Bottled Water Research Paper

WATER

1. Nearly 80% of the surface of earth is water. 2. 97% of all water on earth is sea water. 3. Chemically, it us 2 atoms of Hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen. We and Water :

1. The human body is made up of about 70% water. 2. Every system in our body needs water. 3. Water makes up 83% of our blood. 4. Water helps us digest food. 5. Water transports body wastes. 6. Water keeps our temperature correct. 7. Each day we must replace 2.4 ltrs. of water. Drinking replaces only a part of it.
The rest of the water is taken by the body from food.

Water Treatment Plant
Follow a drop of water from the source through the treatment process. Water may be treated differently in different communities
depending on the quality of the water which enters the plant. Groundwater is located underground and typically requires less treatment than water from lakes, rivers, and streams.

The Water Cycle : Drinking water can come from both surface water and ground water. The water cycle begins with rainwater and snow melt that gathers in lakes and rivers which interact with ground water.

What Is Water Purification?
Water purification generally means freeing water from any kind of impurity it contains, such as contaminants or micro organisms. Water purification is not a very one-sided process; the purification process contains many steps. The steps that need to be progressed depend on the kind of impurities that are found in the water. This can differ very much for different types of water.
Water purification, or drinking water treatment, is the process of removing contaminants from surface water or groundwater to make it safe and palatable for human consumption. A wide variety of technologies may be used, depending on the raw water source, contaminants present, standards to be met, and available finances.
Over time, ecosystems have developed sophisticated ways to process and store natural waste products such as sediments, nutrients, heavy metals, and bacteria. Water is the primary medium for transporting these materials through most ecosystems. The "water purification" process is accomplished to varying degrees in a variety of ecosystems including streams, wetlands, estuaries, and forests. Wetlands and riparian (streamside) plant communities are particularly efficient at improving water quality. These communities act as buffers that filter and process sediment and debris from floods, waste products from aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals, and, minerals, metals, and microorganisms before they can reach faster moving water such as rivers.
Sources of Drinking Water Water to be used in public or private water supplies can be drawn from a variety of sources. Different sources of raw water demand different treatment methods to render it ft for human consumption.

Ultraviolet Treatment :
Ultraviolet treatment is the final, and in most cases, the most important step in the purification process. After the carbon filter has cleansed the water, it is exposed to intense dosages of UV light. This exposure effectively destroys viruses, bacteria, fungi, algae and protozoa. * UV light destroys a microorganism by scrambling its DNA structure * The cells are rendered sterile and cannot reproduce * The cells are dead and no longer a threat
The table below lists many common microorganisms and the Ultraviolet dosage (in microwatts / cm2) required for 99.9999% destruction. All Noah products provide16,000 microwatts / cm2 or greater of UV exposure.

Reverse Osmosis (RO):

Water pressure is used to force water molecules through a membrane that has extremely tiny pores, leaving the larger contaminants behind. Purified water is collected from the "clean" side of the membrane, and water containing the concentrated contaminants is flushed down the drain from the "contaminated" side. The average RO system is a unit consisting of a sediment/chlorine pre filter, the reverse-osmosis membrane, a water storage tank, and an activated-carbon post filter. They cost from about $150 to over $1,500 for point of use systems.

The advantages of Reverse Osmosis include:

Reverse osmosis significantly reduces salt, most other inorganic material present in the water, and some organic compounds. With a quality carbon filter to remove any organic materials that get through the filter, the purity of the treated water approaches that produced by distillation.

Microscopic parasites (including viruses) are usually removed by properly functioning RO units, but any defect in the membrane would allow these organisms to flow undetected into the "filtered" water - they are not recommended for use on biologically unsafe water.

Though slower than a carbon or sediment water filter, RO systems can typically purify more water per day than distillers and are less expensive to operate and maintain.

Reverse Osmosis systems also do not use electricity, although because they require relatively high water pressure to operate, they may not work well in some emergency situations.

The disadvantages of Reverse Osmosis include:

Point of Use RO units make only a few gallons of treated water a day for drinking or cooking.

RO systems waste water. Two to four gallons of "waste" water are flushed down the drain for each gallon of filtered water produced.

Some pesticides, solvents and other volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) are not completely removed by RO. A good activated carbon post filter is recommended to reduce these contaminants.

