WATER CONTAMINANTS
CONTAMINANTS IN WELL AND CITY WATER
What is a water contaminant?
Technically, anything that is not water that is in water is a contaminant. For example, iron, sodium, and even Kool-Aid are contaminants. Some pollutants are harmful, and some are just a nuisance. There are four categories of contaminants – physical, chemical, biological, and radiological.
WHY ARE THERE STILL CONTAMINANTS IN TREATED WATER?
Testing city water is still crucial as they are only required to meet National Primary Drinking Water Standards. That means there are acceptable levels of contamination in the drinking water treated at public facilities flowing into homes.
Those who use private water sources, such as a well, are left to ensure their own safe drinking well water. Contaminants enter the water supply publicly and privately from many different areas, including construction, agricultural pesticides, soil erosion, road salt, or companies surrounding the home or the water supply.
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF WATER IS CONTAMINATED?
There may not be any obvious signs of water contamination, which is why it is important to test your water regularly or have permanent treatment in place to avoid future contamination, such as bacteria.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU CONSUME CONTAMINATED DRINKING WATER?
Contaminated drinking water may cause health issues. Testing water can help determine the types of contaminants potentially causing unsafe drinking water. The process can also help you decide which type of home water treatment system you may need.
NO SINGLE UNIT WILL REMOVE EVERY CONTAMINANT
Don’t confuse conditioned, softened, or neutralized water with “purified” water. These are treatments for water problems that are not harmful to drink. For most residential households, combining a UV light system for bacteria and reverse osmosis or an always fresh filtration system would achieve safe, potable water. Understanding not only the contaminant but its source can help you determine what system you need to protect your home best.
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN, TEST FOR FLUORIDE AND LEAD
Check out this guide on Drinking Water published by the CT Dept of Public Health: www.epa.gov
Your health, and that of your family, are important. If you want the plain truth about water contaminants and what to do to protect you and your family, call or email us today. Our expert and professional technicians will recommend the water test that is right for you.
If you need help understanding an existing water test - we can help. Call H2O Equipment Company today at 860-267-0110.
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| Max Level | Sign or Symptoms | Primary Source | Treatment Options | |
| Arsenic | 0 | Cancer | Nature | Many |
| Chloride | 250 | Taste | Varies, road salt | Reverse Osmosis |
| Chlorine | 4 mg/l | Taste | As additive | Carbon System Always Fresh |
| Coliform Bacteria | ZERO | Gastro-intestinal illness | Fecal waste | Well Chlorination Ultraviolet Light System |
| Copper | 1.3 mg/l | Liver/Kidney | Plumbing, Nature | Neutralizer Reverse Osmosis Always Fresh |
| Flouride | 4.0 mg/l | Bone disease | Nature, As additive | Reverse Osmosis |
| Hardness | 5 grains | White scaling | Nature | Water Softener |
| Iron | 0.3 | Red stains | Nature | Water Softener Birm Filtration |
| Lead | 0 | Developmental Delays in kids | Plumbing, Nature | Carbon System Reverse Osmosis Always Fresh |
| Manganese | 0.05 | Brown stains | Nature | Water Softener |
| MTBE Methyl tertiary-butyl ether | 70 ppb | Multiple | Man-made | Carbon System |
| Nitrate as N | 10.0 mg/l | Blue Baby Syndrome | Fertilizer, Sewage | Reverse Osmosis |
| Nitrite as N | 1.0 mg/l | Blue Baby Syndrome | Fertilizer, Sewage | Reverse Osmosis |
| pH | 6.4-10.0 | Corrosion | Nature | Neutralizer |
| Radon | 4,000 pi/cl | Cancer | Nature | Carbon System Aeration System |
| Sodium | 28 mg/l | ------ | Nature, Road Salt | Reverse Osmosis |
| Sulfate | 500 mg/l | Laxative | Nature, Road Salt | Reverse Osmosis Anion Softener |
| Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) | Varies | Varies | Man-made | Carbon System Always Fresh |