Water Treatment Units For Arsenic Reduction
Water Treatment Units For Arsenic Reduction
Water Treatment Units For Arsenic Reduction
References
▪ Minnesota Department of Health. Home Water Treatment (www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/factsheet/com/pou.html).
▪ New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. 2012. Environmental Fact Sheet: Arsenic in New Hampshire Well Water
(PDF) (https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/dwgb/documents/dwgb-3-2.pdf).
▪ Ohio Department of Health. 2012. Arsenic Treatment and Removal for Private Water System Wells (PDF)
(https://www.odh.ohio.gov/-/media/ODH/ASSETS/Files/eh/water/factsheet/As_treatment-removal.pdf?la=en).
1 Contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District or see Agriculture Best Management Practices (BMP) Loan Program
(https://www.mda.state.mn.us/grants/loans/agbmploan.aspx).
2 Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants (https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/single-family-housing-repair-loans-grants).
3 Go to Minnesota Housing (www.mnhousing.gov), click on “Improve Your Home.”
Table of Comparisons: POU and POE Water Treatment Units for Arsenic Reduction
Treatment Option Reduces Description Advantage/Disadvantage POU Cost Estimate 4 POE Cost Estimate
Reverse Osmosis arsenic, chloride, lead, Dissolved solids are removed Advantage: Reduces or removes the Initial: Initial:
with Preoxidation 5 manganese, nitrate, nitrite, from water as the water goes widest array of contaminants. $300-$1,500 $5,000-$12,000
(RO) other dissolved solids 6, through a membrane. The Disadvantage: Can create a lot of Maintenance:
Maintenance:
membrane has pores tiny enough wastewater. $100-$200 every
pesticides, PFCs/PFASs, $250-$500 every
to let water pass through, but 1-2 years
radium, sodium, and sulfate 1-2 years
stop many contaminants.
Distillation arsenic, bacteria, iron, lead, Distillers use heat to boil the Advantage: Removes up to Initial: N/A
manganese, nitrate, nitrite, water, which makes steam. The 99.5 percent of dissolved solids. $300-$1,200
other dissolved solids, some steam rises and leaves Disadvantage: Water may taste ‘flat’ Cost consideration:
contaminants behind. The steam because oxygen and minerals are
pesticides, sulfate, viruses, Energy cost to boil
hits a cooling section where it reduced.
and bacteria water
condenses back to liquid.
Oxidation Arsenic (only if level of iron is A media bed changes dissolved Advantage: Can address multiple N/A Initial:
Filtration above 100 micrograms per contaminants into solid particles. water quality issues. $1,500-$3,000
liter [µg/L]), hydrogen Those solid particles are large Disadvantage: Requires periodic Maintenance:
sulfide, iron, and manganese. enough to be filtered out. regeneration of the media, which can $100 per year
be messy and toxic and must be
handled and stored carefully.
Adsorptive Media Depends on the type of A positively charged media bed Advantage: Produces very little Initial: Initial:
with Preoxidation media; some media only causes negatively charged arsenic wastewater and spent media is not $300-$700 $2,400-$4,500
removes arsenic. Activated ions to be pulled out of the water hazardous.
Maintenance: Maintenance:
alumina removes arsenic, and attach to the media. Disadvantage: You may have to $300-$500 every $700-$900 per
fluoride, selenite, and change the filter cartridge more often 6 months to year year
uranium. if your water has a pH above 8.
Anion Exchange arsenic, nitrate, fluoride, As water passes through resin Advantage: Simple to maintain. N/A Initial:
with Preoxidation sulfate, and uranium beads, the beads replace arsenic Disadvantage: Treated water can be $1,500-$2,500
with chloride ions. It is similar to a acidic and cause corrosion. If not Maintenance:
water softener, but specific to maintained properly, high $700-$900 every
arsenic. concentrations of arsenic can be 8-10 years
dumped back into the water.
Bottled Water Must meet U.S. Safe Drinking Common forms of bottled water Advantage: No large upfront cost. Cost for a family of N/A
Water Act standards (arsenic include 12-ounce bottles, 1-gallon Disadvantage: Expensive over time. four: $600-$3,000
must be below 10 µg/L). jugs, and home water delivery. Bottles create a lot of waste. per year 7
4
Costs are estimates based on quotes obtained in 2017; actual costs may vary. In general, the low-end cost is for a treatment unit the homeowner installs; the high-end cost is for a
treatment unit installed by a water treatment specialist.
5
There are two types of arsenic in Minnesota groundwater: arsenic III and arsenic V. Including preoxidation with your water treatment ensures the treatment reduces both types.
6
Dissolved solids refers to minerals, salts, metals, cations, or anions dissolved in water.
7
Estimate based on each family member consuming 64 ounces of water a day from 12-ounce bottles ($3,000), 1-gallon jugs ($600), or home water delivery ($1,000).
Publications\Arsenic Treatment 10/03/2019R