Influence of alkalinity, hardness and dissolved solids on drinking water taste: A case study of consumer satisfaction

Two surveys of consumer satisfaction with drinking water conducted by Taiwan Water Supply Corp. are presented in this study. The study results show that although a lot of money was invested to modify traditional treatment processes, over 60% of local residents still avoided drinking tap water. Over half of the respondents felt that sample TT (from the traditional treatment process) was not a good drinking water, whether in the first or second survey, whereas almost 60% of respondents felt that samples PA, PB, CCL and CT (from advanced treatment processes) were good to drink. For all drinking water samples, respondent satisfaction with a sample primarily depended on it having no unpleasant flavors. Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration plans to revise the drinking water quality standards for TH and TDS in the near future. The new standards require a lower TH concentration (from currently 400mg/L (as CaCO(3)) to 150mg/L (as CaCO(3))), and a lower TDS maximum admissible concentration from the current guideline of 600 to 250mg/L. Therefore, this study also evaluated the impacts on drinking water tastes caused by variations in TH and TDS concentrations, and assessed the need to issue more strict drinking water quality standards for TH and TDS. The research results showed that most respondents could not tell the difference in water taste among water samples with different TDS, TH and alkalinity. Furthermore, hardness was found to be inversely associated with cardiovascular diseases and cancers, and complying with more strict standards would lead most water facilities to invest billions of dollars to upgrade their treatment processes. Consequently, in terms of drinking water tastes alone, this study suggested that Taiwan Environmental Protection Administration should conduct more thorough reviews of the scientific literature that provides the rationale for setting standards and reconsider if it is necessary to revise drinking water quality standards for TH and TDS.     

饮用水中高氯酸盐污染现状与去除技术的综述

高氯酸盐作为强氧化剂,在广泛的应用中造成了严重的环境污染,并会在人体富集,当在人体内含量超过0．0007mg／kg人体体重,相当于饮用水中的浓度为24．5μg／L时,就会对健康造成影响,尤其会破环甲状腺机能。美国、日本等国已开始采取措施加强对高氯酸盐的控制,我国许多水源也受到此污染但尚未引起重视。本文分析了饮用水中高氯酸盐的物理化学性质及毒理特性,对环境的污染状况以及目前常用的去除技术,其中以生物处理和离子交换膜生物反应器较为有效。     

MAXIMUM CONTAMINANT LEVELS FOR TOXIC SUBSTANCES IN WATER: A STATISTICAL APPROACH1

ABSTRACT: A method to establish maximum contaminant levels or nondegradation standards for toxic substances in water is described. The method described is based on statistical outlier procedures which distinguish ubiquitous background levels of toxic substances from those concentrations significantly greater than background. Because this approach utilizes environmental data, it can calculate an interim maximum contaminant level which can help protect the public until sufficient health effects data are available to establish human health based maximum contaminant levels.     

Potential health hazard of drinking water in restaurants and tea stalls

Potable and equitable drinking water (DW) is a fundamental human right and essential for human health. This study is conducted to assess the groundwater and jar water quality of the roadside restaurants and tea stalls used for drinking by the local people around the Gazipur City area in Bangladesh. Water samples from 173 restaurants and tea stalls are collected. The physico-chemical and biological parameters are analyzed according to the guidelines and standards. The results illustrate that the color, EC, and Mn of 41%, 80%, and 62% of the samples, respectively, exceed the WHO and Environmental Conservation Rules (ECR) standards. In addition, E. coli and total coliform exceeding the threshold standards are found in 47% and 64% of the water samples, respectively. The contamination of DW by fecal coliforms is confirmed and supported by prior studies, which indicates that the DW supplied in restaurants and tea stalls are unsafe because of the possible presence of pathogens. These may cause potential health hazards to consumers from various water-borne diseases. Poor sanitation, unhygienic practices, and improper disposal of wastewater are responsible for the microbial contamination of DW. So, the authorities in charge of these places should take the right regulatory steps, such as regular sanitation inspections, DW quality monitoring, hand-washing practices, and better sanitation in these places.     

