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Diagnose Your Water

and find technologies to treat it properly

If you think there may be something wrong with your water but you don't know what may be causing the problem, you came to the right place.

This page will help you narrow down the possible culprits by choosing from some common Symptoms and their Characteristics.

Once narrowed down, you will find potential treatments and solutions. The information in this section is presented to you based on guidelines obtained from the WQA (Water Quality Association)

Color

Blue/Green
Matching Contaminant(s): Copper
Dark brown/Black
Matching Contaminant(s): Manganese
Reddish/Orange
Matching Contaminant(s): Iron

Deposits

Soap scum, Bathtub rings
Matching Contaminant(s): Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3)
Whitish scale
Matching Contaminant(s): Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3)

Smells

Like Bleach
Matching Contaminant(s): Chlorine
Like Fish
Matching Contaminant(s): Barium, Cadmium
Like Rotten Eggs
Matching Contaminant(s): Odor
Like Sewage
Matching Contaminant(s): Selenium (+6)
Like Sweet Solvent
Matching Contaminant(s): MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)

Spots

Glassware, dishes, flatware
Matching Contaminant(s): Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
My clothes
Matching Contaminant(s): Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3)
Spotting and mottling of teeth
Matching Contaminant(s): Fluoride

Stains

Blue/Green
Matching Contaminant(s): Copper
Brown/Red
Matching Contaminant(s): Color, Iron
Dark Brown/Black
Matching Contaminant(s): Manganese
Grey
Matching Contaminant(s): Aluminum
Red/Orange
Matching Contaminant(s): Iron

Tastes

Like Salt
Matching Contaminant(s): Chloride, Sulfate
Metallic
Matching Contaminant(s): Iron, Zinc

Contaminant Treatment Overall Information

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Copper

MCLG: 1.3 mg/L
MCL: 1.3 mg/L (action level)

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Cation Exchange (20% - 90%)

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Electrodialysis

Corrosion control

Polyphosphate/Silicate feed

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:

Gastrointestinal irritation

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural/industrial deposits

Wood preservatives

Plumbing

.
Manganese

SMCL: 0.05mg/L (Total Manganese)

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods

Filtration (Oxidizing filters)

Cation Exchange

Oxidation/Precipitation/Filtration

Disinfection/Filtration

Effects on Water:

Dark brown-black stains

Bitter, metallic taste

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural deposits

.
Iron

SMCL: 0.3mg/L (Total iron)

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Filtration(oxidizing filters)

Cation Exchange

Oxidation/Precipitation/Filtration

Disinfection

Effects on Water:

Rusty color

Sediment

Reddish or orange stains

Metallic taste

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural Deposits

.

Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3)

For more about this, Click Here

SMCL: No federal limit

Soft: <17.1

Slightly hard: 17.1 to 60

Mod. hard: 60 to 120

Hard: 120 to 180

Very hard: 180 and above
Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG) or milligrams per liter (mg/l, equivalent to parts per million, or ppm). Water up to 1 GPG (or 17.1 mg/l) is considered soft, and water from 1 to 3.5 GPG is considered moderately hard. Water from 3.5 to 7 GPG is Hard Water, and from 7 to 10.5 GPG is Very Hard. A water softener's effectiveness depends on how hard the incoming water is. Water over 100 GPG may not be completely softened.

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Remove all calcium and magnesium ions with a cation exchange water softener

Effects on Water:

Consumes soap and makes cleaning more difficult

Whitish scale deposits

Soap curd and lime scum residue

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural deposits causing calcium (limestone) and magnesium salts in raw water

.
Chlorine

MCLG: 4 mg/L (P)*
MCL: 4 mg/L (P)*

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Activated Carbon

Reverse Osmosis

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:

Cancer

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Chemical added to disinfect municipal water

.
Barium

MCLG: 2.0 mg/L
MCL: 2.0 mg/L

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Cation Exchange

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Electrodialysis

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:

Circulatory system effects

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural deposits

Discharge of drilling wastes

Discharge from metal refineries

.
Cadmium

MCLG: 0.005 mg/L
MCL: 0.005 mg/L

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods

Coagulation/Filtration

Submicron Filtration

Cation Exchange

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Electrodialysis

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:

Kidney effects

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Galvanized pipe corrosion

Natural deposits

Batteries

Paints

.
Odor

SMCL: 3 (threshold odor number)

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Activated Carbon

Air Stripping

Oxidation/Filtration

Disinfection/Filtration

Effects on Water:

Rotten egg

Musty

Garlic

Chemical smell

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Chlorine

Hydrogen sulfide

Organic matter

Gasoline contamination

Methane gas

Septic contamination

.
Selenium (+6)

MCLG: 0.05 mg/L
MCL: 0.05 mg/L (total selenium)

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Anion Exchange

Activated Alumina

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Electrodialysis

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:

Liver damage

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural deposits

Mining

Smelting

Coal/Oil combustion

.
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
Not MBTE

SMCL: No federal limit

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Activated Carbon

Air Stripping

Effects on Water:

Sweet solvent odor at 0.020 mg/L

Possible human carcinogen

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

"Oxygenator" additive for reformulated gasoline

.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

SMCL: 500mg/L

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Deionization by Ion Exchange

Electrodialysis

Effects on Water:

Hard water

Deposits on glasses and fixtures

.
Fluoride

MCLG: 4.0 mg/L
MCL: 4.0 mg/L

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Activated Alumina

Bone Char

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Electrodialysis

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:

Skeletal & dental fluorosis

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural deposits

Fertilizer

Aluminum industries

Water additive

.
Color

SMCL: 15 (color units)

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Anion Exchange

Activated Carbon

Filtration

Chlorination

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Ozonation

Effects on Water:

Visible tint

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Tannins

Natural deposits

Iron

Copper

Manganese

.
Aluminum

SMCL: 0.05 to 0.2mg/L depending on case-by-case circumstances

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods

Cation Exchange

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Ultrafiltration

Deionization

Effects on Water:

Colored or tinted water

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Alum coagulation treatment

Natural deposits

.
Chloride

SMCL: 250mg/L

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Anion Exchange

Electrodialysis

Deionization

Effects on Water:

Salty taste

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural deposits

.
Sulfate

MCLG: 500 mg/L (proposed standard)
MCL: 500 mg/L (proposed standard)

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods

Anion Exchange

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Electrodialysis

Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:

Diarrhea

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Natural deposits

.
Zinc

SMCL: 5mg/L

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

Reverse Osmosis

Distillation

Cation Exchange

Electrodialysis

Effects on Water:

Metallic taste

Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:

Industrial wastes

Natural deposits

NOTE: Even if you did not find any symptom, it would be a good idea to have your water tested. This way, you would be assured that your water IS indeed safe.

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WQA (Water Quality Association)

The Water Quality Association is the international trade association representing the household, commercial, industrial, and small community water treatment industry.

Water Quality Association Web Site

WQA maintains a close dialogue with other organizations representing different aspects of the water industry in order to best serve consumers, government officials, and industry members.

Lots of info in this section is based on the EPA Drinking Water Standards.

WQA is a resource of information, of product testing, and professional certification for all water users.

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MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal.
Established at the level at which no known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons occur and which allows an adequate margin or safety; expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L) unless otherwise specified.

.
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level.
established as close to the MCLG as feasible, taking into consideration costs and treatment techniques applicable at public water systems; expressed in milligrams per liter unless otherwise specified.

.
SMCL = Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels.
Specifies the maximum contaminant levels which, in the judgement of the Administrator, are requisite to protect the public welfare; expressed in milligrams per liter unless otherwise specified.

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