Water Filtration Solutions
Some of the more common calls received concerning water quality in North Reading relate to discoloration and chlorine odor and taste which may require a water filtration system to correct. The following reviews information directly from the town describing these issues and solutions to them are further described.
While the town does apply water filtration to remove iron and manganese from the water supply, they are not able to remove all of it often resulting in visible coloration and staining. See the following link for frequently asked questions North Reading FAQs about Water. For more detailed information about the town water supply, see the Annual Water Quality Report at N. Reading Annual Water Quality Reports. Water filtration and water softening technologies are described further below.
Water Softener & Sediment Filter
DISCOLORATION & STAINING
Discoloration and staining can be caused by many things in the water supply. In North Reading, the main source has typically been determined to be elevated levels of iron and manganese, minerals that are common in Massachusetts water supplies due to the naturally occurring bedrock. Hydrogen Sulfide is evidenced typically by a rotten egg smell in your water, however this may also be caused by high Manganese levels in the water as well. A water filtration specifically for this problem is effective in correcting this.
Dissolved Iron Staining
SOLUTION: Iron and Manganese can be removed with sediment filtration and water softening (Ion Exchange) technology. Particulate iron will be removed with the proper sediment filtration while dissolved iron can be removed with a water softener.
TRIHALOMETHANES REPORTED IN THE WATER
In 1974 trihalomethanes (chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform) were discovered to be formed during the disinfection step of drinking water if free chlorine was the disinfectant. This, coupled with the perceived hazard to the consumer’s health, led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to amend the National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations to include a maximum contaminant level of 0.10 mg/L tor total trihalomethanes. For more information on trihalomethanes, see the link at Trihalomethane EPA Report
The North Reading Annual Water Quality Report disclosed the following:
“The Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) level at one of four sampling locations exceeded the MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level) of 80 ppb in April, July, and October of 2014. TTHMs form when chlorine is added to the drinking water as a disinfectant. The amount of chlorine being added has been reduced, and TTHM levels measured in January and April 2015 have been below the MCL. Some people who drink water containing trihalomethanes in excess of the MCL over many years may experience problems with their livers, kidneys, or central nervous systems, and may have an increased risk of getting cancer.”
TRIHALOMETHANE & CHLORINE REMOVAL
For trihalomethane control, effective water filtration techniques include (1) oxidation by ozone; (2) clarification by coagulation, settling and filtration, precipitative softening, or direct filtration; or (3) adsorption by powdered activated carbon or granular activated carbon. Your water treatment professional can review your options on the water filtration technique that is right for your situation. To remove chlorine from your water, a carbon filtration system is very effective in adsorbing it from the water.
A properly designed water filtration system can remove any of the above contaminants or impurities in your drinking water supply, delivering excellent water quality to your home.
