Water Quality Contaminants of Concern

1. Water Quality Contaminants of Concern Erin James Virginia Master Well Owner Network Training

2. Sources of potential contaminants or issues of concern well Surface water contamination: nitrate, bacteria Source may be plumbing materials or existing water treatment device: sodium copper lead bacteria Often found in groundwater naturally, may be due to man’s activities on or below ground: TDS sodium iron chloride hardness pH/corrosivity fluoride sulfate nitrate manganese

3. Testing water quality • Why test? • Protect family’s health and safety • Many contaminants undetectable by human senses • Preventive measures often more effective and less expensive • Legal protection • When to test? • Routine tests every 1-3 years • Pregnant woman or infant in the home • Recurring gastrointestinal illness • Change in taste, appearance, odor of water • Any services or repairs are done

4. What should I test for? • Every year test for coliform bacteria • Simple, inexpensive test ($15-20) • Indicates possible contamination from human or animal waste • Every three years test: • pH (secondary std: 6.5 – 8.5) • Total Dissolved Solids (TDS; secondary std 500 mg/L) • Other contaminants based on local land uses nearby and condition of water

5. Understanding test results • Most results provided as concentrations: • mg/L (milligrams per liter) ≈ ppm (parts per million) • µg/L = (micrograms per liter) ≈ ppb (parts per billion) • Other units unique to test • Radon, hardness, pH • Compare to EPA standards: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html

6. Private Water Supply Regulations • Virginia Private Well Regulations • Specify application, inspection and construction requirements • No requirements for maintenance or water testing after construction of well – responsibility of the owner! • EPA National Drinking Water Standards • Apply to PUBLIC systems • Primary (health) and Secondary (nuisance) • Can be used as guidance for private systems to know “how much is too much”

7. EPA Drinking Water Standards Primary Standards • Also called Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) • Cause health problems • Enforced for public systems • Over 80 contaminants • For example: • Nitrate • Lead • Coliform • Most organic chemicals and pesticides Secondary Standards • Also called SMCL or RMCL • Cause aesthetic problems: • Staining • Taste • Odor • Can naturally occur in ground water • About 15 contaminants including: • Iron • Fluoride • Chloride http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html

8. Tests for Specific Health Concerns Adapted from Household Water Testing. 2000. Blake Ross, Kathleen Parrott, and Janice Woodward (VCE pub 356-485)

9. Tests based on nearby land use Adapted from Household Water Testing. 2000. Blake Ross, Kathleen Parrott, and Janice Woodward (VCE pub 356-485)

10. Nuisance Problems Adapted from Household Water Testing. 2000. Blake Ross, Kathleen Parrott, and Janice Woodward (VCE pub 356-485)

11. If Coliform Bacteria are PRESENT • Don’t panic! • Recommend RETEST • Use certified lab • Follow with test for E. Coli bacteria • Take this as an opportunity to examine well or spring for damage or needed improvements • Consider shock chlorination • Long term treatment options: ozonation, UV light, continuous chlorination

12. If E. Coli Bacteria are PRESENT http://www.kimicontrol.com/microorg/escherichia_coli.jpg • Take immediate steps to address • Shock chlorinate • Retest water • In the meantime, consider boiling for at least 3 minutes or use another source of water for drinking or cooking • Check for potential contamination sources, examine well or spring • Consider long-term treatment options: UV light, ozonation, continuous disinfection

13. Nitrate (NO3-N) http://wi.water.usgs.gov/pubs/FS-221-95/p2.gif • Serious health concern for infants < 6 mo • Methemoglobinemia or “blue baby syndrome” • Nitrate  nitrite during digestion and blood cannot carry oxygen • Sources include fertilizer, animal manure, sewage • NO3 dissolves and moves easily through soil • Test in spring months; levels change over time • BOILING INCREASES concentration of nitrates!!! • Treatment: distillation, reverse osmosis, ion exchange

14. pH 0 Battery acid 1 Gastric acid 2 Lemon juice more acidic 3 Vinegar • Measure of whether a substance is acidic or alkaline • Scale: 0 (acidic) to 14 (alkaline) • pH of 5 is 100 times more acidic than pH of 7 (logarithmic scale) • Good indicator of general water quality 4 5 Coffee Recommended pH range 6.5 – 8.5 6 Milk Neutral Distilled water 7 8 Baking soda 9 Sea water 10 Milk of magnesia more alkaline 11 12 Ammonia Bleach 13 Lye 14

15. Corrosive and Scaling Water • Measure of alkalinity, TDS, and pH • Corrosive (aggressive) water • Corrodes metal in plumbing, causing damage, pitting • Leaching of copper or lead into drinking water – health concern! • EPA recommends drinking water be non-corrosive • Scaling water • Contains high levels of minerals • Forms scale on inside of pipes and appliances, lime deposits on shower heads and taps • Can lead to clogging of pipes, reduced efficiency of heaters and appliances http://www.bushman.cc/photos/Copper_Water_Pipe_Corrosion.jpg; www.watersoftening.org/effects_of_hard_water.htm

