Juturna Water Filters Georgia
What’s an oxidation state?
When an element or compound is dissolved in water, it’s in the ionic form, meaning the element or compound carries either a positive or negative charge. Ions that are positively charged (one or more electrons have been removed) are known as cations. Negatively charged ions (one or more electrons have been added) are known as anions. The charge of an element or compound can affect its toxicity in the human body as well as its solubility (how well it dissolves) in water.
Bromide
- How it enters water:
- Is a naturally occurring element and can enter water via environmental contact with it
- Wastewater discharges from fossil fuel extraction operations
- Health effects include:
- At low levels there is no toxicity
- How it can be removed:
- Reverse osmosis
Arsenic
- How it enters water:
- Is a naturally occurring element and can enter water via environmental contact
- Can also enter water as runoff from industrial or agricultural operations
- Health effects include:
- Acute arsenic exposure can cause vomiting, nausea, loss of feeling in extremities and in extreme cases, death
- Chronic arsenic exposure can cause changes in skin, cancer, developmental interference, diabetes and cardiovascular disease
- How to remove:
- Anion exchange
- Manganese greensand
- Iron based media coated with iron oxide
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/disease/arsenic.html
Beryllium
- How it enters water:
- Is a naturally occurring element and enters water via environmental contact
- Can also enter water via industrial runoff and fossil fuel combustion
- Is primarily detected in surface water, but in very low concentrations because most forms are insoluble
- Health effects include:
- Little to no health effects of concern have been found in relation to beryllium
- How to remove:
- Reverse osmosis
- Activated alumina
https://www.des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/pip/factsheets/dwgb/documents/dwgb-3-3.pdf
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/beryllium_in_drinking2.pdf
Cadmium
- How it enters water:
- Cadmium primarily enters water via mining other industrial processes, the use of phosphate fertilizers, and when acidic water comes into contact with pipes containing cadmium
- Health effects include:
- Cancer, kidney disease and bone diseases
- How to remove:
- Coagulation with filtration
- Reverse Osmosis
- Lime softening
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=6&po=5
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cadmium/healtheffects.html
Chromium
- How it enters water:
- Is a naturally-occurring element and enters water via environmental contact
- Also enters water as an industrial waste
- Health effects include:
- Chromium has 2 oxidation states: 3+ and 6+
- Chromium 3 is an essential nutrient and found in many fruits and vegetables
- Chromium 6 is not found in plants and is a powerful carcinogen
- How to remove:
- Both chromium 3 and chromium 6 can be removed via reverse osmosis
- Chromium 3 can be removed by strong acid cation resins
- Chromium 6 can be removed by strong base anion resins
https://www.wqa.org/Portals/0/Technical/Technical%20Fact%20Sheets/2016_Chromium.pdf
https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/chromium-drinking-water
Copper
- How it enters water:
- Copper is a naturally occurring element and exists in water at very low levels
- High levels of copper in water are the results of mining, agriculture, and manufacturing
- Acidic water can corrode copper pipes
- Health effects include:
- Humans need a small amount of dietary copper to survive
- However, at high levels, copper can cause problems with blood nutrient balance, the digestive system and the liver
- How to remove it:
- Reverse osmosis
- Cation exchange
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/disease/copper.html
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=37
Lead
- How it enters water:
- Lead almost never occurs naturally in water
- Lead in drinking water usually comes from the corrosion of pipes containing lead
- Health effects include:
- Negative systemic effects for:
- Cardiovascular system
- Neurological system
- Digestive system
- Hematological (blood forming) system
- Musculoskeletal system
- Reproductive system
- Renal system
- Lead is especially dangerous for children, because it can hinder both physical and neurological development
- Lead is listed as a probable human carcinogen
- Negative systemic effects for:
- How it can be removed:
- Reverse osmosis
- Solid block and precoat adsorption filters
https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/disease/lead.html
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=22
Magnesium
- How it enters water:
- A naturally occurring element that enters water via environmental contact
- Health effects:
- No adverse human health effects at the levels present in water
- However, contributes to water hardness
- How to remove:
- Cation exchange water softeners
https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/magnesium/magnesium-and-water.htm
Calcium
- How it enters water:
- A naturally occurring element that enters water via environmental contact
- Health effects:
- No adverse human health effects at the levels present in water
- However, contributes to water hardness
- How to remove:
- Cation exchange water softeners
Silicon
- How it enters water:
- Is a naturally-occurring element and part of a lot of different minerals. Degradation of silicon-containing minerals can cause silicon to be released into water
- Health effects:
- No adverse health effects are observed at the levels silicon is present in water
- Additionally, silicon in water does not have the same physical properties as silicon dusts, so it does not cause lung cancer or respiratory irritation
- How to remove:
- Reverse osmosis
- Strong base anion exchange
Sodium
- How it enters water:
- Sodium salts are very soluble and naturally occurring, so it is present in some amount in most water sources
- Sodium compounds are used in many industrial applications
- Health effects:
- Sodium is an essential nutrient but at too high of levels in the body it can elevate blood pressure and increase risk for infection
- How to remove:
- Reverse osmosis
https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/sodium/sodium-and-water.htm
Molybdenum
- How it enters water:
- Is a naturally-occurring element and enters water via environmental contact, is not usually present at levels above 10µg/L
- Areas near molybdenum mining operations tend to have much higher levels present in surface waters
- Health effects:
- At high levels, molybdenum is toxic to the liver
- A trace levels, it is considered an “essential nutrient”
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/molybdenum.pdf
Phosphorus total
- How it enters water
- Most commonly found as phosphates in the environment
- Naturally occurring and enter water via environmental contact
- White phosphorus or “pure” phosphorous” can be released at high concentrations from industrial operations
- Health effects:
- White phosphorus is very poisonous to humans
- Too high levels of phosphates can cause kidney problems
Vanadium
- How it enters water:
- Vanadium is never found unbound in nature
- Bound vanadium compounds, known as vanadates, are very soluble and readily enter surface waters. The oxidations state of vanadates is 5+.
