HOW YOU CAN BE PROTECTING YOURSELF FROM CONTAMINATED WATER

UVDynamics designs and manufactures Ultraviolet (UV) water disinfection systems. UV water disinfection is a proven, affordable, environmentally friendly technology that can help you to insure the safety of your water supply.

Extreme weather, spring snow melts and run-off from intensive agriculture activities are all affecting the safety of our private water sources. Even municipal water can no longer be assumed to be safe with boil water advisories becoming more frequent. Compared to chemical disinfection, UV water disinfection can never overdose, has no effect on taste and odour, and no carcinogenic disinfection by-products are produced with UV water disinfection. UV water disinfection is considered effective against cryptosporidium and giardia, pathogens which are almost completely resistant to chlorine. UV water disinfection systems have low operating costs and no tools are required for maintenance or lamp replacement

All our models incorporate both audio and visual lamp failure indicators along with an annual lamp change reminder timer. Many models also incorporate an isolated low voltage solenoid drive circuit for an optional water shut-off solenoid valve.

Why is water quality important? This is one question that I simply love to answer. Being an active researcher in this field, I have been asked this question many a times. And I have always seen this as an opportunity to share the knowledge and make more and more people aware about the benefits that they can get by consuming quality water. After all who would not like to have a healthier life? The water available in natural resources like rivers is an open home for all types of impurities like dead leaves, dead insects, bird droppings, animal feces etc. The ground water is contaminated with chemical contaminants like pesticides and drugs which seep into the ground and pollute the water. When this water is collected by water companies, they add chlorine to it to prevent bacterial growth. Then this water travels through old and rusty pipes picking up viruses, cysts and rust and finally reaches our taps. Consuming such bad quality water is not only unhygienic; it is a serious threat to our health as it can cause serious disorders in our body. When we consume such poor quality water, our liver which is an organ in our body responsible for filtration has to put in extra efforts to remove all these contaminants. This leaves the fats unprocessed due to which instead of getting converted to energy, they simply start accumulating leading to weightgain. Increase in the weight invites various other disorders like arthritis, back pain, high cholesterol level etc.

Bad quality water additionally disturbs various other body processes. It lowers down the metabolism, inhibits the assimilation of nutrients, disturb s blood pressure etc. Specific contaminants have varied effects like lead can cause hearing impairment, nervous disorder and brain damage too. Chlorine can cause rectal and bladder cancer. This all explains why is water quality so important. So now that you know why is water quality important, there are two choices – either let your liver do all this extra filtration or better employ a good and effective water purifier which can do just this for you. The effective ones, especially those using multiple filtration techniques, remove all contaminants &enhance pH balance in the water.Thus they ensure that each glass of your water has nothing but clean and pure quality water. I am sure now you too can help in spreading the message about why is water quality important for us. If you have additional queries about which water purification mechanism to rely upon or if you would like to get a FREE in house water analysis tested by one of our water treatment specialists then feel free to send us an email or call us today.

Hard Water Facts Are Ion Exchange water softeners a good investment? * Ion Exchange water softeners are the most beneficial appliance you can own. It is not an appliance that just gets used occasionally in the home. Everyone in the house uses softened water every day. An IE softener truly pays for itself in real dollars saved on detergent, soap and household cleaning products, as well as true energy savings for your water heater. You will save countless dollars on plumbing repairs, water heater replacement, and water using appliance repairs due to problems resulting from hard water scale. You will also save personal time and energy on everyday cleaning chores. Why is hard water undesirable?

* “Hard water interferes with almost every cleaning task from laundering to dishwashing to bathing and personal grooming. Clothes and linens laundered in hard water may look dingy or gray, feel harsh and scratchy, and will not last as long as clothes and linens washed in soft water. Dishes and glasses may be spotted when dry. Hard water may cause film on shower doors, shower walls, bathtubs, sinks, fixtures, etc. Hair washed in hard water may feel sticky and look dull. Water flow may be reduced by deposits in pipes.” (reprinted from Wilkes University article). How is hard water measured?

