E. coli scare prompts bottled water recall

Pa. bottling company recalls bottled water due to possible E. coli contamination

Monday, June 22, 2015 05:52PM

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WPVI) --

Authorities say water bottled by a Pennsylvania bottling company may be contaminated with E. coli.

The Pennsylvania departments of Agriculture, Environmental Protection, and Health issued the warning, saying spring water bottled by Niagara between June 10 and June 18 at its facilities in Hamburg, Berks County or Upper Macungie, Lehigh County should not be consumed.

According to the state authorities, Niagara purchased spring water from Far Away Springs-Auburn in Schuylkill County, and multiple water quality sample results from Far Away Springs taken during routine testing have indicated the presence of E. coli in the water.

Niagra issued a statement on their website, saying:

"Out of an abundance of caution and in the interests of maintaining the highest possible standards for product quality, Niagara is issuing a voluntary recall for all spring water products produced from its Pennsylvania manufacturing facilities during the June 10th - June 18th time frame.

Niagara was notified that the source was potentially compromised. There have been no reports of any illness or injury related to the above mentioned products to date and finished product testing detected no contaminants or issues of any kind. This voluntary withdrawal is being implemented in cooperation with State and Federal Agencies."

The products were sold under the following brand names:

Acadia (Giant)
Acme
Big Y
Best Yet
7-11
Niagara
Nature's Place
Pricerite
Superchill
Morning Fresh
Shaws
Shoprite
Western Beef Blue
Wegman's

For more information, contact Niagara at 877-487-7873, or visit: http://www.niagarawater.com/consumer-notice/

 

2016 McEllhiney Distinguished Lecturer to present on treatment options for groundwater

2016 McEllhiney Distinguished Lecturer to present on treatment options for groundwater

WESTERVILLE, Ohio — The McEllhiney Distinguished Lecture Series in Water Well Technology is named in honor of the founding president of the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).

WERF awards contracts to explore innovative processes

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Formed in 1989, the Water Environment Research Foundation is a nonprofit, independent scientific research organization dedicated to stormwater and wastewater issues.

New Global Water Intelligence report highlights opportunities in ballast water treatment

AUSTIN, Texas — The report discusses how the ratification of global environmental legislation will lead to a surge in the installation of ballast water treatment systems over the next five years.

Keep the discussion going

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Pure Water Profits blog: The effects of ‘MobileGedden’

BIRMINGHAM — The latest post from Dale Filhaber of Dataman Group discusses how Google’s recent announcement will have an effect on where water dealerships appear in the search results for mobile users.
 
Endress+Hauser acquires Columbian process automation business

GREENWOOD, Ind. — Colsein Ltda.’s process automation business will be transferred to a new Endress+Hauser sales subsidiary on Jan. 1, 2016.

Inside the Magazine

Facts POU/POE dealers should know about wastewater treatment

An introduction to the treatment stages of blackwater.

Waterways Alerts Now Being Tracked on Paragon Water Blog

You Can Run but You Cannot Hide from Water Quality Issues

Click and view our Waterways Map page (or click tab at top of this blog) for news about water alerts that highlight the need for filtration solutions to point of use.

 During the week of January 5-11 our top alerts converged east of the Mississippi:

• Evansville, IN
• Memphis, TN
• Charleston, WV

You never know when an incident will occur. That being said, take into account the many types of local filtration events:

• Chloramine injection
• Drought, flood
• Infrastructure failure
• Chemical spill

 Water quality awareness keeps you prepared. 

Paragon Water Systems and American Carbon Block work to make water safer for consumption.

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.

Heavy Metal U.S.A.: Part 1 -- Mercury

Mercury contamination map -- epa.gov

In previous posts, we’ve looked at man-made chemicals and how runoff creates a contamination event in drinking water supplies. We now turn to Earth’s natural elements and how erosion (ironically, by water) leaches into groundwater and aquifer sources. Natural elements like mercury are also discharged in industrial applications creating a one-two punch for the environment. 

Liquid form of mercury -- CC

Hocus Pocus!

 

Mercury is a unique substance – liquid in its elemental form – inorganic. When combined with other elements it forms compounds used in industrial applications. In its organic form -- due to sulfate-reducing microscopic organisms which unites it with carbon to form methylmercury. This stealthy compound hides in algae and zooplankton whose quantities biomagnify within the fresh and saltwater food chain.

Get the Mercury Out!

Coagulation-filtration is a common treatment. Heavier substances precipitate out as sludge and is trucked off to a hazardous waste site. 

Mercury in native state -- CC

Activated carbon in granular form uses its surface porous-ness to absorb and hold contaminants.

Clarks' Process (lime softening) is a mid-19^th century treatment which raises the pH level to participate out heavy metal into mercury hydroxide.

Reverse osmosis pushes water through a semi-permeable film (or membrane) and holds the contaminant on its surface.

Paragon Water Systems' Processes

We are a leader in carbon and reverse osmosis processes. Our American Carbon Block division provides fine micropore product to reduce trace mercury. Our R-O system professionals can supply quality solutions for your business.

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. 

 

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.