The Modern Chemistry Of Drinking Water Filtration

35 Pages 8642 Words

a suggests contamination from a source such as cesspool leakage, barnyard runoff, or something similar. The indication is that other more pathogenic materials may enter the drinking water supply from the same source. Cysts and viruses are microbiological contaminants also generally found in surface water supplies. Many, such as Giardia lamblia and cryptosporidium, are known to cause gastrointestinal diseases. Nitrate in drinking water is known to reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, causing cyanosis in infants under 6 months of age. Boiling actually increases the levels of nitrate in water and must be treated by alternate approved methods. Lead may leach from older sweat joints in copper piping in the home. As water sits stationarily in the pipes at night, lead can dissolve into the water causing damage to the nervous system and kidneys. This is particularly harmful to young children as they absorb toxic substances more rapidly that adults. The EPA estimates that over 40 million U.S. homes use water that contains more than...