Why a sand water filter may not remove sand from your water system The Problem Conventional well theory holds that water enters the well evenly across the length of screened or open borehole. It has always been assumed that a well with 100 feet of water producing length, and a 1,000-gpm pump will. uniformly produce 10 gallons of water per foot of producing zone. However, it has been clearly demonstrated that this is not what really occurs. What actually happens is that pump suction energy is distributed very unevenly in the well. This results in water entering the well at very high velocities near the pump, and being virtually stagnant at the farthest points from the pump. Water rushes into the well near the pump to satisfy the pump demand. Once this water reaches turbulent velocity, no additional water flow occurs at that point, and the suction energy is pushed farther down in the well. This process will continue until all of the pump suction energy is dissipated or the pump breaks suction and begins to pump air. Thus it can be seen that most of the water is produced in only part of the well. In many cases, 100% of the water is pulled from a third or even less of the available producing zone. The result of this uneven energy distribution is mineral encrustation and sand production as described above. These preventable problems will certainly cause deterioration in well performance, and can often lead to premature failure of the well. Typical approaches to these problems can fairly be described as “treating the symptom” rather than correcting the underlying cause of the problem. These treatments include periodic removal and replacement of the pump, repeated

attempts to rehabilitate the well through various chemical and mechanical methods, re-screening or lining the well, the use of settling tanks, sand separators and/or filtering systems. In the worst cases, wells are replaced and then the cycle repeats itself.

Common Causes of Well Deterioration Well deterioration can be caused by: 1) Mineral encrustation, 2) Sand production and/or 3) Biofouling. In all three cases, well deterioration occurs both to the well screen and casing as well as to the surrounding formation itself.

Total dissolved solids in the water Higher pressure is required for reverse osmosis to remove higher levels of total dissolved solids. Many household reverse osmosis units operate on 25 to 50 psi pressure. These are only suitable for a maximum of 1,500 to 2,000 ppm total dissolved solids. If reverse osmosis is to be used to treat water that is higher in total dissolved solids than this, a booster pump will be required.

Pressure Water pressure affects both quality and quantity of the treated water which is produced. Basically, the higher the pressure, the more treated water produced and the better the quality will be.

Temperature The optimum water temperature for most reverse osmosis membranes is 25°C. As the temperature drops to 5°C the capacity of the reverse osmosis unit will be reduced to less than one half. Long, small-diameter water feed lines will allow the water to warm up to room temperature (20°C) before reaching the membrane. This will increase treated water production.

Membrane fouling Reverse osmosis membranes can be fouled and clogged by bacterial slimes, hard water scale, iron, and silt. Avoid or treat bacteria contaminated water. Soften water that is harder than 50 ppm (3 grains per U.S. gallon). Filter any iron or sediment from the water. Some membranes can be disinfected using chlorine, formaldehyde, iodine, or peracetic acid. Check with the supplier about the recommended disinfection products and procedures for a particular unit.

Maintenance of Reverse Osmosis Units

Where pretreatment is required this pretreatment equipment is critical. Ensure that pretreatment equipment is working properly.

Change prefilter and postfilter cartridges regularly. These filters can become “bacteria farms” and contaminate the water.

Check the product water quality regularly. Dealers have test equipment, a total dissolved solids check only takes a few seconds. Some units have built in testers.

If the proper membrane is used, and pretreatment is adequate, a good quality reverse osmosis membrane should be expected to last from two to five years.

Keep chlorinated water out of most reverse osmosis units, particularly those with thin film composite (TFC) and polyamide membranes. Activated carbon prefilters are used to remove chlorine from the water before is hits the membrane.

An increase of decrease in the amount of water produced usually indicates trouble with the membrane. Have the product water quality checked by the equipment supplier.

Substances That Will Go Through a Reverse Osmosis Membrane

Volatile gases such as oxygen and hydrogen sulfide will pass through reverse osmosis membranes. Some organic substances with low molecular weight can also pass through the membrane. Some of these organic substances are suspected of being cancer causing; fortunately these substances are rarely found in Alberta water. The activated carbon filters used in most reverse osmosis units can remove most organic substances anyway. Bacteria can also “grow through” reverse osmosis membranes leading to possible bacterial growth in the postfilter and water storage tank.