Many conditions affect the RO membrane's efficiency in reducing the amount of contaminant in the water. These include the contaminant concentration, chemical properties of the contaminants, the membrane type and condition, and operating conditions (like pH, water temperature, and water pressure).

Although RO filters do not use electricity, they depend on a relatively high water pressure to force the water molecules through the membrane. In an emergency situation where water pressure has been lost, these systems will not function. * However, if a high quality activated carbon filter is used for the post filter, it could probably be disconnected and used to siphon water through in an emergency to reduce many contaminants.

RO systems require maintenance. The pre and post filters and the reverse osmosis membranes must be changed according to the manufacturer's recommendation, and the storage tank must be cleaned periodically.

Damaged membranes are not easily detected, so it is hard to tell if the system is functioning normally and safely.

* A reverse-osmosis system is a good treatment option for people who have unacceptably high levels of dissolved inorganic contaminants in their drinking water which can not be removed effectively or economically by other methods. Water from shallow wells in agricultural areas that contains high nitrate levels is a good example of a situation where RO would make sense. Most people, however, who are using municipal water water that is subject to EPA regulations usually have acceptably low levels of nitrates. Maximum nitrate levels should be able to be determined by requesting a water quality report from your local water provider.

* TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) - TDS is a measure of all inorganic and organic substances dissolved in water. It is used to indicate an increase in one or more contaminants. Natural or human-caused activity such as mining or drilling may disturb the water-bearing formation and cause more materials to dissolve in water. Heavily salted roads, improperly lined landfills, junk yards, industrial activities, or chemical spills also may lead to increased TDS concentrations. TDS values above 1,000 ppm indicate problems. Further testing usually is required to pinpoint the exact problem. High TDS may result in offensive odors, tastes, colors and health problems depending on the specific contaminant(s) present.

* Ultra Violet Light:

Water passes through a clear chamber where it is exposed to Ultra Violet (UV) Light. UV light effectively destroys bacteria and viruses. However, how well the UV system works depends on the energy dose that the organism absorbs. If the energy dose is not high enough, the organism’s genetic material may only be damaged rather than disrupted.

The advantages of using UV include: * No known toxic or significant nontoxic byproducts introduced * Removes some organic contaminants * Leaves no smell or taste in the treated water * Requires very little contact time (seconds versus minutes for chemical disinfection) * Improves the taste of water because some organic contaminants and nuisance microorganisms are destroyed * Many pathogenic microorganisms are killed or rendered inactive. * Does not affect minerals in water.

The disadvantages of using UV include:

UV radiation is not suitable for water with high levels of suspended solids, turbidity, color, or soluble organic matter. These materials can react with UV radiation, and reduce disinfection performance. Turbidity makes it difficult for radiation to penetrate water and pathogens can be 'shadowed', protecting them from the light. UV light is not effective against any non-living contaminant, lead, asbestos, many organic chemicals, chlorine, etc. Tough cryptosporidia cysts are fairly resistant to UV light. Requires electricity to operate. In an emergency situation when the power is out, the purification will not work.
UV is typically used as a final purification stage on some filtration systems. If you are concerned about removing contaminants in addition to bacteria and viruses, you would still need to use a quality carbon filter or reverse osmosis system in addition to the UV system.
Bottled Water:

Did the water in the bottle you just purchased really come from the beautiful spring shown on the label? How can you be sure the water in the bottle is any cleaner or safer than your tap water? How does the cost, both short term and long term, compare with other water purification options?
Bottled water is simply water from some source that a company (or in the case of water vending machines, the consumer) has placed in a bottle for resale.
Bottled water can have minimal (or no) processing - as in natural spring or mineral water, or it can be completely filtered and demineralized to nearly pure water and then have minerals added back in to make it taste better.
The advantages of Bottled Water include:

An emergency source of water in the event your primary water source fails or becomes contaminated. A convenient source of usually safe water for drinking outside of the home. Bottled water, since it does not contain chlorine, and may contain a mix of minerals to enhance flavor, may taste better than untreated tap water. Most bottled water will contain fewer contaminants than untreated tap water.

DISINFECTION METHODS :
Chlorination
1. Contact time reqired is 30-50 minutes. So cannot be used in online system. 2. Residual chlorine may give rise to trihalomethanes. Which are carcinogenic and may affect liver and kidneys. 3. May give rise to a bad smell and odour to
water.