- Health effects:
- Vanadium at its highest oxidation state (5+) is toxic and can cause:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Damage to nervous system
- Bleeding of liver and kidneys
- How to remove:
- There are no current approved methods to remove vanadium, although ion exchange and reverse osmosis may be effective
- Vanadium at its highest oxidation state (5+) is toxic and can cause:
https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/v.htm
http://www.drinktap.org/water-info/whats-in-my-water/vanadium.aspx
Fluoride
- How it enters water:
- Vanadium is never found unbound in nature
- Bound vanadium compounds, known as vanadates, are very soluble and readily enter surface waters. The oxidations state of vanadates is 5+.
- Health effects:
- Vanadium at its highest oxidation state (5+) is toxic and can cause:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Damage to nervous system
- Bleeding of liver and kidneys
- How to remove:
- There are no current approved methods to remove vanadium, although ion exchange and reverse osmosis may be effective
- Vanadium at its highest oxidation state (5+) is toxic and can cause:
https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/v.htm
http://www.drinktap.org/water-info/whats-in-my-water/vanadium.aspx
Orthophosphate
- How it enters water:
- It can be produced through natural processes and enter water via environmental contact
- Can also enter water via agricultural runoff, partially treated or untreated sewage, and from some types of fertilizers
- Health effects include:
- High levels of phosphates in the body can cause tissue damage and impair kidney function
Barium
- How it enters water:
- Primarily enters water because of its use in industrial processes
- Health effects:
- If present in lower concentrations and water, can cause:
- Breathing difficulty
- increased blood pressure
- Changes in heart beat
- stomach irritation
- muscle weakness
- changes in nerve reflexes
- swelling of brains and liver
- kidney and heart damage.
- If present in high amounts in water, barium can cause paralysis and death
- If present in lower concentrations and water, can cause:
- How to remove:
- Cation exchange
- Reverse osmosis
Boron
- How it enters water:
- A naturally occurring element that is widely distributed in surface water as well as groundwater
- Can be released at high concentrations by industries that use it in production
- Health effects:
- Negative effects on stomach, intestines, kidney, liver and brain at high levels
- How to remove:
- Activated carbon filter
- Strong base anion exchange
https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=452&tid=80
https://www.aquapurefilters.com/contaminants/112/borate-boron.html
Aluminum
- How it enters water:
- A naturally occurring element and leaches into water from rock and soil deposits
- Health effects:
- Negative effects for dialysis patients
- How to remove:
- Reverse osmosis
https://www.wqa.org/Portals/0/Technical/Technical%20Fact%20Sheets/2014_Aluminum.pdf
Strontium
- How it enters water:
- Occurs naturally at low levels in air, water and soil
- Water from bedrock aquifers that have high strontium composition will have higher concentrations
- A contaminant from phosphate fertilizers
- Health effects:
- In infants and children, high levels of strontium can interfere with tooth and bone growth
- In adults, high levels of strontium are linked to bone cancer and leukemia
- How to remove:
- Reverse Osmosis
http://www.drinktap.org/water-info/whats-in-my-water/strontium.aspx
Silver
- How it enters water:
- Leaches from soil into water
- Used as a bacteriostat in water treatment devices
- Health effects:
- In the levels silver is found in water, it can cause argyria, which is discoloration of skin, hair and/or various organs
- How to remove:
- Reverse osmosis
- Strong acid cation exchange
https://www.wqa.org/Portals/0/Technical/Technical%20Fact%20Sheets/2015_Silver.pdf
Nitrates/Nitrites
- How it enters water:
- Naturally occurring compounds that enter water via erosion of deposits
- Can be present in water at higher levels if the water has come into contact with fertilizers, human sewage, or livestock manure
- Health effects:
- Blue baby syndrome
- Most negative health effects occur in infants 6 months or younger
- How to remove:
- Reverse osmosis
- Nitrate selective anion exchange resins
https://www.wqa.org/Portals/0/Technical/Technical%20Fact%20Sheets/2014_NitrateNitrite.pdf
Potassium
- How it enters water:
- Like sodium, potassium is naturally occurring and very soluble
- Higher concentrations of potassium may be found in water near agricultural or industrial operations
- Health effects:
- At very high concentrations in the body, potassium causes arrhythmia (inconsistent heartbeat)
- How to remove:
- Reverse osmosis
Manganese
- How it enters water:
- Naturally occurring element that enters water via environmental contact
- Can also enter water as the result of mining activity
- Health effects:
- At high exposure levels, there are potential negative neurological effects, though causation has not been reliably established
- How to remove:
- Oxidation filtration, such as the use of Greensand Plus media
https://extension.psu.edu/iron-and-manganese-in-private-water-systems
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/manganese.pdf
Iron
- How it enters water:
- Naturally occurring element that enters water via environmental contact
- Can also enter water as the result of mining activity
- Health effects:
- Iron is an essential nutrient
- At high concentrations in the body, however, it can cause death
- How to remove:
- Oxidation filtration, such as the use of Greensand Plus media
http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/iron.pdf
https://extension.psu.edu/iron-and-manganese-in-private-water-systems
How to Recognize
My Water Problems?
At Juturna we help you understand your water problems and we are here to provide you with the right solution for your water problems, making sure that you can Love Your Water.
Always Purified Water
at home
My wife and I had Juturna install water filter and RO systems in our home at Lake Oconee. No more scrubbing calcium rings from everything water touched. The RO is fantastic at the sink! Water shouldn’t have a taste or smell and RO doesn’t.
Ned Webb