Author: oliver

The idea that soft water tastes better than hard water is one that’s very common, which is why many people choose to have water softeners fitted in their homes. But what exactly is it about soft water that makes it more appealing? Here’s everything you need to know!

Soft water is smoother to drink.
Many people complain that when they drink hard water, they can feel the ‘texture’ of their water in their mouth.
With soft water, this feeling is eliminated and the experience of drinking it will be much smoother and more enjoyable.

Hard water can sometimes feel chalky or have a ‘chemical’ taste to it.
Another common complaint amongst those who have tried hard water is that is tastes like chalk or chemicals. This is a result of the higher level of dissolved minerals it contains.
Soft water is treated differently and contains less of these minerals, ensuring a clearer, chemical-free taste.

You’re less likely to have limescale pieces in your drink.
Hard water can make taps and kettles more prone to limescale – which can often chip off into your drink if you’re filling up a glass straight from the tap!
This isn’t the most pleasant experience, nor is the additional mineral taste you’ll get from the limescale. Soft water does not result in limescale to the same extent, making you much less likely to find flakes of chalk in your drink.

Soft water has a more neutral flavour.
In addition to the chemical taste, people often say they find hard water to have a different ‘flavour’ – while soft water does not have any flavour at all. The fact soft water has a more neutral taste to it means it can be enjoyed by a wide range of people, regardless of their tastes and preferences. It also means it won’t affect the taste of other water based drinks, such as tea, coffee or squash.

But what if I prefer hard water?
While many people do prefer the taste of soft water, many others will, of course, prefer the taste of hard water. After all, it’s just a preference – the same way some people prefer coffee to tea and vice versa.

If you prefer your water on the harder side, you may want to skip the idea of getting a water softener. However, you can still improve the quality, safety and taste of your water supply by having a filter installed. This will keep it the way you like it, while also eliminating the chemicals and toxins that you don’t want to be drinking.

Whether you prefer your water to be hard or soft, we have what you need here at EWT.

 

If you want to learn more about a topic, one of the best ways to fully understand it is to get involved with it yourself – and water filters are no different. It’s completely possible to build your own water filter at home from scratch, and doing so will give you an even better understanding of how water filters work.
If that sounds like a project you’d like to try your hand at, read on to learn how!

What You’ll Need:
• A plastic bottle.
• A tall, slim glass or vase.
• Some gravel and sand.
• Activated charcoal.
• Cotton wool.
• Soil.
• Water.

Step One:
First, you’ll need to prepare your plastic bottle. Cut off the bottom with a craft knife or scissors. Then, turn it upside down and place it into the glass or vase. The width should be similar to the bottle so that no water can drip through the sides.

Step Two:
Now, it’s time to start filling the bottle with the rest of your supplies. First, place the cotton wool – creating a layer around an inch and half, then the activated charcoal. On top of that, you’ll place the gravel (1 – 2 inches) and then sand (3 – 4 inches). Finally, add one more layer of gravel. This set up is designed to filter the water as it passes through to the bottle.

Step Three:
In a bowl or container, mix the soil with a glass of water to create mud. This should have a liquid consistency – essentially dirty water. Pour the mixture on top of your filter and watch as it makes its way through each layer.

Step Four:
By this stage, all you need to do is watch as clear, clean water accumulates in the glass. Congratulations – you’ve just filtered your water! This is what water companies do on a much larger scale with much more powerful equipment, ensuring that everything that could be harmful to our health is removed – as well as the elements that are simply unpleasant, if not harmful. The result is a safe, clean water supply, however adding an additional filtration system of your own will achieve an even better result.

Now you know a little more about the basics of water filtration and how it works, it’s possible that you’ll feel even more inclined to purchase a fully functional water filtration system for your home. If that’s the case, you’ll be pleased to learn that EWT have a wide range of water filters available, each with their own set of high-quality features, allowing you to choose the best model for your needs and budget.
Go ahead and get in touch if you’d like to learn more, or take a closer look at the range here at EWTWater.com.