Ozonization : 1. Contact time reqired is 20 minutes. So cannot be used in online systems. 2. Considerable power consumption. 3. Time comsuming. 4. May give a fishy smell to water.

* The formation of oxygen into ozone occurs with the use of energy. This process is carried out by an electric discharge field as in the CD-type ozone generators (corona discharge simulation of the lightning), or by ultraviolet radiation as in UV-type ozone generators (simulation of the ultra-violet rays from the sun). In addition to these commercial methods, ozone may also be made through electrolytic and chemical reactions. Ozone is a naturally occurring component of fresh air. It can be produced by the ultraviolet rays of the sun reacting with the Earth's upper atmosphere (which creates a protective ozone layer), by lightning, or it can be created artificially with an ozone generator. The ozone molecule contains three oxygen atoms whereas the normal oxygen molecule contains only two. Ozone is a very reactive and unstable gas with a short half-life before it reverts back to oxygen. Ozone is the most powerful and rapid acting oxidizer man can produce, and will oxidize all bacteria, mold and yeast spores, organic material and viruses given sufficient exposure.

The advantages of using Ozone include: Ozone is primarily a disinfectant that effectively kills biological contaminants. Ozone also oxidizes and precipitates iron, sulfur, and manganese so they can be filtered out of solution. Ozone will oxidize and break down many organic chemicals including many that cause odor and taste problems. Ozonation produces no taste or odor in the water. Since ozone is made of oxygen and reverts to pure oxygen, it vanishes without trace once it has been used. In the home, this does not matter much, but when water companies use ozone to disinfect the water there is no residual disinfectant, so chlorine or another disinfectant must be added to minimize microbial growth during storage and distribution.

The disadvantages of using Ozone include:

Ozone treatment can create undesirable byproducts that can be harmful to health if they are not controlled (e.g., formaldehyde and bromate). The process of creating ozone in the home requires electricity. In an emergency with loss of power, this treatment will not work. Ozone is not effective at removing dissolved minerals and salts.

Caution - The effectiveness of the process is dependent, on good mixing of ozone with the water, and ozone does not dissolve particularly well, so a well designed system that exposes all the water to the ozone is important.

In the home, ozone is often combined with activated carbon filtration to achieve a more complete water treatment. Membrane Filtration : 1. Occurs through membrane. 2. Tears/pore formation in membrane are frequent. 3. High recurring service cost.

Reverse Osmosis : 1. Very costly. 2. Passage of water through polar membrane. 3. High cost of membrane replacement once per year. 4. Domestic RO system are not online.

Resin Based Technology : 1. Purificatin through Iodinated resin. 2. Liberates Iodine in water which is harmful for iodine sensitive patients. 3. Iodine cartridge reqires frequent replacement. 4. Efficiency of purification dependent on pH and temparature of water.
UV Spectrums Wavelengths
Vaccum UV: 10-200 nm
UV-C: 200-280 nm
UV-B: 280-315 nm
UV-A: 315-400 nm Disinfection of bacteria and viruses by UV 1.
Ultra Violet light of the UV-C spectrum destroys the DNA structure of bacteria and viruses. 2. The most widely used UV lamps for water disifection is a low-pressure inert gas djscharge tube loaded with mercury vapour are stimulated by the effect of the electric current and generate the charectersitic spectrum. Activated Alumina:

Activated Alumina is a granulated form of aluminum oxide. In this process, water containing the contaminant is passed through a cartridge or canister of activated alumina which adsorbs the contaminant. The cartridge of activated alumina must be replaced periodically. Activated alumina devices can accumulate bacteria, so treated water may have higher bacteria counts than raw water.
The advantages of Activated Alumina filters include: 1. An effective way to reduce levels of fluoride, arsenic, and selenium

The disadvantages of Activated Alumina filters include: 1. The use of other treatment methods would be necessary to reduce levels of other contaminants of health concern.

