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

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CONTAMINANTS