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TYPICAL DISTRIBUTED WATER ANALYSES FROM
OUR FIVE WATER TREATMENT FACILITIES
EXPLANATION OF OUR WATER PLANT PROCESSES
 RO (Reverse Osmosis) - simply
expressed, is a specific process that employs the use of semi-permeable
membranes for the desalting of water. Brackish well water is pumped from
wells and pressurized to be applied to these membranes. The membrane's
microscopic pore size allows water molecules to pass through, but not salt
molecules. This method desalts the water by separating the fresh water
from the brackish source water.
 Ion Exchange - process of
removing calcium & magnesium ions and exchanging or replacing them
by other ions such as sodium. Since these ions have positive charge, they
are called "cat ions" and the ion exchange process therefore can also be
termed as "cat ion exchange."
WHAT ARE THESE TESTS AND WHY ARE
THEY PERFORMED?
Total Hardness as CaCO3, MG/L (Acceptable Limit
= 150 MG/L)
Hardness in water is caused by calcium and magnesium ions. The more
hardness in the water the more soap is required to wash and clean, it also
causes scale to develop in water heaters, pipes and fittings. Excessive
hardness can possibly cause damage to some industrial processes and cause
objectionable taste in water.
Iron as Fe, MG/L (Acceptable Limit = .30 MG/L)
Clothes laundered in water with high iron content
can become stained. The iron in the water, if in excessive amounts, can
spontaneously react with manganese and dissolved oxygen, promoting the
growth of a group of microorganisms known as iron bacteria which results
in dirty water, foul tastes and unpleasant odors.
Chloride as CL, MG/L (Acceptable Limit = 250
MG/L)
High chloride levels in higher than acceptable
amounts can cause objectionable salty taste in the water. Plumbing, water
heaters, and water system components deteriorate when high concentrations
of chloride ions are present.
Fluoride as F, MG/L (Acceptable Limit = 2.0
MG/L)
A level of 0.8-1.2 mg/l is recommended by the
state to aid in keeping teeth healthy, especially in children.
pH (Acceptable Limit = 6.5-8.5)
This factor must be controlled to keep water
from becoming acidic (below 6.4) or alkaline (above 8.5), which, in turn,
causes deterioration of pipes and plumbing fixtures.
Turbidity, NTU (Acceptable Limit = 1.0 NTU)
Turbidity is a measurement used to indicate the
clarity of water. Turbidity is an optical property of the water based on
the amount of light reflected by suspended particles.
Total Dissolved Solids (Acceptable Limit =
500)
TDS is all of the dissolved solids in the water.
It is measured on a sample of water that has been passed through a very
fine mesh filter to remove suspended solids. It must be controlled so that
less treatment is needed to remove the necessary solids and make a better,
safe drinking product.
Chlorine (Free) MG/L (Acceptable Limit = Not
less 0.20 MG/L)
Chlorine is added to water to destroy harmful
bacteria. A minimum residual of 0.20 ppm free chlorine is required to control
bacteria without causing a noxious odor or taste. Chlorine can be present
in water as free available chlorine and as combined available chlorine.
Both forms can exist in the same water and be determined together as the
total available chlorine. A residual of chlorine indicates that the water
has been disinfected, and all harmful bacteria has been inactivated, and
the water is safe to consume.
Bacteriological Tests
are
performed to identify (if any) microorganisms which could be detrimental
to one's health if the water is consumed.
Page last updated May 2008 |
