Quick Reference Table for Water Contaminant Treatment
|
Contaminant |
Treatment |
| Acidic Water | Soda ash injection; Sodium Hydroxide injection; Calcite |
| Acrylamide | Carbon (with moderate probability of success) |
| Alachlor | Carbon |
| Alpha particles | Reverse Osmosis; distillation |
| Alum (Aluminum Sulfate) | Reverse Osmosis; distillation |
| Aluminum | Water softener; Reverse Osmosis; distillation; electrodialysis |
| Ametryn | Reverse Osmosis, carbon, and UV used together |
| Ammonia | Water softener with previous removal of calcium and magnesium; deionization; natural zeolite, chlorination |
| Antimony | Reverse Osmosis; coagulation/filtration |
| Arsenic | Ion exchange; Reverse Osmosis; distillation |
| Asbestos | Reverse Osmosis |
| Atrazine | Carbon |
| Barium | Ion exchange; Reverse Osmosis; lime softening; electrodialysis |
| Benzene | Adsorption with carbon; ozone |
| Benzo(a)pyrene (PAHs) | Carbon |
| Beta particles and photon emitters | Ion exchange-mixed bed; Reverse Osmosis; distillation |
| Cyanotoxins | UV; Reverse Osmosis; nanofiltration; carbon; chlorination |
| Total Coliforms (including fecal coliform and E. Coli) | UV; chlorine/chloramine disinfection; ultrafiltration; Reverse Osmosis; ozone |
| Beryllium | Activated alumina; coagulation/filtration; ion exchange; lime softening; Reverse Osmosis |
| Alkalinity | Aeration; acid injection; anion exchange |
| Bisphenol A (BPA) | No recommended treatment |
| Boron (Borate) | Reverse Osmosis; ion exchange; increasing pH |
| Bromates (Potassium Bromate and Sodium Bromate) | Prevention by pH alteration; anion exchange; ammonia impregnated carbon |
| Brackish Water | Reverse Osmosis; distillation |
| Bromine (Bromide) | Reverse Osmosis; carbon; UV; dialysis |
| Cadmium | Reverse Osmosis; cation exchange; dialysis |
| Carbaryl (Sevin) | Carbon; coagulation; ozone |
| Calcium | Ion exchange; Reverse Osmosis; deionizers; dialysis; distillation; ultrafiltration |
| Carbofuran | Carbon |
| Carbon dioxide | Aeration; deionization; raising pH with Soda Ash injection |
| Carbon tetrachloride | Air stripping; carbon; coconut shell carbon; Reverse Osmosis |
| Chloral hydrate | Carbon |
| Chloramines | Carbon; catalytic carbon; ascorbic acid, UV |
| Chlordane | Carbon |
| Chloride | Reverse Osmosis; electrodialysis; distillation; anion exchanger |
| Chlorine | Carbon; KDF |
| Chlorine dioxide | Carbon (possible success) |
| Chlorite | Carbon (possible success) |
| Chloroacetones | No recommended treatment |
| Chlorobenzene | Carbon; Carbon with packed tower aeration |
| Chloropicrin | Chemical oxidation |
| Chlorpyrifos | Coagulation; carbon; ozone |
| Chromium | Reverse Osmosis; distillation; strong base anion exchange regenerated with caustic soda |
| Color | Carbon; anion exchange after water softener; iron/manganese removal methods |
| Copper | POE applications and plumbing fixtures protected by cation exchange, pH control, and film-creating compounds such as polyphosphates; POU treatment: Reverse Osmosis, distillation, and carbon |
| Corrosion | Increasing pH; Reverse Osmosis to reduce chlorides; carbon filtration to reduce chloramines/chlorine; lowering temperature of hot water heater; sediment filtration; decrease flow rate |
| Cryptosporidium | Carbon; Reverse Osmosis; nanofiltration; UV; ozone; distillation |
| Cyanazine (Bladex) | Carbon |
| Cyanide | Reverse Osmosis; electrodialysis; chlorination, retention, and filtration; Carbon with packed tower aeration |
| 1,2-Dichloropropane | Carbon with packed tower aeration; carbon |
| 1,3-Dichloropropene/ 1,3-Dichloropropane | Carbon; hydrolosis |
| 1,4-Dioxane | Biological activated carbon; UV or ozone with hydrogen peroxide |
| 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) | Carbon |
| Dalapon | Carbon |
| DBCP (1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane) | Carbon and packed tower aeration; carbon |
| DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichlorethane) | Carbon; coagulation |
| DEHA [Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate] | Carbon |
| DEHP [Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate] | Carbon |
| Diazinon (Spectracide) | Hydrolosis |
| Dichloroacetic Acid (DCA) | Prevention through pre-filtration to remove organic matter or pH adjustment prior to treatment |
