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3 Stage 20″ Big Blue Whole House GAC/KDF85 Water Filter w/ Radial Flow Carbon Block – Removes Sediment, Iron, Hydrogen Sulfide (rotten egg smell), Chlorine, & Chloramines

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Commentary:

While sorting through hundreds of tweets today, I notice one item that caused me a lot of concern.  @SaveTheWater tweeted that #Tulsa was adding chloramines to the City’s drinking water.  Going to the link brings up a page on their web site with the scary headline:

“Contaminated drinking water news: City of Tulsa – chloramine added to Tulsa drinking water supply – True facts about chloramines”

On the page were two factual news items from a local television station followed by links to several web sites that were filled with inaccurate information on chloramines.  One of the links did go to the USEPA FAQ page on chloramines, which does have good information.  One of the negative web pages that I am all too familiar with is run by Citizens Concerned About Chloramines.  CCAC has worked closely with the Vermont group that tried to bias a survey by the CDC on chloramines and any potential skin rashes not so many years ago.  People Concerned about Chloramine actually contacted the people who were going to be interviewed by CDC field scientists and coached them to say that they got skin rashes from using chloraminated water.  The CCAC website is filled with bias, innuendo and false claims.

Now, @SaveTheWater is a fine organization that usually tweets about such innocuous items as “Did You Know: That it takes 11 gals of water to make for one slice of wheat bread?”  In my humble opinion, they are way out of their depth taking on a topic as complex as this if they list information by the USEPA and CCAC as somehow equal.   Also, where did that headline come from?

The facts:  Yes, Tulsa, OK changed its disinfectant from chlorine to chloramines starting in July 2012.  Tulsa, like hundreds of other cities and water agencies are changing their secondary disinfectant so that they can comply with the Stage 2 Disinfectants/Disinfection By-Products Regulation finalized by the USEPA several years ago. It appears from Tulsa’s website that they have done what is needed to let the population know that extra steps have to be taken once chloramines are introduced.

Chloramines are an approved drinking water disinfectant and they are safe.  The use of chloramines is approved by the USEPA, the state of Oklahoma and all other states where chloramines are being used.  How do I know all of this?  I was the person in charge of the conversion to chloramines for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in 1985 when we improved the water quality for 16 million people. We dealt with concerns raised by the public regarding MWDSC’s conversion in 1985.  However, the current level of rhetoric about chloramines is now approaching the hysteria of the anti-fluoridation crowd.

I urge all who are tweeting and blogging about drinking water quality to get the facts and not fall into the easy trap of posting scary headlines based on inaccurate information.

Click here for new coverage.

So, as many of you already are aware, Charlottesville is in the process of deciding on the fate of our water supply…or really OUR fate. Rivanna Water Authority held a community forum last month to inform us about the choices for purifying the city water. The panel was presenting information and focusing on the “benefits” of using chloramines. Half way thru the discussion is when I noticed another option besides chloramines was first mentioned. There was a group of educated panelists who gave us their opinions and worked for companies or cities that were already chloramined. There were also panelists from the Community Organizers Against Chloramines with a lot of information and facts about the possible damage of chloramines: to people, infants, fish and water pipes.

Basically, Chloramines break down into known carcinogens and can wreak havoc on pipes in houses (leaching lead), cause skin rashes on people and probably animals. It can not be used in fish tanks and there is extensive evidence of death to marine life when exposed to Chloramines. Chloramines do not evaporate out of the water EVER, you can not filter it out, you can not boil it out. Filtering with Brita or Pur won’t work for Chloramines!

Granulated Activated Carbon, selected by Crozet for their water source, seems like it is the better choice.  Not only does it remove bad tastes, it will also filter out the bacteria  that the EPA is concerned about and it will remove other contaminants in our water. Taking out things instead of adding things, in my opinion, is the way to go.

Especially things that there are no studies on the long term safety of! Why would we add something to our water on purpose that kills fish!  As a person that is interested in fermenting foods, like making sauerkraut and mead, I would not be able to use my water to do it.

I am on the verge of buying property in the city of Charlottesville, after 4 years of living here and budgeting extensively.  I have decided to postpone buying a home until I hear what the city is going to do. If the progressive city that we live in is going to go for contaminating our own water supply, then I don’t know if it really has our best interests in mind, and I don’t think I want to buy property with-in the city limits. Also, the cost of replacing plumbing gaskets and pipes as a result of chloramines in the water has to be factored in as a regular expense and an inconvenience for homeowners. I think it is our duty to look out for the small and weak who would be most affected by this, be it in possible lead contamination for small children, rashes in the sensitive population or maybe less than healthy individuals with kidney issues.

-Lea Bennett

Assistant Supplement & Bodycare Manager at Rebecca’s Natural Food

Filthy water cannot be washed.  -WEST AFRICAN PROVERB

All the water that will ever be is, right now.  -National Geographic, October 1993

Tonight is the Public Hearing on how our city will comply with the new EPA regulations and the last chance you may have on voicing your opinions to the City Officials and RWSA before the decision is made on what to add to our city water.

Please come and hear what they have to say about it, even if you don’t know one way or the other what you want. The powers-that-be need to know that we care about decisions that affect our health, our children, and our city.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Lane Auditorium, Albemarle County Office Building
McIntire Road, Charlottesville VA
7:00 pm

Here are links to pamphlets opposing the use, giving details on some side effects of Chloramines in the water

http://www.transitioncville.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ChloraminePamphlet.pdf

http://www.transitioncville.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Chloramine-July-19-25.pdf

Agree to a rule, and then attack when a water system acts to comply with the rule……click here for more…..

What Is Chlorine?

Chlorine is a poison that attacks organic matter, like bacteria in the water. When chlorine enters the body as a result of breathing, swallowing or skin contact, it reacts with water to produce acids. These acids are corrosive and can damage cells in the body on contact. Most harmful chlorine exposures are the result of inhalation, especially while showering or soaking in a hot tub of water. It is harmful to your hair, skin, eyes, nose and mouth membranes and lungs. Chlorine leaves your hair brittle and dry, burns your eyes and makes your skin dry, flaky and itchy.

Health effects can begin within seconds to minutes. Following chlorine exposure, the most common symptoms are airway irritation, wheezing, difficulty breathing, sore throat, cough or irritation of the skin or eyes. The severity of health effects depend upon the route of exposure, the dose and the duration of exposure to chlorine.

Chlorine byproducts can also affect health, such as Trihalomethanes (THM). Trihalomethanes are formed as a by-product predominantly when chlorine is used to disinfect water for drinking and bathing. THMs represent one group of chemicals generally referred to as disinfection by-products (DBP). They result from the reaction of chlorine and/or bromine with organic matter present in the water being treated. The THMs produced have been associated through epidemiological studies with some adverse health effects. They can be absorbed into the body through the skin or by inhalation. When THMs are absorbed through the skin or into the lungs, they hold stronger carcinogenic properties because they aren’t detoxified through the liver.

Although chlorine is universally used to disinfect water, it is not safe for drinking, showering or bathing.

“Chlorine is so dangerous” according to biologist and chemist Dr. Herbert Schwartz,” that it should be banned. Putting chlorine in the water is like starting a time bomb. Cancer, heart trouble, premature senility, both mental and physical are conditions attributable to chlorine treated water supplies. It is making us grow old before our time by producing symptoms of ageing such as hardening of the arteries.”

What Is Chloramine?

Chloramine is a mixture of chlorine and ammonia, which is added to the water of many cities as a substitute for free chlorine. It is often referred to in the plural as “chloramines,” because it can take on a number of forms according to the pH and mineral content of the water.

At first, scientists knew only that chloramine didn’t produce the same byproducts chlorine did. But over time they learned that it could produce worrisome byproducts of its own, including chemicals called nitrosamines.

“Nitrosamines are the compounds that people warned you about when they told you you shouldn’t be eating those nitrite-cured hot dogs,” Sedlak says. “They’re about a thousand times more carcinogenic than the disinfection byproducts that we’d been worried about with regular old chlorine.” — David Sedlak from the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Berkeley.

What about Fluoride?

Many misguided water treatment centers add fluoride to water, either in the form of Sodium Fluoride or the radioactive toxic waste Fluorosilic Acid. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss why fluoride is undesirable, but many people do not want it in their water.

Fluoride is easy to remove from drinking water and whole house systems because the fluoride dwells long enough in a sufficient amount of media to adsorb fluoride. However, with shower and bath filters there are three problems that prevent removing fluoride from the water: 1) not enough media, 2) not enough dwell time, and 3) hot water can interfere with adsorption and can compromise the life of the media.