If you’ve tried a wide variety of lotions and potions and aren’t having the success you want with your skin, you may be wondering if any of your products are to blame or whether you should try out something completely different. But what if it’s not the fault of the products at all? What if it was something a lot more simple? What if it was water?

Can water really affect our skin?
Water is something we all use on our skin, and yes – it really can have an effect on it. It is usually down to hard water, known for its high mineral content. If you live in an area with hard water and don’t have any kind of filter or softener installed, it’s very possible you’ve been mistaking a skin issue for the effects of hard water.
Here are just a few common skin problems that can be caused by hard water – that you might have already tried to fix with cleansers and moisturisers.

Dryness
When your skin has been exposed to hard water for long periods of time, you will likely notice a lot more dryness than usual. As we’ve mentioned above, hard water contains high levels of minerals, which are deposited on your skin upon contact. As a result, they can reduce your skin’s natural moisture and oils, leaving it dehydrated.

Irritation
In addition to dryness, hard water can also lead to irritation due to the minerals it contains – especially if you have skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. If you’ve recently experienced a flare up of your condition but have no idea why, it could very possibly be something as simple as a shower that caused it.

Spots and Pimples
Finally, if you’re experiencing unexplained spots or pimples, it could be the hard water. Hard water does not rinse soaps and other products off the skin as effectively, resulting in them building up and clogging your pores, trapping dirt or oil beneath the skin’s surface – which is how spots occur.

So, if your skincare routine isn’t working for you and your skin isn’t showing any signs of improvement, it’s very possible that the water you’re using is the real issue, especially if the problems you’re having are any of the above.
Luckily, you can change the water you wash and shower with by having a water softener installed in your home and avoid using hard water. Plus, as well as your skin showing an improvement, you’ll likely notice you have softer, shinier hair too!

Get in touch with EWT today to learn more about our range of water softeners and how they could have a positive impact on your home and lifestyle.

You probably already supply your employees with water in one way or another, whether it’s a fountain, bottled or something else entirely.
But have you ever considered how filtered water could be a great alternative? Water filtration systems for high quality, great tasting water aren’t just for the home, so read on to learn more about what a filter could do for your business!

1. Why should you only get to enjoy the best at home?
If you already have a water filter at home, you’ll already know all about how great the results can be. But why should safer, be limited to the home? By having a water filter installed at your business premises, you can enjoy it on the job too – and so can your employees.

2. You’ll save your workers’ time.
By having great tasting water right there in the office, you won’t find your workers wandering off to the shop to restock their water supply. They’ll have it much closer by, and without the additional costs too!

3. You’ll be saving yourself plenty of money.
Having a water filter installed may cost you money up front, but it will help you save money in the long run. If you’ve been buying bottled water for your office, whether small bottles or large cooler refills, this is a lot more expensive than simply drinking the water directly from the mains.

4. Employee satisfaction will go up.
Combining the fact a water filter will save your employees both time and money – as well as showing you care about their well being at work, job satisfaction amongst your employees is sure to rise and remain high.

5. The law says you have to provide water, so why not improve it?
The law requires businesses to provide your employees with access to drinking water (see the Government issued Welfare at Work Regulations for more details), so why not make the most of it by giving your employees easy access to high-quality water? Filtered water is much nicer to drink than regular tap water – and is safer to consume too!
If you’re trying to decide on an ideal water supply option for your business, a water filtration system and water cooler could be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Check out the range available here at EWT and see how your workplace could be improved by the addition of our products.
If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’ll be happy to help you find your perfect water solution!

As humans, we all consume water – but it’s also something that many of us take for granted as just another part of everyday life.
However, water consumption is more significant than you might think, so here are ten facts that might surprise you!

1. Only 2.5% of the water on Earth is fresh.
According to the USGS Water Science School, 2.5% of Earth’s water is fresh. The rest is saline water and oceans.
That’s why it’s necessary for humans to have access to water filtration, to ensure that their water is safe and clean.