| o-Dichlorobenzene | Carbon with packed tower aeration; Carbon |
| p-Dichlorobenzene | Carbon with packed tower aeration; carbon |
| 1,2-Dichloroethane | Carbon with packed tower aeration; activated carbon |
| 1,1-Dichloroethylene | Carbon with packed tower aeration; activated carbon |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Carbon with packed tower aeration; reduction by Reverse Osmosis |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | Carbon with packed tower aeration; reduction by Reverse Osmosis |
| Dichloromethane (DCM) | Carbon with packed tower aeration |
| Dicofol | Hydrolosis; possible treatment with activated carbon |
| Diflubenzuron | Activated carbon |
| Dimethoate | Chlorination and Carbon |
| Dinoseb | Carbon |
| Dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) | Carbon |
| Diquat | Carbon |
| Diuron (DCMU) | Activated carbon |
| Edetic Acid (EDTA) | Ozone with activated carbon |
| Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) | Nanofiltration; Reverse Osmosis; activated carbon; distillation; ozone; advanced oxidization |
| Endosulfan | Activated carbon |
| Endothall | Carbon |
| Endrin | Carbon |
| Epichlorohydrin (ECH) | No recommended treatment; limited usage |
| Ethylbenzene | Carbon |
| Ethylene dibromide | Carbon |
| Fenitrothion | Hydroloysis |
| Flouride | Reverse Osmosis; distillation; filtration through activated alumina |
| Formaldehyde | Carbon |
| Foaming agents | Coagulation/flocculation; sedimentation; filtration; activated carbon |
| Giardia lamblia | Filtration of 1 micron size or below; UV; Reverse Osmosis; ozone; shock chlorination |
| Glyphosate (Roundup) | Carbon |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) | Pre-filtering prior to disinfection treatment; activated carbon; Reverse Osmosis |
| Hardness | Water softener; Reverse Osmosis; lime softening; polyphosphates; siliphos |
| Heptachlor | Carbon |
| Heptachlor epoxide | Carbon |
| Heterotrophic plate count (HPC) | N/A |
| Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) | Carbon |
| Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) | Carbon |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | Carbon with packed tower aeration |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | Oxidizing with gas: chlorine, aeration, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, potassium permanganate followed by filtration of oxidant and elemental sulphur; open tank aeration; carbon for small amounts; changing sacrifical anode of hot water heater |
| Iodine-131 | Reverse Osmosis |
| Iron | Ferrous Iron removal: Water softener; oxidation with air, ozone, potassium permanganate, chlorine, or hydrogen peroxide; filtration with Filox, Birm, and Greensand; Ferric Iron removal: filtration with wound string filter; backwashing filter; Heme Iron removal: scavenger anion resin; oxidation with chlorine followed by mechanical filtration |
| Iron Bacteria | Chlorination |
| Lead | Reverse Osmosis; water softeners; removing the source; corrosion control methods in pipes including pH and alkalinity adjustment; calcium adjustment; silica or phosphate-based corrosion inhibition |
| Legionella | Heat and flow-rate management; UV; ultrafiltration |
| Lindane | Carbon |
| Magnesium | Water softener; Reverse Osmosis |
| Malalthion and Malaoxon | Activated carbon |
| Manganese | Ion exchange; oxidation/filtration; chemical feeding then filtering through greensand, carbon, or filter ag |
| MCPA (4-(2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxy)acetic acid) | Carbon; ozone |
| Mercury | Activated carbon; Reverse Osmosis; distillation; ion exchange; sulfide precipitation; starch xanthate |
| Methane | Atmospheric aeration |
| Methanol (Methyl Alchohol) | Ozonation with UV |
| Methoxychlor | Carbon |
| Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) | Coconut shell carbon; reduction through carbon block filtration |
| Metolachlor (S-Metolachlor) | Carbon |
| Molinate | Carbon |
| Monochloracetic Acid (MCAA or Chloroacetic Acid) | No recommended treatment; formation during water disinfection may be prevented with pre-filtration to remove organic matter, or pH adjustment |
| Mutagen X and MX Analogues | Activated carbon |
