Common water contaminants and their treatment techniques

What Are Nitrates? Nitrates are inorganic chemical compounds containing the nitrate ion (NO3). You will find plenty of nitrates in soil, water, and plants. They are produced in the soil by bacteria converting nitrogen from the air into a form that can be used by plants. They are necessary for plant growth and are found in all fruits, vegetables, and grains. You get nitrates from vegetables, meat, and drinking water.  How Much Nitrate is Safe For Human Consumption?  EPA has shared that drinking water should not contain more than 10 mg/L or 10 parts per million (ppm) of nitrate. Water with less than 10 mg/L of nitrate is regarded as “safe to drink”. Drinking water with higher levels of nitrates could cause serious health complications in kids and adults alike.  Health Risks Associated with Nitrates Although nitrates are an essential element for human health, they can be harmful at high levels. Nitrates get converted into nitrites in the body, and nitrites can react with certain compounds to produce nitrosamines. These nitrosamines are carcinogenic  (cancer-inducing) in nature.   People who consume large amounts of processed meats like bacon, sausage, and ham are more susceptible to nitrate-induced cancer. Processed meats have high levels of nitrates, which are added to increase the meat’s shelf life and yield a pink color. Unfiltered water (typically well water from untreated and unregulated wells) can also have unnecessary nitrates, which can be detrimental to human health.      Excessive nitrates can also lead to methemoglobinemia, also known as blue baby syndrome. With this condition, the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity is compromised. Infants less than six months old are an especially vulnerable population. Infants fed formula prepared with water high in nitrate are the most highly exposed population. They receive the highest dose of nitrate compared to all other age groups based on body weight. Additionally,, infants have different body chemistry than adults. They convert more nitrate to nitrite, which leads to the creation of methemoglobin, and their bodies are less able to metabolize methemoglobin back into hemoglobin. This causes methemoglobin to build up in the body of an infant faster than it builds up in the body of an adult. Nitrates are also known to increase blood pressure in some people. They can also cause asthma, headaches, and birth defects. How Do Nitrates Enter the Water Supply? Agricultural run-off, industrial waste, fertilizers and herbicides, leaking septic tanks, and burst sewage systems are the main sources of nitrates in well water. Naturally occurring bacteria metabolize nitrogen present in the soil into nitrate...

Radium: The radioactive Radium is a kind of radioactive metal naturally found in the ground. It can be found in the soil, plant tissue, animal tissue, and bedrock. It is made when other elements, like uranium and thorium, break down or decay. This decay process happens in stages, where different kinds of radiation, like alpha, beta, and gamma, are released. When radium breaks down, it releases alpha particles and turns into another substance called Radon-222 (Rn-222). More specifically - Radium itself doesn't decay into Radon-222 (Rn-222). It's more precise to say a specific isotope of radium, like Ra-226, decays via alpha emission into Rn-222. The most common radium isotope, Ra-226, which is part of the uranium-238 decay series. Radon-222 is a gas and can escape from the ground and into the air, where it poses a bigger health risk than radium itself. Similarly, when thorium breaks down, it eventually turns into Radium-228, which then changes into a different substance called Actinium-228 (Ac-228) by releasing beta particles. This whole process is part of what we call radioactive decay, where these elements change over time into other substances until they become stable. Exposure to radioactive substances is harmful for an extended period. A potential issue with groundwater occurs when radium in water contaminates it and increases the radioactive exposure.   Radium in water Surface water typically contains low levels of radium, but the presence of radium in groundwater largely depends on the local geology, sometimes resulting in high concentrations of radium in water. Drinking water drawn from deep bedrock aquifers may contain higher values of Ra-226 and Ra-228, beyond the safe value of radionuclides in drinking water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Radionuclides Rule, safe drinking water should have these four federal standards: 5 pCi/L of combined radium 226/228 or less 15 picocuries of alpha particles per liter of water (pCi/L) or less 20 pCi/L of uranium or less 4 millirem or mrem of beta/photon emitters per year (mrem/yr) or less Both private and public wells have been found to contain radium; however, it is difficult to see radium in water and other undetectable characteristics — tasteless and odorless. Without prior testing, it's advisable not to assume your water supply and source are free from radium contamination. Regular testing for radium in public water supplies is standard practice and should be performed periodically. Except in some medical treatments, there is no other widely recognized practical application for both radium and uranium. Contact...