基于MODFLOW数值模拟法的地下水饮用水源保护区划分

我国城乡居民饮用水安全现状不容乐观,饮用水源污染已经成为较突出的社会问题,其中地下水饮用水源污染更为突出.饮用水源保护区划分是保证水质安全的重要措施,饮用水源保护区划分方法较多,其中数值模拟法能客观并详细地描述含水层结构与水文地质条件,适用于各种背景的地下水水源研究.本文以崇州市城区饮用水源为例,采用MODFLOW软件建立地下水渗流场,应用MODPATH对水源地抽水井进行粒子逆向示踪模拟,根据不同的时间标准确定一、二级保护区范围,并结合区域水文地质条件和地标、地界特点确定各级保护区的界线.     

Fluoride removal and its impact on oral health in Sri Lanka's dry zone: Discussion and recommendation

Fifty percent of the dry zone areas in Sri Lanka have fluoride levels above 1 ppm. This paper discusses the ground conditions and recommends an appropriate range of fluoride in drinking water which can support preventive practices for improving the oral health of children 8-years old and younger. In efforts to address the Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown etiology (CKDU), water treatment to reduce contaminant level in potable water has been implemented. Such treatment would also remove fluoride and has resulted in potable water with various fluoride levels, depending on concentrations in the raw water. While it is important to reduce fluoride levels, it is important to have appropriate residual levels for prevention of dental caries. It needs, however, to be noted fluoride in excess can cause dental fluorosis. In Sri Lanka's dry zone areas increasing prevalence of dental fluorosis with decreasing prevalence of dental caries has been noted. Consumption of tea and powdered milk could increase total intake of fluoride. Fluoridated toothpaste, when used properly, may, however, result in negligible intake of fluoride. Sri Lanka's hot tropical climate which results in substantial intake of fluids reinforces the need to consider reduction in water fluoride. Consideration of local studies and international standards indicate fluoride levels should be in the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm. In the range of 0.225–0.500 ppm, the prevalence of dental fluorosis and caries was only 14% and 8%, respectively, in an endemic district. When fluoride levels are above 0.500 ppm, the issue of dental fluorosis shall need to be addressed. When levels are below 0.225 ppm, oral health care services shall need to be directed at preventing dental caries.     

EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A FIXED WELLHEAD DELINEATION: REGIONAL CASE STUDY 1

The 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act amendments mandated that every state must determine the hydrogeologic origin of each public drinking water system and assess the degree to which each system may be adversely affected by potential sources of contamination. Wisconsin delineated and assessed one specific class of systems, transient noncommunity drinking water wells, with the least stringent standards of all governed system types. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Wisconsin's arbitrarily fixed radius approach used in determining susceptibility to potential contamination from 1,872 transient noncommunity ground water wells. Nearly 28 percent of the wells with contaminated water did not have any recorded potential sources of contamination within the delineation radii. Additionally, regression models derived from potential contaminant inventories within the delineation radii could not accurately predict actual incidences of water contamination. Differences between observed and expected frequencies of contamination further suggest that some transient noncommunity systems should probably be delineated with larger and more sophisticated methods that would account for varying geology and contaminant susceptibility. The majority of contamination cases without recorded potential sources of contamination within the delineation radii were in a karst area. Subsequently, the arbitrarily fixed radius delineation method should not be used in areas with karst aquifers.     

ARE RURAL RESIDENTS WILLING TO PAY ENOUGH TO IMPROVE DRINKING WATER QUALITY?1

ABSTRACT: The concentrations of iron and sulfate in community water supplies are a concern for a number of areas in southwestern Minnesota. This study used the contingent valuation method to determine how much consumers would be willing to pay to improve their drinking water quality. On average, individuals were willing to pay US$5.25 per month (in 1995 U.S. dollars) to reduce the level of iron and US$4.33 per month to reduce the level of sulfate in their water to the USEPA's secondary standards for drinking water quality. Respondents with negative perceptions of their drinking water quality were willing to pay more to improve water quality. The aggregate annual willingness to pay (WTP) for all consumers in community water systems in southwestern Minnesota that were out of compliance with water quality standards were estimated to be US$2.4 million and US$2.0 million (in 1995 dollars) for reducing the levels of iron and sulfate, respectively. Yet the total WTP of consumers who use small community water systems may not be enough to pay the full cost of providing improved water in those systems. Economies of scale in water treatment and difficulties in financing improvements mean that technical innovation, government assistance, or institutional changes may be needed to improve water quality in these areas.     