Sl.No | FEATURE | ADVANTAGE | BENEFITS
| 1.2.3. 3. | Body Pre-filterSystem-Consists of a pre-filter bowl enclosing a PolypropyleneYarn or CUNO candle. Made up of ABS plastic (AcetonitrylButadiene styrene)Activated Carbon Bed-250 gms of Silver impregnated activated CarbonOf 8*10/20*12 mesh size. | 1) Sand Blasted Aluminium finish on the outer surface for seek look. 2) Anodised layer on the inner surface to protect from direct contact with water. 3) Increased reflectivity of inner surface and reduced stickiness. 1) Candle of 5 micron porosity physically removes smallest particles os mud, rust and dirt ensuring easy flow. 2) Less clogging. 3) Silver impregnated activated carbon in PP yarn candle prevents algal/bacterial growth. 1. Gases and light weight organic. 2. Silver impregnated activated carbon is bacteriostatic. | 1) No rust information.2) Light weight.3) High durability.4) Compact international styling.5) Aluminium material is cheaper.6) Builds up aesthetic value of kitchen.1) Long lasting.2) Reduces recurring cost of candle replacement.3) Indepth filtration.4) Crystal clear water. 1. Removes carcinogenic compounds like trihalomethane/phenolic. 2. Inhibits bacterial growth. |

Sl.No. | FEATURE | ADVANTAGE | BENEFITS | 4.5.6. | Pre-heating SystemDecalcification SystemQuartz Glass | 1) Heating of UV coils for 2 seconds warms them up and consequently lights up. 2) Introduces in water an electromagnetic pulse of a very high frequency leading to internal vibration in water molecules. 3) Physiclly separtes the ions of Calcium and Magnesium salts. 4) Avoids deposition of salts on Quartz Glas(QG). 1) QG provides air cushion between the UV lamp body and water thus reducing the chances of short circuit. 2) QG, unlike other glasses, allow UV-C spectrum to pass through. | 1) No failure in UV glow.1)Leads to clean QG for longer period thereby reducing service requirment.1)Allow maximum i.e. 80% exposure of UV rays on water. |

7.8. | UV LampPrinted Circuit Board (PCB) | 1) UV tube containing mercurous which UV-C spectrum. 2) Low pressure inert gas discharge tube. 3) Continuous emission of 253.7 nn wavelength i.e. most bactericidal. 4) The dose given is higher by 20 times than that reqired to inactivate bacteria and 15 times than that for viruses. 1) Simple Circuit. 2) Light weight. 3) Compact. 4) Easy attachment connection facility. 5) Reduced chances of short circuit. | 1) Minimum contact time ensuring 100% purification.2) No residual effect of UV rays on water.3) Does not change taste of purified water. 4) Instant use of output water. 5) Safety against water-borne diseases. 1) Long life.2) Easy replacement and repair.3) Precise working.4) Temperature and humidity varience resistant.5) Pest-resistant6) Less service requirement. | Sl.No | FEATURE | ADVANTAGES | BENEFITS | 9. | Electronic Monitoring System – INCLUSES A.LED (Light Limitting Doises)B.Solenoid Value (SV) Water Flow RegulatorC.Photoresistor | Red: Service status of Aquaguard to customer. Yellow: Purification under process.Green: Continuous supply of pure drinking water.Monitors the quality of purifier water and stops the flow immediately if UV disinfection is inadequate by signalling the SV.1) Electromagnetic uni-directional valve.2) Automatically stops the flow of water if purity is insufficient.3) Regulates input water for purification @2lit/min.1)Monitors UV Intensity and signals the SV shut down if signals is low. | 1)Ensure the supply of purified water, which is idea for consumption.2)Significance: Red glow-Alarm:: PCB Failure.Red Blink-Alarm:: Purification InadequateYellow blink-Alarm:: Low Voltage1)Ensure continuous supply of only pure drinking water.1)Ensures continuous supply of pure water. | Sl.No | FEATURE | ADVANTAGE | BENEFITS | 10.11. | Pipes-Made up of Ethyl Vinyl Acetate.Optional attachment- Iron Remover (along with Prefilter candle) | 1) Decreased adherebility.2) Inhibits bacterial/fungal algal growth.1)Converts Ferrous to Ferric form.2)Removes excess iron from water.3)Reduces rusty smell from water.4)Reduces corrosion | 1)Inhibits deposition during water flow.2) Does not import any foul smell in water.1)Reduces Staning of containers during storage and colouring of rice. Dal. Etc.while cooking.2)Imparts better aesthetic quality to water. |

MICROORGANISM | COMMON NAME | DOSAGE REQUIRED | BACTERIA
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Bacillus anthraci
Bacillus megaterium
Bacillus subtilis
Corynebacterium diptheriae
Escherichia coli
Legionella bozemanni
Legionella dumoffii
Legionella gormanii
Legionella micdadei
Legionella longbeachae
Legionella pneumophila
Leptospira interrogans
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Neisseria catarrhalis
Proteus vulgaris
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Rhodospirillum rubrum
Salmonella enteritidis
Salmonella paratyphi
Salmonella typhimurium
Salmonella typhosa
Serratia marcescens
Shigella dysenteriae
Shigella flexneri
Shigella sonnei
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus faecalis
Streptococcus hemolyticus
Streptococcus lactis
Viridans streptococci
Vibrio cholerae

MOLD SPORES
Penicillum digitatum

YEAST
Baker's yeast
Brewer's yeast
Common yeast cake
Saccharomyces var.