Table of Contents Understanding Chloramines Health Concerns and Risks Chloramines Removal Techniques Choosing the Right Chloramine Filter Conclusion Chloramine Chloramine is the chemical compound used to treat untreated water to destroy pathogenic microbes and make it drinkable for secondary disinfection. Chloramines also address secondary aesthetic concerns from excess soluble iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide among others. Chloramines are formed when ammonia is added to chlorine for the water treatment process. Chloramines commonly give longer-lasting disinfection to the drinking water until it reaches consumers via plumbing pipes. Chloramines use for water disinfectants is well established; however, it has harmful side effects linger in the distribution and plumbing systems just as well as its disinfection properties. Health Concerns and Risks Many studies and research indicate that a small amount of Chloramine in drinking water or food preparation does not cause harmful or life-threatening health concerns but instead helps minimize waterborne disease outbreaks. Also, because chloramines are much more persistent than chlorine, less of it needs to be added to the water, in theory thereby reducing the carcinogenic potential.These studies have observed that Chloramine levels of below 50 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in drinking water have no harmful health effects. However, prolonged use may cause some significant health issues, including possibly elevated risks of bladder colon, and stomach cancers. In some cases, it shows adverse effects on reproduction, such as sudden surges in miscarriages, fetal anomalies, and congenital disabilities. Some more common health issues have been observed with Chloramine treatment in drinking water such as gastrointestinal distress: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain. Additionally, chloramines are known to be more aggressive than chlorine leading to leaks at plumbing joints, and faster erosion of gasket seals particularly when municipalities fail to shift the pH balance to mildly alkaline. It was this error that led to the grave outcome experienced in Flint, MI when the municipality switched to chloramines and failed to pH balance the water. Food Allergies In one published  study, higher levels of dichlorophenols were found in subjects bodies who reported food allergies, including lack of sensitivity, urticaria, and angioneurotic edema. However, more research on the subject is necessary as the above study had a...

Brief Overview of Radon in Drinking Water Radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas, poses a potential health risk that extends beyond the confines of indoor air. This radioactive gas can break into drinking water sources, especially those drawn from underground wells, bringing an additional source for exposure to this odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas. In the open outdoor spaces, radon quickly dilutes to harmlessconcentrations s. An average outdoor radon level (1) varies from 5 Bq/m3 to 15 Bq/m3, which is generally not a concern. Furthermore, indoors with minimal ventilation, radon levels could reach from 10 Bq/m3 to more than 10000 Bq/m3 in places like mines, caves, basements, and water treatment facilities, which is alarming. Radon gas escapes from water during routine household activities like showering and cooking, permeating the indoor air. However, while radon in water is a concern, the primary threat lies beneath our homes in the soil. It is crucial to identify this potential risk and take safety measures to mitigate radon exposure, especially for those relying on well-water sources; they should get a radon water filtration system to avoid such risks. Fortunately, surface water from lakes and rivers is generally free from radon concerns, as the gas is released into the air before reaching the tap.   Health Risks Associated with Radon Exposure Radon in water presents a potential risk, with drinking water containing radon associated with internal organ cancers. People who consume radon-contaminated water may get exposed to a higher risk of cancer, notably lung cancer, over their lifetime. As a leading cause of lung cancer, radon is estimated to contribute to 3% to 14% of all lung cancers, which is higher than smoking. Initially found in uranium miners, high radon exposure led to a higher rate of lung cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some studies in Europe, North America, and China reveal that even low radon concentrations, common in homes, pose global health risks, contributing to lung cancer due to water contamination. So, a whole house radon water filter can help to minimize this contamination and health risk. The risk of lung cancer surges by 16% with each 100 Bq/m3 increase in average radon concentration, assumed to follow a linear dose-response relation; the more concentration increases, the risk increases proportionally. Radon poses a significantly higher lung cancer risk for smokers, estimated at 25 times greater than for non-smokers. While inhaled radon may affect other organs, cancer risks beyond the lungs are yet to be determined for other organs. Identifying Radon Contamination in Water In lots of places, people get their drinking water from underground sources like springs, boreholes, ...

The Flint Michigan catastrophe of 2014 was a brutal wake up call for the Great Lakes State, and incidents of varying severity at the municipal level have further fueled interest in water quality in the United States and across the globe.

