Arsenic in Water

Arsenic (As) is not easily dissolved in water, therefore, if arsenic in water is found, it usually comes from mining or metallurgical operations or from runoff from agricultural areas where materials containing arsenic were used as industrial poisons. Arsenic and phosphate easily substitute for one another chemically; therefore commercial grade phosphate can have caused arsenic contaminated water. Arsenic is highly toxic and has been classified by the US EPA as a carcinogen. The current MCL for arsenic levels in water is 0.01 mg/l which was derived from toxicity considerations rather than carcinogenicity. 
 
Arsenic Water Treatment & Arsenic Water Filtration - If in an inorganic form, arsenic can be removed or reduced by conventional water treatment processes. There are five ways to remove arsenic from contaminated water; reverse osmosis, activated alumina, ion exchange, activated carbon, and distillation. Arsenic water filtration through activated carbon water filters will reduce the amount of arsenic in drinking water from 40 - 70%. Anion exchange can reduce it by 90 - 100%. Reverse Osmosis has a 90% removal rate, and Water Distillation will remove 98% of arsenic from water. If the arsenic is present in organic form, it can be removed by oxidation of the organic material and subsequent coagulation. If you suspect arsenic in your water, the first step is to use the below kit for testing for arsenic in water.