Impact of glyphosate-tolerant soybean and glufosinate-tolerant corn production on herbicide losses in surface runoff

Residual herbicides used in the production of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] and corn (Zea mays L.) are often detected in surface runoff at concentrations exceeding their maximum contaminant levels (MCL) or health advisory levels (HAL). With the advent of transgenic, glyphosate-tolerant soybean and glufosinate-tolerant corn this concern might be reduced by replacing some of the residual herbicides with short half-life, strongly sorbed, contact herbicides. We applied both herbicide types to two chiseled and two no-till watersheds in a 2-yr corn-soybean rotation and at half rates to three disked watersheds in a 3-yr corn/soybean/wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) rotation and monitored herbicide losses in runoff water for four crop years. In soybean years, average glyphosate loss (0.07%) was approximately 1/7 that of metribuzin (0.48%) and about one-half that of alachlor (0.12%), residual herbicides it can replace. Maximum, annual, flow-weighted concentration of glyphosate (9.2 microg L(-1)) was well below its 700 microg L(-1) MCL and metribuzin (9.5 microg L(-1)) was well below its 200 microg L(-1) HAL, whereas alachlor (44.5 microg L(-1)) was well above its 2 microg L(-1) MCL. In corn years, average glufosinate loss (0.10%) was similar to losses of alachlor (0.07%) and linuron (0.15%), but about one-fourth that of atrazine (0.37%). Maximum, annual, flow-weighted concentration of glufosinate (no MCL) was 3.5 microg L(-1), whereas atrazine (31.5 microg L(-1)) and alachlor (9.8 microg L(-1)) substantially exceeded their MCLs of 3 and 2 microg L(-1), respectively. Regardless of tillage system, flow-weighted atrazine and alachlor concentrations exceeded their MCLs in at least one crop year. Replacing these herbicides with glyphosate and glufosinate can reduce the occurrence of dissolved herbicide concentrations in runoff exceeding drinking water standards.     

Development of environmental thresholds for streams in agricultural watersheds

Global increases in consumption of chemical nutrients, application of pesticides, and water withdrawal to enhance agricultural yield have resulted in degraded water quality and reduced water availability. Efforts to safeguard or improve environmental conditions of agroecosystems have usually focused on managing on-farm activities to reduce materials loss and conserve habitat. Another management measure for improving environmental quality is adoption of environmental performance standards (also called outcome-based standards). This special collection of six papers presents the results of four years of research to devise scientifically credible approaches for setting environmental performance standards to protect water quantity and quality in Canadian agriculturally dominated watersheds. The research, conducted as part of Canada's National Agri-Environmental Standards Initiative, aimed to identify Ideal Performance Standards (the desired environmental state needed to maintain ecosystem health) and Achievable Performance Standards (the environmental conditions achievable using currently available and recommended best available processes and technologies). Overviews of the papers, gaps in knowledge, and future research directions are presented. As humans, livestock, and wildlife (both terrestrial and aquatic) experience greater pressures to share the same limited water resources, innovative research is needed that incorporates a landscape perspective, economics, farm practices, and ecology to advance the development and application of tools for protecting water resources in agricultural watersheds.     

INORGANIC CONTAMINANTS IN DRINKING WATER CORRELATED WITH DISEASE OCCURRENCE IN NEBRASKA1

ABSTRACT: Levels of nitrate and other inorganic contaminants in the drinking water of 453 Nebraska communities in 1986 were compared with health data for counties in which these communities were located. Data used included death rates per 100,000 population from heart disease, cancer, cerebrovascular disease, pneumonia and chronic lung disease, plus the rate of birth defects. Water samples from 42 communities exceeded the 0.01 mg/liter state and federal standards for selenium while 19 exceeded the 10 mg/liter NO₃-N standard. Statistical analysis using Pearson's correlation coefficient method showed no significant relationship between nitrate or selenium and any of the health effects studied. Only barium, fluoride, and chromium were weakly but significantly (P<0.05) correlated to one or more of the health effects. Approximately one-third of the water samples high in NO₃-N also had high levels of selenium. In some communities, the presence of nitrate also signaled the presence of barium, chromium, or arsenic. Results appear to indicate no immediate health risks related to levels of nitrate, selenium, or other inorganic contaminants in Nebraska drinking water. However, this type of statistical analysis cannot be interpreted as proving or disproving a cause and effect relationship.     