2. Around 80% of diseases that affect developing countries are associated with water consumption.
Stats from Worldometers show that most of these diseases are associated with water and cause millions of early deaths – including one child every 17 seconds. Water safety is vital for survival, so consider doing a good deed and supporting a water treatment program overseas.

3. The countries with the highest water consumption rates are the USA, Estonia, New Zealand, Canada and Italy – in that order.
Some of these may take you by surprise, but they’re true according to Statista!

4. It takes around three litres of water to manufacture and fill one litre of bottled water.
According to The Water Project, the amount of water used in the bottle manufacturing process is greater than the amount stored in the bottle.

5. Around 40% of people on Earth are struggling with limited water supplies.
As you probably realise, water is scarce in many places. Around 40% of people on our planet are struggling to manage with such limited amounts of water.

6. In Africa, it is estimated that people spend 40 billion hours per annum walking to and from water sources.
Charity:Water points out that many people in Africa must travel to find clean water and bring it back for their community. Women and children make up most of this estimate

7. Around 70% of water consumption on Earth is for agricultural purposes.
Worldometers also indicates that 70% of the world’s water consumption is agricultural, used for growing crops and farming.

8. 20% is for industrial purposes.
20% of water consumption is for industrial purposes. However, this may be a lot higher in industrialised nations such as Belgium – where the industry water consumption is around 80%.

9. 10% is domestic.
Only 10% of water consumption is domestic, although lifestyle changes and eating habits are causing the amount of water used for domestic consumption to rise.

10. At the time of writing this blog post, humans have consumed 6,266,672,183 litres of water.
And that amount is rapidly rising by the millisecond! You can watch the number rise in real time by visiting worldometers.info/water.
This incredible amount shows just how important water is for all of us on Earth, so it’s worth making sure that your supply is the best it can be.

Take a look at our filters and softeners to learn more about how you could enjoy a better supply and make the most of your daily water consumption.
Don’t hesitate to let us know if you need any help!
 

Bottled water may be convenient, but there are plenty of downsides too – affecting your health, the environment and even your wallet. Here are just a few reasons you might want to give up bottled water today and consider tap instead.

1. Tap water is safer than it’s ever been – especially if you use a filtration system.

Tap water nowadays is heavily regulated, so although some of its elements may not be favourable – they’re very unlikely to kill you. Even better, you can now combine it with your own filtration system to ensure the water is completely safe.

2. A lot of the bottled water on the market today is just filtered tap water.

Many brands of bottled water have actually turned out to be nothing more than packaged tap water. In this instance, you’re essentially paying for what you already have for a fraction of the cost at home.

3. Just because water is bottled, it doesn’t mean it’s safe.

Some bottled waters have been found to contain less than desirable elements such as disinfectant and pesticides, making it no more safe or pleasant than tap water.

4. Tap water is a lot cheaper to consume.

With tap water, you’re only paying your standard water rates, without the additional markup for packaging and labelling.

5. You won’t be contributing to the effects of plastic on the environment.

Many plastic bottles never get recycled properly, meaning they contribute to landfills and pollution. Avoid this by purchasing plastic packaging as little as possible.

6. You’ll be cutting down the need for oil consumption.

According to National Geographic, around 17 million gallons of crude oil is used each year during the production of plastic bottles.

7. Plastic bottles contain chemicals that can be leaked into the water.

Over time, the toxins contained in plastic packaging can be broken down and leaked into bottled water, especially if the bottles are being reused several times each.

8. Tap water doesn’t have to be any less convenient.

If you’re looking for water to drink on the go, there’s no reason you can’t still use tap water. This is your chance to buy a cool new water bottle in any print or design or colour you like. So much more fun than a regular bottle!

9. Bottled water may even have a negative impact on your community.

Imagine the amount of money spent by businesses in your area who resell bottled water. Now imagine if all that money was put into the local community – perhaps even to make the local water supply better!

If you’ve been considering giving up bottled water, we hope that these reasons are enough to convince you to let go for good.

