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"Aesthetic water problems have easily applied and proven solutions. Don't settle for unappealing water."
There are several things in life that we take for granted. Water is very often one of them. Each of us uses this vital liquid, the most common substance on earth, everyday. And we rarely think twice about it.
However, the water we use for cooking, drinking, and countless other domestic tasks will quickly catch our attention when there is some sort of problem.
Fortunately, some of the most obvious water problems are also the easiest to solve. The problems in this report are aesthetic. Although they are not considered harmful to health, they do affect the look and taste of the water, and may cause it to be undrinkable by some people's standards. Addressing these water quality problems is therefore important. Issues such as taste and odor, color, and turbidity (cloudiness) are all aesthetic water problems, and all have relatively simple solutions. This report will discuss each of these problems in turn, EPA standards regarding aesthetic problems, and finally present treatment technologies to solve them.
In order to treat these problems, we must first look at their source. Water is known as the universal solvent. Before it reaches a consumer's tap, it comes into contact with many different substances, such as gases, minerals, and organic matter. Water picks up traces of these substances, and unfortunately, some of them may cause taste, odor, color, or turbidity problems for the consumer.
Turbidity: Cloudy Water
At one time or another, most consumers have
encountered water that appears cloudy or foggy. This
characteristic is due to turbidity: the presence of
finely divided solid particles in water. These
particles may be inorganic mineral matter which does
not dissolve, or organic matter that has been picked
up as the water flows over and through the ground. The
particles cause the scattering and absorption of light
rays, which gives the water a cloudy appearance.
Whether turbidity is due to suspended organic or
inorganic matter, it can cause staining of sinks and
fixtures, and the discoloration of laundered fabrics.
Inorganic turbidity can have an abrasive effect on
plumbing systems and may cause physical wear or
erosion on pipes and fittings. Turbidity is most
commonly found at taps whose source is surface water
from lakes, streams, or ponds.
Taste and Odor
Another set of problems that will quickly catch a
consumer's attention is objectionable tastes or odors
present in water. These two senses appear to work in
unison, which makes it difficult to separate taste and
odor.
A common characteristic of water from public systems
is the chlorine taste and odor, which is often quite
noticeable. Many public water systems treat water with
chlorine to disinfect it. Although this is an
important step in the treatment of water because it
destroys disease-producing bacteria and other harmful
organisms that may be in present in water, there is no
doubt that excess chlorine from the disinfection
treatment step can make the water objectionable.
In other cases, water with a high mineral
concentration may have an unpleasant soda or salty
taste, and a metallic taste may be produced by the
presence of iron or manganese in water.
Many people have also encountered water that contains
hydrogen sulfide gas, which creates an objectionable
odor. So-called "sulfur water" not only produces the
obnoxious "rotten egg" odor, but is also corrosive to
plumbing and can cause the rapid tarnishing of silver.
Even very low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide are
detectable because of the strong odor.
Various taste and odor conditions are caused by the
presence of organic matter in water. Even when the
amount of organic matter is very low, unusual tastes
and odors such as musty, fishy, or earthy smells may
be found.
It is important to note that tastes and odors affect
drinking water as well as the foods and beverages
prepared with the water.
Color
Another very noticeable water problem is unusual
color, which can make the water unappealing to drink,
and may cause the staining of surfaces and materials
touched by the water.
In some home water supplies, a yellowish coloration
may be present. This color condition is organic in
nature, but presents no health hazard. It is caused by
the presence of microscopic suspended particles.
This coloration occurs in regions where the water
passes through marshlands and has percolated down
through peaty soils. It is most likely to be found in
the Southeast, Northwest, New England and Great Lakes
regions of the United States; and is more common in
surface water supplies and shallow wells than in deep
wells.
Humic acids, often referred to as tannins, are the
real cause of the color condition. Often the color is
not highly visible in a glass of water, but can
frequently be noticed when water is drawn for a bath.
The white porcelain background of the tub can
highlight even the slightest discoloration.
A more severe color condition may be caused by the
presence of iron in the water. Depending on the type
and state of the iron, the water may or may not be
clear when it is first drawn. Water with dissolved
iron may appear clear when it is first drawn, but may
turn a brown-red color when it stands exposed to air
or when it is heated. Water with precipitated iron may
have a reddish color or red particles when it is first
drawn.
