Water Ph Value and Contamination

8/13/2019 Water Ph Value and Contamination

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Hard water is water t hat contains an appreciative quantit y of dissolved min erals (likecalcium and m agnesium) -Soft wat er is treated water in wh ich the only ion is sodium. As rainwater falls, it is naturally soft. However, as water m akes its way through t he

ground and int o our waterways, it picks up m inerals like chalk, lim e and mostly

calcium and m agnesium. Since hard water contains essential m inerals, it is

sometim es the preferred drinking w ater, not only because of the health benefits, but

also the flavor. On the other hand, soft water tastes salty and is someti mes notsuitable for drinking. So why, t hen, do we soften our water?When it boils down, t he maj or difference between hard and soft w ater can best b e

seen while doing household chores. Hard water is to blame for dingy looking clothes,

dishes with spots and residue and batht ubs with lots of film and soap scum. Even

hair washed in hard water m ay feel sticky and look dull. Hard water can take a toll

on household appliances as well, using up m ore energy. The elements of hard wat er

are to blame for all of these negative factors, as soap is less effective due to its

reaction to t he magnesium and calcium. The lather is not as rich and bubbly.Chore-doers will love using soft wat er, as tasks can actually be perform ed m ore

efficiently wit h it. Soap will lather better and item s will be left cleaner. Glasses willsparkle and hair will look healthy. The shower curtain will be scum-fr ee. Clothes

and skin are left softer. In addition to t ime, t his can also save money, as less soap

and detergent s will be used. Since appliances have to wor k less hard, soft water

can also prolong the life of washing machines, dishwaters and water heaters. Energy

bills are noticeably lower when in households with water softeners. In a t ime ofrising energy costs, this is som ething t o think about .Soft water is not, however, suggested for those with heart or circulatory problems,

or others who m ay be on a low sodium diet. I n th e softening process, as min erals

are removed, sodium content increases. Research shows that cardiovascular diseasehas the lowest risk in areas where water has the m ost mineral content.

THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: A SOLUTI ON

There are ways to combat the sodium in soft w ater, w hich will allow households to

enjoy bet ter t asting water, as well as have the best available water for cleaningneeds. They are reverse osmosis, distillation and deionization.

What ty pe is your w ater ? The Water Quality Associati on of the Unit ed States defines

hard wat er as having dissolved m ineral hardness of 1 GPG (grain per gallon) or

more. Here is a helpful table to show the hardness of water: Soft Water- less than 1 gpg

Slightly Hard- 1-3.5 gpg Moderately Hard- 3.5- 7 gpg

Very Hard- 7-10 gpgExtr emely Hard- over 10 gpg


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Drinking wat er, including bottled water, m ay reasonably be expected to contain at l east small am ounts of som

contaminants. U.S. EPA sets standards for approxim ately 90 contam inants in dr inking w ater. Contaminant s ar

categorized as below and more detailed information on specific contaminants is also available. Microbes~ Radionuclides~ I norganics~ Volatile Organics~ Disinfectants~ Disinfection Byprodu

~ MTBE

Microbes

Coliform bacteria are comm on in the environm ent and are generally not harm ful. However, the presence of these bacteria in

drinking w ater is usually a result of a problem wit h the tr eatment system or t he pipes which distribute water,

and indicates that the w ater m ay be contaminated w ith germs that can cause disease.Fecal Coliform and E coliare bacteria whose presence indicates that the wat er may be contaminated w ithhuman or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps,

nausea, headaches, or other sympt oms.

Turbidityhas no health effects. However, t urbidity can interfere wit h disinfection and provide a m edium for

microbial growth. Turbidity may indicate the presence of disease causing organisms. These organisms include

bacteria, viruses, and parasites that can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associatedheadaches. Cryptosporidiumis a parasite that enters lakes and rivers through sewage and anim al waste. It causes

cryptosporidiosis, a mild gastrointestinal disease. However, the disease can be severe or fatal for people with

severely weakened immune systems. EPA and CDC have prepared advice for those with severely comprom ise

mm une systemswh o are concerned about Cryptosporidium.

Giardia lambliais a parasite that enters lakes and rivers through sewage and anim al waste. I t causesgastrointestinal illness (e.g. diarr hea, vomit ing, cramps).

Radionuclides

Alpha emitters.Certain m inerals are radioactive and m ay emit a form of radiation known as alpha radiation. Some people who

drink wat er cont aining alpha emit ters in excess of EPAs standard over m any years may have an increased risof gett ing cancer.Beta/ photon emit ters.Certain m inerals are radioactive and m ay emit forms of radiation k nown as photons

and beta radiation. Som e people who drink water containing beta and photon emitt ers in excess of EPAs

standard over many years may have an in creased risk of gettin g cancer.Combined Radium 22 6/ 228 . Some people who drink water containing radium 226 or 228 in excess of EPAs


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standard over many years may have an in creased risk of gettin g cancer.Radon gas can dissolve and accumulate in underground water sources, such as wells, and in the air in your

home. Breathing radon can cause lung cancer. Drinkin g wat er containing radon presents a risk of developing

cancer. Radon in air is more dangerous than radon in w ater.

norganic ContaminantsAntimonyAsbestosBarium

Beryllium

CadmiumChromium Copper

CyanideLeadMercury

Nitrate/NitriteSeleniumThallium

Arsenic. Some people who drink water containing arsenic in excess of EPAs standard over many years could

experience skin damage or problems wit h th eir circulatory system, and m ay have an increased risk of gettingcancer.Fluoride. Many comm unities add fluoride to their drinkin g water to prom ote dental health. Each commun ity

makes its own decision about w hether or not t o add fluoride. EPA has set an enforceable drinking water stand

or fluoride of 4 m g/ L (some people who drink w ater containing fluoride in excess of this level over many year

could get bone disease, including pain and tenderness of the bones). EPA has also set a secondary fluoride

standard of 2 m g/ L to protect against dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis, in it s moderate or severe forms, m ay

esult in a brown staining and/ or pitt ing of the perm anent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth

before they erupt from the gum s. Children under nine should not drink w ater that h as more th an 2 mg/ L ofluoride.

Lead ty pically leaches into water fr om plu mbing in older buildings. Lead pipes and plum bing fitt ings have bee

banned since August 1998. Children and pr egnant wom en are m ost susceptible t o lead health risks. For advic

on avoiding lead, see the how to remove lead in your drinking waterfact sheet prepared by EPA.

Volatile Organic Contaminant s (VOCs)

BenzeneCarbon TetrachlorideChlorobenzene

o-Dichlorobenzene* * p-Dichlorobenzene1,1-Dichloroethylene

cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene

trans-1,2-DicholoroethyleneDichloromethane 1,2-Dichloroethane 1,2-Dichloropropane Ethylbenzene

Styrene

Tetrachloroethylene1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene 1,1,1,-Trichloroethane1,1,2-Trichloroethane

TrichloroethyleneTolueneVinyl ChlorideXylenes

Disinfectants

Many w ater suppliers add a disinfectant to drink ing wat er to kill germ s such as giardia and


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Water Ph Value and Contamination

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