Household Water Treatment

  • Parrott, Kathleen;
  • Ross, Blake;
  • Woodard, Janice

Problem Typical corrective procedures
Fine sand, clay, other particles Remove using a mechanical filter
Bacterial contamination Remove the source of contamination or treat using chlorination or other forms of disinfection
Hydrogen sulfide gas (rotten egg odor) Remove using chlorination and a sedimentation filter or an oxidizing filter followed by activated carbon filter
Suspended iron and manganese particles Remove using a mechanical filter
Small amounts of dissolved iron Remove using a water softener
Higher amounts of dissolved iron and manganese Remove using a potassium permanganate regenerated oxidizing filter
Very high amounts of dissolved iron Remove using a chlorinator followed by a mechanical filter
Hardness Treat using a water softener
Acidity Treat using a neutralizing filter
Volatile organic chemicals, trihalomethanes, certain pesticides and radon Remove using an activated carbon filter
Heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic cadmium) Remove using a reverse osmosis unit or a distiller
High total dissolved solids, sodium, sulfates, nitrates Remove using a reverse osmosis unit or a distiller

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Publication #: 356-481


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