| Naphthalene | Activated carbon |
| NDMA (N-Nitrosodimethylanime) | Reverse Osmosis removes 50% |
| Nickel | Strong acid cation exchanger; reduction through activated carbon and RO |
| Nitrite (measured as Nitrogen) | Ion exchange; Reverse Osmosis; electrodialysis; distillation and blending |
| Nitrate (measured as Nitrogen) | Ion exchange; Reverse Osmosis; electrodialysis; distillation and blending |
| Nitrilotriacetic Acid (NTA) | Activated carbon |
| Norovirus | Reverse Osmosis; nanofiltration; ultrafiltration; chemical oxidation; UV; distillation |
| Odor | Activated carbon; oxidation/reduction; chlorine dioxide; ozone; hydrogen peroxide |
| Oryzalin | Activated carbon |
| Oxamyl (Vydate) | Carbon |
| 2-Phenylphenol (OPP) | Activated carbon |
| Paraquat dichloride | Activated carbon |
| Parathion (Ethyl Parthion) | Activated carbon; hydrolysis |
| Pendimethalin | Carbon |
| Pentachlorophenol | Carbon |
| Perchlorate | Reverse Osmosis; anion exchange; carbon adsorption; distillatin |
| Perfluorinated Chemicals (PFCs) | Activated carbon; Reverse Osmosis |
| Permethrin | Activated carbon |
| Pesticides | Activated carbon; Ultrafiltration; Reverse Osmosis |
| pH | Raising pH: feeding soda ash, caustic soda, sodium bicarbonate, or potassium hydroxide; calcite; corosex; Lowering pH: feeding sulfuric, hydrochloric acids, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, vinegar into water |
| Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) | Chlorine; ozone; activated carbon; Reverse Osmosis |
| Phosphates | Alum; sodium aluminate; ferric chloride; precipitated with lime to hydroxyapatite at pH of 10 or more and then filtered |
| Picloram | Carbon |
| Pirimiphos-methyl | Activated carbon |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Carbon |
| Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) | Carbon |
| Propanil | Activated carbon |
| Pyriproxyfen | Carbon |
| Tetrachloroethene/Perchloroethylene (PCE) | Carbon with packed tower aeration |
| Radon | Point-of-entry devices: Carbon, Aeration systems |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP) | Carbon |
| 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (Dowicide 2S) | Carbon |
| Temephos | Adsorption with activated carbon |
| Terbuthylazine (TBA) | Carbon |
| Tetrachloroethanes | Activated carbon |
| Thallium | Activated alumina; ion exchange |
| Toluene | Carbon with packed tower aeration |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | Reverse Osmosis, Distillation, Deionization. |
| Toxaphene | Carbon |
| Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) | No recommended treatment; can be reduced during chlorination with coagulation and pH regulation |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (TCB) | Carbon with packed tower aeration |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | Carbon with packed tower aeration; activated carbon |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | Carbon with packed tower aeration; activated carbon |
| Trichloroethene (TCE) | Activated carbon adsorption; reverse osmosis (70-80 % removal); air stripping |
| Tritium | No known treatment |
| Turbidity | Depends on amount and nature of particles present; Likely use of sediment filters |
| Uranium | Reverse Osmosis; anion exchange; activated alumina; electrodialysis; enhanced coagulation/filtration |
| Selenium | Reverse osmosis; anion exchange; distillation |
| Silica | Ion exchange with strong base anion resin; coagulation/filtration; reverse osmosis; ultrafiltration; lime softening/precipitation in large flows |
| Silver | Reverse Osmosis; distillation; strong acid cation exchange for reduction |
| 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) | Carbon |
| Simazine | Carbon |
| Spinosad DT (Spinosyns A and D) | Activated carbon |
| Styrene | Carbon with packed tower aeration |
| Sulfate | Reverse Osmosis; strong base anion exchanger |
| Vanadium | Ion exchange |
| Vinyl chloride | Carbon with reverse osmosis; distillation; air stripping |
| Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) | Activated carbon; coconut shell carbon; reverse osmosis; aeration with activated carbon |
| Xylenes (total) |
Carbon with packed tower aeration; activated carbon |
