How a Whole-Building Water Filtration System Can Solve Common Water Problems

New York City has the largest unfiltered water system in the country, including drinking water. While the city treats its water with fluoride, chlorine, orthophosphate, ultraviolet light, and sodium hydroxide to make it safe, the treatment does not resolve all issues for property owners. Many tenants still complain of taste, odor, and cloudiness and express concerns about bacteria and virus levels in supplies. A whole-building water filtration system can help resolve these issues. Discover how.

Advantages of a Whole-Building Water Filtration System

Improves Water Taste and Smell

Unfiltered water can have an unpleasant odor and taste, depending on the source of the supply. The smell can stem from the presence of sulfur in the water, which gives off the aroma of rotten eggs. The unusual taste can arise from the different mineral deposits and the presence of chemicals and other impurities.

Water filters can remove or trap impurities. A carbon filter, for example, is porous with a large surface area. The problem compounds stick or bond to the filter as water seeps through it. With the compounds mostly removed, the water’s taste and smell improve.

Activated carbon filters require routine replacement. A carbon filtration system might not be the most practical for an entire building, although they are the most affordable option.

Most whole-building systems use various methods to ensure clean, pure water output. Talk to the professionals at Sanitary Plumbing to learn more about water filtration technology and the benefits to your property.

Removes Excess Minerals and Chemicals

A whole-building water filtration system cleans the water directly from the supply. Unlike under sink filters or faucet attachments, a whole-building system eliminates damaging compounds before they enter your property, potentially harming pipes and appliances. Excessive mineral deposits can cause hard water, staining, and cloudy, unappealing water.

A common complaint about the NYC water supply is that it produces hard water — a result of dissolved magnesium, calcium, and iron. Depending on the system installed in your property, you may be able to correct the problem for your tenants. While a typical filtration system will remove excess compounds and mineral deposits, a water softener is the best way to improve water quality for bathing.

Beyond mineral deposits, NYC’s water supply contains chlorine, which is potentially harmful to your health, depending on the levels in the supply. A whole-building water filtration system treats the supply with various filters to remove chlorine, resulting in healthier drinking and bathing water.

Improves Health and Safety for Tenants

While there are no significant health risks from drinking hard water, bathing in it can cause dry skin and affect hair health. Some people will experience hair loss from hard water exposure. Also, the hardness level of water can affect the pH balance of your skin, weakening the barrier and exposing tenants to bacteria and infections.

A standard water filter will not resolve hard water issues, but a whole-building system that includes a water softener can because it removes excess calcium and magnesium. Whole-building systems also eliminate bacteria and viruses.

According to the CDC, over 7 million Americans get sick from waterborne diseases and infections annually. The common causes of these illnesses are viruses, protozoa, and bacteria in the water supply. A whole-building water filtration system can remove most of these contaminants, ensuring your property’s water supply is safe and free of microbial pathogens.

Reduces Maintenance Costs

NYC’s typical mineral-heavy water supply is not complementary to standard plumbing systems and appliances. The mineral deposits can cause scaling and buildup in pipes, faucets, washing machines, and many other appliances. The damage can also affect the lifespan and vibrancy of tenants’ clothing and fabrics, which can lead to frustrated renters, potentially resulting in unexpected vacancies.

The signs of damage to plumbing and appliances might not be apparent right away. You might notice a slight decline in appliance efficiency or staining around drains and faucets. If water has low pH levels, you’ll notice blue-green staining around drains, most noticeable on white surfaces. The more classic brown or orange rust-looking stain results from iron and manganese deposits.

While you might question the investment of installing a whole-building water filtration system to address mineral deposits and pH levels, keep in mind that a contaminated water supply can adversely affect the lifespan of your plumbing.

Contributes to a “Green” Mindset

Any New Yorker knows that the city and the state are focused on improving environmental awareness through regulatory actions. With pledges to cut fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gases, NYC aims to be the poster child of ecological consciousness. A water filter system in your property can help reduce fossil fuel consumption in the city by contributing to less plastic waste.

One of the most significant contributors to pollution and environmental crises is plastic manufacturing and disposal. While water filtration may not have a direct effect on plastic production, it can relieve the dependence on it.

If you install a whole-building water filtration system in your property, your tenants receive refreshing, tasty, and healthy drinking water. With suitable drinking water, your tenants are less likely to purchase bottled water, instead depending on their existing in-unit supply.

