Practice water purity

The importance of water purity in your practice.

Water is one of the most important resources in a dental practice, and it’s essential to ensure its purity so that your systems run at their full potential and you keep your patients safe.

Water in the UK holds a mixture of chemicals and minerals that give it its unique characteristics. Most are completely harmless, however, some, such as calcium carbonate, can impact your equipment. 60% of the UK has hard water; with some areas pumping out over 200mg of calcium carbonate per litre.

Hard water is the default supply for thousands of practices across the country, which can wreak havoc on dental equipment as the calcium carbonate builds up to form limescale, which is problematic for a number of reasons. Most importantly it can cause equipment to become less efficient and even break down.

For example, if calcium deposits build up in your autoclave the pipes might split or become blocked, which not only means potentially expensive repairs, but also causes disruption to your workflows resulting in cancelled appointments.

Other minerals and totally dissolved solids (TDSs) may also be present in your water supply. Potassium and magnesium are naturally found in groundwater and may impact water quality. It quickly becomes evident how important it is to invest in an effective filtration device that removes minerals and TDSs, plus potentially harmful pathogens.

RO Water System from Eschmann

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water System from Eschmann produces more purified water in a shorter time than a conventional water distiller, and, because it’s compact, it will easily fit into most cupboards. Not only does this RO model effectively filter out contaminants and impurities including calcium carbonate, minerals and TDSs, but it also uses UV technology to ensure water is pathogen-free.

RO systems use a permeable membrane that captures any microorganisms and smaller particles that may have come through the first filter, preventing the formation of limescale and filtering out any other contaminants. You are guaranteed the best quality water for your equipment that is also safe for use in treatment.

Why worry about pathogens in the water supply?

Although water is processed at water treatment plants to make it safe, there is no guarantee that bacteria won’t enter the water supply. This may happen if there are small leakages in pipes or if old plumbing has allowed bacterial build up. UV light technology effectively deactivates pathogens in the water by prohibiting their ability to reproduce, stopping them before they become a threat.

By investing in the RO Water System from Eschmann, your equipment will last longer and run more efficiently, and you can also rest assured that your patients are safe from any potential harm from bacteria and other pathogens. Plus the unit quickly pays for itself, typically within just 12 months. At a cost of 33 pence per litre, water from the RO System is over three times more affordable than bottled water.