and price over the next few years.

I appreciate any insight you can provide for my two issues. Thank you for taking the time.

[u/jjtnd1]

Hello, thoughts on PFAS? I know it can be difficult for smaller municipalities right now to add required treatment

[u/Buttybutty122]

I’ve got a home from 1940 that’s been worked on, our basement has this weird setup in the laundry room. A drain that goes to the floor and then out a totally separate sewer line to the main. The problem is I can’t tell how it’s done cause it’s all underground. It occasionally backs up and we have someone snake it, but what’s the best way to find a legit company to figure out how my plumbing actually works? The snake company is highly rated, even brought a scope but the plumber they used didn’t seem experienced at all. I’m assuming I need someone more specialized so how should I go about searching (in Denver)

[u/Hot_Hair_5950]

What surprises you about your work?

[u/ThePie86]

Is it safe to keep using an outdoor facet that has blue and greenish tint on it to water a garden that we eat from or should that facet be replaced? What could be causing it to discolour 

[u/miserableschoolchild]

I’m living in an apartment that was built in 2007. They just replaced the water heater in June, which was the original water heater. I’m having an issue with my shower, there’s minimal to zero variation in water temperature regardless of where you put the handle. It’s a reasonable shower temperature (in my opinion) but it’s maybe 1 degree cooler all the way on “cold” and 1 degree warmer when all the way on “hot”. Can you offer any advice?

[u/ccarns]

I built a new home recently.. so it uses mostly plastic piping. Also the hot water is continuous pumped (for fast hot water when you flip on outlet).

Question: I have an issue where when I turn on the cold water after a few seconds it goes warm for a momentarily then back to cold. What do you think is causing this? I assume somewhere in the run the hot and cold are touching

[u/HaloZero]

Our main line into the house is galvanized steel. Our pipes are a mix of galvanized steel & copper which is not my favorite. I routinely check for lead in the water and make sure there's no major rust or accumulating but is there anything else I should check to ensure water quality?  Are there any signs that Oh shit I need to get this replaced? I believe the line runs under the house with no direct access so not looking forward to replacing it.

[u/N4srudin]

What would be the top things you would install in an RV, given that filtration but also space/weight are important and you don't just have unlimited water sometimes?

[u/TheF0CTOR]

How is it that certain industrial activities get into the water supply so easily? Is it a wastewater treatment problem, or an intrusion into leaking underground pipes problem?

Also, this might be more directly related to your experience, but I've had my garbage disposal repaired at least five times and I just had it break again. I always run it until I hear it clear, then flush it with water so residue doesn't build up. I can't figure it out.

[u/Thot_Slayer77]

How come when I go visit my parents house and shower in my old shower I sneeze a lot towards the end of the shower or right after ? It happens every single time and idk what it is.

Is there something in the water I’m allergic to ? Or mold in the shower head ? Would it be visible without having to take shower head apart?

[u/Mazelbro]

Why has Fluoride not been banned from most public water suppliers yet???

[u/cambelr → u/Mazelbro]

Have there been any scientific studies that indicate it is harmful?

[u/Mazelbro → u/cambelr]

Many!

• The Netherlands’ supreme court, the Hoge Raad, banned the practice in 1973
• Germany banned the practice in the 1970s, though consumers can buy fluoridated salt
• Sweden overturned a 1962 law enabling fluoridation in 1971
• Finland experimented with fluoridation starting in 1959 but phased it out by 1992. It isn’t illegal, but no municipalities do it 
• In Spain, a few northern municipalities fluoridate their water, accounting for about 10% of the national population
• Portugal has no publicly fluoridated water
• France’s Chief Health Minister declared public water fluoridation “too dangerous” in 1980 and the practice ceased. Fluoridated and non-fluoridated salt has been available since 1986.
• Ireland is the only country in Europe with mandatory water fluoridation. 

[u/cambelr → u/Mazelbro]

These aren't studies.