Watts Premier ZRO-4 Installation, Operation And Maintenance Manual - Arsenic Fact Sheet
Arsenic Fact Sheet
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 non chlorinated well water, arsenic may
be pentavalent, trivalent, or a combination of both.
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) may not
convert 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.
This Watts Premier reverse osmosis system is designed to remove 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.
The RO component of this Watts Premier reverse osmosis system must be maintained
in order to ensure proper contaminant removal from your water. As detailed out on Page
2 of this manual, prefilters should be replaced every six months, the post filter once a
year, and the RO element with in two to five years. Specific component identification
and ordering information can be found in the installation/operation manual maintenance
section, by phone at 1-800-752-5582 or on-line
www.wattspremier.com
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