Also, it is questionable about whether or not the fluoride molecule is small enough to be absorbed by the skin — with some forms of fluoride the molecule is too small, but there is no way to know which form is used by the water treatment plant — possibly making the need to remove fluoride from shower and bath water unnecessary. However, small children tend to drink bath water, and drinking fluoridated water is definitely a problem, so in that case, a whole house fluoride removing system should be considered. If you are concerned about removing fluoride, see CuZn’s Fluoride Water Systems.

How to Remove Chlorine and Chloramines from Bathing Water

While carbon is one of the most effective ways to remove chlorine, unfortunately, most carbon is not designed for the hot water temperatures of shower and bath water. The problem is that hot water causes the carbon to expand, and when carbon expands it releases contaminants stored in its pores. Also, water above 94 degrees can cause the carbon to be less effective and can shorted its life, so if you ever run hot water through a carbon filter, make sure to flush it immediately with cold water. Another drawback to most carbon filters is that they are not very effective at removing chloramines.

The types of water purifier medias that work great in hot water up to 115 degrees are the following:

• KDF 55 for removing or reducing chlorine and water-soluble heavy metals and controlling scale, bacteria and algae.
• KDF 85 for removing or reducing chloramines, iron and hydrogen sulfide and water-soluble heavy metals and controlling scale, bacteria and algae.
• Catalytic Carbon retains conventional carbon’s ability to adsorb organic contaminants including chlorine, pesticides, disinfection byproducts and ammonia, but it also possesses a greatly enhanced capacity to remove or significantly reduce chloramine levels.
• Chloragon is a non-carbon media that removes more chlorine at a wider temperature range than any other shower filtration media, except KDF. This media is used exclusively with Sprite shower filters.
• Pharmaceutical Grade Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) has recently been included in AWWA (American Water Works Association) Standard (AWWA, 2005b) as one of the methods for dechlorination of disinfected water mains. There are no NSF International certified point of use devices utilizing Vitamin C, however SFPUC (San Francisco Public Utilities Commission) determined that 1000 mg of Vitamin C removes chloramine and chlorine completely in a medium size bathtub. This media is used in the VitaShower and VitaBath filters.

The most effective method to remove a broader range of water contaminates beyond just chlorine and chloramine is to combine medias, such as is done with CuZn Water Filters. For chlorine removal, CuZn combines KDF 55 with Catalytic Carbon and for chloramine removal they combine KDF 85 and Catalytic Carbon, like in the TurboShower filter, Bath Ball™ filter, LaundryMate® for laundry machines, GardenMate® for garden hoses and AquaMate® for RVs. Sprite Shower filters combine KDF 55 with Chloragon (Sprite does not have a chloramine removing option).

NOTE: Because the VitaShower and VitaBath do not remove anything from the water other than chlorine and chloramines, we have some customers who want the benefits of Vitamin C and a filter that also removes heavy metals and other contaminants, so they combine it with a CuZn or Sprite shower filter.

How Fast Do Water Filters Work?

Usually, you can notice a difference in the water quality with your first bath or shower. Regardless of which brand you use, the first thing you will notice is softer water when you shampoo your hair or lather soap and skin that is less dry. As a result of bathing in purer, chlorine-free or chloramine-free water, you may notice:

• You breathe easier because the harsh vapors, which are caused from the hot water and inhaled in the lungs and transferred into the blood stream, are removed.
• Reduction of allergy symptoms.
• Alleviation of dry itchy skin and healthier looking skin.
• Luster and natural shine returning to your hair, leaving it silky and smooth. Shower filters are great for color-treated hair.
• Reduction of scale buildup and spotting due to softer, pH balanced water.

But, most importantly, you will no longer have to worry about breathing or absorbing contaminants that can diminish your health.

The reasons are plentiful and I will cover a few of the main reasons. To kill bacteria and burn out any chloramines in the swimming pool water.  Shocking a pool will rejuvenate the pool water and prevent algae growth.  Try to maintain a chlorine level of 2.0 – 4.0 ppm. Free chlorine.

What is algae and why does it appear in my swimming pool.

Essentially algae is a bacteria.  It grows for many reasons including poor filtration, water imbalance, etc. However, the single biggest reason for algae growth is low chlorine levels or no chlorine in the swimming pool water.  This is the reason for shocking on a weekly basis and maintaining your chlorine levels.

Algaecides

Once you have algae the easiest way to kill it is to shock the pool and use an algaecide.  For this discussion we will consider 3 kinds.  

1)   An Algae 50 which will foam but is very effective on green algae and fairly inexpensive.

2)   Algilcil or Algae 60 which is effective on green and black algae and will not foam.  

3)   Finally, a copper based algaecide which will stay in the water for sometime and is very effective way to treat algae.

Check out our website at http://www.eztestpools.com for more information, service requests, pool & spa parts, pool store products, chemicals, and more!  Thanks for visiting our blog!

The two can be confusing at times.  Some people don’t know when shocking or super chlorinating is needed; I understand and sometimes interchange the two myself.  Even though the two are very similar in all reality they are completely different.  I like to use the technical term break point chlorination when needed as not to confuse any customers. There is a lot to water chemistry and can become quite confusing.

Super chlorinating your pool is a term used to simply boost the chlorine level after a heavy bather load, and yes that means your dog, too.  One dog in your pool is like having 50 people swimming for the day.  The sign of algae, even the smallest amount would require you to shock your pool. You can find info on how to treat algae here If there has been rain all day or for some reason your chlorine level falls below normal.  I like to call that preventive maintenance.  These are just a few things in my opinion that could lead to more costly problems than to simply boost the chlorine lever by adding a couple of pounds of chlorine.

Don’t get confused when purchasing an item for either shocking ( break point chlorination ) or super chlorinating, because while each one does a different job the ingredient is the same, chlorine.   ( I’ll get into the different types of chlorine another day )

Shocking or break point chlorination is a whole different story and its job is completely different. You must consider the different forms of chlorine in your pool, before you can determine whether you need to reach break point chlorination.  It’s extremely important once you figure this out, that the right amount of chlorine is used or oxidation will not occur and you will create a much bigger problem.

Free chlorine –  This reading is what is left after the chlorine does its job and must remain at a residual of 1-3 ppm at all times.  Free chlorine is the sanitizing agent that keeps the pool free of any micro-organisms that could be present in your pool, causing you to become sick.  It also acts as a good oxidizer.

Total chlorine – The total chlorine is the sum of the free and combined chlorine.

Combined chlorine – This reading is the difference between the total and free chlorine reading.  It is considered the “bad” chlorine that has been used up by oxidizing organic matter.  Remember I said that free available chlorine acts as an oxidizer.  The best way to figure this out is to use a DPD test kit or you can bring a water sample to your local pool dealer.

How do we get combined chlorine and what is it?

Combined chlorine or chloramine is a chlorine by-product that is formed due to insufficient free chlorine. When the free chlorine is over powered by organic contaminants it can’t oxidize the pool water by keeping this matter in solution.    This will cause a strong ammonia like chlorine odor that most people think is too much chlorine, when in fact it’s not enough chlorine in your pool.  It will cause your eyes and nose to burn, and your skin to itch.   When this happens your sanitizer will become inefficient leaving your pool susceptible to many things like algae or a build up of micro-organisms.   It can also be the cause of a cloudy pool.  I could get into the technical chemical terms, but since this blog is basically meant for simplicity, I’ll stick to the basics.

How do you correct this problem?

You must reach break-point chlorination, which is 10 times the amount of the combined chlorine.  So if the reading is 1 ppm, then you need to add enough chlorine to reach 10 ppm.  Remember the combined chlorine is the difference between the total and free available chlorine.  Once break-point is accomplished all organic matter will oxidize or burn up, your pool will become crystal clear, and your free available chlorine will properly start doing its job.

Again I can’t stress enough how important it is to add the right amount of chlorine to reach break-point, if you don’t oxidation will not occur and could make matters worse.

Please if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Most municipal water supplies add chlorine or chloramines (chlorine + ammonia) to our tap water to kill bacteria. Because our skin absorbs 60% of the chemicals we touch or apply, and chlorine also turns into a vapor we inhale, there can be serious consequences.

