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 Environmental Services [Quick Links] [ Asbestos Services ] [ Drinking Water Analysis ] [ Water Analysis Terms ] [ Environmental Remediation and Real Estate Property Transactions ] [ Indoor Air Quality ] [ Lead ] [ Leaking Underground Storage Tanks ] [ Mold and Bacteria ] [ OSHA Compliance ] [ Site Assessments, Phase I, II & III. ] [ Storm Water Permits ]
Additional Drinking Water Information on
the Web: |
Quick Reference Links: IMPORTANT NOTE:
When any physical property exceeds the MCL, knowledge concerning
the chemical quality is important in order to determine what
treatment, if any, is required to make the water acceptable for
use. MCL: Absence of both Total Coliforms & E. Coli If bacteria are found in your water sample, you will be notified immediately. A retest is recommended to confirm the presence of bacteria. If the retest is also positive, you should consult a plumber or other professional for inspection of the well integrity and shock or permanent chlorination of the well.
BACK TO TOP For more information on odor in water see also:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/aex-fact/0319.html
Color MCL:15 Color
in water may be caused by dissolved organic material from decayed
vegetation such as peat or humus material and/or certain natural
metallic ions such as iron or maganese. While color is not harmful,
it is objectionable, and is therefore often treated.
pH MCL: 6.4-10.0
pH
is a measure of the acid or alkaline content of water. Water
with low pH (acidic) or a very high pH (basic) is corrosive to
plumbing, and may cause leaching of toxic materials such as lead
or copper. Soda ash can be added to the feed water to effectively
raise the pH. Hardness MCL: 50-150 mg CaCO3/L/100mL Calcium and magnesium salts are the major cause of hardness in water. Although not detrimental to health, hard water retards the cleaning action of soaps and detergents. When hard water is heated it will deposit a hard scale on heating coils and cooking utensils with a consequent waste of fuel. A water softening system is the most common method of lowering the hardness level. The following is a scale on which
to assess your water hardness:
Iron MCL: 0.3 mg/L (Desirable limit)
Iron levels above 0.3 mg/L
can discolor fixtures and laundry and may impart a metallic taste to water.
Iron is frequently present in water because of the large amounts present in
soil. Corrosive water will also pick up iron from pipes. Common methods for
removing iron from water are aeration or chlorination of the water followed
by filtration of the iron. Manganese MCL: 0.05 mg/L (Desirable limit) Manganese ranks eighth among the elements in order of abundance. More than 0.005 mg/L in your drinking water may produce a brownish black stain in laundry and fixtures and may impart objectional odor and taste. It is usually found along with iron in the soil with a high mineral content. Oxidation followed by a greensand filter is a common method for maganese removal. Sodium MCL: 28 mg/L Sodium content of water is relatively unimportant for healthy persons because the intake of sodium from other food and drink is so much greater. Persons following a low sodium diet because of hypertension or kidney or cardiovascular disease, however, should be concerned with the elevated level of sodium. The usual sodium diet allows 20 mg/L in drinking water. Elevated sodium levels are likely to be seen with the use of a water softener. Other possible causes are run-off from salting or sewage contamination. Chloride MCL: 250 mg/L The MCL for chloride was established primarily for aesthetic reasons. The concentration at which the average person can detect a salty taste in water is 250 mg/L. A very high chloride level can lead to corrosiveness of water on pipes and heating equipment and is usually associated with a high sodium level. Elevated chlorides may be caused by sewage contamination, run-off from road salting, or an improperly maintained water softener. Nitrate MCL: 10 mg/L An elevated nitrate-nitrogen level may be an indication that agriculture fertilizer or waste disposal is polluting the water. The MCL of 10 mg/L has been established to prevent a disease called methemoglobinemia, "Blue baby disease" in infants. Nitrates can be removed by reverse osmosis and ion exchange resins. Ammonia: Ammonia-nitrogen is a product of the microbiological decay of plant and animal protein and is commonly used in commercial fertilizers. Ammonia- nitrogen in ground waters is normal, unless the nitrite, nitrate-nitrogen, or bacteria levels are elevated, High ammonia nitrogen is of little concern. Lead MCL: 0.015 mg/L Lead is a serious cumulative body poison for children and adults. Lead in water may come from industrial, mine, and smelter discharge or from dissolution of old plumbing. Therefore lead analysis is typically performed on a first draw sample. |
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