Hobbies And Interests
Testing Private Wells
Testing of a private drinking water well is recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to be done for certain contaminants at least once a year. Testing can be expensive, so being aware if arsenic is a problem in your area is one way to determine if you should have your well tested. If health problems such as atypical discoloration of the skin occur, the water should certainly be tested for arsenic. State certified labs should do the testing. if you are in an area known for arsenic contamination, a filter is advisable even without a test indicating unacceptable levels.
Reverse Osmosis Filter
Reverse osmosis (RO) methods of filtering involve both a filter mechanism and pumps which force high-solute concentrations to move through a filter into lower solute concentrations. They are effective for many water contaminants, though they are often more expensive than traditional filter mechanisms.
Ultra-Filtration
Developing better methods of filtering arsenic, while maintaining levels of minerals needed by the body, is a constant goal of researchers. Most filters contain particles of activated alumina. University of Madison-Wisconsin researchers found a mesoporous media developed by Exxon Mobil Corp. scientists in 1992 could be used anywhere from wells to treatment plants to home faucet filters. It was also found to be cheaper and more effective when used in combination with activated alumina.
Ion Exchange Filter
Ion exchange is basically when an ion is adsorbed onto a surface which is solid by actions originating from a dissolved ion. In arsenic ion exchange removal, the arsenic is adsorbed and subsequently inactivated. According to the U.S. EPA, "If As (III) is present, it must be oxidized to As (V) in order for it to be effective." As III is a very toxic form of arsenate, while AS (V) has little to no toxicity.
Considerations
Ideally the best solution to arsenic in your drinking water is to find another source of water. This is particularly true if extremely high levels are found. If a completely new source cannot be found, diluting the primary source with a secondary one, coupled with filtration methods, can be an alternative. Arsenic levels found in well water are not easily absorbed through the skin, so things such as showering are not considered a significant risk. Because of this, you can use bottled water for drinking and cooking until the well is again at an acceptable level. Different filtration methods may work better depending on the different water quality parameters of your source.