High mineral rate causing corrosion

[Anfooshi]

Hi Everyone,

As you may know the water here has a high PPM due to the volcanic rock and soil. As a result the mineral content is high (dissolved solids) and PH is high.

I find that faucet, spigots, and metal connecting tubes are rusting or leaking. My question: is it the quality of these items or is the only solution constant replacement?

Thanks

 

[Nicho]

Hi Everyone,

As you may know the water here has a high PPM due to the volcanic rock and soil. As a result the mineral content is high (dissolved solids) and PH is high.

I find that faucet, spigots, and metal connecting tubes are rusting or leaking. My question: is it the quality of these items or is the only solution constant replacement?

Thanks

The quality is second rate compared to other countries , chromed steel , low grade stainless etc . I replaced all my expensive chromed fittings several times over the 10 years since I renovated . Lot of problems with the chromed steel fittings rusting /corroding into the wall sockets and snapping off when trying to remove /replace them , taps with steel internals rusting /corroding/constantly leaking after a short period . I went to plastic fittings but found a lot of them still used steel internal parts which still corroded/leaked . I now use plastic fittings i found at my local hardware store which use nylon internal parts and are actually cheaper than the plastic with the steel internal parts . Almost 12 months without a problem /leak . Not as cosmetically appealing but a hell of a lot cheaper on the budget .

 

[centurion]

You should try full stainless steel (including internal parts of the faucet). Stainless is not disolvable in alkaline envirnonment. Brass, on contrary, loses-leeches zinc in high PH environment.

 

[marcus]

... I find that faucet, ... are rusting or leaking. My question: is it the quality of these items or is the only solution constant replacement?

I had the same problem but don't know because I always used the cheapest stainless steel faucets .

Like Nicho , I now use only the cheap pure plastic faucets . From 6 faucets , no problem yet .

 

[Nicho]

I had the same problem but don't know because I always used the cheapest stainless steel faucets .

Like Nicho , I now use only the cheap pure plastic faucets (one in 4 started to leak too , but it is easy to change) .

A lot of the plastic fittings have steel or poor quality stainless internals , was constantly replacing them as well until I found these with the nylon internals . I'll get the brand and let you know .

 

[marcus]

A lot of the plastic fittings have steel or poor quality stainless internals , was constantly replacing them as well until I found these with the nylon internals . I'll get the brand and let you know .

Fortunately I was wrong, the leakage was not from the faucet (I checked few minutes ago) . As far I can see , my faucets are pure plastic (maybe nylon in the rotating part inside), paid less than 0.5 USD each . Maybe because the water pressure is low , I really don't need better ones . Thank you anyway.

 

[Anfooshi]

Are there any brand recommendations?

 

[Anfooshi]

Has anyone considered the effect on skin and hair?

 

[Nicho]

Has anyone considered the effect on skin and hair?

I'm sure it has an effect . I've developed dry itchy skin on my scalp and what I think is eczema on my forearms and back which I never had before . Constantly having to use conditioners , moisturizers and medicated creams . I'm by a salt water river which also effects the quality of the ground water which all the village rely on via wells, bores etc . Have tried water filters but corrosion on the intake side soon destroys them . Even corrodes the internals of expensive water pumps , washing machines etc . Villages/towns further to the north around the Banyuwangi area have treated water by water mains . there water comes from mountain rivers and is as good as any developed countries . Drinkable from the tap , no corrosion issues and cheap . Average bill is about 30,000rp per month which is less than i pay for my 20litre filtered water bottles from one of several reverse osmosis plants here for drinking , cooking etc per month . The pipes have been run to my village but stop about half a kilometer out of town , been living here 10 years and traveled back and forth for a further 8 before that and still nothing . Friends in Bali / Renon have to run a big expensive 3 filter system on there mains water which works great but cost them an arm and leg in new filters . So where is the water in Bali coming from ? I've seen the conditions of the mountain rivers there , choked with rubbish dumped by collection services from the tourist areas !!

 

[Pak Tani]

It's not the water that is causing the corrosion to your taps. The problem is the material the taps are made of. It's funny, they chose a type of material that doesn't stand up to water all that well. I've had several taps that broke off with the threaded part stuck inside the pipe. From the outside, they look nice, like they're made from stainless steel or chrome. But after a year or two, the surface becomes bubbly and flaky.
It's better to stick to certain brands. Onda is cheap and from my experience their kran are not bad. A little bit more expensive are the kran from Toto and Germany Brilliant, never had a problem with them.

 

[Pak Tani]

I'm by a salt water river which also effects the quality of the ground water which all the village rely on via wells, bores etc .

Have you considered drilling a deeper well?

 

[Nicho]

Have you considered drilling a deeper well?