高氯酸盐分析方法研究进展

高氯酸盐是一种甲状腺毒素,它会干扰碘的吸收,阻碍甲状腺的产生,影响胎儿、儿童脑部的发育,甚至造成脑部的损伤。随着检测技术的发展,其在世界范围内的水体中陆续检出,牛奶、瓶装饮料、桶装水、土壤、植物中检出高氯酸盐也随后出现。文章参考大量文献,对高氯酸盐监测分析方法进行了详细论述。     

Bacterial water quality: Springs and streams in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Water samples from streams and springs in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park were analyzed for fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus, and total coliform bacteria. Levels of bacteria were found to be highly variable but related to elevation, time of year, type of water source, and water level of the streams. Visitors did not seem to be major contributors to bacterial contamination. Levels of fecal coliform and total coliform in most water samples were unsuitable for drinking without treatment. Tennessee state standards for body contact recreation (swimming and wading) were exceeded in a few samples but none from streams suitable for swimming. As a result of these findings, park managers increased efforts to inform visitors of the need to treat drinking water and removed improvements at backcountry springs which tended to give the springs the image of safe, maintained water sources.     

EXPERIMENTS IN IMPROVING RURAL WATER SUPPLIES1

ABSTRACT: A series of studies and experiments were conducted to identify rural water supply quality problems and to develop and demonstrate solutions. We found that rural people had severe and widespread problems, while state agencies held potential answers. Communications between experts and town officials were weak or absent. To bridge this gap, an information system was devised and tested. A computer program was developed to provide a printout map of the state, showing town boundaries and the quality of water supplies for each public water system monitored by the State Health Department. The map and data were published in local newspapers with an explanation of the map and its symbols. Town health officers were interviewed to determine the results of the public disclosure. We found that the news releases led to increased awareness, interest, and understanding of water quality and demands for ameliorative action. This program was supplemented by two publications: “A Layman's Guide to Eutrophication” and “A Handbook for Rural Water Uses.” The handbook explains the nature of drinking water standards, the reasons for these standards, the dangers and results of not meeting the standards, and cost-effective alternatives for improving water quality.     

Universal access to water and sanitation: Why the private sector must participate

Against the background of the current state of provision of drinking water and sanitation in the world — with one billion lacking safe water, and 2.2 billion not having adequate sanitation — this article argues that private participation is necessary. The most important issues for the management of water utilities in the 21^st century are identified as mobilizing investment for the highly capital intensive operation of water supply and sanitation infrastructure, and achieving efficiency in the delivery of services. The article highlights the issues that need to be raised if private investment is to be seriously considered as an alternative. Case studies, especially from Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Peru, Bolivia), illustrate different modes of private participation, and possible reasons for successes and failures are discussed. The article stresses that regardless of the modality of private sector involvement, on‐going government regulatory responsibility in the water sector is crucial. It suggests that regulatory policy must go beyond just setting tariffs, to develop standards for drinking water quality and waste treatment, as well as other standards. In conclusion, the article recognizes that numerous and increasingly difficult challenges face utilities in fulfilling their responsibility to deliver drinking water of adequate quality, in sufficient quantity, and at affordable prices, as well as safe and sustainable disposal of wastewaters for members of urban and rural communities.     

嘉陵江下游饮用水氟化物时空变异特征研究

饮用水中可溶性氟化物是公众摄入氟的主要途径,其含量水平影响人体健康.分别于2015～2017年的丰水期和枯水期6次随机采集监测了嘉陵江下游52个饮用水样中氟化物含量,并基于地理信息系统平台和健康风险指数法进行了评价.结果表明,该区域饮用水中氟化物浓度平均为0.20～0.25 mg/L.除2015年部分样点外,其余样点的...     

