Arsenic in Water Solutions
ARSENIC IN WATER REMOVAL
Approximately 20 percent of private wells in Massachusetts produce water that exhibit unhealthy levels of naturally occurring arsenic in water. Well inspection and testing well water is the best way to make sure that your water is clean and safe to drink, but well owners often don’t have the right kinds of tests done or do not use accredited laboratories.
This contaminant may occur naturally and is a tasteless, odorless and colorless contaminant. Some activities that could also have left arsenic residuals include apple orchard spraying, coal ash disposal, and use of some pressure treated wood. Charlton homeowners can be very surprised when they get their laboratory water test results back and see they have arsenic in their water. While there are serious health threats associated with ingestion, there are effective removal methods. For detail on potential health affects, see the link at: who/mediacentre/factsheets.
The two primary forms of Arsenic in well water are Arsenic III and Arsenic V. Many removal media have a low capacity for removing Arsenic III from the water, therefore, converting it to Arsenic V for removal is a common approach. Determining the ratio of the two in the water is critical for designing and implementing a water treatment system that will effectively remove it from your drinking water. There are methods to oxidize and convert AS III to AS V for ease of removal.
Twin Arsenic system with Ozone
ARSENIC IN WATER TESTING & ANALYSIS
Having a complete laboratory water test and analysis, including parameters that can negatively impact arsenic removal media, is critical to a well designed, safe water treatment system that will remove arsenic in well water. pH can significantly affect media performance along with other competing ions such as Iron, Manganese, Hardness, Vanadium, Sulfate, Phosphate, Silica, Total Dissolved Solids, Suspended Solids and Hydrogen Sulfide. For a full article on this topic which we’ve had published in Water Technology Magazine, go to our publications section and click on the Arsenic removal article at http://publications/.
MONITORING WATER USAGE
Determining water usage is also critical to designing an effective arsenic in water removal system that will have the proper capacity. Key information would include well pump size, well pump flow rate, size of the incoming water line, number of residents in the home, the number of bathrooms, space availability for equipment installation, electrical availability and water discharge location or restrictions, among others.
WATER USAGE TRACKING, POST INSTALLATION
A couple of key components for consideration when designing this type of system include:
- Utilizing a meter to track flow rate and total gallons processed is critical to determine the home’s water demand.
- Gallons used readings also assist in uncovering any potential leaks in the home such as running toilets, which will unnecessarily prematurely deplete the arsenic media’s capacity.
LEAD/LAG TANK SET-UP CREATES BACK-UP AND INCREASED SAFETY
Because Arsenic in well water is a tasteless, colorless and odorless contaminant, it is particularly important to have two tanks in series in case the first tank is depleted prior to scheduled service with your water treatment company. Service should be scheduled at intervals determined by the water use tracking data accumulated. This combined with appropriate water testing intervals are added safeguards to prevent Arsenic from getting into the treated water entering the home.
While it may first come as somewhat of a shock, if you are contemplating buying a home that has this contaminant, a safe, effective system can be installed to eliminate this problem.