Summary

* Small household reverse osmosis systems will produce one to five gallons of water per day.

* If total dissolved solids is greater than 2,000 ppm, or more than five gallons of water per day is required, a booster pump will be required.

* Reverse osmosis will remove 85 per cent to 98 per cent of total dissolved solids from water.

* Raw water quality must be within the limits specified for the membrane used for a particular unit.

* Many reverse osmosis membranes do not remove nitrates very well.

* Thin film composite membranes are usually the best alternative for rural water in Alberta.

* Thin film composite membranes are durable but can tolerate no chlorine.

* Gases, such as hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg odor), will pas through reverse osmosis membranes.

* Maintenance of pretreatment equipment is critical.

* Manufacturer’s water production ratings are based on ideal conditions of temperature, pressure, and low total dissolved solids. Under private water system conditions expect approximately half of the production that the sales literature states.

* Small reverse osmosis units waste from three to twenty litres of water for each one litreof water produced. Many units are now available with a shutoff to turn off the inlet water supply when the storage tank is full.

Abstract: A process and device are disclosed for removing sand from water loaded with sand and organic substances. The water is made to swirl in a standing container, so that the organic substances are moved upwards to an overflow (13) whereas the sand sinks downwards to a discharging conveyor (3) connected to the bottom of the container and is only discharged after a settling time. In order to achieve a substantial separation of sand and organic substances, the settled sand is agitated by an agitator mechanism (4) at the same time as it is rinsed with fresh water supplied to the bottom area of the container (1) and is only discharged in an amount such that a predetermined minimum height of the settled sand (18) is ensured.

The water bottle that you fill up at a water processing store or have delivered from a water suppler is pristine, clean & safe to drink straight from the bottle. The production line that the water travels through not only includes a Reverse Osmosis Filtration Treatment System but also passes through an Ultra Violet Light Sterilizing System. Any bacteria in the water are then rendered harmless. There are a number of other different filters that the water passes through to remove other particulates that may cause odour or poor tasting water.

Where the problem lies with water coolers is in the maintenance of them. Better than 98% of all bottled water coolers whether in the home or office are contaminated with harmful bacteria as a result of transfer/cross contamination and/or neglect. The result can be flu/cold like symptoms, not feeling well coupled with upset stomach and a variety of other aliments.

Cross Contamination Causes

Cross Contamination causes start with the spigot. Most people refill a smaller bottle of water by placing the spigot directly into the mouth of the bottle they are filling or touch the spigot with the mouth of the bottle they are filling. The result is cross contamination/transfer and in a short period of time the bacteria travels up the spigot and into the internal parts of the cooler contaminating any water passing through it. A sign advising people to be aware of this practice prevents the spigot in most instances from being contaminated. Better practice is regular washing /sanitizing of the spigots. This is the safest and surest method to insure the integrity of the bottled water.

Another method of Cross Contamination is when the empty bottle is removed and replaced with a full one. Washing the bottle neck properly prior to removing the sealed label is as important as washing your hands before handling the bottle. What’s also important is to wash the top catch tray of the cooler and the internal catch tray & trough. They should be both sanitized at least once a month. Although not directly exposed to bacteria by touch the trays are both exposed to air and a biofilm begins to form inside these trays after a period of time. Good safe practices ensure that the water in your cooler remains pristine, clean & safe to enjoy each and every time.

Please visit the Purifiner web site for valuable information on a number of Water Treatment Systems. You will find literature on a variety of water filtration equipment in downloadable PDF documents.

http://purifiner.com/public3/index.html

CBC NEWS

Tue May 25, 10:44 AM

MONTREAL (CBC) – More than 70 per cent of bottled water samples from Canada contain bacterial rates that far exceed recommended limits in the U.S., according to a study presented Tuesday at the general meeting of the American Society of Microbiology in San Diego.

“Heterotrophic bacteria counts in some of the bottles were found to be in revolting figures of 100 times more than the permitted limit,” said Sonish Azam, a researcher on the study. Heterotrophic bacteria are a category which includes all bacteria that survive by consuming organic matter.