Hydrogeological study of an anti-tank range

The Arnhem Anti-Tank Range (Canadian Forces Base [CFB] Valcartier, Canada, in operation since the 1970s) has been characterized, including the drilling, installation, and characterization of 25 wells and a ground-penetrating radar survey. The observed particular features of this site include highly variable flow velocities (from < 3 to 1200 m/yr) and transient flow regime in the regional aquifer below the contaminant source zone of the impact area, sharp flow direction shifts, discontinuous stratigraphy and a local perched aquifer. A transient ground water flow model permitted us to understand how the complex hydrogeological setting shapes contaminant transport in the regional aquifer. The model explains the highly variable energetic material (EM) concentrations measured in the plume with peaks associated to spring and to a lesser extent to fall recharge events. As a conclusion from this work, the authors suggest that the characterization of contaminant sources on slopes should extend over all seasons to be sure to detect potential transient flow conditions and variable contaminant concentrations.     

饮用水水源地健康风险研究和实例分析

本论文以安庆市9个饮用水源地作为健康风险评价对象,选取2005～2008年的部分水质资料,运用健康风险评价模式,结合安庆地区人群状况修正部分参数,对该地区9个水源地经饮水途径造成的健康风险进行计算和评价。结果表明:化学致癌物所致的健康风险远远高出非致癌物,水源地健康风险主要来源于化学致癌物,在所评价的水源地中以铬(六价)的风险值最大,且有8个水源地铬(六价)的风险值均超过国际辐射防护委员会推荐的最大可接受风险水平,最高值出现在花凉亭水库。     

Real-time contaminant detection and classification in a drinking water pipe using conventional water quality sensors: Techniques and experimental results

Accurate detection and identification of natural or intentional contamination events in a drinking water pipe is critical to drinking water supply security and health risk management. To use conventional water quality sensors for the purpose, we have explored a real-time event adaptive detection, identification and warning (READiw) methodology and examined it using pilot-scale pipe flow experiments of 11 chemical and biological contaminants each at three concentration levels. The tested contaminants include pesticide and herbicides (aldicarb, glyphosate and dicamba), alkaloids (nicotine and colchicine), E. coli in terrific broth, biological growth media (nutrient broth, terrific broth, tryptic soy broth), and inorganic chemical compounds (mercuric chloride and potassium ferricyanide). First, through adaptive transformation of the sensor outputs, contaminant signals were enhanced and background noise was reduced in time-series plots leading to detection and identification of all simulated contamination events. The improved sensor detection threshold was 0.1% of the background for pH and oxidation–reduction potential (ORP), 0.9% for free chlorine, 1.6% for total chlorine, and 0.9% for chloride. Second, the relative changes calculated from adaptively transformed residual chlorine measurements were quantitatively related to contaminant-chlorine reactivity in drinking water. We have shown that based on these kinetic and chemical differences, the tested contaminants were distinguishable in forensic discrimination diagrams made of adaptively transformed sensor measurements.     

Estimation of upper centile concentrations using historical atrazine monitoring data from community water systems

A survey sampling approach is presented for estimating upper centiles of aggregate distributions of surface water pesticide measurements obtained from datasets with large sample sizes but variable sampling frequency. It is applied to three atrazine monitoring programs of Community Water Systems (CWS) that used surface water as their drinking water source: the nationwide Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) data, the Syngenta Voluntary Monitoring Program (VMP), and the Atrazine Monitoring Program (AMP).The VMP/AMP CWS were selected on the basis of atrazine monitoring history (CWS having at least one annual average concentration from SDWA ≥ 1.6 ppb atrazine since 1997 in the AMP). Estimates of the raw water 95th, 99th, and 99.9th centile atrazine concentrations for the VMP/AMP CWS are 4.82, 11.85, and 34.00 ppb, respectively. The corresponding estimates are lower for the finished drinking water samples, with estimates of 2.75, 7.94, and 22.66 ppb, respectively. Finished water centile estimates for the VMP/AMP CWS using only the SDWA data for these sites are consistent with the results. Estimates are provided for the April through July period and for CWS based on surface water source type (static, flowing, or mixed). Requisite sample sizes are determined using statistical tolerance limits, relative SE, and the Woodruff interval sample size criterion. These analyses provide 99.9% confidence that the existing data include the 99.9th centile atrazine concentration for CWS raw and finished water in the Midwest atrazine high-use areas and in the nationwide SDWA dataset. The general validity of this approach is established by a simulation that shows estimates to be close to target quantities for weights based on sampling probabilities or time intervals between samples. Recommendations are given for suitable effective sample sizes to reliably determine interval estimates.