Purenex Multipure Aquaperform - Manual (Page 25)

California Certification Department of Public Health
25
5.4:
Facts About Arsenic
(in compliance with nsF
standard 53)
Arsenic (abbreviated As) is a naturally occurring
contaminant found in many ground waters.
Arsenic in water has no color, taste, or odor,
and must be measured by lab testing. Public
water utilities must have their water tested for
arsenic, and their results can be obtained from
your local water utility. If you have your own
well, the water can be tested; your local health
department or state environmental health
agency can provide a list of certified testing
labs. Information about arsenic in water can be
found on the Internet at the u.s. environmental
Protection Agency website, at
http://www.epa.gove/safewater/arsenic.html.
There are two forms of arsenic: pentavalent
arsenic (also called As(V), As(+5), and arsen-
ate) and trivalent arsenic (also called As(III),
As(+3), and arsenite). In well water, arsenic
may be pentavalent, trivalent, or a combination
of both. special sampling procedures are need-
ed for a lab to determine what type and how
much of each type of arsenic is in the water.
Check with the labs in your area to see if they
can provide this type of service.
specially formulated Carbon Block systems are
very effective at removing pentavalent arsenic.
A free chlorine residual will rapidly convert triva-
lent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. Other water
treatment chemicals such as ozone and potas-
sium permanganate will also change trivalent
arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. A combined
chlorine residual (also called chloramine) may
not convert all the trivalent arsenic. If you get
your water from a public water utility, contact
the utility to find out if free chlorine or combined
chlorine is used in the water system.
The Multipure Aquaperform (MP880) Models
are designed to remove only pentavalent
arsenic. The Aquaperform will not convert triva-
lent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. The system
may remove some trivalent arsenic, however, it
has not been evaluated for its ability to remove
trivalent arsenic. The system was tested in a
laboratory to remove pentavalent arsenic.
under lab conditions, as defined in AnsI/nsF
standard 53, the system reduced 0.050 mg/l
(ppm) pentavalent arsenic to 0.010 mg/l (ppm)
(the u.s. ePA standard for drinking water) or
less. The performance of the system may be
different at your installation. Have the treated
water tested for arsenic to check if the system
is working properly.
The Carbon Block filter component of the
Aquaperform system must be replaced as indi-
cated in this Owner’s Manual to ensure the sys-
tem will continue to remove arsenic and other
contaminants.