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What You Can Learn About Water Treatment from the Flint Water Crisis

admin — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 21:49:47 +0000

There are many places around the world where people do not have access to safe drinking water. Here in the U.S., we often take safe drinking water for granted. After all, if you are thirsty all you need to do is to turn on a tap and fill up your glass. What was once considered a basic need fulfilled, however, has been called into question ever since the Flint water crisis occurred.

We invited Dynamic Water Technologies to provide some analysis of the Flint water crisis and also explain the solutions it’s developed for safer water treatment. Dynamic Water Technologies is a commercial and industrial water treatment company that is committed to healthier water treatment that eliminates toxic chemical additives and reduces water use by improving resource management. Here is their guest post explaining how the crisis in Flint occurred and the solution they propose.

How Did the Flint Water Crisis Occur?

In 2014, the city of Flint switched to the Flint River as its drinking water source. Previously, the city had been using Detroit River water, which was cleaner and healthier.

The first sign that something was wrong was when residents began to complain about the color and taste of the water. It was later announced that total coliform bacteria and e.coli were being detected in the drinking water. To address this issue, officials simply added chlorine to the water as a disinfectant measure.

There was, however, no anti-corrosive agent added to the water, as well. It was perhaps this considerable amount of chlorine that led to the lead pipes that carried the water corroding even more quickly. Unfortunately, this was not discovered until much later. It was months after the fact that the residents were informed about the dangerous levels of lead in their systems because they’d been drinking the contaminated water.

Prior to the lead being discovered, there was still something for Flint to worry about. This was the presence of total trihalomethanes in the water supply. This dangerous substance occurs when chlorine combines with organic matter present in the supply. TTHM has long been considered a carcinogen. Despite being aware of the TTHM, officials were slow to make adequate changes.

Hundreds of People Suffer

It took a long time for people to get the answers that they wanted. When the dust settled, what became apparent was shocking. Through sheer oversight and the lack of necessary equipment, disaster descended upon Flint. Hundreds of people, including children, suffered because relevant safeguards were not in place.

What happened in Flint was a tragedy, but not completely unheard of. This is because when cities or corporations use outdated methods of water treatment, issues like corrosion and infection always arise. To prevent such problems from occurring in the future, communities, companies, and industries need to find a better way to cleanse and treat the water they drink.

The Solution to Future Water Problems

There are many innovators who witnessed the Flint water crisis and decided to create better, cleaner ways of giving people pure, fresh water. Companies like Dynamic Water Technologies have designed systems to ensure that the issues plaguing Flint become a thing of the past.

Essentially, what the company has come up with is an improved way of processed water treatment. This is an automated system that protects and improve water quality in two important and unique ways.

√ First, it balances the pH of the water. This is important because it is an imbalance of the pH that leads to corrosion. In turn, this is what causes metals like lead to leach into the water supply.

√ Second, there will be no more need to put any harmful chemicals into the supply with this system in place. Sanitation will be maintained, but there will be no use for disinfectants that are typically harmful to humans.

What is revolutionary about the methods that Dynamic Water have used is that it does not require external chemicals to kick start reactions.

Instead, all that is done is that an electrical current is introduced into the water supply.

This is done with the help of electrodes that are made up of either iron or aluminum and situated in the supply.

When the current is passed, partial electrolysis of the water takes place. In turn, this causes the contaminants to approach a more stable state that tends to be more solid in nature.

The hydrophobic tendency of the new state of the contaminants will make them easier to remove from the supply. The contaminants that can be removed with this method include lead, mercury, chromate, and even domestic sewage.

These are easy alterations that water treatment facilities can implement within their current processes. In addition to helping to keep the supply clean, it will also help these facilities save money in the long run.

Of course, just because the solution exists does not mean that municipalities will use it. It is important for more people to be aware of modern water safety technologies that are currently available. With citizens advocating for safer, healthier water treatment, drinking water in every city in America can be protected.

NOTE: We believe it is important to bring additional sources of expertise to you so you can make better choices for yourself, your family and your community. We look forward to your feedback and will be happy to respond to requests for information on the issues you care about most.

The post What You Can Learn About Water Treatment from the Flint Water Crisis appeared first on Big Green Purse.

How to Tell if Your Water Contains Lead

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 21:38:38 +0000

Is your drinking water contaminated with lead?

The crisis in Flint, Michigan has got all of us worrying about the safety of our water.