Find a list of common tap water contaminants that reverse osmosis water purification can remove for chemical-free water when you use Perfect Water products. Learn more about the reverse osmosis products that remove these contaminants.Common Tap Water Contaminants Contaminant Average Percent Reduction1 Arsenic V 99.6 Arsenic III See Below* Barium 98.8 Cadmium 98.8 Chromium (Hexavalent) 99.1 Chromium (Trivalent) 99.7 Copper 99.00 Cysts 99.99 Fluoride 97.7 Lead 99.3 Nitrates 80.00** Radium 226/228 80.00 Selenium 98.1 Turbidity 98.9 Other TDS contaminants reduced by up to 98%: Aluminum, Ammonium, Bicarbonate, Calcium, Chlorine, Chloromines, Chromate, Cyanide, Ferro cyanide, Iron, Magnesium, Mercury, Manganese, Phosphate, Silicate, Silver, Sodium, Strontium, Sulfate, Sulfite, Thiosulfate, Zinc. *Please note: RO systems provide effective filtration for Arsenic 5 (AS5), not Arsenic 3 (AS3). Chlorination converts AS3 into AS5. Is your well chlorinated? Depending on the distribution of the arsenic species in your water chlorination might be required to bring the overal Aresenic load below the 10 ppb recommended level. For example you have 12ppb of arsenic, if 5ppb are AS5 and 7ppb are AS3, then the RO should bring down the AS5 level sufficient to bring the overall level below the 10ppb EPA safe level. Please use an arsenic speciation tests to be sure of the exact amounts, and if your water is not chlorinated.**Nitrate removal is pressure sensitive. Under ideal conditions nitrate reduction of up to 80% is achievable. Consider a booster pump, permeate pump and an inline nitrate filter post-RO to achieve greater nitrate filtration.Infographic: Common suspended contaminants relative to their sizes Particle Size Chart1 When system is used and maintained as directed. Your results may vary depending on regular maintenance, general condition of unit, and initial water conditions. Home Master is not designed to treat microbially unsafe or non-potable water without pre and/or post treatment.Partial List of Chemical Contaminants Removed by Carbon Filtration:Chemicals Acetaldehyde Alcohols Antifreeze Butyl Alcohol Carbamazepine Chlorine Ciprofloxacin HCl Dieldrin Dyes Ethyl Alcohol Gasoline Hydrogen Selenide Insecticides Ketones Methyl Alcohol Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Nitrotoluene Organic Esters PCBs...

Lead is a naturally occurring metal found in the inner crust of the earth and is known to be harmful to the human body and the environment. You might be surprised to know that according to the WHO nearly half of the 2 million lives lost to known chemical exposure in 2019 were due to lead exposure. Lead exposure is estimated to account for 21.7 million years lost to disability and death worldwide due to its long-term effects on health.

There are several ways to keep your fluoride levels in check. When the only benefit to fluoride to prevent cavities, then toothpaste or mouthwash containing the substance should be sufficient – but in reality, there is no way to confirm levels as they differ from person to person. Consuming higher than recommended levels (4mg/L) of fluoride over time may cause complications, especially in developing children.

Before purchasing treatment equipment to remove Iron, it is important to understand what type of Iron is in the water (whether ferric or ferrous), on which Iron type the treatment is effective (ferrous, ferric, or both), the result expected, and if construction or reconstruction of the water supply would be more effective or cheaper than long term Iron removal.

pH is the abbreviation for the term "Hydrogen Potential", and is used to indicate the acidity or alkalinity (base) of a substance or compound as ranked on a scale from 1.0 to 14.0. Alkalinity increases as the pH value increases and acidity increases as the pH value decreases. See the graphic below for the pH of some common fluids. The pH scale measures the logarithmic concentration of hydrogen (H+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions, which make up water (H+) + (OH-) = (H2O). When both types of ions are in equal concentration, the pH is 7.0 or neutral. Below 7.0, the water is acidic (there are more hydrogen ions than hydroxide ions). When the pH is above 7.0, the water is alkaline (there are more hydroxide ions than hydrogen ions). Since the scale is logarithmic, a change in the pH by 1.0 unit is equivalent to a 10-fold increase in acidity. So, a water sample with a pH of 6.0 is 10 times as acidic as one with a pH of 7.0, and pH 4.0 is 100 times as acidic as pH 6.0. For comparison of liquids found in everyday life: beer with a pH 4.5 is 100 times more acidic than natural spring water with a pH 7.5. Role of pH in Digestion and Illness Stomach acid and digestion takes place at a very low pH. Most foods are acidic and human physiology is geared towards handling a mostly acidic diet. The enzymes that process digestion are activated by low pH. Alkaline adjustments to the body would only be recommended in the case of an overly acidic stomach as adivsed by a physician. Furthermore people who consistently ingest antacid tablets beyond what is needed will experience a decrease in their stomach acid's function in killing food born pathogens. This is because the strong alkalinity of these medicines neutralizes the highly acidic and sometimes bothersome stomach acid, which kills food borne bacteria. Normal stomach acid plays an important function in defending the human body against illness. High pH or Alkaline Water Water has very limited ability to buffer against changes in pH. Increases in pH to 9-12 range require very little added base. For example our Home Master Artesian Full Contact is able to effect a full 1-2 point change in pH with only 30-60 mg/L of added calcium and magnesium. Although there are those who feel that drinking alkaline water is healthy, there are no proven medical benefits, beyond those associated with hydration / drinking water in general. While alkaline water can neutralize no more than 1 mEq of acid (HCl) - Antacids, which are given to neutralize gastric acid, are capable of neutralizing at least 10 mEq of acid, and contain far more calcium. Document ...