My bore is down 26 meters , neighbour's have gone down 40-50 meters plus to deeper reserves all having the same problems . A friend several kilometers from here , well away from the salty environment went down 85 meters and still has the same problems . I traveled to Jember regularly whist doing my Kitas runs to immigration and visiting friends . They have mains water which you would think would be good being well away from the sea and in the mountainous region but everyone and everywhere you go they all use bottled water for drinking , cooking . Any chromed fittings and porcelain fixtures in houses , businesses all show signs of corrosion , staining from the hard , high PPM /PH water which means to me they use poorly filtered/treated ground water in there mains system there . Family in Maluku/Ceram have similar problems , they can't have wells/bores up on the north coast around Bula and Kobi Sonta regions because of the high gas levels in the ground water while family on the south coast pipe there water from the local river which is constantly running from the mountains , there water smells of sulphur and corrodes fittings worse than here in south east java . As mentioned in a previous post the volcanic/acidic soil , sulphide's in the deep ground reserves , high PPM and PH levels are a major contributor to the problem .unless the region has a modern treatment plant .

 

[harryopal1]

I'm sure it has an effect . I've developed dry itchy skin on my scalp and what I think is eczema on my forearms and back which I never had before . Constantly having to use conditioners , moisturizers and medicated creams . I'm by a salt water river which also effects the quality of the ground water which all the village rely on via wells, bores etc . Have tried water filters but corrosion on the intake side soon destroys them . Even corrodes the internals of expensive water pumps , washing machines etc . Villages/towns further to the north around the Banyuwangi area have treated water by water mains . there water comes from mountain rivers and is as good as any developed countries . Drinkable from the tap , no corrosion issues and cheap . Average bill is about 30,000rp per month which is less than i pay for my 20litre filtered water bottles from one of several reverse osmosis plants here for drinking , cooking etc per month . The pipes have been run to my village but stop about half a kilometer out of town , been living here 10 years and traveled back and forth for a further 8 before that and still nothing . Friends in Bali / Renon have to run a big expensive 3 filter system on there mains water which works great but cost them an arm and leg in new filters . So where is the water in Bali coming from ? I've seen the conditions of the mountain rivers there , choked with rubbish dumped by collection services from the tourist areas !!

"

So where is the water in Bali coming from ? I've seen the conditions of the mountain rivers there , choked with rubbish dumped by collection services from the tourist areas !!"

Yes, I wonder about that. One sees the TV advertisements for bottled water showing mountains with pristine water as if that is the source. I suspect actual ugly, factories with filters. In Australia where tests indicate that tap water is as good as the bottled water they still sell millions of bottles. Maybe it is a status thing like designer handbags.

 

[Nicho]

"

Yes, I wonder about that. One sees the TV advertisements for bottled water showing mountains with pristine water as if that is the source. I suspect actual ugly, factories with filters. In Australia where tests indicate that tap water is as good as the bottled water they still sell millions of bottles. Maybe it is a status thing like designer handbags.

Yep , cooler to have a fancy labelled bottle with a mountain spring showing as the source which sell for 3,000rp-300ml and 5,000rp for 1.5 ltr which more than likely comes out of a town water tap that never sees a proper filtration plant . I buy the 19ltr bottles for 5,000 rp which comes from a reliable source in the mountains , I personally know the driver "family " that delivers to the local reverse osmosis plants here in the village and trust him . And I have 1 ltr cheap reusable bottles in the fridge . I'm not to proud to walk down the street with a plain old bottle !

 

[marcus]

... In Australia where tests indicate that tap water is as good as the bottled water they still sell millions of bottles. Maybe it is a status thing like designer handbags.

Probably not a status thing .


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From https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2025/03/six-hazardous-contaminants-drinking-water Title : Six hazardous contaminants in drinking water , March 2025

... millions of Americans may face a higher risk of developing illnesses because of levels of contaminants in our drinking water that still get a pass from federal regulators.

The Environmental Protection Agency has set legal maximum levels in drinking water for about 90 contaminants, ... But many of these rules are outdated ...

That’s why legal limits don’t always mean safe limits...

Here’s what you should know about six of the most commonly detected contaminants in drinking water:

- PFAS : can cause widespread harm, especially to the immune system, and they are also linked to cancer.

- Disinfection byproducts (when chlorine or chloramine is used) : linked to an increased risk of cancer and harm during pregnancy. A simple carbon filter can effectively remove disinfection byproducts ...

- Nitrate (is one of the most common contaminants in tap water, and the most common in groundwater) : linked to cancer and reproductive harm. Reverse osmosis filters are the most effective for reducing nitrate in tap water.

- Heavy metals, including arsenic and hexavalent chromium : for example, arsenic is a highly potent carcinogen, hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, also a carcinogen (it contaminates the drinking water of more than 250 million Americans).

- Radiological contaminants (like radium and uranium from natural deposits or from mining and drilling) : can increase the risk of cancer and may cause harm during pregnancy...

- Volatile organic compounds (TCE, used as a metal degreaser or dry cleaning agent ) : linked to increased risk of cancer and birth defects.

What you can do : Invest in a home water filter ...