Research shows that these chemicals and their byproducts can have the following adverse health effects:

• Dry, itchy skin
• Dry, brittle hair
• Respiratory issues such as asthma, coughing and chest pain, and retaining water in the lungs
• Excessive free-radical formation
• Hardening of the arteries
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes
• Destruction of vitamin E polyunsaturated fatty acids (vital for healthy skin)
• Even cancer, heart disease, and reproductive disorders 

I wanted to protect myself and my family from the harmful effects of chlorine and its byproducts, so I installed a Chanson Spa Shower Filter. Installation took less than five minutes and I was instantly able to notice a difference in the water as well as the way my hair looked and felt. Read my full testimonial and see the before and after pics.

Chanson also offers whole-house filters if you are interested in removing other contaminants and protecting the water that comes out of every faucet, not just your shower. Visit Chanson Water for more information.

Everything that is put into your pool or spa water is filtered through your filtration system or evaporated into the air.  Not every particle goes through this process and the ones that don’t are left behind.  Eventually, these particles build up over time to be what we call chloramines.  Chloramines  will cause a foul-smelling chlorine odor, poor disinfection, and eye and skin irritation.  All of this organic junk comes out of solution causing a cloudy pool.

When this happens you want to oxidize using a non chlorine shock or a chlorine shock to a break point that will bring the chloramines back into solution making your pool or spa water sparkling clear.

How do you know what the break point is.

You subtract the total chlorine from the free chlorine and times that by 10, and that is the ppm’s you will need to reach break point, bringing all the suspended particles back into solution.

For example if you total chlorine reading is 4.7 and your free chlorine reading is 2.7 then your combined chlorine reading is 2.0.  If you times that by 10, you get 20 ppm, and that is how high you need to raise your chlorine level to reach break point.

As always whatever product you buy always read the manufacturers directions first.

There are several causes for a reduction of Chlorine activity.
● Colloids may envelope bacteria forming a protective coat against chlorine.
● Organic are oxidised by chlorine which reduces the concentration of free chlorine.
● Ammonia and other nitrogenous compounds react with Chlorine forming Chlorine-Nitrogen compounds which have slower in activation for virus and bacteria.

Inactivation of Norwalk virus in drinking water by chlorine at http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=238613 B H Keswick, T K Satterwhite, P C Johnson, H L DuPont, S L Secor, J A Bitsura, G W Gary, and J C Hoff
Abstract
Norwalk virus in water was found to be more resistant to chlorine inactivation than poliovirus type 1 (LSc2Ab), human rotavirus (Wa), simian rotavirus (SA11), or f2 bacteriophage. A 3.75 mg/liter dose of chlorine was found to be effective against other viruses but failed to inactivate Norwalk virus. The Norwalk virus inoculum remained infectious for five of eight volunteers, despite the initial presence of free residual chlorine. Infectivity in volunteers was demonstrated by seroconversion to Norwalk virus. Fourteen of 16 subjects receiving untreated inoculum seroconverted to Norwalk virus. Illness was produced in four of the eight volunteers and in 11 of 16 control subjects. A similar Norwalk virus inoculum treated with a 10 mg/liter dose of chlorine produced illness in only one and failed to induce seroconversion in any of eight volunteers. Free chlorine (5 to 6 mg/liter) was measured in the reaction vessel after a 30-minute contact period. Norwalk virus appears to be very resistant to chlorine which may explain its importance in outbreaks of waterborne disease.

Virus Sensitivity to Chlorine Disinfection of Water Supplies,  EPA Number: 600278123

The efficiency of chlorine disinfection of viruses is likely to be affected both by the type of virus and by the nature of the suspending medium. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of virus type, suspending medium and the interaction of these, on the kinetics of inactivation by chlorine. Six enteric viruses (picornaviruses) as well as SV40 and Kilham rat virus were studied under carefully controlled laboratory conditions. It was found that the different virus types showed a wide range of sensitivity to chlorine disinfection. The rate of inactivation was greater at pH 6 than at pH 10; however, the relative sensitivities of the different viruses were affected differently by changes in pH. This indicates an effect of pH both on the species of chlorine and on the sensitivity of the virus. The presence of dissolved ions also had an effect on sensitivity to chlorine. The possible effects of virus aggregation and the appearance of chlorine resistant mutants were investigated as well. The results indicate that it will be difficult to obtain a single virus type which will serve as a suitable indicator of disinfection under all circumstances. at http://yosemite.epa.gov/water/owrcCatalog.nsf/1ffc8769fdecb48085256ad3006f39fa/208c8ba0e54feb3a8525702d00592dbf!OpenDocument

Comparative inactivation of viruses by chlorine

R S Engelbrecht, M J Weber, B L Salter, and C A Schmidt, Appl Environ Microbiol. 1980 August; 40(2): 249–256. at http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=291561
The kinetics of inactivation of six enteric viruses plus simian virus 40 and Kilham rat virus by free available chlorine was studied under carefully controlled laboratory conditions. It was found that the different virus types demonstrated a wide range of susceptibility to chlorine disinfection. The rate of inactivation was greater at pH 6 than at pH 10; however, the relative susceptibilities of the different viruses were affected differently by a change in pH, suggesting that the pH influenced both the species of chlorine present and the susceptibility of the different viruses to chlorine. The presence of potassium chloride also affected the susceptibility of viruses to chlorine.

Prior to July 19th, the Mountain House Community Service District sent out this notice informing residents that they were changing the water disinfectant from free chlorine in favor of Chloramine a combination of ammonia and chlorine. The conversion was made on July 19th and since then, MoHo water changed forever.

Chloramine is one of three disinfectants sanctioned by the EPA for use in potable water systems along with chlorine and chlorine dioxide. Unlike chlorine, chloramine cannot be boiled out of the water or removed by letting the water sit out. It can only be removed by expensive home filtering systems which cost thousands of dollars. From my research, chloramine has been used in water for 90 years. However, it has only been used as disinfectant in the past few decades. Prior to this, it was used in very small dosages primarily to rid water of unpleasant taste.

For me, the biggest concerns are the possible health risks. I’ve noticed family members experience irritated eyes and skin and respiratory problems that we attributed to the stagnant mountain air, but now realize it could be–emphasize the word could– due to the chloramine in our water. Upon further research, the San Francisco Water District added chloramine to the Hetch Hetchy water supply in 2004, which services water for the entire Bay Area. Personally, we’ve noticed more people we know in the East Bay complaining about irritated skin and breathing problems–issues they’ve only experienced the last few years. Although these symptoms can be attributed to chloramines on a casual level, there hasn’t been a study to confirm that these health risks are associated to chloramines at all. If there is a study, I’m not aware of one, which is justification for water districts around the country to use it.

These concerns about chloramine aren’t just a Mountain House or SF Bay area phenomenen, they are a nationwide issue. Citizens Concerned About Chloramine (CCAC) is an organization that formed to address the health concerns of using chloramine in tap water. Their website has some great information for the homeowner who wants to know.

As a Mountain House resident, I think it’s important to understand the possible side effects of chloramine. I wouldn’t think our water system would intentionally or unintentionally have harmful chemicals in our household water….but……I guess you just never know.

If anyone from Mountain house has had symptoms attributed to chloramines, please share your story with the MHCSD. For more information on chloramines, this website has some interesting facts that may help understand the reasons for my concern. Hopefully I’m wrong about chloramines–hopefully it’s the disinfectants of all disinfectants.

But what if I’m not wrong?

But a group of residents fear the new chemical disinfectants, called chloramines, could actually make Gloucester drinking water more dangerous.

Citing a body of Internet-posted research and grassroots campaigns across the country to stop the spread of chloramines, the residents, led by local nurse Pat Murphy, are calling for the city to delay the switchover.

Read more…

This means you should not shower with, drink, cook with or wash clothing with the water. Water should be used for flushing toilets only.

This is due to an event that occurred this morning. This is not in relation to the normal, temporary disinfectant switch from chloramines to chlorine that takes place each spring. Those of you living in the affected area should not use the water.

The UPDATED boundaries of the area in question are indicated below. Click here for a detailed map of affected areas (PDF 214 kb) .

• West Boundary: Western Avenue, NW
• North Boundary: River Road, NW
• East Boundary: Connecticut Avenue, NW
• South Boundary Nebraska Avenue, NW

The spike happened early this morning at DC WASA’s unmanned Fort Reno facility when it was offline for routine maintenance disinfection. At 7:30 this morning, operators at the DC WASA Bryant Street Pump Station identified a drop in the reservoir at Fort Reno, which indicated the possibility of a chlorine spike. DC WASA immediately dispatched staff to confirm a higher-than-normal chlorine concentration in the water, which they determined had happened at approximately 5 a.m.

