1. Health effects of common drinking water standards
Waterworks Operations
WQT 111
Lecture 3

2. Inorganic Chemicals Review Arsenic, Nitrate and Nitrite, Lead, Copper
Review Secondary MCLS.
Fluoride
Iron and Manganese.

3. Inorganic Arsenic Trivalent (As3+) Anaerobic reduced form
Arsenic is a semi-metal element in the periodic table.
Odorless and tasteless.
Natural deposits
Agricultural (pesticide= apple orchards) and industrial (wood preservative)
Trivalent (As3+)
Anaerobic reduced form
arsenic trioxide, sodium arsenite
arsenic trichloride
Pentavalent (As5+)
Aerobic oxidized form
arsenic pentoxide, arsenic acid,
arsenates (lead arsenate)

4. Acute - Toxicity MCL= .010 mg/L
Inorganic arsenic (arsenic trioxide) 70 to 180 mg can be fatal
Constriction of the throat with difficulty in swallowing
Sever intestinal pain
Vomiting, diarrhea
Muscle cramps
Severe thirst
Coma and death

5. Arsenic backflow
“A man sprays commercial weed killer containing an arsenic compound on the lawn using a garden hose attachment. After finishing, he disconnects the applicator. Since it is a hot day, he takes a drink of water from the hose. A short time later, he dies from arsenic poisoning.”

6. Studies of Health Effects of Chronic Arsenic Exposure
Black-Foot Disease (BFD).-Unique to SW Taiwan
Linked to:
-drinking water sources.
-arsenic in artesian wells.

7. Effects of Arsenic Exposure
Skin Cancers on hands, arm and chest
Hyperkeratosis of the hands

8. US Arsenic Map Reference - USGS – US Geological Services
Map of US – arsenic in water -

9. Bangladesh Arsenic Map
40% of 50,000 wells sampled were contaminated with As!
-85 MILLION PEOPLE AT RISK!
Reference –
Arsenic in West Bengal & Bangladesh – Arsenic Crisis Information Center
Access:
Arsenic in Bangladesh
Arsenic in Bangladesh
WHO Arsenic The Largest Mass Poisoning in History

10. Arsenic Removal
Oxidation (chlorine or permanganate) then coagulation with a alum or ferric chloride
Ion exchange for arsenate
Membrane methods reverse osmosis/nano filtration
Reference –
Arsenic in West Bengal & Bangladesh – Arsenic Crisis Information Center
Access:

11. In water treatment, potassium permanganate is used primarily as:
An oxidant
A disinfectant
A tracing Agent
A corrosion inhibitor
A coagulant

12. The MCl for Arsenic as of 1/23/06 is?
50 ug/L
1 mg/L
0.01 mg/L
0.05 mg/L

13. 1.0 mg/L is the MCL Nitrite Health Effect
Serious illness and sometimes death
Shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome
Source
Runoff from fertilizer use
Leaching from septic tanks, sewage
Erosion of natural deposits

14. Nitrate 10.0 mg/L is the MCL Health Effect Source
shortness of breath and blue-baby syndrome
Babies' stomachs are less acid than normal allowing bacteria in the stomach to convert nitrate (NO3) into nitrate (NO2). Nitrite gets into the blood system and prevents the hemoglobin in red blood cells from absorbing oxygen
Source
Runoff from fertilizer use
Leaching from septic tanks, sewage
Erosion of natural deposits

15. Methemoglobinemia
Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder in which the body cannot recycle hemoglobin after it is damaged.
Methemoglobinemia is treated with supplemental oxygen and methylene blue 1% solution administered intravenously slowly over five minutes followed by IV flush with normal saline

16. Nitrite and Nitrate

17. The MCL for nitrate as N at the point of withdrawal is:
1. 1 mg/l
2. 10 mg/l
3. 30 mg/l
4. 45 mg/l

18. An illness known as methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome) is attributed to:
1. excessive hardness in water
2. high iodine content
3. too much iron in the water
4. high nitrate content

19. 0.015 mg/L is the MCL Lead Health Effect Source
Delays in physical or mental development
Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities
Source
Corrosion of household plumbing systems
Erosion of natural deposits
Household dust containing lead from lead-based paint

20. Which of the following are potential problems associated with lead exposure in children?
Brain damage and lower intelligence
Behavior and learning problems
Aches or pains in stomach
All of the above

21. A component of the 1986 SDWA amendments was to “GET THE LEAD OUT”?
True
False

22. According to the Lead and Copper Rule, the action for the 90th percentile lead level is:
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l

23. Lead in drinking water can lead to ?
1. stomach and intestinal disorders
2. reduction of white blood count
3. methamoglobinema
4. impaired mental functioning in children

24. 1.3 mg/L is the MCL Copper Health Effect Source
Copper is an essential nutrient, required by the body in very small amounts.
Short periods of exposure can cause gastrointestinal disturbance, including nausea and vomiting.
Long periods of exposure liver or kidney damage
Source
Corrosion of copper plumbing
Erosion of natural deposits
Copper mining and smelting operations

25. Raising the pH of post treated water is one way of controlling corrosion of copper in plumbing?
True
False

26. 0.1 mg/L is the MCL Chromium Health Effect Source
Chromium (Cr III) is an essential nutrient, required by the body in very small amounts. (CrVI- toxic carcinogen)
Short periods of exposure can cause skin irritation or ulceration.
Long periods of exposure damage to liver, kidney circulatory and nerve tissues; skin irritation.
Source
Chromium is a metal found in natural deposits as ores
Stainless steel; wood preservative

27. Secondary MCLs
National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations that set non-mandatory water quality standards for 15 contaminants
Guidelines to assist public water systems
SMCL, and public water systems only need test for them on a voluntary basis

28. Secondary MCLs Problems
Aesthetic effects -- undesirable tastes or odors
Cosmetic effects -- effects which do not damage the body but are still undesirable
Technical effects -- damage to water equipment or reduced effectiveness of treatment for other contaminants.

