Residents in O’Fallon may notice a white crust around their faucet aerators. Their water heater may not seem to last as long as it should. Their soap may not lather the way it does when they travel somewhere else. These are issues with the quality of the water running through the plumbing system every day.
O’Fallon, Missouri draws its water from a combination of surface water and groundwater sources. The water here carries certain characteristics that have an impact on household plumbing. Here’s what every O’Fallon homeowner should understand. Thankfully, those who live here can hire a plumber in O’Fallon to address any issues with water quality in homes.
Hard Water Is the Main Culprit
O’Fallon ranks among the areas in Missouri with hard water. Water hardness refers to the concentration of dissolved minerals that the water picks up as it moves through rock and soil before reaching treatment facilities and the tap.
Hard water is a plumbing hazard. These dissolved minerals don’t stay dissolved forever. The minerals precipitate out and form scale when hard water heats up or sits inside pipes and fixtures. The effects show up in the following ways:
- Pipe narrowing. Scale buildup on the interior walls of pipes gradually reduces water flow and pressure throughout the home.
- Water heater inefficiency. Mineral deposits collect at the bottom of tank water heaters, forcing the unit to work harder and consume more energy to heat the same amount of water.
- Fixture and appliance damage. Dishwashers, washing machines, coffee makers, and ice makers suffer accelerated wear from hard water exposure.
- Faucet and showerhead clogging. Aerators and showerhead nozzles collect mineral deposits that restrict flow and are time-consuming to clean.
Chlorine and Its Effect on Pipes and Fixtures
O’Fallon’s water supply is treated with chlorine to eliminate bacteria and make the water safe to drink. But chlorine has a complicated relationship with your plumbing.
Over time, chlorine exposure degrades rubber seals, gaskets, and O-rings inside faucets, valves, and supply line connections. Small leaks develop as these components deteriorate. Older homes in O’Fallon with original fixture hardware are especially susceptible to this kind of gradual deterioration.
Chlorine can also affect certain pipe materials. Homes with older plastic piping may experience accelerated brittleness with long-term chlorine exposure, increasing the risk of cracking or joint failure.
pH Levels and Pipe Corrosion
Water pH plays a role in how aggressively water interacts with pipe materials. Acidic water will leach metals from copper pipes, brass fittings, and solder joints. This process can weaken pipe walls and introduce copper and lead into the water supply.
O’Fallon’s water pH is generally maintained within acceptable ranges, but fluctuations occur. Older homes with aging copper or galvanized steel plumbing are more vulnerable to pH-related corrosion than newer installations. Corrosion may already be at work in your pipes if your water has a metallic taste or a blue-green stain around drain openings.
Sediment and Particulate Matter
Water can carry low levels of sediment and particulate matter into household plumbing even after municipal treatment. This is more common after heavy rainfall events, when runoff increases the load on treatment systems. This can also happen during periods of infrastructure maintenance when pipes get disturbed, and loose material enters the flow.
Sediment accumulates in water heater tanks, clogging drain valves and accelerating tank corrosion from the inside. It collects in toilet fill valves, causing phantom flushing and inconsistent tank refill. It also settles in the bottom of water filtration systems, reducing their effectiveness faster than the manufacturer’s replacement schedule anticipates.
Older Infrastructure Also Contributes to the Issue
O’Fallon has a mix of home ages and plumbing generations. Older neighborhoods may still have galvanized steel pipes that have been accumulating rust and mineral deposits for thirty or forty years. The deterioration can become worse when these older pipes interact with O’Fallon’s hard, chlorinated water. Rust particles from aging galvanized lines contaminate the water supply inside the home. They can also stain fixtures and laundry and indicate that a repiping may be necessary.