To recap: A study conducted by the Hurley Medical Center in Flint shows that the proportion of infants and children that have above-average levels of lead in their blood has nearly doubled since the city switched from getting water from the city of Detroit to using water from the Flint River.

The move was designed to save financially-strapped Flint money. But that decision turned out to be penny wise, pound foolish.

The Flint river is horribly polluted. Half of the pipelines that deliver water to Flint households are made of lead, which is leaching into the water supply, along with iron that is also eroding from the city’s water mains.

Excessive amounts of lead place adults at higher risk for cancer, stroke
and high blood pressure, reports Pennsylvania State University.

At even greater risk are children, whose rapidly growing bodies
absorb lead more quickly and efficiently.

Lead can cause premature birth, a reduced birth weight, seizures,
behavioral disorders like ADHD, brain damage and a lower IQ level in children.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers lead the
most serious environmental health hazard for children in the United States.

You should take it seriously too.

First, Test Your Water For Lead

The only way to know whether your tap water contains lead is to have it tested.

“You cannot see, taste, or smell lead in drinking water, says the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. “Therefore, you must ask your water provider whether your water has lead in it.

“For homes served by public water systems, data on lead in tap water may be available on the Internet from your local water authority.”

The U.S. EPA publishes annual Consumer Confidence Reports, though data is not available for all states. Check here to see if you can find information on your locality.

If your water provider does not post helpful information, you should call and find out.

Ask Your Water Authority These Two Key Questions:

1. Does my water have lead in it above EPA’s action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb)? If not, no action is needed. If yes, CDC suggests you ask the next question:

2. Does the service pipe at the street (header pipe) have lead in it? This is very important. If the pipe at the street (header pipe) DOES contain lead, lead in the tap water may be coming from that pipe or pipes connected to it. Like in the case of Flint, it’s also possible that the water itself is contaminated.

4 Actions You Can Take Immediately If You Discover Lead in Your Water

1) If at all possible, eliminate the source of the lead.

2) Until the lead source is eliminated, switch to bottled water if you can. Especially use bottled water for making baby formula, for mixing with food, and for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

3) If you can’t, flush out your water pipes before using the water, especially when your taps have been off and water has been sitting in the pipes for more than 6 hours.

a. Before using any tap water for drinking or cooking, run high-volume taps (such as your shower) on COLD for 5 minutes or more.

b. Then, run the kitchen tap on COLD for 1–2 additional minutes.

c. Fill a clean container(s) with water from this tap. This water will be suitable for drinking, cooking, preparation of baby formula or other consumption. To conserve water, collect multiple containers of water at once (after you have fully flushed the water from the tap as described).

4) In all situations, drink or cook only with water that comes out of the tap cold.

Water that comes out of the tap warm or hot can contain much higher levels of lead.

NOTE: Boiling lead-tainted water will NOT reduce the amount of lead it contains.

In fact, some scientists think it could make the problem worse because, as water evaporates during the boiling process, the lead will concentrate. Use bottled water for boiling potatoes, rice or spaghetti until you get the lead problem fixed.

If you do choose bottled water, read the label on the bottle carefully or contact the bottling company to make sure the water they use is lead-free.

What If Your Own Home’s Lead Pipes or Plumbing Are Contaminating Your Water?

First, test the water. You can contact your state lead program for information about water testing in your area.

Inspect the aerator on the end of your faucet. Remove any debris, especially metal particles.

Again, flush water lines before using the water for drinking or cooking.

If you own your own home and discover the water lines contain lead solder, you may need to replace them to be safe. Contact your water authority for information about replacing water service lines.

Unfortunately, you will probably have to bear the financial burden of replacing the pipes if they’re within your home.

Bathing and Showering

As for bathing and showering, EPA says both should be safe for you and your children, even if the water contains lead over EPA’s action level, because human skin does not absorb lead in water.

However, elevated lead in water can cause skin rashes and in some cases, open sores, even if you don’t drink it. Besides, kids have a tendency to drink the water when they’re showering or bathing. Find an alternative if at all possible.

To be on the safe side, take a sponge bath with bottled water, or shower at the local public pool and recreation facilities, if that is at all feasible.

What About Water Filters?

If you opt for installing a filter on your taps or your whole house water system, it must be NSF- certified to remove lead. You can check the brand name/trade name/model here.

Whatever the source, if you find elevated lead levels in your drinking water, take it seriously, act immediately, and monitor your health and the health of your family for any signs of lead poisoning.

The post How to Tell if Your Water Contains Lead appeared first on Big Green Purse.