Those of you who used water with excess chlorine may have noticed taste and odor problems. While unlikely, the chlorine may also cause a reaction in individuals with sensitive skin. Anyone who observes such a reaction should contact a physician.

Some people who use water containing chlorine well in excess of the Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL) (regulatory standard) could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose. Some people who drink water containing chlorine well in excess of the MRDL could experience stomach discomfort.

DC WASA notified the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region III immediately upon learning of the chlorine spike. Water-quality crews are monitoring the system across the entire affected area and will advise the public when the water supply has returned to normal. Our staff is also assessing the causes of the problem.

For more information, you can call DC WASA’s 24-hour Emergency Center at 202.612.3400 end_of_the_skype_highlighting



Upcountry water storage. File Photo.

For the months of February and March, customers in Upper and Lower Kula are asked to conserve water because the Department will be without a 2-million gallon storage supply at a critical point in the water distribution system.

Effective Monday, February 1, 2010, the Department of Water Supply will switch the distribution system disinfectant at the Olinda Water Treatment Facility (WTF) from chloramines to chlorine in preparation for the Omaopio Tank roof replacement project in Kula. This affects the Upper Kula water system only. Chlorine is the same disinfectant used in the Lower Kula and Makawao water systems.

By Friday, February 5, Upper Kula customers may notice a change in water quality because chlorine has a slight taste and smell. This is normal and poses no health risk. County officials say the water meets all federal and state water quality standards.

For kidney dialysis patients: The processes already in place to remove chloramines in the water will remove chlorine. No change or adjustment is needed, and at the end of March, the department will switch back to chloramines.

For fish tank owners: Filters that remove chloramines also remove chlorine, so no change or adjustment is needed. For fish tanks without filters, customers may want to let the water sit for a few hours so the chlorine can dissipate.

Contractor M&M Tanks Inc. will replace the roof of the Omaopio Tank, which involves removing the existing roof, tank modification, and installation of a geodesic aluminum dome roof on the 2-million gallon tank. The new roof will be similar to the dome roof installed on the Mokuhau Tank in Wailuku and on the Kahului Tank. The project should be completed by the end of March 2010.

The Kamole WTF in Haliimaile, the Piiholo WTF in Makawao, and the Po’okela Well in Makawao will supplement water for customers in the Upper Kula water system.

The cost of the roof replacement project is $980,000. The Omaopio Tank was built in 1977. This project was originally scheduled for October 2009 but was postponed due to drought conditions.

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Supporting Information provided by the County of Maui)

CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
Respiratory and Ocular Symptoms Among Employees of a Hotel Indoor Waterpark Resort — Ohio, 2007

Lifeguards reported significantly more work-related symptoms (e.g., cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and eye irritation) than unexposed hotel employees. Lifeguards also reported significantly more eye irritation and cough on days when hotel occupancy was high versus low.

Insufficient air movement and distribution likely led to accumulation of trichloramine and exacerbation of symptoms. Based on recommendations to increase air movement and distribution at pool deck level, hotel management modified the ventilation system extensively, and subsequently no new cases were reported.

Chloramines are disinfection by-products formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen-containing compounds such as sweat and urine. They include monochloramine, dichloramine, and trichloramine.

Trichloramine is the main chloramine compound present above chlorinated water surfaces  and has been suspected as the cause of outbreaks of eye and respiratory irritation at indoor pools. Increased bather load has been associated with increased trichloramine levels, most likely because of increased nitrogen compounds from bathers.

Other factors affecting airborne trichloramine concentration include water chemistry, air recirculation, and aerosolization of water contaminants from splashing and spraying.  Trichloramine is a strong mucous membrane irritant and has been associated with eye and respiratory tract irritation and asthma in swimmers and pool attendants.

The World Health Organization recommends an airborne trichloramine concentration of 0.5 mg/m3 as a provisional value. Currently, no NIOSH or Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) occupational exposure limits exist for airborne trichloramine.

Ellen’s link lead to a page on the site dedicated entirely to Articles About Chloramine, where I found a lot of useful and shocking information. You can really get to understand the basics of this issue, including the lingo and science, of Disinfection By-products (DBPs) or chloramines, which is what you get when chlorine bonds with organic matter, ranging from urine to algae. Also, this link can tell you what the government is and isn’t doing about regulating the problem. It’s a major resource on this issue.

On the front page of the Chloramine link above is an article about swimming. An interesting point is made that most pools measure chlorine levels, but do not measure chloramine levels. The latter is what makes pool water harmful. How do you know when chloramine levels are high in a pool?

• You can smell chloramines. You think you’re smelling chlorine, but what you’re really smelling are the by-product (DBPs) of chlorine bonding with organic matter (ie. urine, sweat, even makeup).
• The pool has been “shocked” by chlorine. What happens on a busy day when an “accident” happens in the pool? The staff follows health code procedures and administers an amount of chlorine deemed efficient to sterilize the water. The pool is closed long enough to not create a potential chlorine burn, but for the chlorine to bond with the organic matter and create — you guessed it — chloramines.
• You get a rash. This is not a chlorine burn — it is a result of your skin not liking chloramines.
• The pool relies on chlorine as it’s main disinfectant. Pools need to switch to eco-friendly and state-of-the-art Ultraviolet (UV) light cleaning systems. I’ve written about UV systems here.
• It’s simply an indoor pool. And the windows are closed, causing little air circulation.

If you sense any of the above, it’s best to get out of the pool and/or limit your exposure. You can also instruct your family to shower before entering a pool, and encourage the use of the restroom before swimming. Also, for those not potty trained, double-up with both a swim diaper and plastic cover with an elastic waist band. Seeing as what harm can be caused for the health of all, make the effort.

Arsenic,Lead & Fluoride! Chloramines! Heavy Metals! Hydrogen Sulfide! Nitrates! Sediments! Green Carbon!

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ARSENIC, LEAD & FLUORIDE

Arsenic

Arsenic is a metallic element that forms a number of poisonous compounds, and is found in nature at low levels – mostly in compounds with oxygen, chlorine, and sulfur, defining inorganic arsenic compounds. Arsenic in plants and animals combines with carbon and hydrogen to create organic arsenic. Organic arsenic is usually less harmful than inorganic arsenic and when it enters the environment, it does not evaporate. Usually it gets into air when contaminated materials are burned, settles from the air to the ground where it does not break down, but often changes from one form to another. Most arsenic compounds are water soluble.

How is it used?

Arsenic compounds are mainly used to preserve wood. They are also used to make insecticides and weed killers. Copper and lead ores also contain small amounts of arsenic.

What are the health effects?

Inorganic arsenic is a human poison. Organic arsenic is less harmful but still not preferable. High levels of inorganic arsenic in food or water can be fatal and a high level is 60 parts of arsenic per million parts of food or water (60 ppm). Arsenic damages many tissues including nerve, stomach, intestines, and skin. Breathing high levels can give you a sore throat and irritated lungs and long term exposure to inorganic arsenic may lead to a darkening of the skin and the appearance of small warts on the palms, soles, and torso. Additional extended exposure to arsenic via drinking-water can cause cancer of the skin, lungs, urinary bladder, and kidney, as well as other skin changes such as pigmentation changes and thickening.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets limits on the amount of arsenic that industrial sources can release. EPA has set a limit of 0.05 parts per million (ppm) for arsenic in drinking water. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) established a maximum permissible exposure limit for workplace airborne arsenic of 10 micrograms per cubic meter. Any amount is far from preferable.

Lead

Lead is a naturally occurring bluish-gray metal found in small amounts on the earth’s outer layer. Lead can be found in all parts of our environment and a majority comes from human activities including burning fossil fuels, mining, and manufacturing.

Lead is found in many different materials, including but not limited to batteries, ammunition, metal products such as solder and pipes, and devices to shield X-rays. Because of health concerns, the amount of lead found in gasoline, paints and ceramic products, caulking, and pipe solder have been reduced in recent years. Lead rarely occurs naturally in water; it usually gets into the water from the delivery system: service connections, pipes, solder, and brass fixtures. Reactions between the water and these parts can cause corrosion and cause the lead to get into your water. It is estimated that lead in drinking water contributes between 10%-20% of total lead exposure in young children. Food is the greatest single source of lead exposure for the average adult.

How is it used?

The largest use for lead is in storage batteries in cars and other motor vehicles. Lead may be used as a pure metal, alloyed with other metals, or as a chemical compound. Most lead today is obtained from recovery of recycled scrap and those batteries.