Partial List of Chemical Contaminants Reduced or Removed by Home Master® Carbon Filtration Find a list of common chemical contaminants that reverse osmosis water purification can remove for chemical-free water when you use Perfect Water products. Learn more about the reverse osmosis products that remove these contaminants. Chemicals Acetaldehyde
Acetic Acid
Acetone
Alcohols
Amines
Amyl Acetate
Amyl Alcohol
Antifreeze
Benzene
Bleach
Butyl Alcohol
Butyl Acetate
Calcium Hypochlorite
Chloral
Chloramine
Chloroform
Chlorine
Chlorobenzene
Chlorophenol
Chlorophyll
Citric Acid
Cresol
Defoilants
Dieldrin
Detergents
Diesel Fuel
Dyes
Ethyl Acetate
Ethyl Acrylate
Ethyl Alcohol
Ethyl Amine
Ethyl Chlorine
Ethyl Ether
Gasoline
Glycols
Herbicides
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Selenide
Hydrogen Sulfide
Hypochlorous Acid
Insecticides
Iodine
Isopropyl Acetate
Isopropyl Alcohol
Ketones
Lactic Acid
Mercaptans
Methyl Acetate
Methyl Alcohol
Methyl Bromide
Methyl Chloride
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Naphtha
Nitric Acid
Nitrobenzene
Nitrotoluene
Odors (general)
Oil Dissolved
Organic Acids
Organic Esters
Organic Salts
Oxalic Acids
PCBs Perchlorate
Pesticides
Phenol
Plastic Taste
Propioic Acids
Propionaldehyde
Propyl Acetate
Propyl Acid
Propyl Chloride
Rubber Hose Taste
Soap
Sodium Hydrochorite
Solvents
Sulphonated Oils
Tannins
Tar Emulsion
Tartaric Acid
Taste (DI Water)
Taste (From Organics) THMs
Toluene
Toluidine
Trchlorethylene
Turpintine
Vinegar
Xanthophyll
Xylene Organic Contaminants
2,4,5-TP
2,4-D
Acrylamide
Adipates (diethylhexyl)
Alachlor
Aldicarb
Aldicarb Sulfone
Aldicarb Sulfoxide
Atazine Ammonia
Benz(a)anthracene (PAH)
Benzene
Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH)
Benzo(b)fluoranthene (PAH)
Benzo(k) fluoranthene (PAH)
Bromodichloromethane
Bromoform
Butyl benzyl phthalate (PAE)
Carbofuran
Carbon Tetrachloride Chlordane
Chloroform
Chrysene (PAH)
Dalapon
Dibenz(a,h) anthracene (PAH)
Dibromochloromethane
Dibromochloropropane (DBCP)
Dichlorobenzene (o-,m-)
Dichlorobenzene (para-)
Dichloroethane (1,2-)
Dichloroethylene (1,1-)
Dichloroethylene (cis-1,2-)
Dichloroethylene (trans-1,2-)
Dichloromethane (methylene chloride)
Dichloropropane (1,2-) Di-(2ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP)
Diethylhexyl phthalate (PAE)
Dinoseb
Diquat
Endothall
Endrin
Epichlorohydrin
Ethylbenzene
Ethylene dibromide...

GenX, Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFAs)
Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs)
The EPA lists carbon filtration and reverse osmosis - technologies found in Home Master Reverse Osmosis systems - as approved filtration methods for removing GenX, PFOS, PFOA, PFAs and PFCs. “The under-sink reverse osmosis filter is the most efficient system for removing both the PFAS contaminants ... and the PFEAs, including GenX,” said Detlef Knappe, the professor of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University

Additionally, Home Master RO systems utilize a more advanced catalytic carbon media to provide superior filtration as opposed to standard granular activated carbon. Learn More: https://www.wqpmag.com/pfas/new-report-explores-effectiveness-water-filters-remove-pfas 
https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/drinkingwaterhealthadvisories_pfoa_pfos_updated_5.31.16.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas
  1,4 Dioxane While more research needs to be done on 1,4 dioxane removal, early authoratitive studies have shown a 50% - 97% removal rate when reverse osmosis and granular activated carbon filtration technologies are combined, and under various water conditions. Home Master Reverse Osmosis Systems have not been tested for 1,4 Dioxane removal, but contain similar filtration technologies as those tested, and may be the the best option for home water purification.   Learn More: Academic and Goverment Research Papers Page 2608, table 2, 96% removal https://www.researchgate.net/publication/44583392_Reverse_osmosis_followed_by_activated_carbon_filtration_for_efficient_removal_of_organic_micropollutants_from_river_bank_filtrate   Page 14 – 96% removal   RO removal 57% to 99% using surrogate indicator https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018...