14
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 within 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 pen-
tavalent 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 potas-
sium 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 con-
vert 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 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 condi-
tions at the consumer’s installation . In addition to the independent
laboratory standard testing conditions we have conducted additional
field testing on our reverse osmosis units to determine trivalent
arsenic reduction capabilities . Based upon 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 identifi-
cation and ordering information can be found in the maintenance
section of this manual .
Arsenic Fact Sheet
Performance Data Sheet (cont.)
This system has been tested according to NSF/ANSI 58 for reduction of the substances listed below, and to NSF /ANSI 372 for lead free com-
pliance . The concentration of the indicated substances in water entering the system was reduced to a concentration less than or equal to the
permissible limit for water leaving the system as specified in NSF/ANSI 58 . This system has been tested for the treatment of water containing
pentavalent arsenic (also known as As (V), As (+5), or arsenate) at concentrations of 0 .30 mg/L or less . This system reduces pentavalent ar-
senic, but may not remove other forms of arsenic . This system is to be used on water supplies containing a detectable free chlorine residual at
the system inlet or on water supplies that have been demonstrated to contain only pentavalent arsenic . Treatment with chloramine (combined
chlorine) is not sufficient to ensure complete conversion of trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic, Please see the Arsenic Facts section of the
Performance Data Sheet for further information .
SUBSTANCE
Avg In.
(mg/L)
Avg. Eff.
(mg/L)
% Reduction
pH
Pressure
Max.
Eff.
(mg/L)
Inf. Challenge
concentration
(mg/L)
Max. Allowable
concentration
(mg/L)
Arsenic (Pentavalent)
0 .310
0 .001
98 .8
7 .24
50 psi
0 .002
0 .30 ± 10%
0 .010
Barium Reduction
9 .2
0 .08
98 .0
7 .64
50 psi
0 .12
10 .0 ± 10%
2 .0
Cadmium Reduction
0 .031
0 .0004
95 .7
7 .49
50 psi
0 .0008
0 .03 ± 10%
0 .005
Chromium (Hexavalent)
0 .030
0 .002
98 .8
7 .24
50 psi
0 .004
0 .03 ± 10%
0 .1
Chromium (Trivalent)
0 .030
0 .001
98 .0
7 .64
50 psi
0 .002
0 .03 ± 10%
1 .3
Copper Reduction
3 .2
0 .02
98 .8
7 .40
50 psi
0 .04
3 .0 ± 10%
1 .3
Fluoride Reduction
8 .7
0 .19
96 .5
7 .24
50 psi
0 .3
8 .0 ± 10%
1 .5
Lead Reduction
0 .15
0 .002
95 .7
7 .39
50 psi
0 .3
0 .15 ± 10%
0 .0107
Radium 226/228
25 pCi/L
5 pCi/L
98 .0
7 .24
50 psi
0 .005
25pCi/L ± 10%
5 pCi/L
Selenium
94 .85
<0 .2
96 .5
7 .24
50 psi
5 pCi/L
0 .10 ± 10%
0 .05
TDS
770
35
95 .0
7 .28
50 psi
26 .0
750 ± 40mg/L
187
Turbidity
11 .3
0 .1
99 .1
7 .43
50 psi
0-1
11 ± 1mg/L
0 .5 NTU
WQC4RO11-50MTNF and WQC4RO11-50PTNF: DPR - 14 .8 GPD, % Recovery - 17 .6%, Efficiency - 11 .2%
WQC4RO13-100MT and WQC4RO13-100PT: DPR - 40 .1 GPD, % Recovery - 18 .8%, Efficiency - 12 .7%
Depending on water chemistry, water temperature, and water pressure Watts R .O . Systems production and performance will vary . Efficiency
rating means the percentage of the influent water to the system that is available to the user as reverse osmosis treated water under operating
conditions that approximate typical daily usage . Recovery rating means the percentage of the influent water to the membrane portion of the
system that is available to the user as reverse osmosis treated water when the system is operated without a storage tank or when the storage
tank is bypassed . There is an average of 4 gallons of reject water for every 1 gallon of product water produced .
REFER TO OWNER’S INSTALLATION/SERVICE MANUAL FOR FURTHER MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND WARRANTY
INFORMATION.
