Arsenic can be found in drinking water from several sources. It may occur naturally in the soil or from mining sites and areas with natural hot springs.
If you’re worried about arsenic in your water, testing it with a home test kit is the perfect solution. These inexpensive and user-friendly devices will tell you exactly how much arsenic there is in your solution in parts per million (ppm).
Yes, water filters can remove arsenic from drinking water. Filters remove arsenic differently. Waterdrop G3P800 claims its under-sink system removes more than 90% of total dissolved solids, including arsenic. Activated carbon filters reduce arsenic by 40–70%, reverse osmosis by 90%, and distillation by 98%. ZeroWater filters remove 90% of arsenic (V) and 85% of arsenic (III) from water.
The right water filter for your needs is crucial. Water softeners cannot remove arsenic from drinking water. One of the best ways to remove arsenic from well water is to install a point-of-use filter on multiple faucets. Whole-home water filtration systems remove arsenic, chlorine, and other contaminants up to 99.6%.
Some water filters may not remove all types and concentrations of arsenic from different water sources. Before choosing a filter for private well water, test for arsenic. It is also essential to follow the manufacturer’s installation and maintenance instructions to ensure the filter’s effectiveness and durability.
I’ve seen water filters remove arsenic from drinking water as a technician. A client’s well water had high arsenic levels. After installing a reverse osmosis filter, the client enjoyed clean, safe, and delicious water without worrying about arsenic exposure. The client liked the filter’s ease of use and maintenance. As a technician, I recommend choosing the right water filter for the water source and needs to get the best results.
Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a water treatment method that removes large particles from the water before they reach your tap. It’s highly efficient and cost-effective.
Reverse osmosis systems also reduce dissolved contaminants like arsenic, iron, and manganese in drinking water. These systems typically include prefiltration with a carbon filter and sediment filter to prevent clogging or damage to the RO membrane due to large particles.
Osmosis is the process by which water pressure forces water through a semi-permeable membrane. Water with higher concentrations of contaminants (like arsenic) tends to migrate toward waters with lower impurity levels.
Reverse osmosis effectively eliminates arsenic from water, but it’s not the only solution. Other filtration techniques, such as distillation and ultra-filtration, can also help remove arsenic from drinking water.
Anion Exchange
Anion exchange is a water treatment method that utilizes specialized resins to remove unwanted cations and anions from drinking water. It may also be employed to purify wastewater or other aqueous solutions.
Anion exchange works by breaking the weak bond of an atom or molecule in water and then reconnecting with another with a higher charge. This can create new molecules and compounds, neutralize electrically charged ions, or remove solids from liquid solutions.
In addition to eliminating arsenic from water, anion exchange can also be employed to remove dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and hardness. Combining with cation exchange improves the efficiency of treating multiple pollutants while cutting operational costs since a single system handles multiple impurities simultaneously.
Activated Carbon
Activated carbon (CO2) is a material that absorbs pollutants from water through adsorption. It’s used in drinking water filters, odor removal systems, industrial pollution control, and many other applications.
Activated carbon is typically available in either granular or block form. Granular activated carbon (GAC) has larger particle sizes than PAC, allowing more gas and vapor to absorb into the GAC.
Granular carbon can be impregnated with chemicals to enhance its rate of sorption and selectivity or to increase its capacity for certain adsorbates. These impregnants may include catalysts or reactive chemicals.
For improved performance and cost efficiency, multiple beds of activated carbon can be placed in series for better cost-effectiveness. The initial two carbon beds serve as breakthrough beds, replacing the subsequent bed once their influent and effluent concentrations are equal.
UV Light
Arsenic (chemical symbol As) is a naturally occurring contaminant in wells and municipal water supplies. Arsenic can be toxic to humans and animals if inhaled or ingested at high levels.
UV light has many uses, from sterilizing surfaces to studying proteins. It’s particularly advantageous in spectroscopy equipment due to its capability of producing radiation at multiple spectral lines, making it an ideal tool.
These devices employ various UV lamps, such as xenon, deuterium, and argon arc lamps. Others utilize excimer technology.
Typically, a quartz glass sleeve shields the UV lamp from water damage. A flow meter may also be included to monitor how much liquid passes through the system. Pre-filters like five-micron sediment filters and softeners can help prevent substances from collecting on or under the sleeves and interfering with the operation of the UV system.
