Hi, I'm Keith Anderson, the
new Water Line Coordinator. I grew up in Northern Minnesota on a lake
and experienced many do-it yourself projects like putting in a septic
system, dealing with various well problems, and rip-rapping shorelines
to prevent erosion. In addition to my practical "experience" I have
a degree in environmental engineering and have taken and been involved
in a wide variety of water related classes and concerns. My masters
degree research focused on using bacteria to clean up contaminated
aquifers. I studied how particular bacteria traveled through groundwater
in order to predict their behavior in various contaminated situations.
We recognize there were
some delays in responding to calls in December while the search
for a new Water Line Coordinator took place, but now we are back
in full swing. I am ready to help people with their water questions,
so send them my way! In the next few months I plan on putting together
a promotional packet for Water Line contributors to use with your
local media, get the Water Line News on a regular bi-monthly schedule,
publicize the Water Line in local papers throughout the state and
in the metropolitan area buses, and develop a fact sheet about the
Water Line to distribute to the county water plan coordinators.
We are happy to report that the previous Water Line Coordinator,
Deanne Roquet, remains involved as a member of our steering committee.
Special thanks to Carlton,
Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Isanti, Sibley, Steele and Wabasha Counties
for their financial support of the Minnesota Water Line within the
past year.
question of the season
What about those Electro-Magnetic
Water Softeners? Do they work or are they too good to be true?
At first glance these "softeners"
sound great. They cost around $200, require no salt or chemicals,
and produce "naturally" soft water. These systems are sold at major
hardware and home discount stores or by mail order. The Water Line
has received a few calls about these magnetic water treatment devices
lately. A performance evaluation was reported by the Water Quality
Research Council in 1988. The technical report states that "the
use of permanent magnetic water conditioners has little or no benefit
on water hardness or related scale formation."
These units simply clip
onto the water supply line and supposedly bombard the water with
inaudible sonic impulses to change the adhesive properties of the
minerals that make water hard. Supposedly the ions repel, rather
than adhere to, pipes and fixtures and remain suspended in the water,
rather than deposited in your water heater or on your dishes, skin,
or clothes. Too bad they don't work!! Basically, they are too good
to be true.