Human activities, such as lead mining and smelting operations and manufacturing and use of lead products (e.g., leaded gasoline, lead-based paint), have resulted in the contamination of many industrial and residential areas with lead.

Additionally cosmetics contain lead notable amounts.

What are the health effects?

Short term effects: Lead can cause a variety of adverse health effects when people are exposed to it for relatively short periods of time. These effects may include interference with red blood cell chemistry, delays in normal physical and mental development in babies and young children, slight deficits in the attention span, hearing, and learning abilities of children, and slight increases in the blood pressure of some adults.

Long-term effects: Lead has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure of stroke and kidney disease; cancer. Lead may also cause irreversible neurological damage as well as renal disease, cardiovascular effects, and reproductive toxicity.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

Lead and lead compounds can be highly toxic when eaten or inhaled. Although lead is absorbed very slowly into the body, its rate of excretion is even slower. Thus, with constant exposure, lead accumulates gradually in the body. It is absorbed by the red blood cells and circulated through the body where it becomes concentrated in soft tissues, especially the liver and kidneys. Lead can cause lesions in the central nervous system and apparently can damage the cells making up the blood-brain barrier that protects the brain from many harmful chemicals.

If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above an Action Level set by the EPA, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of lead so that it is consistently below that level. If the levels of lead exceed the Action Level, the system must notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Customers will be informed of what they can do at home to lower their exposure to lead. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health.

Fluoride

Fluoride is the ion of the element fluorine. Although it occurs in small amounts in plants and animals, and has effects on the formation of dental enamel and bones, it is not considered to be a dietary essential and no deficiency signs are known.
Naturally, the fluoride content of water ranges between 0.05 and 14 ppm. Water containing more than about 12 ppm fluoride can lead to chalky white patches on the surface of the teeth, known as mottled enamel. At higher levels there is strong brown mottling of the teeth and inappropriate deposition of fluoride in bones known as fluorosis.

How is it used?

Fluorides are important industrial chemicals with a number of uses but the largest uses are for aluminum production, drinking water fluoridation and the manufacture of fluoridated dental preparations.

The concept of fluoridation (adding fluoride to foods and water) has been with us for decades. Some clever scientists noticed that organic fluorine is required with calcium for healthy teeth and bones. Extrapolating this, the scientists decided that more fluorine may mean more healthy teeth, (although they couldn’t prove this) and suggested that water supplies be “enhanced” with ionic fluoride, which is not the same compound and has different health effects. Coincidentally, the scientists worked for large paper and aluminium manufacturers, whose industrial processes produce large amounts of fluoride! Ionic fluoride does not contribute to this process and instead causes the over stimulation of the parathyroid glands, resulting in abnormal bone growth, calcification of tendons and ligaments and interrupts the process which generates energy in cells. Wide variations in fluoride intake among children make estimating fluoride intake difficult and much controversy surrounding fluoridation and youth.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

Yes!!! On August 9, 2007 Fluoride Action Network signed by over 600 professionals calling for an end to fluoridation and a call to legislators in fluoridating countries to hold hearings to determine why, after the release of the landmark National Research Council report 2006, aggressive promotion of fluoridation continues. Now there are over 1,720 signers!

Signers included;

• 247 PhD’s (includes DSc, Doctor of Science)
• 226 Dentists (DDS, DMD, BDS)
• 219 MD’s (includes MBBS)
• 208 DC’s (Doctor of Chiropractic)
• 203 Nurses (RN, BSN, ARNP, APRN, LNC)
• 96 ND’s (Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine)
• 47 Lawyers (JD and LLB)
• 32 RDHs (Registered Dental Hygienist and RDHAP)
• 29 Acupuncturists (LAc - Licensed Acupuncturist, and, MAc -Master Acupuncturist)
• 28 Pharmacists (Pharm.D, B. Pharm, DPh, RPH)
• 18 DO’s (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

“According to Dr. William Hirzy, a chemist at American University and vice president of EPA’s Professionals Union in Washington D.C., “the difference between the levels of fluoride causing toxic effects and the levels added to water to prevent tooth decay is vanishingly small and deeply troubling.”

Fluoride is found in processed food, beverages, dental products, pesticide residues and polluted air. “The end result is that some people drinking water with just 1 ppm fluoride may ingest enough fluoride from all sources to experience a health problem,” says Hirzy

“Since [the 1940s], the percent of individuals consuming fluoridated water (in the US) has steadily increased. The increase in percentage of communities with fluoridated water has resulted in an increase in the mean content of fluoride not only in soft drinks and fruit juices, but in canned goods (notably soups), leading to increased intake of fluoride by individuals in communities with nonfluoridated water.” – Fomon SJ, Ekstrand J, Ziegler EE. (2000). Fluoride intake and prevalence of dental fluorosis: trends in fluoride intake with special attention to infants. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 60(3):131-9.

“Because the main component of most beverages is water, the fluoride content of these products closely parallels the fluoride content of water used in their processing.” – Levy SM, Guha-Chowdhury N. (1999). Total fluoride intake and implications for dietary fluoride supplementation. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 59: 211-23.

“We cannot… ignore water fluoridation as a major source of ingested fluoride.” – Heller KE, et al (1997). Dental Caries and Dental Fluorosis at Varying Water Fluoride Concentrations. Journal of Public Health Dentistry 57: 136-143.

There is an intense amount of controversy surrounding fluoridation since the 1990’s.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set a standard of 4.0 ppm as the maximum allowable fluoride level in drinking water. Within the United States, fluoride levels in drinking water are actually maintained at about one-fourth of this level. However, in some developing countries, particularly in southern Asia and northern Africa, natural fluoride is present at extremely high levels. In India, for example, a study sponsored by the World Health Organization found natural fluoride levels exceeding 1.5 ppm in about 8 percent of samples, with some concentrations as high as 22.0 ppm. In such areas, public health workers actively engage in efforts to reduce fluoride exposure and eliminate fluorosis.

How do I remove arsenic, lead and fluoride from my drinking water?

The most effective way to economically reduce chlorine taste and odor in water is through the use of granular activated carbon (GAC). The unique properties of carbon that are most beneficial in water treatment are its extremely high surface area and its electro-positive charge. One pound of carbon contains the surface area of 125 acres and can absorb literally thousands of different chemicals. Acting like little magnets, GAC attract poor taste and odor producing compounds resulting in great tasting, healthier water throughout the home. GAC has been certified to remove or reduce many volatile organic chemicals such as chlorine, benzene, trihalomethanes, radon, solvents and hundreds of other chemicals found in water.

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Chloramines

Chloramines include compounds containing chlorine and nitrogen; esp., an unstable, colorless, pungent liquid, NHCl, used to make hydrazine. As a class of amines, chloramines are produced when ammonia and chlorine (as hypochlorous acid) react with each other.

How is it used?

Chloramine is increasingly used in water treatment plants rather than chlorine, as it has been/still is ( controversy surrounding this ) believed that chloramine is much more stable and will not dissipate from water, ensuring disinfection until it reaches the consumers. In chloramine water treatment, monochloramine (NH2Cl) is formed by adding chlorine and ammonia under controlled conditions.

Chloramine is used principally in systems requiring a reduction in tastes and odors, or a reduction in disinfection byproducts, such as trihalomethanes (THMs). Particularly where the water supply contains phenol, free chlorine readily reacts to form chlorophenol, which has a very disagreeable taste and odor. More recently, many public water systems have found that chloramine can be used to reduce the THM level in their water. The primary disadvantage of chloramine is that it is a much weaker and slower acting disinfectant than free chlorine. It is particularly weak for inactivating certain viruses. In water systems that use chloramine as the principal disinfectant, ammonia is added at a point downstream from the initial chlorine application so that microorganisms, including viruses, will be exposed to the free chlorine for a short period before the chloramine is formed.

What are the health effects?

Hospitals and kidney dialysis centers must be alerted when chloramines are used for water supply disinfection. Cases of chloramine-induced hemolytic anemia in patients have been reported when their dialysis water was not appropriately treated. Persons with liver or kidney disease and those with hereditary urea cycle disorders are at increased risk for ammonia toxicity from the consumption of chloraminated water and kidney dialysis patients cannot use chloraminated water in their dialysis machines because it will cause hemolytic anemia.

Respiratory irritations as chloramine fumes can cause an individual to become congested and cause sneezing, sinus congestion, coughing, choking, wheezing, shortness of breath, and asthma.