In 2017, NYC had over 3.4 million housing units. Approximately one-third were owner-occupied, leaving two-thirds renter-occupied. With over 2 million tenants in the city, water filtration could have a drastic effect on bottled water consumption, helping the surrounding environment with rippling effects throughout the industry.

Installation of a Water Filtration System for the Whole Building

Sanitary Plumbing Can Help You Find the Right Solution

When you decide to install a whole-building water filtration system, you have options and considerations. Do you want the system to include a water softener (strongly encouraged in the city)? Are you mainly interested in carbon filtration, keeping costs down? Before you make any decisions, consult Sanitary Plumbing at 212-734-5000 to learn more about filtration systems and integrations. Our experts can help you find the correct filtration needs for your building and its tenants, improving the life, health, and well-being of everyone.


Our Privacy Policy

Omnia Mechanical Group(the “Company”) strives to ensure the highest standards for property listings and customer information privacy. Please review the following statement to learn about our company practices and policies. Please be aware that our Privacy Policy is subject to change at any time.

1. Purpose.

This Privacy Policy (“the Policy”) provides information on how the Company uses your personal information. By agreeing to the Policy, you agree to our collection and use of your personal information as described in the Policy. This Privacy Policy is effective for all new users of Sanitaryplumbing.com.

2. Personal Information.

You can browse some areas of omniagroup.nyc (“the Website”) without being a registered user. However, certain activities do require registration. (You consent to the transfer and storage of your information by registering with omniagroup.nyc).

3. Use of Information.

Our primary purpose in collecting personal information is to provide you with a safe and user-friendly experience. For example, the Company may use your personal information to:

  • Improve our services and the Website’s content and layout;
  • Provide the services and necessary customer support you request;
  • Resolve disputes, collect fees, and troubleshoot problems;
  • Track and record customer satisfaction with our services;
  • Protect the Company against error and fraud;
  • Inform you of special promotions and announcements;
  • Enforce our agreements, terms, conditions, and policies; and
  • As otherwise described to you at the time of collection.

We may occasionally ask you to complete optional surveys. These surveys are used to improve and customize your experience with Sanitaryplumbing.com.

The Company always provides you the ability to opt-out of further communication such as promotions and surveys; see the Opt-Out section below.

The Company does not share any of your personal information with outside organizations, companies, individuals, etc. The only exception to this standard is if such a disclosure is reasonably necessary to respond to any and all legal processes.

4. Links to Other Sites.

The Website may have links to other websites that may collect personally identifiable information about you. The Company is not responsible for the privacy practices of the content of those linked websites.

5. Safety & Security Precautions.

The Website has strict security measures in place to protect you and your information from fraud. Once your information is provided to Omnia Mechanical Group, we strive to ensure the confidentiality of your identity and information.

6. Opt-Out.

The Company provides you with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving promotional and other non-essential, marketing-related communications from Omnia Mechanical Group. If you would like to opt-out of these select communications, please see any of the Company’s email communications and follow the directions indicated.

7. Account Protection.

Your password ensures the security of your account. When choosing a password, the Company suggests using various characters. It is highly recommended that you do not disclose your Sanitaryplumbing.com password to anyone. (If you do disclose your password or your personal information with others, you are responsible for all actions taken in the name of your account.) If the security of your password is compromised for any reason, please contact the Company immediately.

8. Accuracy of Information

The Company does not guarantee the accuracy of information for any and all of its properties on the Website, and is not responsible for any errors or misrepresentations (made by Renters, the Client, or otherwise).

9. Cookies

The Company may place a small cookie on your computer’s hard drive. This allows us to personalize your use on the Website. In order to maximize the functionality and usability of the Website, you must set your browser’s preferences to allow both permanent and temporary cookies.

10. Changing Your Personal Information.

Should your personal information change, please immediately update your information on the Website. This will ensure the accuracy of our records. The Company does retain personal information from closed accounts in order to comply with law and collect and disburse any fees owed.

11. Third Parties

This Privacy Policy addresses only the use of information we collect from you. Since omniagroup.nyc does not control the privacy policies of third parties, you are subject to the privacy policies of those third parties. It is advisable that you consult with the management of third parties before you disclose your personal information to others.

12. General

We may amend this Privacy Policy at any time by posting the amended terms on the Website. All amended terms are immediately effective after they are initially posted on the Website.

13. Privacy Policy Questions & Concerns

Questions and/or concerns regarding the Policy should be emailed to the following email address: info@omniagroup.nyc.