16. Corrosive and Scaling Water • Usually a measure of alkalinity, TDS, and pH; often reported as a Saturation Index (varies by lab)

17. Corrosive Water • Also called aggressive water • Corrodes metal plumbing – can leach metals, causes pitting and leaks, reduces length of appliance life • Most commonly caused by low pH; other contributing factors include alkalinity, temperature, TDS levels • EPA recommends drinking water be non-corrosive • Excess copper or lead in drinking water is a health concern • Depending on pH, treat with acid neutralizing filter or soda ash injection http://www.bushman.cc/photos/Copper_Water_Pipe_Corrosion.jpg; http://www.cee.vt.edu/ewr/environmental/teach/wtprimer/corrosion/corrosion.html

18. Corrosive Water: Metals of concern • Lead • Many serious health effects, especially in children and infants • Developmental, neurological, reproductive and renal • EPA MCL is 0 µg/L with a health action level of 15 µg/L. • Sources include: • Pipes in older homes (pre-1930) • Solder in homes built prior to 1986 • “Lead-free” brass fixtures (<8%) – even in NEW homes! • Copper • High levels can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps; infants and children particularly sensitive • EPA MCL is 1.3 mg/L • Nuisance effects noticeable at 1.0 mg/L http://www.gravitaexim.com/images/Lead-pipe.jpg

19. Hardness/Scaling • Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium ions • Dissolved into water during contact with limestone and other minerals • Not a health risk – nuisance • Decreased cleaning action of soaps, detergents • Scale build-up in pipes and on appliances • Reduced efficiency and lifespan of water heaters • No EPA standard for public systems • Treat using water softener www.goodcleanwater.com/fyi.htm; www.watersoftening.org/effects_of_hard_water.htm; 20

20. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) • Water is a great solvent – dissolves many compounds as it travels over and under ground • TDS is a measure of all dissolved impurities < 2µm dia • Natural sources: limestone, salt deposits, other minerals • Man-made sources: • Septic systems and sewage • Run off from agricultural or urban land • Road salt, industrial sources • General indicator of water quality; test at least every three years • EPA SMCL is 500 mg/L • Treat using distillation or reverse osmosis 21 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_dissolved_solids

21. Fluoride • Occurs naturally in varying levels • Naturally high levels of F in E. Virginia groundwater (3-6 mg/L) • Added to many public water systems for reduced dental caries and strong teeth and bones • Health concerns: • Long term exposure: links to bone cancer • Shorter term exposure: dental or skeletal fluorosis • EPA MCL 4.0 mg/L and SMCL 2.0 mg/L • Optimum levels for public systems 0.8 - 1.2 mg/L • Limited use for children up to 8 years • Treatment (reverse osmosis) removes ALL fluoride http://www.willamettedental.com/en_us/ALL/patients/pps/retailproducts_prettysmile.gif; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_fluorosis

22. Sodium and Chloride • Low levels occur naturally; high levels usually from man-made source • Road salt storage or application • Sewage, fertilizers or animal waste • WATER SOFTENER • Sodium: EPA MCL for those onlow-sodium diets: 20 mg/L • Chloride: EPA SMCL of 250 mg/L • Higher levels may indicate contamination – test for bacteria or other contaminants • Salty taste; increased corrosion of pipes and water heaters • Treat using distillation, reverse osmosis, demineralization /www.cotrip.org/winterdriving/images/pic6.jpg; /www.apswater.com/images/fleck%205600.jpg

23. Iron and Manganese • Nuisance - not health concern • SMCL: Iron = 0.3 mg/L Manganese = 0.05 mg/L • Red-brown/black staining, particles, metallic taste • Treatment depends on type/form of iron • Ferrous: water initially clear  orange-brown or black solid particles • Ferric: solid particles apparent immediately, or water has a tint • Iron/Manganese bacteria: not a health concern; feed on Fe and Mn, forming red-brown or black-brown slime • Treatment: water softener, aeration and filtration, ozonation, distillation http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/images-water-quality/chemicals/water%20in%20reddish-brown.jpg

24. Hydrogen Sulfide thepipelinefixation.blogspot.com • Colorless gas; rotten egg smell • Not regulated by EPA – people can detect low levels • Naturally present in shale, sandstone, near coal or oil fields • Sulfur-reducing bacteria produce (not a health risk) • Treatment depends on concentration, so must test • Only noticeable in hot water? • Bacteria could be thriving in your water heater • Sulfates may be converted to H2S chemically in your water heater during a reaction with your magnesium corrosion control rod

25. What do you recall about….. • Iron and manganese • Bacteria • Hardness • Corrosive and Scaling Water • Hydrogen Sulfide • Nitrate • Sodium • TDS • Fluoride