VIRUSES
Bacteriophage
Hepatitus virus
Influenza virus |
Anthrax causative
(non-pathogen)
(non-pathogen)
Diptheria
E. Coli
Pneumonia strain
Pneumonia strain
Pneumonia strain
Pneumonia strain
Pneumonia strain
Legionnaires disease
Infectious jaundice
Tuberculosis causative
Parasite
Cystitis/Pyelonephritis
Pathogenic
Pathogenic
(non-pathogen)
Gastroenteritis
Enteric fever
Gastroenteritis
Typhoid fever
Pathogenic
Dysentery
Dysentery
Dysentery
Staph Infection (skin)
Staph Infection
Pathogenic
Pathogenic
Pathogenic
Pathogenic
Cholera

E. Coli
Hepatitus, Common flu |
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UV DOSAGE IN AQUAGUARD

Water holdingcapacity of Aquaguard = 500 ml
Water flow rate (regulated) = 1 litre per minute (for Classic and CC) 2 litre per minute ( for Royale)
Time reqired to flow 500 ml of water = 30 seconds (for Classic and CC) 15 seconds (for Roalye)
UV intensity of the lamp = 5 MW/cm2

Consider 20% absorption of UV in QG tube = 4MW/cm2
The effective intensity
So, exposure of water molecules and = 4*30 seconds germs to UV = 120 MW sec/cm2 (for Classic and CC ) = 4*15 seconds = 60 MW sec/cm2
Necessary intensity to kill harmful bacteria is 6MW sec/cm2 & for viruses is 8 MW sec/cm2.

Names of some common water borne disease causing bacteria and viruses and the diseases.

Bacterial : E.coli Watery diarrhea Shigella dysentriaeae Dysentry Salmonella typhi Typhoid Streptococcus Diorrhoea Vibrio cholera Cholera

Viral : Polio virus : Poliomyelitis Hepatitis A virus Viral hepatitis Coxsackie virus Gastro Enteritis Rotavirus --do-- Echovirus --do--

1. 2. | Physico- chemical : Colour Turbidity PHTotal Dissolved Solids Total AlkalinityTotal Hardness (as CaCo3)Calcium (as Ca)Magnesium (as Mg)Chlorides (as Cl)Sulphate (as SO4)Nitrate (as NO3)Fluoride (as F)Total Iron (as Fe)Bacteriological :Total Coliforms / 100 ml Faecal Coliforms / 100 mlE.coli / 100 ml | hazen NTU mg/lt mg/lt mg/lt mg/lt mg/lt mg/lt mg/lt mg/lt mg/lt | Desirable Limit Maximum Permissible Limit 5 Hazen 25 Hazen 5 NTU 10 NTU 6.5-8.5 --do—500 mg/lt 2000 mg/lt200 mg/lt 600 mg/lt300 mg/lt 600 mg/lt75 mg/lt 200 mg/lt225 mg/lt 400 mg/lt 250 mg/lt 1000 mg/lt 200 mg/lt 400 mg/lt100 mg/lt 100 mg/lt1.0 mg/lt 1.5 mg/lt0.3 mg/lt 1.0 mg/ltMax. 10 organismsNil Should be absent |
Water Problem Table

