Brochinspring2017EH2000: Water Quality

1) What are Coliform bacteria how do you prevent it, and what is the standard?

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Coliform bacteria are a collection of relatively harmless microorganisms that aid in the digestion of food and live in large numbers in plants, soils, and the intestines of warm-blooded (humans) and cold-blooded animals.

Standard: 0 Total Coliform Bacteria

To Prevent Coliform Bacteria:

-homeowners who use cisterns, ponds, or springs as drinking water source should use treatment devices to disinfects and filter the water to remove coliform bacteria

-home water filters and other water treatment devices should be changed and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations

-chlorination, ultraviolet light, boiling, ozonation, and iodination are some disinfection methods to eliminate coliform bacteria from water supply

2) What is Turbidity and what is the standard?

Turbidity is a measure of how cloudy water is. It can come from sources that are fairly benign such as suspended sediment in the water, or it can come from high levels of disease-causing organisms. Turbidity is generated as water moves through soil and into the ground water supply.

The drinking water standard for turbidity is 1 NTU (nephelolometric turbidity unit). Public water supplies must not exceed 0.3 NTU in 95% of daily water samples that are taken every month.

3) What is Radon and what is the standard?

Radon is an extremely toxic and colorless gaseous radioactive element that is formed by radioactive decay of radium atoms. It used in cancer treatment, as a tracer in leak detection, and in radiography. It can also be a cause of lung cancer. Radon is a naturally occurring element that can be found in outdoor air, indoor air, soil, and ground water.

The US EPA has set an action level of 4 pCi/L. Between 2-4 pCi/L or above this level of radon, the EPA recommends you take corrective measures to reduce your exposure to radon gas The World Health Organization recommends that countries set reference levels at 2.7 pCi/L, if possible, or as-low-as-reasonably-achievable, or ALARA, but should not exceed 8.1 pCi/L

4) What is Cryptosporidium and what is the standard?

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Cryptosporidium is a microscopic parasite that causes a diarrheal disease called Cryptosporidiosis. Cryptosporidium can live in the intestine of animals and humans and is passed in the stool of an infected animal or person.

The Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, promulgated on Dec. 16, 1998
(which applies to water utilities using surface water, or groundwater under the direct influence of surface water, and serving more than 10,000 people) set a maximum contaminant level goal of zero for Cryptosporidium. For systems that filter water during the treatment process, the rule requires a minimum 2-log Cryptosporidium removal efficiency. The Long Term I Enhanced Surface Water Treatment and Filter Backwash Rule proposed April 10, 2000 set a rule that all water systems that recycle water, regardless of population served must also control Cryptosporidium levels.

Filters designed to remove Crypto (any of the four messages below on a package label indicate that the filter should be able to remove Crypto):

-reverse osmosis (with or without NSF 53 of NSF 58 labeling)
-absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller (with or without NSF 53 or NSF 58 labeling)
-tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for cyst removal
-tested and certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 53 or NSF/ANSI Standard 58 for cyst reduction

5) What is Giardia and what is the standard?

Giardia is a microscopic parasite that causes a diarrheal illness called Giardiasis. The parasite live sin the intestine and is passed in feces. It has become recognized as a common cause of waterborne disease in humans in the United States during the past years. It can be found worldwide and within every region of the United States.

The SWTR requires disinfection and filtration of all surface water supplies and groundwater directly impacted by surface water. Requirements are set for a specified minimum removal or inactivation of 3 log10 (99.9%) for Giardia and 4log10 (99.95%) for viruses through filtration and/or disinfection.

6) What are Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Cyanotoxins and what are the standards?

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Harmful algal blooms are are caused by cyanobacteria that are bacteria that are naturally found in Ohio ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. Some species of cyanobacteria can cause Harmful Algal Blooms. The toxins produced by Harmful Algal Blooms are known as cyanotoxins. Some of them are neurotoxins, and some of them are hepatotoxins. These cyanotoxins can impact the health of people who come into contact with water where Harmful Algal Blooms are largely present.

Under the SDWA, EPA may publish Health Advisories for contaminants that are not subject to any national primary drinking water regulation. These Health Advisories are not regulations and should not be construed as legally enforceable federal standards. The advisories may change as new information becomes available.

Do Not Drink Advisory for: