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ARSENIC FACTS
Arsenic (abbreviated As) is found naturally in some well water. Arsenic in water has no color, taste or odor. It
must be measured by a lab test. Public water utilities must have their water tested for arsenic. You can get the
results from your water utility. If you have your own well, you can have the water tested. The local health
department or the state environmental health agency can provide a list of certified labs. Information about arsenic
in water can be found on the internet at the US Environmental Protection Agency website:
www.epa.gov/safewater.aresenic.html
.
There are two forms of arsenic: pentavalent arsenic (also called As(V), As(+5), and arsenate) and trivalent arsenic
(also called As(iii), As(+3), and arsenite). In well water, arsenic may be pentavalent, trivalent or a combination of
both. Special sampling procedures are needed for a lab to determine what type and how much of each type of
arsenic is in the water. Check with the labs in your area to see if they can provide this type of service.
Reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment systems do not remove trivalent arsenic from water very well. RO
systems are very effective at removing pentavalent arsenic. A free chlorine residual will rapidly convert trivalent
arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. Other water treatment chemicals such as ozone and potassium permanganate will
also change trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. A combined chlorine residual (also called chloramines) may
not covert all the trivalent arsenic. If you get your water from a public water utility, contact the utility to find out if
free chlorine or combined chlorine is used in the water system.
The IonWays RO Systems are designed to remove pentavalent arsenic. It will not convert trivalent arsenic to
pentavalent arsenic. The system was tested in a lab. Under those conditions, the system reduced 0.3 mg/L to
0.05 mg/L (pentavalent arsenic to 0.01 mg/L) (the USEPA standard for drinking water) or less. The performance
of the system may be different at your installation. Have the treated water tested for arsenic to check if the system
is working properly.
The RO components of the IonWays systems must be replaced (see service life for the filters) to ensure the
system will continue to remove pentavalent arsenic. See component list below.
Item #
Description
802
RO Tank
803
RO Sediment Cartridge
804
RO Carbon Cartridge
805
RO Membrane
806
RO Remineralizer Cartridge