Chloraminated vapor from showers, baths, hot tubs, dishwashers, and other household appliances contains volatilized chemicals that can be inhaled and cause irritation to the respiratory tract. Chloramine exposure also damages lung mucosa, making the lungs more susceptible to allergens and infections

Chloramine tap water can cause severe skin reactions: rashes, itching, welting, chapping, cracking, bleeding, dry skin, flaking, blistering, burning sensation, scarring, pigmentation. Chloramine can also aggravate other skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

Unlike chlorine, chloramines do not rapidly dissipate on standing. Neither do they dissipate by boiling.
Drawbacks to the use of chloramine can include potential water quality problems (e.g., nitrification and corrosion) if the treatment process is not carefully controlled and the system’s operational practices are not appropriately adjusted for the new disinfectant. Chloramine can change the chemical properties of the water, which can impact corrosion of lead and copper.

In order to meet standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), municipal water districts across the United States are changing they way they disinfect public water supplies. In many cases this involves adding ammonia to chlorinated water to produce chloramines, or
chloraminated water.

While chloramination has been recommended by the EPA since the 1990s as a way to lower the level of carcinogenic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) created by chlorination, it has led to unintended consequences, in some cases making the water extremely toxic. Chloramines, like chlorine, are toxic to fish and amphibians at levels used for drinking water.

How do I remove chloramine(s) from my drinking water?

The most effective way to economically reduce chlorine taste and odor in water is through the use of granular activated carbon (GAC). The unique properties of carbon that are most beneficial in water treatment are its extremely high surface area and its electro-positive charge. One pound of carbon contains the surface area of 125 acres and can absorb literally thousands of different chemicals. Acting like little magnets, GAC attract poor taste and odor producing compounds resulting in great tasting, healthier water throughout the home. GAC has been certified to remove or reduce many volatile organic chemicals such as chlorine, benzene, trihalomethanes, radon, solvents and hundreds of other chemicals found in water.

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Heavy Metals

The term heavy metal refers to any metallic chemical element that has a relatively high density and is toxic or poisonous at low concentrations. They are elements having atomic weights between 63.546 and 200.590, and a specific gravity greater than 4.

Heavy metals are natural components of the Earth’s crust. They cannot be degraded or destroyed. To a small extent they enter our bodies via food, drinking water and air. As trace elements, some heavy metals are essential to maintain the metabolism of the human body. However, at higher concentrations they can lead to poisoning. Heavy metal poisoning could result, for instance, from drinking-water contamination (e.g. lead pipes), high ambient air concentrations near emission sources, or intake via the food chain.

All heavy metals exist in surface waters in colloidal, particulate, and dissolved phases, although dissolved concentrations are generally low . The colloidal and particulate metal may be found in 1) hydroxides, oxides, silicates, or sulfides; or 2) adsorbed to clay, silica, or organic matter. The soluble forms are generally ions or unionized organo-metallic chelates or complexes. The solubility of trace metals in surface waters is predominately controlled by the water pH, the type and concentration of ligands on which the metal could adsorb, and the oxidation state of the mineral components and the redox environment of the system.

Living organisms require trace amounts of some heavy metals, including cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, strontium, and zinc. Excessive levels of essential metals, however, can be detrimental to the organism. Non-essential heavy metals of particular concern to surface water systems are cadmium, chromium, mercury, lead, arsenic, and antimony.

How are they used?

The three most pollutants heavy metals are Lead, Cadmium, and Mercury. Some examples are listed below. Additional heavy metals include but are not limited to; antimony, cobalt, iron, manganese, molybdenum, tin, vanadium, etc.

Antimony – is a metal used in the compound antimony trioxide, a flame retardant. It can also be found in batteries, pigments, and ceramics and glass.

Cadmium – derives its toxicological properties from its chemical similarity to zinc an essential micronutrient for plants, animals and humans. Uses of cadmium are as pigments, stabilisers for PVC, in alloys, electronic compounds, phosphate fertilisers, detergents and refined petroleum products. Acute exposure to cadmium generally occurs in the workplace, particularly in the manufacturing processes of batteries and color pigments used in paint and plastics, as well as in electroplating and galvanizing processes.

Chromium – is used in metal alloys and pigments for paints, cement, paper, rubber, and other materials.

Copper – is normally in drinking water from copper pipes, as well as from additives designed to control algal growth.

Mercury – the natural source of mercury is the degassing of the Earth’s crust, emissions from volcanoes and evaporation from natural bodies of water. World-wide mining of the metal leads to indirect discharges into the atmosphere. The usage of mercury is widespread in industrial processes and in various products (e.g. batteries, lamps and thermometers). It is also widely used in dentistry as an amalgam for fillings and by the pharmaceutical industry.

Nickel – The EPA does not currently regulate nickel levels in drinking water. Nickel can accumulate in aquatic life, but its presence is not magnified along food chains.

Selenium - Plant foods are the major dietary sources of selenium in most countries throughout the world. Selenium also can be found in some meats and seafood. Animals that eat grains or plants that were grown in selenium-rich soil have higher levels of selenium in their muscle.

What are the health effects?

In very small amounts, many of these metals are necessary to support life. However, in larger amounts, they become toxic. They may build up in biological systems and become a significant health hazard.

Exposure to toxic heavy metals is generally classified as acute, 14 days or less; intermediate, 15-354 days; and chronic, more than 365 days. Chronic toxicity results from repeated or continuous exposure, leading to an accumulation of the toxic substance in the body. Chronic exposure may result from contaminated food, air, water, or dust; living near a hazardous waste site; spending time in areas with deteriorating lead paint; maternal transfer in the womb; or from participating in hobbies that use lead paint or solder.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

There are unique health aliments for each of the heavy metals including birth defects, central nervous system breakdowns, renal system disruptions, irritations, cancers, organ failures, arthritis, autism, weight loss, nausea, mood swings, hypertension, headaches, diseases, insomnia, fatigue, etc. The are many serious results of being poisoned by heavy metals.

How do I remove heavy metals from my drinking water?

The most effective way to economically reduce chlorine taste and odor in water is through the use of granular activated carbon (GAC). The unique properties of carbon that are most beneficial in water treatment are its extremely high surface area and its electro-positive charge. One pound of carbon contains the surface area of 125 acres and can absorb literally thousands of different chemicals. Acting like little magnets, GAC attract poor taste and odor producing compounds resulting in great tasting, healthier water throughout the home. GAC has been certified to remove or reduce many volatile organic chemicals such as chlorine, benzene, trihalomethanes, radon, solvents and hundreds of other chemicals found in water.

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Hydrogen Sulfide

As a chemical compound, H₂S, a colorless gas that has a very disagreeable odor, much like that of rotten eggs. It is slightly soluble in water and is soluble in carbon disulfide. Dissolved in water, it forms a very weak dibasic acid that is sometimes called hydrosulfuric acid. Hydrogen sulfide is flammable; in an excess of air it burns to form sulfur dioxide and water, but if not enough oxygen is present – it forms elemental sulfur and water. Hydrogen sulfide is found naturally in volcanic gases and in some mineral waters. It is often formed during decay of animal matter. It is a part of many unrefined carbonaceous fuels, e.g., natural gas, crude oil, and coal; it is obtained as a byproduct of refining such fuels. It may be made by reacting hydrogen gas with molten sulfur or with sulfur vapors, or by treating a metal sulfide (e.g., ferrous sulfide, FeS) with an acid. Hydrogen sulfide reacts with most metal ions to form sulfides; the sulfides of some metals are insoluble in water and have characteristic colors that help to identify the metal during chemical analysis.

How is it used?

Natural gas contains up to several percent H2S(g) and as such are called sour gas wells from their offensive stench. Volcanoes also discharge hydrogen sulfide. Anaerobic decay aided by bacteria produces hydrogen sulfide, which in turn, produces sulfur. This process accounts for much of the native sulfur found in nature. Commercially hydrogen sulfide is obtained from “sour gas” natural gas wells. Hydrogen sulfide has few important commercial uses. However, it is used to produce sulfur which is one of the most commercially important elements. Exposure in a residential setting can come from nearby industrial and agricultural sources, oil and gas development, and wastewater treatment plants, all generally regulated sources. However, exposure to hydrogen sulfide from contaminated drinking water is an exposure route often not covered by regulation, especially rural drinking water supplies from groundwater. Hydrogen sulfide gas also occurs naturally in some groundwater. It is formed from decomposing underground deposits of organic matter such as decaying plant material. It is found in deep or shallow wells and also can enter surface water through springs, although it quickly escapes to the atmosphere. Hydrogen sulfide often is present in wells drilled in shale or sandstone, or near coal or peat deposits.