------------------------------


From https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/05/health/pfas-nearly-half-us-tap-water-wellness
Title : Nearly 50% of the tap water in the US is contaminated with ‘forever chemicals,’ government study finds
By Jen Christensen, CNN , March 2024

The number of people drinking contaminated water may be even higher than what the study found, however, because the researchers weren’t able to test for all of these ... PFAS, chemicals that are considered dangerous to human health. There are more than 12,000 types of PFAS, ... but this study looked at only 32 of the compounds...

PFAS exposure is linked to problems such as cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage and hormone suppression, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency...

The scientists collected water samples directly from taps at 716 locations — 269 from private wells and 447 from public sources — between 2016 and 2021. Based on their findings, they estimate that at least one PFAS chemical would be detected in 45% of US drinking water samples. Concentrations were similar between private wells and public supplies.

Most of the contamination came from water sources near urban areas and in areas that generated PFAS, like manufacturing that uses the chemicals in its products or sites where waste was collected...

“There’s been almost no place scientists have looked where they have not found PFAS” said DeWitt, director of the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences... PFAS are used to make carpets and clothes ... pans and food packaging, ... mobile phones, commercial airplanes and low-emission vehicles, in the foods you can buy at the farmers market or the grocery store, and in rainwater and dental floss. They’re even in the dust that collects in your home...

A carbon filter can help, but it has to be changed regularly. If used too long, the filter can become saturated with chemicals and not work as well. Households can also use reverse osmosis filtering systems, but those can be expensive...

 

[Shadrach]

Probably not a status thing .


-----------------


From https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2025/03/six-hazardous-contaminants-drinking-water Title : Six hazardous contaminants in drinking water , March 2025

... millions of Americans may face a higher risk of developing illnesses because of levels of contaminants in our drinking water that still get a pass from federal regulators.

The Environmental Protection Agency has set legal maximum levels in drinking water for about 90 contaminants, ... But many of these rules are outdated ...

That’s why legal limits don’t always mean safe limits...

Here’s what you should know about six of the most commonly detected contaminants in drinking water:

- PFAS : can cause widespread harm, especially to the immune system, and they are also linked to cancer.

- Disinfection byproducts (when chlorine or chloramine is used) : linked to an increased risk of cancer and harm during pregnancy. A simple carbon filter can effectively remove disinfection byproducts ...

- Nitrate (is one of the most common contaminants in tap water, and the most common in groundwater) : linked to cancer and reproductive harm. Reverse osmosis filters are the most effective for reducing nitrate in tap water.

- Heavy metals, including arsenic and hexavalent chromium : for example, arsenic is a highly potent carcinogen, hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, also a carcinogen (it contaminates the drinking water of more than 250 million Americans).

- Radiological contaminants (like radium and uranium from natural deposits or from mining and drilling) : can increase the risk of cancer and may cause harm during pregnancy...

- Volatile organic compounds (TCE, used as a metal degreaser or dry cleaning agent ) : linked to increased risk of cancer and birth defects.

What you can do : Invest in a home water filter ...


------------------------------


From https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/05/health/pfas-nearly-half-us-tap-water-wellness
Title : Nearly 50% of the tap water in the US is contaminated with ‘forever chemicals,’ government study finds
By Jen Christensen, CNN , March 2024

The number of people drinking contaminated water may be even higher than what the study found, however, because the researchers weren’t able to test for all of these ... PFAS, chemicals that are considered dangerous to human health. There are more than 12,000 types of PFAS, ... but this study looked at only 32 of the compounds...

PFAS exposure is linked to problems such as cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage and hormone suppression, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency...

The scientists collected water samples directly from taps at 716 locations — 269 from private wells and 447 from public sources — between 2016 and 2021. Based on their findings, they estimate that at least one PFAS chemical would be detected in 45% of US drinking water samples. Concentrations were similar between private wells and public supplies.

Most of the contamination came from water sources near urban areas and in areas that generated PFAS, like manufacturing that uses the chemicals in its products or sites where waste was collected...

“There’s been almost no place scientists have looked where they have not found PFAS” said DeWitt, director of the Environmental Health Sciences Center at Oregon State University’s College of Agricultural Sciences... PFAS are used to make carpets and clothes ... pans and food packaging, ... mobile phones, commercial airplanes and low-emission vehicles, in the foods you can buy at the farmers market or the grocery store, and in rainwater and dental floss. They’re even in the dust that collects in your home...

A carbon filter can help, but it has to be changed regularly. If used too long, the filter can become saturated with chemicals and not work as well. Households can also use reverse osmosis filtering systems, but those can be expensive...

What have Humans done to the World we live in? Not only have we almost destroyed all the forest, but we have polluted the Air, Water, Soil! We have created Chemicals that save lives, but also Chemicals that destroy them! Because of over population, we have to rely on factory farms, for Food, which in turn, pollutes everything! For Us being so Smart, we haven't done a very good job of sustainability! Since the beginning of us creating societies, Autocrats have taken over, and we have a US versus Them situation. We have created leaders, but that has created Power, and Power Corrupts! Until somehow we create an Egalitarian society. ( If that's the right word) We will always be Groveling in the Dirt, with the Haves, and the Have-Nots!