What’s at the Bottom of Your Water Supply May Not Stay There

Turbidity Stirs Up Unwanted Particles

Lack of clarity in your drinking water is a sign of trouble. Turbidity follows the “animal, vegetable, mineral” concept. Bottom-feeder goodies, algae, and silt just need water movement to rise into, and flow from a water supply into the filtration system (e.g. watershed, well). Effects from turbidity include increased water temperature, lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen (both also bad for fish), and a real pain in the neck for drinking water utilities to treat water for consumption.

The Environmental Protection Agency sets the standard for the amount of turbidity allowed in drinking water. Turbidity is measured in nephelolometric turbidity units (NTU) which indicates the amount of light passing through water. An average of daily water samples for a month must yield a sample size of 0.3 NTUs over a period of any one month. 

Your first line of defense against cloudy water is activated carbon filtration. Our division, American Carbon Block, uses activated, coconut-based carbon. It is ecologically greener than coal-based carbon. Our success at Paragon Water Systems is that we take full advantage of the concept of microporosity, as it suits itself well to organic chemical adsorption.

13805 Monroes Park

Tampa, FL 33635 USA

Toll-free 1-800-288-9708

http://www.paragonwater.com

Heavy Metal U.S.A.: Part 2 -- Lead

New lead emissions usually from airborne contamination

Thank the water transport system for keeping our climate working by redistributing and recycling our valuable H2O resources. Similarly, water (the "universal solvent") takes particulate contamination (like lead) from the atmosphere and moves it back to the ground -- into groundwater or sinking it like a "lead" brick into our wells and aquifers. 

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Recently, lead paint was in the news -- this time in an ongoing lawsuit settled against several paint manufacturers.  According to court documents "60,000 children under the age of 6 suffered from lead poisoning between 2007 and 2010 in the affected California jurisdictions."

Lead Reduction Solution

Paragon and American Carbon Block offer a great solution to lead reduction with its SD CB SS -- SD + filter. Check out our filter specifications here.

No matter where contamination occurs in your environment, you can count on our people and products to provide quality solutions at affordable prices.

Visit these links: 

Paragon Water Systems / American Carbon Block 

or call us at 1-800-288-9708 for more information.

New Year -- New Lead Levels in 2014

EPA's New Year's Resolution for Lead Reduction

A recent article in the online magazine Water Technology reminds us that the New Year brings new regulations.

At the beginning of 2014 an amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) goes into effect. The Reduction of Lead in Drinking Water Act mandates that the amount of lead is limited to a weighted average under 0.25 percent. This includes any "wetted" surface that comes in contact with any potable water point-of-use (POU) systems. Wetted surfaces include:

• Pipes
• Pipe fittings
• Plumbing fittings
• Water meters
• Backflow and check valves

There is no specific terminology that manufacturers need to use in "lead-free" product descriptions and the new regulation does not cover retrofitting.

Read the complete Water Technology story here
Read the complete federal amendment here

***Stay tuned for part 2 of the Heavy Metal U.S.A. post featuring lead contamination and the challenges to remove lead at point-of-entry (POE).

Lead Reduction Leaders -- American Carbon Block SD+ and CYL1 filters use coconut shell carbon for lead reduction when used as part of a complete  Paragon Water system

Solutions for residential/corporate/industrial needs? We can do that!

Visit these links: 

Paragon Water Systems / American Carbon Block 

or call us at 1-800-288-9708 for more information.

Additive Nation -- MtBE

Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MtBE)

MtBE -- Methyl tert-Butyl Ether

We’ve seen how organic compounds have established themselves into our soil and water through the use of herbicides (see post on Atrazine) and insecticides (see post on Lindane). 

Agricultural use of organic compounds does benefit crop yields…but with a cost. In a roundabout way, we pay the same price when we hit the gas pump. Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MtBE) is a gasoline additive.

When the Clean Air Act of 1970 required petroleum producers to reformulate gasoline chemistry - minus the lead, MtBE was introduced as an octane booster. Its use actually garnered good environmental press as an oxygenator that reduced more dangerous emissions.

However, as with most organic compounds, leakage into soil and water can occur during industrial processing or from storage during transfer and transportation. When contamination of aquifers and wells occurs, a noticeable, turpentine-like odor renders water undrinkable.

Several studies have shown its effect as a neurotoxin which should always be a concern to “susceptible populations.” The EPA has not set level limits but several states have regulated concentrations in drinking water.

In a simplistic terms, most chemical compounds tend to be “sticky” and and when passed through granular activated carbon (GAC) these compounds are “pulled and held” in the water filtration process. However, MtBE requires multiple passes through a system to be effectively removed. That where Paragon Water Systems solutions can make a difference.

Manufacturing quality carbon filtration requires excellence in design, attention to detail during manufacturing and the use of pure materials. Our standard cartridges for home use are reasonably priced and fit many point-of-use under sink and countertop filters.

Paragon Water Systems and American Carbon Block team up to provide the excellence edge that makes your water safe and clean with a taste that suits the most discerning palate. Whether brewing coffee/tea, in foodservice applications or providing a refreshing water cooler experience, Paragon is your water choice.

ODM and OEM solutions for corporate/industrial needs?  We can do that! 

Visit these links: 

Paragon Water Systems / American Carbon Block 

or call us at 1-800-288-9708 for more information.