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Aesthetic Water Quality Problems
"Aesthetic water problems have easily applied and proven solutions. Don't settle for unappealing water." --------------------------------------------------
There are several things in life that we take for granted. Water is very often one of them. Each of us uses this vital liquid, the most common substance on earth, everyday. And we rarely think twice about it.
However, the water we use for cooking, drinking, and countless other domestic tasks will quickly catch our attention when there is some sort of problem.
Fortunately, some of the most obvious water problems are also the easiest to solve. The problems in this report are aesthetic. Although they are not considered harmful to health, they do affect the look and taste of the water, and may cause it to be undrinkable by some people's standards. Addressing these water quality problems is therefore important. Issues such as taste and odor, color, and turbidity (cloudiness) are all aesthetic water problems, and all have relatively simple solutions. This report will discuss each of these problems in turn, EPA standards regarding aesthetic problems, and finally present treatment technologies to solve them.
In order to treat these problems, we must first look at their source. Water is known as the universal solvent. Before it reaches a consumer's tap, it comes into contact with many different substances, such as gases, minerals, and organic matter. Water picks up traces of these substances, and unfortunately, some of them may cause taste, odor, color, or turbidity problems for the consumer.
Turbidity: Cloudy Water At one time or another, most consumers have encountered water that appears cloudy or foggy. This characteristic is due to turbidity: the presence of finely divided solid particles in water. These particles may be inorganic mineral matter which does not dissolve, or organic matter that has been picked up as the water flows over and through the ground. The particles cause the scattering and absorption of light rays, which gives the water a cloudy appearance.
Whether turbidity is due to suspended organic or inorganic matter, it can cause staining of sinks and fixtures, and the discoloration of laundered fabrics. Inorganic turbidity can have an abrasive effect on plumbing systems and may cause physical wear or erosion on pipes and fittings. Turbidity is most commonly found at taps whose source is surface water from lakes, streams, or ponds. Treatment.
Taste and Odor Another set of problems that will quickly catch a consumer's attention is objectionable tastes or odors present in water. These two senses appear to work in unison, which makes it difficult to separate taste and odor.
A common characteristic of water from public systems is the chlorine taste and odor, which is often quite noticeable. Many public water systems treat water with chlorine to disinfect it. Although this is an important step in the treatment of water because it destroys disease-producing bacteria and other harmful organisms that may be in present in water, there is no doubt that excess chlorine from the disinfection treatment step can make the water objectionable.
In other cases, water with a high mineral concentration may have an unpleasant soda or salty taste, and a metallic taste may be produced by the presence of iron or manganese in water.
Many people have also encountered water that contains hydrogen sulfide gas, which creates an objectionable odor. So-called "sulfur water" not only produces the obnoxious "rotten egg" odor, but is also corrosive to plumbing and can cause the rapid tarnishing of silver. Even very low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide are detectable because of the strong odor.
Various taste and odor conditions are caused by the presence of organic matter in water. Even when the amount of organic matter is very low, unusual tastes and odors such as musty, fishy, or earthy smells may be found.
It is important to note that tastes
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Sat, Jul 31, 2010
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Copyright 2010 by the Water Quality Association – All rights reserved.
Water Quality Association
International Headquarters & Laboratory
4151 Naperville Road
Lisle, IL 60532-3696
USA
630 505 0160, Fax 630 505 9637
info@wqa.org, www.wqa.org
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