Understanding Drinking Water Contamination

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Understanding Understanding Drinking Water Drinking Water ContaminationContamination

Abigail F. Cantor, P.E., Chemical EngineerAbigail F. Cantor, P.E., Chemical Engineer

Process Research Solutions, LLCProcess Research Solutions, LLC

Madison, WIMadison, WI

A guide through the complex world of chemical and microbiological contamination of drinking water

“Can you test my water?”

There are more than 90 contaminants in the national primary drinking water regulations. There are 14 contaminants listed in the national secondary drinking water regulations. And then there is the Candidate Contaminant List where more contaminants are considered for regulation.

Water System Regulatory Agency Regulations

Municipal Water SystemsUnited States Environmental

Protection Agency

Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 141 National Primary Drinking Water Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations Title 40 Part 143 National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations

Private Water Systemsstate regulatory

agencies

No Federal regulations; some state regulation

Example in Wisconsin: Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 812 Well Construction and Pump Installation

Example in Wisconsin: Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 146 Well Driller and Pump Installer Licensing Code

Bottled WaterUnited States Food and

Drug Administration

Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Part 165 BeveragesCode of Federal Regulations Title 21 Part 129 Processing and Bottling of Drinking Water

Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Part 110 Current Good Manufacturing Practice

Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 Part 101 Food Labeling

Drinking Water Regulations

• MicroorganismsMicroorganisms• DisinfectantsDisinfectants• Disinfection Disinfection

ByproductsByproducts• Inorganic ChemicalsInorganic Chemicals• Organic ChemicalsOrganic Chemicals• RadionuclidesRadionuclides

Categories of Primary Drinking Water Contaminants Covered by US EPA Regulations

Microorganisms

• Cryptosporidium• Giardia lamblia• Legionella• Total Coliforms• Viruses, enteric

Total Coliforms

“Indicator” of waterborne disease from human sewage

Problem with Focus on Total ColiformsNeglects presence of non-pathogenic microorganisms:

•They can reduce the availability of disinfection to fight pathogens, •elevate metals concentrations in the water, •and threaten the integrity of infrastructure.

Viruses

A WI study has found a correlationbetween viruses in drinking waterand common illnesses.

Disinfection

Must disinfect water!

Types of disinfectants:•Chlorine gas or sodium hypochlorite•Chloramines•Chlorine dioxide

Disinfection By-products

• Bromate• Chlorite• Haloacetic acids• Trihalomethanes

Inorganic Chemicals

• Antimony• Arsenic• Asbestos• Barium• Beryllium• Cadmium• Chromium• Copper

• Cyanide• Fluoride• Lead• Mercury• Nitrate• Nitrite• Selenium• Thallium

Lead and Copper

Transferred into water from piping materials

“The Lead and Copper Rule” being re-written now!Lots of dilemmas and misinformation.

Organic Chemicals

to

Radionuclides

• Alpha particles• Beta particles, etc.• Radium 226+228• Uranium

Secondary Drinking Water Contaminants

• Aluminum• Chloride• Color• Copper• Fluoride• Foaming agents• Iron• Manganese• Odor• pH• Silver• Sulfate• Total Dissolved Solids• Zinc

Many secondary contaminants have now been found to be more than just a nuisance.

Problem with Secondary Drinking Water Contaminants

• Aluminum• Iron• Manganese• …

How to inform yourself about drinking water contamination?There’s a lot of confusing information, dilemmas, emerging issues, knowledge gaps, and misinformation.

For the moment,ask me about water…

• Private wells• Metals in residential water• Modern plumbing issues• Home water treatment• Bottled water• Local issues in water system• …

Contact: Abigail Cantor, P.E.; Process Research Solutions, LLC;info@processresearch.net