What are the health effects?

Immediate symptoms may include dizziness, upset stomach, loss of consciousness and/or death.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

Although many impurities are regulated by Primary or Secondary Drinking Water Standards set by the EPA, hydrogen sulfide is not regulated. A concentration high enough to be a drinking water health hazard also makes the water unpalatable.

The odor of water with as little as 0.5 ppm of hydrogen sulfide concentration is detectable by most people. Concentrations less than 1 ppm give the water a “musty” or “swampy” odor. A 1-2 ppm hydrogen sulfide concentration gives water a “rotten egg” odor and makes the water very corrosive to plumbing.

How do I remove hydrogen sulfide from my drinking water?

The most effective way to economically reduce chlorine taste and odor in water is through the use of granular activated carbon (GAC). The unique properties of carbon that are most beneficial in water treatment are its extremely high surface area and its electro-positive charge. One pound of carbon contains the surface area of 125 acres and can absorb literally thousands of different chemicals. Acting like little magnets, GAC attract poor taste and odor producing compounds resulting in great tasting, healthier water throughout the home. GAC has been certified to remove or reduce many volatile organic chemicals such as chlorine, benzene, trihalomethanes, radon, solvents and hundreds of other chemicals found in water.

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Nitrates

In most cases of excess nitrate concentrations in aquatic systems, the primary source is surface runoff from agricultural or landscaped areas which have received excess nitrate fertilizer. These levels of nitrate can also lead to algae blooms, and when nutrients become limiting (such as potassium, phosphate or nitrate) then eutrophication can occur. As well as leading to water anoxia, these blooms may cause other changes to ecosystem function, favoring some groups of organisms over others. Consequently, as nitrates form a component of total dissolved solids, they are widely used as an indicator of water quality.

Nitrates are also a by-product of septic systems. Specifically, they are a naturally occurring chemical that is left after the break down or decomposition of animal or human waste. Water quality may also be affected through ground water resources that have a high number of septic systems in a watershed. Nitrate in groundwater originates primarily from fertilizers, septic systems, and manure storage or spreading operations. Fertilizer nitrogen that is not taken up by plants, volatilized, or carried away by surface runoff leaches to the groundwater in the form of nitrate. This not only makes the nitrogen unavailable to crops, but also can elevate the concentration in groundwater above the levels acceptable for drinking water quality. Nitrogen from manure similarly can be lost from fields, barnyards, or storage locations. Septic systems also can elevate groundwater nitrate concentrations because they remove only half of the nitrogen in wastewater, leaving the remaining half to percolate to groundwater.

How is it used?

Nitrates are used mostly for agriculture. Nitrates such as potassium nitrate (saltpeter) and ammonium nitrate are an important source of nitrogen in fertilizers. These nitrates must be used quickly by plants because they are easily lost through leaching or densification by bacteria. Nitrate pollution has become an environmental issue in rivers and oceans.

What are the health effects?

Methemoglobinemia is the most significant health problem associated with nitrate in drinking water. Blood contains an iron-based compound called hemoglobin, which carries oxygen. When nitrate is present, hemoglobin can be converted to methemoglobin, which cannot carry oxygen. In the blood of adults, enzymes continually convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin, and methemoglobin levels normally do not exceed 1 percent. Newborn infants have lower levels of these enzymes, and their methemoglobin level is usually 1 to 2 percent. Anything above that level is considered methemoglobinemia.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

Congress passed the federal Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974. The U S. Environmental Protection Agency was given responsibility for setting drinking water standards for all the states, and each state became responsible for enforcing these standards.

Because potential health risks are often unknown or hard to predict, many drinking water standards are set at some fraction of the level of “no-observed adverse-health effects.” In general, the greater the uncertainty about potential health effects, the greater the margin of safety built into the standard.

If your private or public water supply has elevated nitrate levels, then purchasing bottled water is one of your best alternatives. Even in bottled water, nitrate levels can vary considerably. Some states require bottled water companies to have their water tested for nitrate annually. As long as the results are below the state standard, the companies don’t have to report the actual levels to the Department of Health, but they should be willing to give exact test results to consumers.

Municipal water supplies are another potential source of low nitrate water. City water supplies often come from large lakes or reservoirs where any source of nitrate is likely to be diluted by the large quantity of water.

Hauling your own water from springs, lakes, or streams can be risky, both because of the unknown levels of nitrate and because of the possible presence of other contaminants, especially bacteria. Private wells also present the risk of unknown nitrate levels, but are more likely to have been tested for bacterial contamination.

How do I remove nitrate from my drinking water?

The most effective way to economically reduce chlorine taste and odor in water is through the use of granular activated carbon (GAC). The unique properties of carbon that are most beneficial in water treatment are its extremely high surface area and its electro-positive charge. One pound of carbon contains the surface area of 125 acres and can absorb literally thousands of different chemicals. Acting like little magnets, GAC attract poor taste and odor producing compounds resulting in great tasting, healthier water throughout the home. GAC has been certified to remove or reduce many volatile organic chemicals such as chlorine, benzene, trihalomethanes, radon, solvents and hundreds of other chemicals found in water.

Specialty Filter Pricing …………………………………………………………………………$72.21

Sediment

Minerals, including iron or manganese (Fe/Mn) are present in many types of water. The other common mineral, that possibly could cause sediment in water, is hardness. Hardness precipitate, by itself, would have a white/yellow color. Fe/Mn precipitates typically are loose sediments that are too small to be felt between the fingers. Hardness precipitates typically “plate out” as a solid. Sometimes this solid may break off and can be captured as irregular sized pieces.

How is it used?

Sediments are particles from the bedrock, generally caught between casings, from new constructions, rain, or from runoff. The granules cloud the water and are nuisance more than anything, altering the color of your water from a “clear” to cloudy and sometimes brownish-greyish, whitish, or various other “tints.”

What are the health effects?

Studies have linked sediment ingestion over long periods of time to various cancers depending on the type, level, amount of ingestion as well as consideration of gender, age, and demographic of the individuals affected.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in contaminated water?

Since there is a large variety of sediments, there are various harms and contamination levels. Systems with wells are the most susceptible but rainwater or stormwater will greatly affect any water source – even those that are filtered before residential delivery. Direct contact to skin may contain a nominal effect, however ingestion can lead to illness, contamination, and if over an extended amount of time, serious health conditions.

How do I remove sediment from my drinking water?

Easy, a .5 micron carbon filter will reduce the sediment. These water filters produce healthier, better-tasting drinking water with around a 99.5% reduction of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Entamoeba, etc. Additionally there is premium high capacity bad taste & odor and chlorine taste & odor reduction

Specialty Filter Pricing …………………………………………………………………………$7.76

Green Carbon

In terms of base material, Coconut shell is renewable resources compared to Lignite and Bituminous. Coconut plantations with millions of acres of land continue to provide all the benefits of green trees to our environment in spite of using billions of coconut shell per year for activation.

Many natural substances are used as base material to make activated carbon. The most common of these used in water purification are lignite, bituminous, peat and coconut shell. Different base materials and the activation process results in unique pore size and pore distribution. The pore size grouping in carbon are commonly described by its pore diameter:Macro pores (above 50 nm diameter), Meso pores (2-50 nm diameter) and Micro pores (under 2nm diameter).

Coconut Shell based activated carbon is predominately micro porous and is well suited for organic chemical adsorption. Coconut shell based carbon are least dusty and has the most hardness compared to other type of activated carbons which makes it the ideal carbon for water purification

In the pit method of charring coconut shells, the GHGs are emitted to the atmosphere with out any control and treatment of effluent gases. Global Ecocarb Pvt Ltd has developed a novel process to char the coconut shells in a reactor capturing the GHGs and using them under controlled conditions for the production of thermal energy. Since char is generated during the gasification process the entire operation is self-sustaining.

In this novel process the shells are fed from the top with twin air entry, re-burn process. This process consists of a fuel and ash handling system, gasification system – reactor, gas cooling and cleaning system. The process is unique to prevent the formation of tar during pyrolysis.

How is it used?

Activated carbon is produced from coconut shells by a two-step process. The first step in activation is to carbonize the shells to drive out about two thirds of the volatiles out of the shells creating carbonaceous mass full of tiny pores. This carbonized base material in the second stage is activated at high temperature (1100 degree C) in steam.

