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Water Quality Protection Around Your Home
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution, unlike pollution from industrial and sewage treatment plants, comes from many diffuse sources. NPS pollution is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it picks up and carries away natural and human-made pollutants, finally depositing them into lakes, rivers, wetlands, coastal waters and ground waters.
Once polluted runoff enters our water resources, it can be very difficult and expensive to clean up. Each of us can take actions …
Setback Distance From Septic to Drinking Water Well
Many rural residents use an on-site wastewater treatment system (an individual septic system) for treatment and disposal of wastewater, or sewage. Household wastewater may contain contaminants such as disease-causing bacteria, infectious viruses, household chemicals, and excess nutrients. A properly designed, installed, and maintained septic treatment system will reduce the risk of polluting the drinking water supply with these contaminants.
State and local codes specify how on-site wastewater treatment systems must be designed, installed, and maintained. A septic tank and …
Drinking Water and Human Health Effects
Health effects related to contaminants in drinking water can be divided into two categories: those that cause acute effects and those that cause chronic effects.
Acute health effects
Acute effects are usually seen within a short time after exposure to a substance. Acute effects may result from water containing pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, or they may result from a single large exposure to a chemical contaminant. Acute health effects are generally reversible as long as the contaminant of …
Drinking Water Treatment – Oxidizing Filters
EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Oxidizing filters oxidize and filter iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide in one unit.
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Uses
An oxidizing filter is an in-line, point-of-entry device (on the main incoming water line) that converts dissolved iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide to a solid form and then …
Drinking Water Treatment – pH Adjustment
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About pH
pH is an indicator of the acid or alkaline …
Drinking Water Well Quality Basics
Groundwater, the source of water for private wells, is never simply a pure combination of hydrogen and oxygen atoms (H20). It contains many impurities, reflecting the composition of the soils, sand, gravel, and rock through which it travels. Groundwater naturally contains:
- Dissolved minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, bicarbonate, chloride, and sulfate
- Gases such as carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen
- Dissolved organic compounds
As a result of human activity, groundwater can also contain contaminants such as pesticides, nitrate, metals, …
Drinking Water Contents
PRIVATE DRINKING WATER
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Private Drinking Water System Basics
- Low Yielding Domestic Water Wells
- Well Construction
PROTECTING DRINKING WATER
- Stormwater and Your Drinking Water Well
- Water Quality Protection Around Your Home
- Setback Distance from Septic to Drinking Water Well
HUMAN HEALTH
- Drinking Water and Human Health Effects
- Drinking Water Contaminants
- Drinking Water Standards
- Testing Recommendations
MANAGING DRINKING WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
…Drinking Water Treatment – Reverse Osmosis
EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Inorganic contaminants such as: dissolved salts of sodium, dissolved (ferrous) iron, nitrate, lead, fluoride, sulfate, potassium, manganese, aluminum, silica, chloride, total dissolved solids, chromium, and orthophosphate. Also effective in removing some detergents, some taste, color and odor-producing chemicals, certain organic contaminants, and some pesticides.
NOT EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Dissolved gases, most volatile and semi-volatile organic contaminants including some pesticides and solvents. Alone, reverse osmosis units are not recommended for treatment of bacteria and other …
Home Water Treatment Devices
The table below outlines information on specific home water treatment approaches. Keep in mind that some water treatment can be for aesthetic as well as health factors. If drinking water poses a health risk, the consumer may also consider the cost of purchasing bottled water or tying into a public water system if available as an alternative to treatment.
If you need to contact a water treatment professional to install or repair a home treatment system or to assess a …