Color of Water | Water Problem | Contaminant | Source of Contaminant | Health Effect(s) | Treatment(s) | Blue to Blue-green | Copper | Much of copper contamination comes from home plumbing and fixtures when the water is corrosive. If you have copper contamination due to corrosion, you may also have lead in your water since the conditions responsible for leaching copper out of a pipe or fixture are the same as those that will leach lead, if present. lead does NOT leave sensory clues at dangerous levels! | Essential mineral Mostly a nuisance, although In fairly high doses copper can cause gastrointestinal problems. More important as an indicator of possible lead contamination - consider having your water tested for lead. | Acid neutralization of whole house water to minimize corrosion. If contamination is from natural sources, use ion exchange for whole house (& possibly POU). Reverse osmosis and distillation are effective POU treatment methods | Cloudy, or Milky | Small air bubbles | Air dissolved in the water before or during pumping or treatment, may naturally be in well water. | Harmless | Bubbles will eventually rise to the surface and disappear | | Methane bubbles | Methane is odorless, so unless the water also contains odor-causing chemicals like hydrogen sulfide, methane will be difficult to identify. | Methane is extremely flammable or explosive if confined! | Bubbles will eventually rise to the surface and disappear For methane, aerate the water prior to use. The aerator must be vented to the open air to permit the gas to escape into the atmosphere. | | Very fine dirt or clay particles, or organic matter | Naturally, from soil, rocks, and living things. | Normally just a nuisance. However, Abnormal cloudiness can be an indication that filtration of more harmful invisible contaminants (like bacteria and cysts) has failed - test the water - locate & correct cause of the problem. | Cloudiness from these contaminants will not clear on standing like bubbles will.Treat with sediment filtration unless there are pathogens in the water - then disinfect and filter. | Reddish - orange | Iron 1 | Naturally, from soil & rocks, sometimes from galvanized pipes if water is corrosive. | Nuisance | Treatment methods listed below 1 | Dark brown to Black | Manganese 1 | Naturally, from soil & rocks | Nuisance | Treatment methods listed below 1 | Yellow | Tannins (humic acid) | Naturally, from organic soil and vegetation | Nuisance - water may also have a bitter taste | Activated Carbon Filtration Up to 3.0 ppm: Absorption with an ion exchange resin greater than 3.0 ppm: Chlorination followed by filtering | Deposits, Spots, & Sediment | Water Problem | Contaminant | Source | Health Effect(s) | Treatment(s) | Soap scum and Bathtub rings. Also, failure of soap to lather well | Calcium and magnesium carbonate
(Hard water) | Naturally, from soil & rocks | Essential mineral Nuisance in water over about 5 grains of hardness | Standard water softener ion exchange. | Scaly, whitish deposit on fixtures, plumbing lined with scale. | Calcium and magnesium carbonate
(Hard water) | Naturally, from soil & rocks | Essential mineral Nuisance in water over about 5 grains of hardness | Standard water softener ion exchange. Clean deposits on the fixtures with a rag soaked in vinegar | Spots on clothing | Calcium and magnesium carbonate
(Hard water) | Naturally, from soil & rocks | Essential mineral Nuisance in water over about 5 grains of hardness | Standard water softener ion exchange. | Spots on dishes, glassware, and flatware | Calcium and magnesium carbonate
(Hard water) | Naturally, from soil & rocks | Essential mineral Nuisance in water over about 5 grains of hardness | Standard water softener ion exchange. | | High levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 2(also hard water) | natural sourcesor from human contamination | Usually a nuisance. May be harmful, depending on the contaminant(s) present. Use common sense and your home's location (for instance, do you live in an agricultural or industrial area, or next to a waste dump) to decide if testing is warranted. | TDS can be a mix of many chemicals. 2 Use whole house ion exchange and activated carbon to remove many contaminants. Reverse osmosis and distillation are effective POU treatment methods A solid block, activated carbon filter will reliably remove most of the organic TDS | Spotting, mottling, or pitting of teeth | Fluoride | Naturally from soil & rocksFluoride can also be added by water treatment companies. | At about 1 mg/l Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay. Above about 3 - 4 mg/l Fluoride can cause staining of the tooth enamel and other problems. | Activated alumina filtration Reverse osmosis and distillation are effective POU treatment methods | Red - brown or black - brown slime in plumbing system | Iron or Manganese Bacteria | The bacteria feed on iron or manganese dissolved in the water | Nuisance - can clog plumbing and filters | Chlorine or permanganate treatment of well | Reddish - brown sediment. Typically clears after running the water for a few minutes | Iron | Dissolved iron precipitates when oxygen reaches it. Sometimes the iron sediment in the distribution system or home pipes is disturbed - when this happens, the water can get really "thick" with sediment for a while. | Nuisance | If the problem is caused by dissolved iron in your water, treat it with the methods listed below. 