The carbonization process involves converting the coconut shells to Char (charcoal). The charring process (making of charcoal) is known as the Pyrolysis, which is chemical decomposition of the shell by heating in the absence of oxygen. During the carbonization of coconut shells, volatiles amounting to 70% of the mass of coconut shells on dry weight basis are released to the atmosphere, yielding 30% of coconut shell mass of charcoal. The volatile released during the carbonization process is Methane, CO2 and wide range of organic vapors. Coconut shells are carbonized in an old-age process commonly known as open pit method. In this process earth is used as an insulator and to heat the shells in the absence of oxygen.

One ton of coconut shells releases about 12 to 15 Kg of Methane into the atmosphere. India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia are the primary countries that char coconut shells for activation to be used in water and air purification. Several countries in the ASEAN region in the recent years have also started charring coconut shells for activation process.

What are the health effects?

All positive as there is an attempt to increase awareness of environmental impact of using coconut shell activated carbon that is charred by the pit method. Determined to be a change agent in lowering the GHGs emission, this carbon source is changing traditional methodologies and geared toward preserving our environment.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in green carbon water?

Nope. This carbon removes unwanted sediments, minerals, and particles in an eco-friendly way.

Specialty Filter Pricing …………………………………………………………………………$45.00

IONLIFE’S WHOLE HOME CHLORINE REDUCTION SYSTEM

What is chlorine?

Chlorine is a naturally occurring element that can be found on land and in the sea. Typically, chlorine is in a gaseous form (heavier than air) but when processed at the correct pressure & temperature it can be formed into a liquid. You are generally not in danger of exposure to chlorine form natural sources.

How is it used?

Some of the common uses of chlorine include:

Manufacturing: Suppliers of paper and cloth products use it as a bleaching agent.

Chemical weapons: Chlorine gas, also known as bertholite, was first used as a weapon in World War I by Germany on April 22, 1915, in the Second Battle of Ypres. More recently, chlorine gas has also been used by insurgents in the Iraq War to terrorize the local population and coalition forces. On March 17, 2007, for example, three chlorine filled trucks were detonated in the Anbar province killing 2 and sickening over 350.

Cleaning products: Many commonly used cleaners use chlorine as a disinfecting/bleaching ingredient

Swimming pools: Due to the very powerful oxidizing properties of the chlorine, it is very effective at disinfecting large bodies of water.

Drinking water: Water borne diseases can be eliminated with the appropriate dosage of chlorine. Virtually every municipality in the U.S. uses chlorine in drinking water supplies.

What are the health effects?

Depending upon the strength of chlorine and length of exposure it is corrosive and irritating to soft tissues, especially eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Exposure to low amounts may cause a sore throat, eye and skin irritation and coughing. In high volumes, can cause narrowing of bronchi, blue coloring of the skin and even death.

Common exposure to chlorine occurs in swimming pools, drinking water and showers. In some cases, people can be allergic to chlorine and cannot drink tap water or bathe in traditional tap water. In this case, additional treatment is needed prior to drinking and additives are used to neutralize chlorine while bathing/showering.

Is there any harm from drinking and bathing in chlorinated water?

“Cancer risk among people drinking chlorinated water is 93% higher than among those whose water does not contain chlorine.”
US COUNCIL OF ENVIROMENTAL QUALITY

“Chlorine is the greatest crippler and killer of modern times. While it prevented epidemics of one disease, it was creating another. Two decades ago, after the start of chlorinating our drinking water in 1904, the present epidemic of heart trouble, cancer and senility began.”
SAGINAW HOSPITAL – DR J.M. PRICE

“The drinking of chlorinated water has finally been officially linked to an increased incidence of colon cancer. An epidemiologist at Oak Ridge Associated Universities completed a study of colon cancer victims and non-cancer patients and concluded that the drinking of chlorinated water for 15 years or more was conducive to a high rate of colon cancer.” Health Freedom News, January/February 1987

“Scientists discovered that chlorine reacted with organic material in water to produce hundreds of chemical by-products, several of which have proved in animal studies to be carcinogenic.”
U.S. NEWS AND WORLD REPORT – JULY 29, 1991

“Drinking chlorinated water may as much as double the risk of bladder cancer.”
NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE – KENNETH CANTOR

“Long-term drinking of chlorinated water appears to increase a person’s risk of developing bladder cancer as much as 80%,” according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Some 45,000 Americans are diagnosed every year with bladder cancer. St. Paul Dispatch & Pioneer Press, December 17, 1987

“Although concentrations of these carcinogens are low…it is precisely these low levels which cancer scientists believe are responsible for the majority of human cancers in the United States.” Report Issued By The Environmental Defense Fund

Greenpeace reports have found chlorine-based compounds to be the most common toxic and persistent pollutants in the Great Lakes

“Drinking tap water that is chlorinated is hazardous if not deadly to your health.”
HEALTHY WATER FOR LONGER LIFE – DR. MARTIN FOX

“The cause of atherosclerosis and resulting heart attacks and strokes is none other than the ubiquitous chlorine in our drinking water.”
CORONARIES/CHOLESTEROL/CHLORINE – DR. J.M. PRICE

How do I remove chlorine taste and odors in drinking water?

The most effective way to economically reduce chlorine taste and odor in water is through the use of granular activated carbon (GAC). The unique properties of carbon that are most beneficial in water treatment are its extremely high surface area and its electro-positive charge. One pound of carbon contains the surface area of 125 acres and can absorb literally thousands of different chemicals. Acting like little magnets, GAC attract poor taste and odor producing compounds resulting in great tasting, healthier water throughout the home. GAC has been certified to remove or reduce many volatile organic chemicals such as chlorine, benzene, trihalomethanes, radon, solvents and hundreds of other man-made chemicals found in tap water.

How does IonLife’s whole home system work?

IonLife offers the highest quality product on the market today for whole home taste and odor reduction. The system includes the most sophisticated controls including a metered valve head monitors the volume of water passing through the system and automatically backwashes as needed. The backwashing process removes any accumulated suspended materials such as sand, dirt and rust. The backwashing system needs no maintenance except for replacement of the carbon approximately every 5-7 years. Backwashing requires access to a drain and electricity. In circumstances where a drain and electricity is not available a non-backwashing system is available. The non-backwashing system needs replacement of the GAC media every 3 years, which is a simple process that can be done by most customers without the need for professional assistance.

What makes IonLife’s system different?

Control Valve: The metered control valve optimizes the backwashing system and does it only when needed. Other systems use the less expensive timered valve head that regenerates on a schedule regardless of the amount of water used. The timered valves will invariably backwash too often or not often enough.

Rust-proof construction of tanks with stainless steel exterior: Ion Life’s high quality fiberglass tank prevents the creation of rust in drinking water caused by the tank. Our attractive stainless steel exterior shell looks great in any location. Other models on the market offer metallic tanks or fiberglass tanks without the stainless steel exterior.

Heavy metal reduction: Ion Life’s system also includes the industry standard for heavy metal reduction, KDF. Used for decades in the industry, KDF also provides enhanced chlorine reduction and bacteriostatic benefits. KDF Fluid Treatment’s unique combination of copper and zinc (Redox) creating an electro-chemical reaction. During this reaction, electrons are transferred between molecules, and new elements are created. Some harmful contaminants are changed into harmless components. Some heavy metals such as copper, lead, mercury and others, react to the medium’s surface, thus being effectively removed from the water supply. The Redox reaction also helps to control bacteria growth.

How much will it cost me for the IonLife system?

BACKWASHING SYSTEMS

Chlorine Reduction System (4.5 GPM & 7 GPM peak flow) $1,699

Metered Control Valve

10” X 54” Tank with Stainless Steel Jacket

KDF Media Guard

Bypass Valve

Installation Not Included

High Capacity Chlorine Reduction System (6 GPM & 16 peak flow) $1,799

Metered Valve

12” X 56” Tank with Stainless Steel Jacket

Bypass Valve

Installation Not Included

KDF NOT AVAILABLE IN HIGH FLOW SYSTEMS

NON-BACKWASHING SYSTEMS

Chlorine Reduction System (4.5 GPM & 7 GPM peak flow) $1,399

10” X 54” Tank with Stainless Steel Jacket

KDF Media Guard

Bypass Valve

Installation Not Included

High Capacity Chlorine Reduction System (6 GPM & 16 peak flow) $1,499

12” X 56” Tank with Stainless Steel Jacket

Bypass Valve

Installation Not Included

KDF NOT AVAILABLE IN HIGH FLOW SYSTEMS

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