If you’re looking to make the change and are concerned about the quality and taste of your tap water, get in touch with EWT to learn more about how its safety, taste and quality can be improved with the addition of one of our filters.

When making any investment to your home whether it’s an extension, remodel or even a water filter, you’ll want to make sure that your initial investment is actually going to be worth it. After all, it wouldn’t be ideal to spend a significant amount on something to improve your home, only to have it break after a short amount of time and leave your money wasted. That’s why it’s important to know how long your investment will last – and whether the quality is worth the money. Here’s everything you need to know!

How long does a water filter last?

This will of course depend on the water filter itself, whether it was produced by a reliable brand and how well you’ve looked after it.
Some water filters will require you to regularly change the water filtration components within their systems. If this is the case, remember to do it as regularly as the manufacturer suggests, using a high-quality replacement.
Aside from that, a good quality water filter should last for a long time.

Are there any filters that are particularly long lasting?

At EWT, we provide high-quality water filters that we expect to last for over a decade rather than just a few years. We are confident in our range that we even offer a 15-year parts guarantee. This gives you the peace of mind knowing that your water filter will be good for years to come. All our filters are independently certified for all performance claims to ensure we can bring you such a long guarantee.
Should anything go wrong in this time, we’ll be more than happy to take care of repairs or replacements!

Is a water filter really worth it?

In the long run, yes. In fact, you’ll start to see the positives almost instantly! It’s a relatively small price to pay considering the benefits you’ll get out of the filter, including safer water for you and your family, a better tasting supply to drink from, less damage caused to your appliances and better hair, skin and nails!

In the long run, yes. In fact, you’ll start to see the positives almost instantly! It’s a relatively small price to pay considering the benefits you’ll get out of the filter, including safer water for you and your family, a better tasting supply to drink from, less damage caused to your appliances and better hair, skin and nails!

Now you know more about how long water filters last and that all of the filters and softeners we provide are of a high standard, you can rest assured knowing your investment will be entirely worth it in the long run.
We look forward to helping you find your perfect product, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about our range.

We’ve previously posted about some of the best ways to cut down on water use in the home – and even in the garden – but what about in the bathroom, specifically? The bathroom is probably the first room that comes to mind when you think about water, so it should certainly be one you keep an eye on if you’re looking to cut down on the amount of water you’re using.
Here are eight simple ways your bathroom could be using less water, cutting down your water footprint in the process. Give them a try and you may even find your water bills reducing!

1. Re-use wasted water.

Some people like to let the shower run for a minute or two before getting in, to make sure it’s at an ideal temperature.
If you like to do this, don’t let that running water go to waste! Place a bucket under the shower head and use it elsewhere, whether it’s to water the plants or even for cleaning.

2. Consider a ‘low flow’ shower head.

A low flow shower head is designed to use less water and save you money, as it doesn’t spray out as much water as a standard shower head.

3. Cut down your shower times.

If you’re prone to spending a long time in the shower, consider cutting it down to save both water and money.

4. Don’t let the water run.

Remember to turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving. There’s no reason to leave it running the whole time.

5. Try low flow taps on your sink.

If you like the idea of having a low flow shower head, you’ll be happy to know that a similar concept exists for taps too!

5. Look out for leaks.

Leaky taps or pipes can lead to a lot of water being used unnecessarily, so be sure to look out for them and have them fixed as soon as you can.

6. Install a low flow toilet.

That’s right – you can get low flow toilets too! All of these devices are designed to complete the same function as standard ones, using less water in the process. These easy ways to use less water in your bathroom are definitely worth a try for anyone looking to reduce the amount of water they use in general.

7. Use less water with each flush.

If you’re not willing or able to replace your entire toilet right now, there’s an alternative way to use less water. Fill up an old plastic bottle with water and place it in your toilet tank. This reduces the amount of water used with each flush.

To learn more about water within the home (including how you can make it safer and better tasting too) check out the rest of our blog here at EWT.
You’ll be surprised at how much difference a few simple changes can make!