The disadvantages of water containing significant
amounts of iron are obvious. It can leave brown-red
stains on fixtures and dishes, as well as discolor
laundry. It is also unappealing for drinking.
Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets
federal guidelines for contaminants that may adversely
affect the aesthetic quality of drinking water. These
Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCL's) apply to
any contaminant in drinking water which may adversely
affect the odor or appearance of the water, and
consequently may cause people to discontinue its use
in favor of another supply, or otherwise adversely
affect "public welfare."
SMCL's differ from national primary (health related)
maximum contaminant levels (MCL's) in that they are
not federally enforceable. Instead, the SMCL's offer
guidance to water quality based on odor, aesthetics,
or appearance; the primary MCL's are established by
the EPA based upon potential adverse health effects.
Treatment
If the water in a consumer's home has these problems
with turbidity, taste, odor, or color, what can be
done? Fortunately, there are several products
available that can be directly installed in the home
to treat these problems. Point-of-Use (POU) and
Point-of-Entry (POE) technologies can treat water in
the home and reduce these problems.
A process that is effective in reducing most of these
aesthetic problems is the use of an activated carbon
filter. These filters are specially designed for the
removal of solid particles from the water. Activated
carbon is a unique material known for its ability to
adsorb (bind to its surface) soluble organic compounds
and certain gases. This quality makes it specially
suited for use in water treatment and allows it to act
as a fine screen which traps solid particles, but
allows the water to pass through. Activated carbon
filters are available in three forms: solid block,
precoat, and granular.
Carbon filters may either attach directly to the
faucet, or may be installed under the sink; filters
for the whole house may also be used to treat staining
and odor problems.
Most taste and odor problems can be reduced with the
use of an activated carbon filter. To combat the taste
and odor problem of excess amounts of chlorine, for
example, many consumers install a filter at the
kitchen tap. The filter adsorbs the excess chlorine,
and produces a tasty, clean water for cooking and
drinking.
Turbidity may also be removed with an activated carbon
filter, or a particulate filter. The particulate
filter will trap the fine particles that cause a
cloudy appearance, and its use will result in a clear,
clean appearance.
The problem of hydrogen sulfide in water is more
complex than many other odor problems. If the
concentration of hydrogen sulfide is very low, then an
activated carbon filter may be used. For greater
concentrations, an iron removal filter should be
effective in correcting the problem. For high
concentrations of hydrogen sulfide, a chlorination
system with activated carbon filtration would likely
be the best solution. Chlorine is potentially harmful,
and must be handled carefully. Consult a professional.
(RO)
Another treatment technique commonly used in the home
is a process called reverse osmosis (RO). In this
process, the water to be treated is forced against a
semipermeable membrane, which rejects contaminants
suspended in the water. The membrane permits the new
water to pass to a holding tank where it is then
available for use. RO is effective in treating water
that has a metallic taste, as well as reducing
numerous other health contaminants. It is also often
paired with an activated carbon filter.
Distillation is also often used for water treatment. A
distillation system raises the water temperature to
boiling. The water turns to vapor, leaving behind
contaminants that have been dissolved in it, as well
as microscopic solids, microorganisms, and organic
materials. The clean water vapor enters a condenser
where it is cooled, and returned to its liquid state.
This process produces a clean, clear water with a
distinctive clarity.
To treat water that is colored as a result of humic
acids, an anion exchange resin may be used. The resin
adsorbs the the organic bodies that cause the
discoloration, and will leave behind clear water.
For color problems that are due to low or moderate
levels of dissolved iron, a household water softener
may remove the impurity. The soluble iron is removed
from the water by ion exchange, in the same way that
hardness is removed by a water softener.
If much of the iron is already precipitated, or the
iron concentration is too high for a water softener,
an iron removal filter should be used. The filter
forms a barrier that prevents the continued passage in
the water.
Whether a water problem involves turbidity, taste,
odor, or color, the first step to its treatment is to
have the water tested. Testing determines the precise
cause of the problem so the ideal treatment may be
applied.
When the safety of the water is in question, it should
be tested by a state certified, EPA certified, or
other reputable laboratory. Testing for turbidity,
taste, odor, or color problems may be performed in the
home by a professional water treatment dealer.
Before purchasing a product, become an educated
consumer. Determine what water problems the proposed
product reduces, and to what level. Check the
product's performance capabilities, maintenance
provisions, and warranty.
Aesthetic water problems have easily applied and
proven solutions. Don't settle for unappealing water.