The most common water problems I confront are bacteria, iron and manganese.
Coliform and E. coli bacteria are becoming major concerns for consumers with private wells or dugouts.
These bacteria are from human or animal wastes that have entered the water supply. Bacteria can enter an aquifer that might be kilometres from your well, but can eventually end up in your water supply.
To properly kill and control the bacteria, a system that continually adds a disinfectant such as chlorine must be installed, followed by a multi-media filter. Chlorine levels of a minimum of one part per million will eliminate the bacteria.
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Iron and manganese in a bacteria form can be a real nuisance. These mineral bacteria can adhere to your plumbing fixtures and water lines and eventually plug them.
An iron level as low as 0.3 milligrams per litre is enough to cause staining of plumbing fixtures and laundry.
Examine your toilet tank for iron and manganese bacteria. If you see a reddish brownish slime, you may have iron bacteria.
If there is a black slime, you may have manganese bacteria.
A properly sized chlorination system will address this situation, killing the bacteria and oxidizing the iron and manganese. You must also install a filter to remove the dead bacteria and the oxidized iron and manganese.
Another growing water problem is arsenic.
Arsenic can occur naturally in water or can leach into a water supplyfrom industrial plants and landfill sites. Arsenic is used by industry when processing glass, for tanning hides and is also used to produce pesticides, feed additives and pharmaceuticals.
Arsenic is mostly detected in surface waters. Some symptoms humans may experience from arsenic are abdominal pain, vomiting and pain to extremities.
The acceptable level for arsenic in a water supply is 0.025 mg/L.
I question how anyone can place an acceptable guideline on this poisonous toxic substance, which is known to be carcinogenic.
To remove arsenic safely, a reverse osmosis or distillation system must be installed.
Trihalomethane danger
Q: Last month you mentioned trihalomethanes when chlorinating lake water. We have dugout water that we chlorinate and it has algae, so I assume there are trihalomethanes.
How big a deal are they when you don’t drink the water or use it for cooking? We use it only for bathing, washing and laundry.
A: Thrihalomethanes, or THMs, are mostly present when surface water is chlorinated. The types of compounds most commonly found are chloroform, bromodichloromethane, chlorodibromomethane and bromoform.
Once chlorine is mixed with organic matter, the chance of trihalomethanes being produced is much greater. Drinking water with THMs may be related to cancers of the bladder and colon.
The acceptable level of THMs in drinking water is 0.1 mg/L. Keep in mind that even though you do not drink or cook with the water, your skin is the largest organ on the human body and it can absorb water when bathing.
I suggest that you have the water tested to see if trihalomethanes exist and at what level.
A fine mesh activated carbon filter will remove the THMs from your water supply.
The carbon filter will have to be rebedded every two years or so to guarantee effective absorption of the THMs.
If you have a specific water problem and would like advice, write to the Water Clinic, attention Philip Stadnyk, 850-47th St. E. Saskatoon, Sask., S7K 0X4, e-mail philip@thewaterclinic.com or phone 800-664-2561. Stadnyk is president of the Water Clinic and a member of the Canadian Water Quality Association. His views do not necessarily reflect those of The Western Producer.
