New 2016 product catalogue
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Water: From Its Source to Our Taps
Where does our water come from? How is it treated? How do we know it is
safe to drink?
To answer these questions, it's important to go back
to the basics. There are two main sources of water:
surface water and groundwater. Surface Water is found
in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. Groundwater lies
under the surface of the land, where it travels
through and fills openings in the rocks. The rocks
that store and transmit groundwater are called
aquifers. Groundwater must be pumped from an aquifer
to the earth's surface for use.
Consumers receive their water from one of two sources:
a private well, or a community water system. A
household well pumps groundwater for household use.
The source of a community water system may be either
surface water or groundwater.
Private Household Wells
Approximately 15 percent of the U.S. population
relies on individually owned and operated sources of
drinking water, such as wells, cisterns, and springs.
The majority of household wells are found in rural
areas.
Those who receive their water from a private well are
solely responsible for the safety of the water.
Private wells are not subject to federal regulations,
and are generally regulated on a very limited basis by
states. Local health departments may assist well
owners with periodic testing for bacteria or nitrates,
but the bulk of the responsibility for caring for the
well falls on the well owner.
Since the well owner is primarily responsible for the
water, it is important to know what poses a threat to
the well and the groundwater which is its source. A
variety of sources can cause well water to become
contaminated.
Several contaminants occur in nature that may present
a health risk if they are found in drinking water.
They include bacteria, viruses, uranium, radium,
arsenic, and fluoride. Many of these contaminants are
naturally present in rock formations, and consequently
end up in the water supply. Other sources of
contamination are a result of human activity such as
manufacturing or agriculture, or individual misuse.
The following activities may cause harmful chemicals
to enter the well water owner's water supply.
Leakage from waste disposal, treatment, or storage
sites.
Discharges from factories, industrial sites, or sewage
treatment facilities.
Leaching from aerial or land application of pesticides
and fertilizers on yards or fields.
Accidental chemical spills.
Leakage from underground storage tanks.
Improper disposal of household wastes such as cleaning
fluids, paint, and motor oil.
Well owners generally disinfect or otherwise treat the
water from their wells to remove the contaminants that
are caused by such activities.
Community Water Systems
Approximately 85 percent of the U.S. population
receives its water from community water systems.
Community water systems are required to meet the
standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) under the authority of the Safe Drinking
Water Act (SDWA).
The SDWA was passed by Congress in 1974 to establish
nationally consistent drinking water standards. A
standard is the maximum level of a substance that the
EPA has deemed acceptable in drinking water.
In 1986 the SDWA was amended to require the EPA to
publish standards for 83 specific contaminants, and
additional standards thereafter. To date, the EPA has
issued or proposed limits for 87 substances. Community
water systems are currently revising their drinking
water programs to meet the more stringent requirements
of the amendments.
Community water systems must ensure that the drinking
water they supply does not have contaminant levels
higher than the standards of the SDWA, the SDWA
amendments, or state regulations.
In order to set a standard for a drinking water
contaminant, the EPA first reviews the data concerning
the health effects the substance may cause. The EPA
then proposes nonmandatory Maximum Contaminant Level
Goals (MCLG's). MCLG's are set at zero for
contaminants that are known or probable human
carcinogens. For noncarcinogens, MCLG's are set at a
level where no adverse health effects would occur with
a margin of safety.
At the same time, the EPA also proposes a Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL), the enforceable drinking
water standard, which is set as close to the MCLG as
possible, taking into account technological and
economic considerations.
After a time for public comment and review of the MCL
and MCLG, the EPA enacts a final regulation. States
are expected to adopt the standard within 18 months of
enactment.
The SDWA requires utilities to conduct routine
monitoring and testing of public water supplies. Two
types of sampling are required. Routine Sampling takes
place on a regular basis and ensures that a treatment
plant is running properly for delivering a consistent
quality of drinking water. It also determines whether
water quality meets the MCL's.
When a routine sample analysis indicates elevated
levels of a particular contaminant that may exceed EPA
or state standards, states may require systems to take
a check sample. Check samples are used to confirm the
results of a problem discovered during routine
sampling.
The EPA generally delegates to the states the
authority to enforce all federal drinking water
standards, but can intercede when necessary. Sates
must set standards that are no less stringent than the
EPA's.
Point of Use Technologies
Whether consumers receive their water from a household
well or a community water system, they may wish to treat
it at its point-of-use (POU). Even water supplied by a
community water system, which meets EPA standards, can
generally benefit from POU treatment. Consumers have the
option to choose the higher quality of water that POU
technologies can provide.
POU technologies treat water at single or multiple
taps or for the whole house, and improve water quality
in a variety of ways. Unusual taste, color, and odor or
water may be corrected by POU technologies, and some POU
devices also reduce harmful contaminants.
One of the most popular POU technologies is water
softening. An important characteristic of water is
hardness, which is measured in grains per gallon (gpg).
The more grains per gallon, the harder the water. The
U.S. Geologic Survey reports that hard water is found in
more than 85 percent of the United States. Hard water
has many disadvantages. It can clog pipes and
appliances, reduce clothing longevity by 15 percent,
leave a soapy film on bathtubs and shower tiles, and
increase water heating costs by nearly 30 percent while
shortening the life of the heater. A water softener
reduces the hardness of water, eliminating these
problems and resulting in substantial savings.
Besides softening, a variety of POU equipment is
available for improving drinking water and other special
purposes. Each technology is designed to solve one or
several different water quality problems. In order to
choose the right equipment, it is important to confirm
the nature and extent of the problem.
The first step in correcting a water quality problem is
often to have the water tested. When the safety of the
water is in question, it should always be tested by a
state-certified or other reputable laboratory. Testing
for aesthetic concerns such as taste, odor, color, and
hardness may be performed in the home by a professional
water treatment dealer.
Testing the water will help determine the proper
treatment necessary. Before purchasing a product, become
an educated consumer. Determine which contaminants the
product reduces, and to what level. Also check the
product's performance capabilities, maintenance
provisions, and warranty.