Montreal-based C-crest Laboratories Inc. conducted the research after a company employee complained of a foul taste and illness after drinking some bottled water.

The U.S. bacterial limit is no more than 500 colony-forming units of bacteria per millimetre of water. The Canadian test samples showed results of more than 50,000 heterotrophic units.

Health Canada hasn’t set a safe bacterial limit for bottled water.

Researchers from the lab gathered samples of several major brands of bottled water from Montreal stores and tested the bacterial levels.

They also tested samples of Canadian tap water and found the levels around 170 colony-forming units per millimetre of water well below what was found in the bottled water.

“Despite having the cleanest tap water, a large number of Canadians are switching over to bottled water for their daily hydration requirements,” said Azam. “Unsurprisingly, the consumer assumes that since

bottled water carries a price tag, it is purer and safer than most tap water.”

Azam said the bacteria likely don’t cause disease, and the study did not confirm the presence of disease-causing bacteria in the water. Still, she cautioned that the bacteria could pose a risk to vulnerable people such as infants, pregnant women, the elderly and those with compromised immune systems.

The researchers are calling for limits on the amount of bacteria allowed in Canadian drinking water.

C-crest offers product analysis and consulting services to the drug- and food-manufacturing industries.

LINK to video

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100525/bottled-water-bacteria-100525/20100525?hub=TorontoNewHome

Q. I read somewhere that drinking soft water might be related to heart attacks. Is this true?

A. There is currently a medical controversy over what effect, if any, drinking hard or soft water may have on heart disease. In some areas with naturally soft water, residents seem to suffer more from heart disease. In other areas, there appears to be no difference between drinking hard or soft water. A number of researchers feet that some other constituent of water — not hardness or softness may be responsible for the variations in heart disease figures in different areas of the country.

Q. Is there any idea what this “other constituent” might be?

A. Some researchers believe that very small amounts of a “protective” substance may be present in some water supplies and lacking in others. This unknown substance could have a beneficial effect on the heart in much the same way that minute amounts of fluoride protect the teeth. At the present time, no one knows exactly what this substance may be.

Other scientists feel that the problem might be caused by other elements, such as cadmium, in the drinking water. It is known that this metal can cause high blood pressure when taken in small quantities. Trace amounts of cadmium can be dissolved from galvanized water pipes by the corrosive action of naturally soft water.

Q. What’s the difference between naturally soft water and the water from my water softener?

A. There’s a great deal of difference! Naturally soft water is generally acidic and contains very few dissolved minerals. This tends to make the water quite corrosive to pipes and plumbing.

The softened water from your home appliance is more like the raw water from which it is made. It is usually alkaline rather than acidic, and contains moderate amounts of dissolved minerals. Thus softening a hard water in the home does not significantly affect corrosion.

Q. If I have a corrosive water supply, how can I minimize the tendency of the water to dissolve metals, such as cadmium, lead, etc., from the piping system?

A. If your supply is a naturally soft, acidic water, you can install a neutralizing filter, or feed a neutralizing substance. In other types of corrosive water, you can feed a corrosion inhibiting substance.

Q. Is there any simple way to avoid potentially dangerous metals from the plumbing system in water used for

cooking and drinking?

A. Yes. Most of the metals dissolve from pipes when water stands in them for extended periods, such as overnight Thus a simple practice is to allow the water to run for a few minutes in the morning to flush out the accumulated dissolved metals before drawing water for cooking or drinking. Further, since hot water tends to be more corrosive than cold water, it is preferable to use cold water for cooking and drinking.

Q. Is there a household water treatment device which will remove the potentially dangerous, health-related metal impurities from water for drinking and cooking?

A. Yes. Several systems are small enough to be installed under a kitchen sink to supply a special faucet, ice cubes, etc., with highly purified water for cooking and drinking. These systems operate on well-known water purification principles, such as demineralization and reverse osmosis, and will substantially remove not only the metals, but laxative sulfates, sodium and other minerals from the water.

