|
The Pall Aria™ Microfiltration System
reduces arsenic to undetectable levels (below 2 ppb), exceeding
the EPA standard for the maximum level of contaminants allowed in
drinking water.
|
"There are many communities throughout the
nation that are underserved in their ability to meet the new drinking
water standards, oftentimes due to cost," says Jeff Seibert, President
of Pall Water Processing. "The Pall Aria System provides them with a
proven, cost-efficient solution to be compliant with these regulations
for the benefit of the public health."
The Pall Aria System was tested in several areas of
the country with high arsenic levels in water. In Fallon, Nevada,
where arsenic was found at 160 ppb, the system removed arsenic to
undetectable levels, less than 2 ppb. Based on these results, the
Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe is using the Pall Aria System to comply
with the new EPA standard and protect its residents from arsenic
toxicity.
There are about 4,100 small and community drinking
water systems in the U.S., most serving less than 10,000 people, where
arsenic levels exceed the new standard. According to the latest EPA
report, about 3,000 (5.5%) of the nation's 54,000 community water
systems and another 1,300 non-community water systems will need to
take measures to lower arsenic in their drinking water.
Membrane filtration technology is emerging as the
technology of choice for safe drinking water. Large and small
communities around the world currently use the Pall Aria System to
remove parasites, including cryptosporidia and giardia cysts and
oocysts that can contaminate drinking water and adversely affect
public health. The new verification enables these communities to
remove both arsenic and parasites cost efficiently. The Pall system is
also employed by a wide range of industries to clean up wastewater to
prevent additional arsenic from entering the drinking water supply.
Unlike other methods of arsenic removal, such as
reverse osmosis and adsorption media, membrane filtration offers a
less costly and long-term solution. It does not require a major
upfront capital investment, high costs to operate or frequent
regeneration and purchase of media. The Pall Aria System works by the
addition of an iron-based coagulant, such as ferric chloride, to the
water. The contaminating arsenic is adsorbed onto positively charged
ferric hydroxide particles, which are then removed by microfiltration.
"The arsenic removal verification opens up a whole
new market for Pall Water Processing, which is currently one of the
fastest growing businesses of Pall Corporation. This past year our
sales to municipal and community water systems have grown over 26
percent," adds Mr. Seibert.
Arsenic Hot Spots and Public Health Implications
Arsenic levels across the U.S. can vary greatly.
Although there are some geographic hot spots, the highest arsenic
levels in the U.S. are found mostly in states west of the continental
divide. However, several New England states such as New Hampshire and
Maine have reported that as many as 30% and 14%, respectively, of
their public water systems have arsenic levels above the new standard.
Arsenic occurs naturally in most water sources and
is odorless, colorless and tasteless. Some manmade sources of arsenic
can also occur from wood treatment, pesticide use, pharmaceutical
manufacturing and miscellaneous industrial facilities. No matter what
the source of the arsenic, it needs to be removed to eliminate health
risks.
According to the National Academy of Science (NAS),
arsenic in drinking water can cause bladder, lung and skin cancers and
has also been linked to kidney and liver cancers. NAS studies have
also found that arsenic harms the central and peripheral nervous
systems as well as heart and blood vessels and may also cause birth
defects and reproductive problems.
The new EPA arsenic standard, which became
effective in February 2002, was developed in response to these public
health and safety concerns. The ruling requires water systems to be in
compliance by January 23, 2006, reducing the maximum acceptable level
of arsenic in drinking water to 10 ppb (10 micrograms per liter) from
50 ppb (50 micrograms per liter). Some states, such as California and
New Jersey, have legislated more stringent standards than the federal
regulation, allowing a maximum arsenic level of only 4 ppb and 5 ppb,
respectively.
NSF International, in cooperation with the EPA,
operates the Drinking Water Systems Center as part of the
Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Program. The NSF Drinking
Water System Laboratory provides independent performance evaluations
of drinking water technologies. |
