|
Coliform Bacteria Including E.coli - The Canadian drinking water quality guideline for total coliform is none
detectable per 100 mL. In water, coliform bacteria have no taste, smell or colour.
They can only be detected through a laboratory test. The Canadian drinking water quality guideline
for Escherichia coli (E.coli) is none detectable per 100 mL. Health Risks - E.coli in drinking water indicates
the water has been contaminated with fecal material that may contain disease causing microorganisms,
such as certain bacteria, viruses, or parasites. The most common symptoms of waterborne illness include nausea, vomiting,
and diarrhea. Infants, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems may suffer
more severe effects. You should not assume that your water
is safe to drink just because it has not made you sick in the past. If bacteria ar prsent in your water, there is a risk that it could make you ill. Coliform bacteria in drinking water? - How to fix? = Ultraviolet SterilizerPetroleum Hydrocarbons - Oil, Gas, Fuel Contamination in well water.
Arsenic - Arsenic is a natural element widely found in soil, bedrock and water.
Pure arsenic is a silver-gray or white brittle metal, has no odour and is almost tasteless. Arsenicals are used commercially and industrially – e.g. as alloying agents, in processing of
glass and pigment, in pesticides and in wood preservatives How
does arsenic get into water? Arsenic may enter water supplies through discharge of industrial
wastewater and agricultural pollution, or the dissolution of natural arsenic
particles in rain, snow or groundwater. Arsenic is also released into the environment through the manufacturing of pesticides
and the burning of fossil fuels. It is also a by-product of copper
smelting, mining and coal burning. Rocks and soil release arsenic into the ground water which can be
drawn into water wells. Sometimes natural erosion can also introduce
large quantities of arsenic into a local water source. Health Risks - Arsenic has been recognized
as a poison since ancient times. A long-term exposure to high levels of arsenic in drinking water causes bladder, lung, skin, kidney and liver cancer. It can also harm the central and peripheral nervous
systems, affect heart functions, damage bloods vessels, and can cause
tremors, headaches, numbness and serious skin problems. It can also cause birth defects and reproductive problems. Some symptoms linked to long-term exposure to high levels of
arsenic in drinking water include thickening and discoloration of the skin, nausea and diarrhea, decreased production of blood
cells, keratosis and peripheral vascular diseases. Acute arsenic poisoning
associated with ingestion of water with high levels of arsenic includes abdominal pain, vomiting, and pain to the extremities and muscles. Other considerations
- Arsenic poisoning in drinking water is a global problem. As research continues to find more
advanced and practical techniques of detecting contaminated water sources
and remediating them, we must seek to implement updated analytical methods to avoid the hazardous consequences of arsenic
poisoning.
 Maximum Acceptable Concentration for Drinking Water = 0.01 mg/L or 10 ug/L. In water, arsenic has no taste, smell,
or colour. It can only be detected through a chemical test. The Canadian drinking water quality guideline for
arsenic is 0.01 milligrams per litre (mg/L).
The guideline limit for arsenic is based on the level that can be achieved by certified treatment
units. Make every effort to keep arsenic levels as low as possible in drinking water. Arsenic in drinking water? - How to Fix? - Reverse Osmosis System - Arsenic/Uranium Water Softener/FilterUranium - Uranium is a common element that exists naturally in soil and rock throughout the world.
It is radioactive. In Nova Scotia, the concentration of uranium in the soil, on average, is three parts of uranium for one million parts of soil. The soil in the
rest of Canada has about the same concentration of uranium.
Concentrations vary across Nova Scotia, depending on the type of minerals in the soil or bedrock. For example, in granite
bedrock, the average concentrations
can be higher. Health Risks
- In drinking water, the chemical properties of uranium are of greater concern than its radioactivity. Studies
show that elevated levels of uranium in drinking water can affect the kidneys. In Nova Scotia,
uranium levels in drinking water are between 0.005 and 0.83 milligrams per litre (mg/L). The
Canadian guideline for uranium in drinking water is 0.02 mg/L or 20 ug/L. . Uranium in
drinking water? - How to Fix? - Reverse Osmosis System - Uranium Softener/Filter
Iron in well Water? red or orange rust stains on fixtures, laundry, colored water, metallic taste? How to Fix? - Water Softener, Iron Filter. Fluoride - Fluoride in drinking water has no taste, smell or
colour. Fluoride can be detected only through chemical testing. The Canadian drinking
water quality guideline for fluoride is 1.5 mg/L. Health
Risks - Exposure to excess fluoride in drinking water can cause dental fluorosis.
Over the long term it can cause skeletal fluorosis. Well water with
fluoride levels greater than 1.5 mg/L should not be used for drinking, cooking, or teeth brushing.
It may be used for bathing, handwashing, and dishwashing. . Fluoride in Drinking Water? How to Fix? = Reverse Osmosis
Lead - Lead is present in tap water as a result of dissolution from natural sources or from household plumbing
systems containing lead in pipes, solder or service connections to Health Risks - Lead in drinking water can cause a variety of adverse health effects. Children, infants, and unborn children are more strongly affected by exposiure to lead because their bodies absorb lead more readily than adults. Childrens brains and nervous systems are also more sensitive to the effects of lead. Children exposed to lead levels above 0.01 mg/L can suffer from:
Health effects for adults exposed to lead levels above 0.01 mg/L may include:
The risk to human health is through ingestion only - drinking, cooking and teeth brushing. Well water with levels greater than 0.01 mg/L may be used for bathing, handwashing, and dishwashing. Lead in drinking water? - How to Fix? - Reverse Osmosis System or Cation Exchange Water Softener
|
||||||||
|
homes. The amount of lead from the plumbing system that may be dissolved depends upon several factors, including the acidity
(pH), water softness and standing time of the water, with soft, acidic water being most plumbosolvent. The guideline
for lead is 0.01 mg/L.