Q. I’ve heard that a water softener adds sodium to my water supply. Is this true?

A. Yes. A household water softener removes the hardness minerals -calcium and magnesium- from water and replaces them with sodium.

Q. How much sodium is added to the water by a water softener?

A. That depends on the hardness of your raw water. The following table shows the additional amount of sodium consumed by drinking one quart of softened water.

INITIAL WATER HARDNESS SODIUM ADDED BY SOFTENING

1.0 grains per gallon

5.0 grams per gallon

10.0 grains per gallon

20.0 grains per gallon

40.0 grains per gallon 7.5 milligrams/quart 37.5 milligrams/quart 75.0 milligrams/quart 150.0 milligrams/quart 300.0 milligrams/quart

Q. Is this additional amount of sodium in my diet harmful?

A. For normal, healthy people, the answer is no. The amount of sodium consumed from drinking water is normally only 5-10% of the amount consumed from other food sources. For example, one slice of white bread contains 161 milligrams of sodium; ¾ cup of canned baked beans, 1130 milligrams; 1 tablespoon of catsup, 204 milligrams; 1 medium frankfurter, 610 milligrams; and 1 cup of whole milk, 122-127 milligrams. Even a common Alka Seltzer tablet contains 532 milligrams of sodium.

However, if you suffer from hypertension or are on a sodium-restricted diet, you should consult your doctor about the proper water for drinking. Since most hard waters also contain sodium, your doctor may recommend that you drink sodium-free packaged or bottled water, or remove sodium from your water by demineralization or reverse osmosis.

Q. How can I determine how much sodium is in my water?

A. If you’re using a municipal water supply, your Water Department can tell you the amount of sodium. If you have a private well, an independent testing laboratory can determine the sodium content.

Q. Since I already have a water softener in my home, is there any way I can have all the benefits of soft water and still drink hard water?

A. Yes. In most cases its relatively simple to install a hard water faucet at the kitchen sink for cooking and drinking

purposes. Your local water conditioning equipment dealer can provide you with details and installation costs.

Q. Is there any place I can write for additional information on the subject of soft water and health? A. Yes. Send an e-mail to CWQA at info@cwqa.com or visit www.saltinstitute.org.

* What is Reverse Osmosis?

* Reverse Osmosis is a water treatment process that forces water through an extremely fine membrane along with other filters which captures many types of unwanted pollutants and contaminants from your drinking water. The method incorporates the municipal water pressure (usually 25psi + for most residential applications) by forcing water at high pressure through a membrane with extremely small pores just big enough to allow for the separation of particulates from water molecules. The membrane is designed to allow water to pass through this dense layer while preventing the passage of unwanted pollutants and contaminants. In line with the membrane filter the reverse osmosis water treatment process incorporates also a pre-carbon & post-carbon & sediment filter. Because Thin Film Composite Membranes have low resistance to chlorine a pre & post-carbon filter in line helps prevent defective filter behavior.

* Change pre-filter and post-filter cartridges regularly. These filters can become “bacteria farms” and contaminate the water.

* Check the product water quality regularly. Contact your dealer and have them perform a simple total dissolved solids (TDS) test which only takes a few minutes.

* If the membrane filter is properly maintained, and pretreatment is adequate, a good quality reverse osmosis membrane should be expected to last from two to five years.

* Carbon filters can last from six months to a year depending on water consumption.

* Sediment filters must be changed on a regular basis because they will plug & release the contaminant being filtered or become biologically fouled. If the flow slows down this if your indication for the need to change up the filters.

Reverse Osmosis Contaminant Removal List Below is a list of contaminants that a reverse osmosis can capture to a degree. There is no guarantee that this list applies to any particular reverse osmosis brand or unit. Laboratory tests have shown that a reverse osmosis water filtration system can capture many of the contaminants lurking in municipal water. The list below is partial and is by no means finite or absolute. Filters should be changed at regular intervals depending on consumption. As with any filter the degree of capture diminishes as build up of contaminants continues. If you are concerned about certain specific contaminants in your water, you should always have your water tested after the reverse osmosis has been installed.