29. Aesthetic Effects Secondary MCLs
Odor and Taste
-Algae, Organics, Chloride, Copper,  Foaming Agents, Iron, Manganese pH, Sulfate, Total Dissolved Solids, Zinc.
2. Color may be indicative of dissolved organic material, inadequate treatment, high disinfectant demand and the potential for the production of excess amounts of disinfectant by-products.
-Aluminum, Color, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Total Dissolved Solids.
3. Foaming is usually caused by detergents and similar substances when water has been agitated or aerated as in many faucets

30. Tastes and odors in surface water are most often caused by:
1. clays
2. hardness
3. algae
4. coliform bacteria

31. Cosmetic Effects Secondary MCLs
Skin discoloration is a cosmetic effect related to silver ingestion (argyria)
Tooth discoloration and/or pitting is caused by excess fluoride exposures during the formative period prior to eruption of the teeth in children.
-Flouride

32. Technical Effects Secondary MCLs
Corrosivity, and staining related to corrosion, not only affect the aesthetic quality of water, but may also have significant economic implications
Scaling and sedimentation are other processes which have economic impacts. Scale is a mineral deposit which builds up on the insides of hot water pipes, boilers, and heat exchangers, restricting or even blocking water flow.

33. 4.0 mg/L is the MCL Fluoride Health Effect
Bone disease (pain and tenderness of the bones); Children may get mottled teeth
Source
Water additive which promotes strong teeth
Erosion of natural deposits,
Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories

34. Fluorosis
Occurs when children are exposed to excessive levels of fluoride in water.
Severe Fluorosis
Mild Fluorosis

35. Fluoridation Factoids Dr. Frederick McKay “Colorado Stain” 1909
~66% of United States residents on public water supplies have fluoridated water
Levels between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L
Not widely used in Europe (Ireland)
No country has discontinued fluoridation simply because it was proven harmful in any way.
Endorsed by AWWA, American Dental Association, and WHO

36. Fluoridation USA Fluoride Factoids
42 of the 50 largest U.S. cities have water fluoride
19 states have at least 75% of their population receiving fluoridated water
70% of people polled in a ADA survey believed community water should be fluoridated
In cities with a population of over 50,000 people, fluoridation costs 31 cents per person per year

37. Fluoridation

38. Fluoridation Case Study
Hooper Bay Alaska 1992
Fluoridation equipment failed
Acute fluoride poisoning
“nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or numbness or tingling of the face or extremities.”
Well had a 150 mg/L [Fluoride]
296 people poisoned, 1 person died
“Inspection of public water systems and monitoring of fluoride concentrations are needed to prevent outbreaks of fluoride poisoning.”

39. The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for fluoride in drinking water is:
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l

40. Fluoride is generally added to public water supplies to
1. aid in disinfection
2. reduce iron buildup
3. protect the dental health of the young
4. help prevent contamination

41. High fluoride levels in a water system can lead to:
1. heart disease
2. tooth decay
3. discoloration of teeth
4. taste and odor complaints

42. 0.3 mg/L is the secondary MCL
Iron
0.3 mg/L is the secondary MCL
Health Effect
No known health effects
Problems
Rusty color; sediment; metallic taste; reddish or orange staining
Source
Erosion of natural deposits

43. Corrosion/Alkalinity Control

44. 0.05 mg/L is the secondary MCL
Manganese
0.05 mg/L is the secondary MCL
Health Effect
No known health effects
Problems
Black to brown color; black staining; bitter metallic taste
Remove Manganese with potassium permanganate
Source
Erosion of natural deposits

45. Fe and Mn staining of Groundwater in Vancouver Washington
Fe (red)
Mn (black) staining

46. 0.01 mg/L is the MCL for arsenic?
True
False

47. The MCL for fluoride is 10 mg/L?
True
False

48. Manganese causes increased risk of cancer?
True
False

49. Bone disease (pain and tenderness of the bones); Children may get mottled teeth are health concerns for fluoride
True
False

50. Aesthetic, Cosmetic and Technical Effects are all components of secondary MCLs?
True
False

51. 3.0 mg/L is the MCL for Fe?
True
False

52. Color, Taste, Odor, and increased risk of cancer are all secondary MCLs?
True
False

53. Nitrate and nitrite can cause Methemoglobinemia?
True
False

54. Black foot disease is a problem with arsenic contamination?
True
False

55. If a water supply exceeds the MCL, whose responsibility is it to notify the consumer?
1. the testing lab.
2. the supplier.
3. the DOH
4. the USEPA

56. The objectives stated in the syllabus to Understand the fundamentals and health hazards of water contamination/chemistry as it relates to drinking water standards were met ?
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree