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Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring contaminant found in many ground waters. Arsenic
in water has no color, taste or odor. It must be measured by an arsenic test kit or lab test.
Public water utilities must have their water tested for arsenic. You can obtain the results
from your water utility contained with in your consumer confidence report. If you have
your own well, you will need to have the water evaluated. The local health department
or the state environmental health agency can provide a list of test kits or certified labs.
There are two forms of arsenic: pentavalent arsenic (also called As (V), As (+5)) and
trivalent arsenic (also called As (III), As (+3)). In well water, arsenic may be pentavalent,
trivalent, or a combination of both. Although both forms of arsenic are potentially hazardous
to your health, trivalent arsenic is considered more harmful than pentavalent arsenic.
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 chloramine) where it
does convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic, may not convert all the trivalent
arsenic in to pentavalent 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.
This Premier reverse osmosis system is designed to remove up to 98% of pentavalent
arsenic. It will not convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. Under laboratory
standard testing conditions, this system reduced 0.30 mg/L (ppm) pentavalent arsenic
to under 0.010 mg/L (ppm) (the USEPA standard for drinking water). Actual performance
of the system may vary depending on specific water quality conditions at the consumer’s
installation. In addition to the independent laboratory standard testing conditions Premier
has conducted additional field testing on our reverse osmosis units to determine trivalent
arsenic reduction capabilities. Based upon Premier field testing, it has been determined
that the RO units are capable of reducing up to 67% of trivalent arsenic from the drinking
water.
This reverse osmosis system contains a replaceable component critical to the efficiency
of the system. Replacement of the reverse osmosis component should be with one of
identical specifications, as defined by the manufacturer, to ensure the same efficiency
and contaminant reduction performance. Specific component identification and ordering
information can be found in the maintenance section of this manual, by phone at 1-800-
752-5582 or online at www.premierH2o.com
Arsenic Fact Sheet
Summary of Contents for EZ-RO 4
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