Category: Treatment

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 …

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 …

Contents 1 About pH 2 Neutralizing filters 2.1 How neutralizing filters work 2.2 Capacity 2.3 Maintenance 2.4 Special considerations 3 Soda ash/sodium hydroxide injection 3.1 How soda ash/sodium hydroxide injection works 3.2 Maintenance 3.3 Special considerations 4 Acid injection 4.1 How acid injection works 4.2 Maintenance 4.3 Special considerations 5 Questions to ask before you buy

About pH

pH is an indicator of the acid or alkaline …

EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Oxidizing filters oxidize and filter iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide in one unit.

Contents 1 Uses 2 How oxidizing filters work 3 Capacity 4 Maintenance 5 Special considerations 6 Questions to ask before you buy

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 …

Contents 1 First step: Test your water 2 Second step: Be a wise consumer 2.1 Were the water tests adequate? 2.2 Other consumer protection concerns 2.2.1 Choose a reputable company 2.2.2 Choose a certified product 2.2.3 Second opinions on treatment recommendations 2.3 Other questions to consider 2.3.1 Is whole-house or just single-tap treatment needed? 2.3.2 Will the unit produce enough treated water daily to meet household needs? 2.3.3 What are the total purchase price and expected maintenance costs of the

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EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Fluoride, arsenic, selenium, and chromium.

• 1 Uses of activated alumina
• 2 How activated alumina works
• 3 Capacity of an activated alumina device
• 4 Maintenance of an activated alumina device
• 5 Special considerations
• 6 Questions to ask before you buy

Uses of activated alumina

Activated alumina can be used as a point-of-entry or point-of-use water treatment device. Activated alumina absorbs contaminants instead of filtering them. The effectiveness of activated alumina depends on the contaminant, characteristics of the …

EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Dissolved iron and manganese, and hydrogen sulfide.

Contents 1 Uses of potassium permanganate 2 How potassium permanganate works 3 Maintenance of a potassium permanganate device 4 Special considerations for potassium permanaganate use 5 Questions to ask before you buy

Uses of potassium permanganate

Potassium permanganate is a point-of-entry treatment method that oxidizes dissolved iron, manganese, and hydrogen sulfide into solid particles that are …

EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Pathogenic (disease-causing) organisms including bacteria and viruses, phenols, some color, taste and odor problems, iron and manganese, and turbidity.

NOT EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Large cysts and some other large organisms, inorganic chemicals, and heavy metals.

Contents 1 How ozone treatment works 2 Capacity of ozone treatment units 3 Maintenance of ozone systems 4 Other considerations for ozone treatment 5 Questions to ask before you buy

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EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Small particles and suspended solids such as ferric iron, clay, silt and sand, and some pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, and colloids (suspended matter).

NOT EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Any dissolved contaminants such as nitrate, dissolved iron, sodium, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Contents 1 How drinking water filtration works 2 Types of drinking water filters 3 Cartridge sediment filters 3.1 How cartridge sediment filters work 3.2 Types of drinking water filters 3.3 Capacity of drinking water

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EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Some heavy metals, dissolved solids, some bacteria and viruses, inorganic materials such as nitrate, sodium, fluoride, and sulfate, and some toxic organic chemicals.

NOT EFFECTIVE AGAINST: Most volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and some bacteria.

Contents 1 Distillation 1.1 Principles 1.2 Types of Units 1.3 Maintenance 2 Other Considerations 3 Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Distillation

Distillation is …