Drinking Water Contaminant – Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Contents

Sources of volatile organic compounds in drinking water

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) are a class of chemicals that are carbon-containing and evaporate, or vaporize, easily into air at normal air temperatures. VOCs are found in a variety of commercial, industrial, and …

Drinking Water Contaminant – Sulfur, hydrogen sulfide

Contents

Sources of sulfate and hydrogen sulfide in drinking water

Sulfates are a combination of sulfur and oxygen and are a part of naturally occurring minerals in some soil and rock formations that contain groundwater. The mineral dissolves …

Drinking Water Contaminant – Protozoa and Amoeba

Contents


Sources of protozoa and amoeba in drinking water

Drinking water supplies that depend on surface or ground water are subject to contamination …

Drinking Water Contaminant – Iron and manganese bacteria

Contents


Sources of iron and manganese in drinking water

Iron and manganese are the 4th and 13th most common metallic elements found in the Earth’s crust, respectively. Water percolating through …

Drinking Water Contaminant – High total dissolved solids

Contents


Sources of total dissolved solids in drinking water

Drinking Water Contaminant – Nitrate

Image:Wellhead.jpgNitrates in drinking water may cause adverse health effects. What are the sources of nitrate in private drinking water wells?

Contents


Sources of nitrate in drinking water

Nitrate is a form of nitrogen …

Drinking Water Contaminant – Arsenic

Image:GreenGlassFill.jpgArsenic in drinking water can’t be detected by taste, sight or smell. How do you find out if your private well water is contaminated with arsenic?

Contents


Sources of arsenic in drinking water

The 20th most abundant …

Drinking Water Contaminant – Hard water

Contents


Sources of hardness minerals in drinking water

As water moves through soil and rock, it dissolves very small amounts of minerals and holds them in solution. The two most common minerals that make water “hard” are calcium and magnesium. The degree of hardness …

Drinking Water Contaminant – Disinfection

Contents


Disinfection chemicals and byproducts

A public drinking water supply is defined as a system that provides piped water for human consumption to at least 15 service connections or regularly serves at least 25 individuals. Water supplied by a public water system is …

Drinking Water Contaminant – Corrosive water

Sources of corrosive water

Corrosive water, also known as “aggressive water,” is water that will dissolve materials it comes in contact with. This naturally occurring water condition can become problematic for a homeowner when it dissolves metals from the household plumbing system. Corrosive water can cause nuisance problems, health-related problems, and in some extreme cases, it can lead to holes in metal plumbing systems that may require replacement.

In homes with metal plumbing, corrosive water may dissolve copper and/or lead …