Water usage in the United States has skyrocketed in the last 50 years. Americans used 43 billion gallons of water each day in 2000 versus the 14 billion gallons in 1950. With the increase in usage comes the added burden of ensuring clean and safe water. Public water systems are regulated at the state and federal levels. Some potential contaminants such as iron and manganese, however, are not regulated. To remove these chemicals from your drinking water, you may want to invest in a water treatment system.
Regulation of Drinking Water
The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 empowered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate drinking water quality. The agency works with states, localities and water suppliers to ensure the safety of the water you drink. It regulates the concentration of six classes of contaminants, including microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and radioactive elements. These standards are based on the scientific evidence. Iron, manganese and sulfur are not regulated by the EPA.
Contamination Sources
The fact that they are not regulated means that there is insufficient evidence to warrant large-scale monitoring. Contamination sources are varied depending upon the chemical. Manganese, for example, is used in a wide range of applications, including batteries, steel production, fertilizers and textile printing. Coal-burning energy plants can release sulfur dioxide into the air, which can then enter drinking water sources from acid precipitation. Sulfur may also enter your water from a faulty water softener. Iron is a naturally occurring substance that is used in virtually all metal production. It is also found in animal and plant foods.
How Contamination Occurs
Pollution and landfills are the primary sources of iron, manganese and sulfur in the environment. The EPA estimates that less than 35 percent of the total metal generated in 2007 was recovered for recycling. This means that 13.57 million tons of metal were discarded. Iron and steel made up the majority of the metal discarded, with less than 28 percent recovered for recycling. The news, however, is not all bleak. According to the EPA, sulfur emissions decreased an average of 76 percent from 1980 to 2009, lessening the impact of sulfur on drinking water.
Drinking Water Quality
If you have concerns about the amount of iron, manganese and sulfur in your drinking water, there are some solutions you can use to reduce the concentration of these chemicals. An ion exchange water treatment system can remove iron and manganese from your water by using a type of resin to pull these particles from the water. A reverse osmosis system will remove these inorganic compounds, including sulfur. These systems work by forcing water through a membrane that traps the contaminants. These solutions offer ways to ensure the safety of your drinking water.
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