If you’ve noticed your water bill is higher than you’d like, especially if you’re on a ‘pay for what you use’ tariff or water meter, you may have wondered whether there’s anything you could be doing to lower the cost of your monthly expense. Luckily, there are several ways to bring down the cost of your water bill, starting with just a few simple habits. By doing them on a regular basis, you’ll be able to ensure your water isn’t costing you any more than it should.

1. Check regularly for any leaks around your plumbed-in fixtures.

Leaks are a very common reason for an increase in water bills, as you’re technically paying for all the water that leaks out!
By checking appliances such as your toilet and sink, you’ll be able to spot a leak and have it dealt with (either by yourself or a professional plumber) before it gets worse – and potentially costs you a fortune!

2. Don’t run your dishwasher or washing machine until they’re full.

By using your dishwasher or washing machine before it’s full, you’re using more water for multiple washes than if you are just waiting until it was at its max capacity. One wash to get everything clean at once will save water and be more affordable than running several smaller loads.

3. Switch to a water saving shower head.

A lot of water gets wasted during each shower – especially if you enjoy long showers. Thankfully, many manufacturers offer the option of water saving shower heads which adjust the flow rate in a way that uses less water as you shower. Visit your local home DIY store to find one!

4. Water your grass first thing rather than later in the day.

You’ll naturally want to water your lawn to ensure it stays as fresh and green as possible, but don’t put it off until later in the day.
Instead, water your grass (or run your sprinkler) in the early morning to ensure less water is lost through evaporation when the temperature is at its highest.

5. Switch out the mulch in your garden regularly.

All DIY gardeners should know that mulch helps to keep plants and water moist, so by replacing it regularly with fresher mulch, you’ll find you need to water your plants less frequently – saving water in the process and still enjoying healthy plants.

By turning these quick, simple and easy steps into regular, routine habits, you’ll be able to prevent your water bill from costing you more than you’d actually expected.

Read more of our blog to learn more about water in your home or how you could benefit from a filtration system or water softener. If any of our product strike your interest, feel free to get in touch to see how they could benefit you and your home!

If you’re an owner of pet fish, you’ll probably be used to the importance of water, filters, treatments and having the correct equipment to keep them safe and healthy. But you might not have considered whether filtered water could be the right choice for your fish tank or aquarium.
So, is there an advantage to using filtered water in your fish tank? Read on to find out! >/p>

The Effects of Filtered Water on Fish

While fish will, of course, be happier and healthier in clear, filtered water, you likely already have a water filter installed – which is standard with most common tanks. This means that whichever water you place in the tank will be filtered anyway.
This maymake it seem like there’s no point using a filter, but that’s actually not the case. The purer the water is to begin with, the less chemicals and toxins are likely to remain after being processed through the filter in the tank, meaning an even healthier environment for your fish.

Visibility Will Increase Too

Have you ever poured yourself a glass of tap water, only to notice it’s cloudy? This is due to the elements it contains. While we know many of these are unhealthy, they also affect visibility. This might not be an issue in your drinking water, but you’ll no doubt want your fish tank to be clean and clear so you can see your marine life as well as possible.

It’s Also Easier On Your Hardware

If you’ve read our previous posts (or are just clued up on plumbing), you’ll know that appliances can be damaged over time as a result of unfiltered water wearing them down. As your fish tank is technically an appliance, you’ll find that the same applies and that the ‘hardware’ of your tank will need replacing less frequently and stay in better condition for longer, which also means they’ll stay more effective and ensure a better environment for your fish.

But it’s not Just your Fish who’ll Benefit

You’ll benefit from having a better water supply too! Filtered water not only tastes better, but it’s also safer and healthier as 99.9 percent of harmful chemicals and toxins are removed during the filtration process.

If you’re ready to consider having a water filtration system installed, now is the time to get in touch with EWT and learn more about our product range. We offer water filters and softeners to ensure your water supply is high quality, great tasting and of course, safer for your friends with fins.