1 If the problem is caused by disturbed sediment from pipes, run the water for a while, and it should clear. The sediment can be filtered as well. | Grittiness, abrasiveness of water, and sediments at the bottom of tubs and sinks | Fine sand, grit | Sand or very fine sediments that gets through the filtering screens in wells or resists the coagulation stage during water treatment. | Nuisance | Sedimentation or Sediment Filter | Staining | Water Problem | Contaminant | Source | Health Effect(s) | Treatment(s) | Blue-green stains on sink and porcelain fixtures | Copper or brass | Much of copper contamination comes from home plumbing and fixtures when the water is corrosive. If you have copper contamination due to corrosion, you probably also have lead contamination | Essential mineral Mostly a nuisance, although In fairly high doses copper can cause gastrointestinal problems. More important as an indicator of possible lead contamination | Acid neutralization of whole house water to minimize corrosion. If contamination is from natural sources, use ion exchange for whole house (& possibly POU). Reverse osmosis and distillation are effective POU treatment methods | Brown-red stains, and discolored clothing | Iron | Naturally, from soil & rocks, sometimes from galvanized pipes if water is corrosive. | Mostly a Nuisance - Neurological effects at very high levels | Treatment methods listed below 1 | Black stains on fixtures and laundry | Manganese | Naturally, from soil & rocks. | Mostly a Nuisance - Neurological effects at very high levels | Treatment methods listed below 1 | Blackening and pitting of metal sinks and fixtures | Hydrogen sulfide (gas) | Naturally occurring, more common in wells than surface water. Usually present in water with high levels of iron and a low pH. | Promotes corrosion due to its activity as a weak acid. Also, its presence in the air causes silver to tarnish in a matter of seconds High hydrogen sulphide concentrations are both inflammable and poisonous. While such concentrations are rare, their presence in drinking water has been known to cause nausea, illness and in extreme cases, death. | Low to moderate concentrations - use oxidizing filter followed by carbon filter Aeration followed by filtration medium to high concentrations - use chlorination followed by activated carbon | Gray stains | Aluminum | The primary source of aluminum in drinking water is from the use of aluminum sulfate (alum) as a coagulant in water treatment plants. | Probably just a nusianc. Although there was some concern several years ago that aluminum contributed to Alzheimer's disease, research does not seem to have supported that idea. | Reverse osmosis or Distillation | Yellow stains on fabrics, china dishes and sinks, fixtures, etc. | Tannins (humic acid) | Naturally, from organic materials in soil and from vegetation | Nuisance - water may also have a bitter taste | Activated Carbon Filtration Up to 3.0 ppm: Absorption with an ion exchange resin greater than 3.0 ppm: Chlorination followed by filtering | Taste | Water Problem | Contaminant | Source | Health Effect(s) | Treatment(s) | Alkaline taste (bitter, "soda" taste) | Hydroxides, Carbonates and BicarbonatesHigh pH water
Recommended pH levels 6.5 to 8.5 | Bicarbonates are the most common sources of alkalinity. Almost all natural supplies have a measurable amount of this ion. | Nuisance | pH correction using either a neutralizing filter or chemical feed pump to lower the pH - link | Metallic taste | Iron, manganese, copper, lead, or other metals | wide range of possible sources, depending on metal | Nervous system disorders from lead, mercury, arsenic. Possible cancer risk from nickel, arsenic, chromium. | Cation exchange for whole house treatment. Reverse osmosis, distillation, or specialized ion exchange resin for POU treatment | Salty, brackish taste and pitting of fixtures. | Sodium, chloride, sulfate, inorganic salts | Sodium salts are present to a greater or lesser degree in all natural waters. | Sodium can cause problems for people with hypertension. Sulfate can cause gastrointestinal problems. | Reverse osmosis, distillation, or specialized ion exchange resin for POU treatment | Sharp chemical taste or odor, or "oily" consistency | Pesticides or semi-volatile compounds | All are synthetic organic compounds. Contamination of water supply from storage tank leaks, agricultural applications, dumping, improper disposal, etc. | Risk of cancer. Could affect any bodily organ system | * If these contaminants are present in levels that can be easily tasted or smelled, immediately STOP using the water for drinking and cooking and drink bottled water - probably shouldn't bathe in it either - until the contaminant level goes down significantly. A high quality, solid block, activated carbon filter will remove undetectable, but dangerous, concentration of these chemicals that might be present even after public water treatment. | Odor | Water Problem | Contaminant | Source | Health Effect(s) | Treatment(s) | Chlorine smell (like bleach or swimming pool) | Chlorine, Chloramines | Disinfection chemicals. Some "residual disinfectant" must remain in the water during distribution to prevent reinfection of the water. | Chlorine does not appear to cause health problems at levels normally used for disinfection. The possible health problems result from the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) discussed elsewhere. | Activated Carbon Filtration for whole house reduction of chlorine A POU, high quality, solid block, activated carbon filter will remove chlorine and, more importantly, disinfection byproducts from drinking and cooking water. Distillation and RO will also remove these contaminants. | Detergent smell (foamy water) | Foaming agents, dilute sewage | Discharges from the septic system into sources of underground water supply; Accidental presence of detergent in the water supply or wells If this occurs with municipal water, it could mean problems with the treatment system. | Risk of disease if bacteria are present. Could harm infants. | For wells, locate and eliminate source followed by strong dose of chlorine An activated charcoal filter absorbs small amounts of detergent | Sweet, perfume odor | Volatile (or semi-volatile) organic compounds like MTBE | All are synthetic organic compounds. Contamination of water supply is from storage tank leaks, dumping, improper disposal, etc. If these contaminants are present in levels that can be easily tasted or smelled, STOP using the water for drinking and cooking immediately and drink bottled water until the level is reduced. | Risk of cancer. Could affect kidney, liver, or central nervous system. | Find and remove source of contamination if it is from a single source, or find a new source of water. A high quality, solid block, activated carbon filter will remove undetectable, but dangerous, concentration of these chemicals that might be present even after public water treatment. | Smells like fish | Barium, Cadmium | Barium is a naturally occurring metal found primarily in the Midwest. Cadmium makes its way into the water supplies as a result of deterioration of galvanized plumbing, industrial waste or fertilizer contamination | Barium is highly toxic when its soluble salts are ingested | Standard water softener ion exchange. Reverse Osmosis Distillation | | Organic matter | Naturally occurring | Nuisance | Activated Carbon Filtration | | Chloramine | Traces of chlorine and ammonia compounds used for desinfection of wastewater. | Nuisance | Activated Carbon Filtration | Smells like rotten eggs | Hydrogen sulfide
(gas) | Naturally occurring, more common in wells than surface water. Usually present in water with high levels of iron and a low pH. | Promotes corrosion due to its activity as a weak acid. Also, its presence in the air causes silver to tarnish in a matter of seconds High hydrogen sulphide concentrations are both inflammable and poisonous. While such concentrations are rare, their presence in drinking water has been known to cause nausea, illness and in extreme cases, death. | Low to moderate concentrations - use oxidizing filter followed by carbon filter Aeration followed by filtration medium to high concentrations - use chlorination followed by activated carbon | Oil or gas smell | Methane | Wells that contain methane are generally located in areas where gas and oil wells are common sights | Danger of fire or explosion | Aerate water prior to use. The aerator must be vented to the open air to permit the gas to escape into the atmosphere. | | Gasoline or semi-volatile organic compounds | All are distilled or synthetic organic compounds. Contamination of water supply is from storage tank leaks, dumping, improper disposal, etc. If these contaminants are present in levels that can be easily tasted or smelled, immediately STOP using the water for drinking and cooking and drink bottled water until the level is reduced. | Risk of cancer. Could affect kidney, liver, or central nervous system. | Find and remove source of contamination if it is from a single source, or find a new source of water. A high quality, solid block, activated carbon filter will remove undetectable, but dangerous, concentration of these chemicals that might be present even after public water treatment. | Smells like sewage | Selenium | The concentration found in drinking water is usually low, and comes from natural sources. | Essential mineral A nuisance if it effects water odor. Can be toxic at high levels of exposure | Ion exchange Reverse Osmosis Distillation | | Sewage | Leakage from a septic system, waste treatment plant, feed lot, farmyard, etc. | High probability of contamination with E. coli and other pathogens as well as nitrates. | If raw sewage is present in levels that can be easily smelled,immediately STOP using the water for drinking and cooking and drink bottled water until the problem has been identified and fixed. | Musty, earthy smell | Decaying Organic matter (leaves, algae) | Naturally occurring, usually in surface or shallow wells | Nuisance, usually | Activated carbon filtration for whole house treatment. Combine with sediment filter if particulates are present. RO, distillation, or Activated carbon filtration for POU treatment |