Drinking water contaminant sources

When we refer to water purification, it makes little sense to discuss the subject without first identifying the contaminants that we wish to remove from water. Also, the source of the water is of importance. Our discussion at this point focuses on drinking water. Groundwater sources are of a particular concern, because there are many communities throughout the U.S. that rely on this form. The following are some of the major contaminants that are of concern in water purification applications, as applied to drinking water sources, derived from groundwater. 

Because surface water is often used as a drinking water source, nickel passed through a POTW becomes a possible drinking water contaminant. 

Heinrichs, G. and Udluft, P. (1999) Natural arsenic in Triassic rocks a source of drinking-water contamination in Bavaria, Germany. Hydrogeology Journal, 7(5), 468-76. 

You can exposed to 1,1 -dichloroethane by breathing air containing its vapors in the outdoor air or in your workplace, or by drinking water contaminated with it. Release from industrial processes are the main source of this chemical in the air. Some members of the general population may be exposed to... 

Fact sheet the drinking water contaminant candidate list - the source of priority contaminants for the drinking water EPA 815-F-05-001... 

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is the most common and abundant pollutant in ground-water in the United States. It is primarily used as a solvent to remove grease fiom metal parts, as a solvent for extraction of waxes, oil, fats, tar, and in several consumer products such as paints, carpet cleaning fluid, etc. It is estimated that between 9% and 34% of drinking water supply sources are contaminated with TCE. Several epidemiological studies link TCE exposure to health problems related to congenital heart disease, spontaneous abortion, cancer, etc. 

Nanotechnology can be used to purify drinking water. Contaminated drinking water is a major source of death and disease worldwide. From the medical and social ethics points of view, the potential of nanotechnology to purify drinking water may be its greatest contribution to humanity. 

The major sources of exposure of domestic animals to arsenicals are ingestion of feed contaminated with As from industrial pollution or with residues of As-containing pesticides. Other potential sources of As exposure are drinking water contaminated with iAs or organoAs preparations used as... 

The water treatment in most frequent use since the early twentieth century is a combination of the following steps coagulation, flocculation-sedimentation, and filtration. Filtration is used by matty water treatment facihties to remove particles from the water. It clarifies water and enhances the effectiveness of disinfection. Coagulation and flocculation are also common DWTP unit operations that may decrease the concentrations of potential drinking water contaminants in the source water. 

Living in close proximity to hazardous waste sites and drinking water contaminated by leachates from these sites has been associated with numerous health problems, many of which have been discussed previously in this book. A study was carried out by the U.S. ERA on 593 waste sites in 339 counties in the United States with analytical evidence of contaminated drinking water being the sole source of water supply. In this study, significant associations were demonstrated for several cancers in both men and women [67]. These include ... 

United States Environmental Protection Agency The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) issued a Maximum Contaminate Level (MCL) of 0.006 mg/L for antimony in their National Primary Drinking Water Standards (USEPA 2009). Common sources of antimony contamination listed in this document include fire retardants, ceramics, solder, electronics, and discharge from petroleum refineries. Release of antimony from degradation of household- and food contact plastics were not included as sources of drinking water contamination. 

Potable Water Treatment. Treatment of drinking water accounts for about 24% of the total activated carbon used in Hquid-phase apphcations (74). Rivers, lakes, and groundwater from weUs, the most common drinking water sources, are often contaminated with bacteria, vimses, natural vegetation decay products, halogenated materials, and volatile organic compounds. Normal water disinfection and filtration treatment steps remove or destroy the bulk of these materials (75). However, treatment by activated carbon is an important additional step in many plants to remove toxic and other organic materials (76—78) for safety and palatability. 

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