In many areas of the United States, the element arsenic makes its way into the water supply. This element can have adverse health effects. Although it’s rare that it shows up in large enough concentrations to be fatal, it can still cause problems and should be eliminated.
HEALTH EFFECTS
Many studies have been done to determine the specific effects of consuming water tainted by arsenic. One of the most common health ailments is lesions. Regularly consuming water with traces of arsenic can cause skin problems. This is usually the first indication that there’s arsenic present in the drinking water.
Arsenic also lowers the immune system. So, frequently drinking water with arsenic in it will significantly increase the risk of developing common illness. Over time, these diseases can progress. It can be so difficult to fight off illness that you end up sick for extended periods of time, and you’ll be slowly getting worse.
It’s also been determined that consumption of water with arsenic can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Arsenic can be responsible for chronic heart problems or even heart attacks.
COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING
In addition to studies on the physical health effects of arsenic, many tests have been done to prove that drinking water with arsenic traces can have negative mental impacts. In these studies, it was shown that the cognitive functioning in those who consumed water with arsenic was significantly reduced. These effects were much stronger in children than in adults. For households with children, it might be necessary to install one of these filters to protect their mental well-being.
PEACE OF MIND
The presence of arsenic in the water varies from location to location. Some areas have more present, while some have very little, if any. Although it’s possible to test your household’s water and find exactly how much of certain elements is present, it’s an expensive and labor-intensive process. By installing a filtration system, you can remove all of the negative components of your water supply. As such, you will have peace of mind knowing that your drinking water is safe.
EASY MAINTENANCE
Installing a water filtration device is simple and cost effective. Most importantly, it’s easy to maintain. The system itself will last a long time, and it only requires simple changes in order to keep functioning. Many systems have censors on them which can tell you exactly how much life the filter itself has left, so there’s no guesswork involved. It will also give a warning if the system itself is failing, so you know when to take action.
QUALITY OF WATER
Above and beyond removing harmful contaminants, an arsenic filtration system will make your drinking water taste better. Although there are many filters out there which will do the same, they’re not all factoring out arsenic, necessarily. They might make the water taste better, but contaminants are still present. An arsenic filter will not only make water taste better, it will also remove the unwanted elements.
Because there are so many potential threats posed by arsenic being present in the drinking water, it’s a wise move for any household to seek out arsenic treatment, and invest in a water filtration system.
CASE STUDY
Black Canyon City, Arizona, Arsenic Treatment
AdEdge Water Technologies was awarded a contract by the Black Canyon City Water Improvement District in Black Canyon City, Arizona. The water district, serving approximately 2,500 people, uses three main water supply sources each delivering approximately 200 to 300 gallons per minute. Water treatment systems were provided at each wellhead to reduce naturally occurring arsenic ranging from 13 to 23 parts per billion. We were contracted to provide a turnkey project for permitting, supplying equipment, installation, startup, and commissioning three arsenic treatment systems to bring the district into compliance with the new MCL for arsenic.
The district’s water board researched over twenty-nine companies involved with arsenic treatment technology and chose AdEdge Technologies to complete this project based on lowest capital and operating costs, simplicity of operation, and experience in Arizona with several other successful installations. As part of the proposal process, AdEdge obtained certain site-specific design and water quality data to form the basis of design.
The design report and permit application were submitted to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) with construction permit approvals granted in less than four weeks. The rapid turnaround by the ADEQ was attributed to the technology receiving prior approvals in the state with a similar installation in Rimrock, Arizona, under EPA’s Arsenic Demonstration Program. Fabrication of the modular APU-300 systems commenced with site preparation tasks which included underground piping tie-ins, concrete pads, and shade structures. Equipment was then delivered and installed.
These systems were the largest to date of AdEdge’s multiple installations in Arizona for public drinking water systems utilizing the granular ferric oxide technology. Three separate APU-300 (up to 300 gallons per minute) treatment systems were installed and deployed. Each of the systems utilizes GFO (granular ferric oxide) adsorption media. The small footprint system features a twin vessel parallel flow configuration with automatic controls, PLC, and a 100 percent backwash recycle system with zero discharge or loss of water. No pretreatment is necessary. Chlorine (sodium hypochlorite) is currently injected prior to the adsorption system for disinfection purposes.
The AdEdge adsorption system requires no chemicals, regeneration, and does not generate liquid or hazardous waste. Media, when exhausted, will be discarded as a non-hazardous solid waste in a solid waste landfill. Minimal operation, maintenance, or operator attention is required for this simple automated system. Instrumentation is provided on a control panel to measure critical operating parameters. Total gallon throughput and flow rate for each vessel is measured continuously with a dedicated flow totalizing meter.
Installation and startup was completed within six months with ADEQ permit documents submitted. The permit was approved by ADEQ and all three systems were placed into full service within the year. After two years, treated effluent of the systems still indicated arsenic was being removed to below 10 parts per billion exceeding predicted performance.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Siemens Digital Industries Software, a business unit of Siemens Digital Industries, is a leading global provider of software solutions to drive the digital transformation of industry, creating new opportunities for manufacturers to realize innovation. With headquarters in Plano, Texas, and over 140,000 customers worldwide, we work with companies of all sizes to transform the way ideas come to life, the way products are realized, and the way products and assets in operation are used and understood. For more information, visit www.sw.siemens.com.
Founded in 2002 and headquartered just north of Atlanta, Georgia, AdEdge Water Technologies specializes in the design, development, fabrication, and supply of water treatment solutions, specialty medias, legacy, and innovative technologies that remove a wide range of contaminants from water. For more information, visit www.adedgetech.com.
MODERN PUMPING TODAY, May 2019
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