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Diagnose Your Water

and find technologies to treat it properly

If you think there may be something wrong with your water but you don't know what may be causing the problem, you came to the right place.

This page will help you narrow down the possible culprits by choosing from some common Symptoms and their Characteristics.

Once narrowed down, you will find potential treatments and solutions. The information in this section is presented to you based on guidelines obtained from the WQA (Water Quality Association)

Color

  • Blue/Green
    Matching Contaminant(s): Copper

  • Dark brown/Black
    Matching Contaminant(s): Manganese

  • Reddish/Orange
    Matching Contaminant(s): Iron

Deposits

  • Soap scum, Bathtub rings
    Matching Contaminant(s): Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3)

  • Whitish scale
    Matching Contaminant(s): Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3)

Smells

Spots

  • Glassware, dishes, flatware
    Matching Contaminant(s): Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

  • My clothes
    Matching Contaminant(s): Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3)

  • Spotting and mottling of teeth
    Matching Contaminant(s): Fluoride

Stains

  • Blue/Green
    Matching Contaminant(s): Copper

  • Brown/Red
    Matching Contaminant(s): Color, Iron

  • Dark Brown/Black
    Matching Contaminant(s): Manganese

  • Grey
    Matching Contaminant(s): Aluminum

  • Red/Orange
    Matching Contaminant(s): Iron

Tastes


Contaminant Treatment Overall Information

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Copper

MCLG: 1.3 mg/L
MCL: 1.3 mg/L (action level)

WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Cation Exchange (20% - 90%)
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Electrodialysis
  • Corrosion control
  • Polyphosphate/Silicate feed

    Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:
  • Gastrointestinal irritation

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural/industrial deposits
  • Wood preservatives
  • Plumbing

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    Manganese

    SMCL: 0.05mg/L (Total Manganese)

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods
  • Filtration (Oxidizing filters)
  • Cation Exchange
  • Oxidation/Precipitation/Filtration
  • Disinfection/Filtration

    Effects on Water:
  • Dark brown-black stains
  • Bitter, metallic taste

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural deposits

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    Iron

    SMCL: 0.3mg/L (Total iron)

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Filtration(oxidizing filters)
  • Cation Exchange
  • Oxidation/Precipitation/Filtration
  • Disinfection

    Effects on Water:
  • Rusty color
  • Sediment
  • Reddish or orange stains
  • Metallic taste

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural Deposits

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    Hard Water (measured as Calcium Carbonate,CaCO3) For more about this, Click Here


    SMCL: No federal limit

  • Soft: <17.1
  • Slightly hard: 17.1 to 60
  • Mod. hard: 60 to 120
  • Hard: 120 to 180
  • Very hard: 180 and above
    Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG) or milligrams per liter (mg/l, equivalent to parts per million, or ppm). Water up to 1 GPG (or 17.1 mg/l) is considered soft, and water from 1 to 3.5 GPG is considered moderately hard. Water from 3.5 to 7 GPG is Hard Water, and from 7 to 10.5 GPG is Very Hard. A water softener's effectiveness depends on how hard the incoming water is. Water over 100 GPG may not be completely softened.

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:

  • Remove all calcium and magnesium ions with a cation exchange water softener

    Effects on Water:
  • Consumes soap and makes cleaning more difficult
  • Whitish scale deposits
  • Soap curd and lime scum residue

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural deposits causing calcium (limestone) and magnesium salts in raw water

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    Chlorine

    MCLG: 4 mg/L (P)*
    MCL: 4 mg/L (P)*

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Activated Carbon
  • Reverse Osmosis

    Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:
  • Cancer

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Chemical added to disinfect municipal water

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    Barium

    MCLG: 2.0 mg/L
    MCL: 2.0 mg/L

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Cation Exchange
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Electrodialysis

    Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:
  • Circulatory system effects

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural deposits
  • Discharge of drilling wastes
  • Discharge from metal refineries

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    Cadmium

    MCLG: 0.005 mg/L
    MCL: 0.005 mg/L

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods
  • Coagulation/Filtration
  • Submicron Filtration
  • Cation Exchange
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Electrodialysis

    Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:
  • Kidney effects

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Galvanized pipe corrosion
  • Natural deposits
  • Batteries
  • Paints

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    Odor

    SMCL: 3 (threshold odor number)

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Activated Carbon
  • Air Stripping
  • Oxidation/Filtration
  • Disinfection/Filtration

    Effects on Water:
  • Rotten egg
  • Musty
  • Garlic
  • Chemical smell

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Chlorine
  • Hydrogen sulfide
  • Organic matter
  • Gasoline contamination
  • Methane gas
  • Septic contamination

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    Selenium (+6)

    MCLG: 0.05 mg/L
    MCL: 0.05 mg/L (total selenium)

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Anion Exchange
  • Activated Alumina
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Electrodialysis

    Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:
  • Liver damage

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural deposits
  • Mining
  • Smelting
  • Coal/Oil combustion

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    MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
    Not MBTE

    SMCL: No federal limit

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Activated Carbon
  • Air Stripping

    Effects on Water:
  • Sweet solvent odor at 0.020 mg/L
  • Possible human carcinogen

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • "Oxygenator" additive for reformulated gasoline

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    Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)

    SMCL: 500mg/L

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Deionization by Ion Exchange
  • Electrodialysis

    Effects on Water:
  • Hard water
  • Deposits on glasses and fixtures

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    Fluoride

    MCLG: 4.0 mg/L
    MCL: 4.0 mg/L

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Activated Alumina
  • Bone Char
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Electrodialysis

    Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:
  • Skeletal & dental fluorosis

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural deposits
  • Fertilizer
  • Aluminum industries
  • Water additive

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    .
    Color

    SMCL: 15 (color units)

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Anion Exchange
  • Activated Carbon
  • Filtration
  • Chlorination
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Ozonation

    Effects on Water:
  • Visible tint

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Tannins
  • Natural deposits
  • Iron
  • Copper
  • Manganese

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    Aluminum

    SMCL: 0.05 to 0.2mg/L depending on case-by-case circumstances

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods
  • Cation Exchange
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Ultrafiltration
  • Deionization

    Effects on Water:
  • Colored or tinted water

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Alum coagulation treatment
  • Natural deposits

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    Chloride

    SMCL: 250mg/L

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Anion Exchange
  • Electrodialysis
  • Deionization

    Effects on Water:
  • Salty taste

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural deposits

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    Sulfate

    MCLG: 500 mg/L (proposed standard)
    MCL: 500 mg/L (proposed standard)

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods
  • Anion Exchange
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Electrodialysis

    Potential Health Effects from Ingestion of Water:
  • Diarrhea

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Natural deposits

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    Zinc

    SMCL: 5mg/L

    WQA Recommended Treatment Methods:
  • Reverse Osmosis
  • Distillation
  • Cation Exchange
  • Electrodialysis

    Effects on Water:
  • Metallic taste

    Sources of Contaminant in Drinking Water:
  • Industrial wastes
  • Natural deposits


  • NOTE: Even if you did not find any symptom, it would be a good idea to have your water tested. This way, you would be assured that your water IS indeed safe.

    .
    WQA (Water Quality Association)

    The Water Quality Association is the international trade association representing the household, commercial, industrial, and small community water treatment industry.

    Water Quality Association Web Site

    WQA maintains a close dialogue with other organizations representing different aspects of the water industry in order to best serve consumers, government officials, and industry members.

    Lots of info in this section is based on the EPA Drinking Water Standards.

    WQA is a resource of information, of product testing, and professional certification for all water users.

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    .
    MCLG = Maximum Contaminant Level Goal.
    Established at the level at which no known or anticipated adverse effects on the health of persons occur and which allows an adequate margin or safety; expressed in milligrams per liter (mg/L) unless otherwise specified.

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    MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level.
    established as close to the MCLG as feasible, taking into consideration costs and treatment techniques applicable at public water systems; expressed in milligrams per liter unless otherwise specified.

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    SMCL = Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels.
    Specifies the maximum contaminant levels which, in the judgement of the Administrator, are requisite to protect the public welfare; expressed in milligrams per liter unless otherwise specified.

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