跳至主要内容

HOW TO TREAT WATER THAT HAS CYSTS

Cysts, such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, are protozoan parasites found in intestinal tracts of animals. The feces of infected animals contaminates surface waters such as lakes, streams and ponds, shallow wells and ground water under the influence of surface water (GUDI). Both Cryptosporidium and Giardia are protected by an outer shell that allows them to survive outside the host body for long periods of time and makes it resistant to chlorine disinfection. Human infection can occur either by consumption of contaminated water, person-to-person transmission or from farm livestock, contamination of recreational waters such as pools etc. Infection can lead to cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis, diarrheal diseases that can cause stomach cramps, dehydration, vomiting, fever etc. Older adults, children and people with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable.
Treatment
There are several residential water treatment devices/processes that may be used to treat drinking water containing Cryptosporidium and Giardia cysts. Some are designed to serve the whole house (Point Of Entry – POE) while others are designed to serve a single drinking outlet (Point Of Use – POU).
Ultraviolet Disinfection (Point of Entry)
Ultraviolet (UVC) radiation, between 200 and 280 nm wavelength (ideally at 254 nm) is absorbed by cysts resulting in damage to their genetic material in such a way that they can no longer reproduce. According to the US EPA Enhanced Surface Water Treatment LT II guidance manual, a UV dose of 22mJ/cm² can achieve a 4.0 log reduction of both cryptosporidium and giardia. UV units performance tested and certified under NSF/ANSI 55A will provide a reliable barrier against cysts. Alternatively, UV units that are independently tested to deliver the NSF/ANSI 55A dose of >40mJ/cm² can also be effectively used as a whole house protection against cysts.
Filtration (Point of Use)
Giardia is up to 20µ long, 5-15µ wide and 2-4µ thick while Cryptosporidium is 4-6µ in diameter. Therefore residential undersink or fridge filters that are 1µ absolute (>99.99% efficient) will also provide protection against cysts. Consumers should look for systems tested and certified to NSF/ANSI 53 specifically for cyst reduction. Examples of such systems include ceramic filters and activated carbon block filters.
Boiling
Letting water boil for at least 1 minute kills cysts and makes water safe to drink.
Note : Chlorination is not very effective under residential conditions as it requires a contact time of at least 20 minutes with water before use with residual chlorine level of at least 0.5 PPM. Chlorination efficiency and performance varies with pH and the presence of other substances such as iron, manganese etc.
Proper maintenance and application of devices by the consumer is important to ensure ongoing performance and this may typically consist of:
• regular replacement of original manufacturer made UV lamps
• cleaning or regular replacement of filter cartridges or other replacement parts

评论

发表评论

此博客中的热门博文

The 10 Best Refrigerator Water Filters

BEST REFRIGERATOR WATER FILTER DISCLAIMER: THERE ARE AFFILIATE LINKS IN THIS POST. THIS MEANS THAT AT NO COST TO YOU, I WILL RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF YOU PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINK. I WILL ONLY EVER PROMOTE THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT I TRUST AND 100% RECOMMEND. YOU MAY READ MY FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY FOR MORE INFORMATION. THANKS FOR SUPPORTING MY BUSINESS IN THIS WAY. For this post, I have put together a collection of the best refrigerator water filters currently available. Filters help to reduce contaminants in your water such as: Chlorine Taste & Odor - chlorine is widely used in water treatment as disinfectants but may add particular odor and taste to the water. Heavy Metals & Chemicals - such as lead and other common industrial contaminants with high toxicities can infiltrate water source and endanger your health. Microbial Cysts - parasites such as cyrptosporidium is commonly found in lakes and rivers. It has high resistance ove...
发表评论
阅读全文

5 Factors To Consider When Buying a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter System for Home

Water contamination is a hot topic nowadays. Just a few days ago, it was reported that a cancer-causing chemical was found in hundreds of the well water in California. In a separated occasion, residents in Jeanerette, Louisiana experience rust colored water from their tap water. The tap water  no longer safe  as compared to a decade ago. Most people are aware about the seriousness of these problems and  taking preventive measures  to keeping their family safe. One of the way is to get a reverse osmosis water filter system. Why Reverse Osmosis? Reverse osmosis is a  common and effective method in removing 99% of contamination dissolved in the water. It uses pressure to force contaminated water to pass through the fine membrane leaving only pure water after filtration. This method is proven and has been used for more than a decade. Many of the system are  fully certified by NSF and WQA  on their effectiveness and quality on r...
发表评论
阅读全文

What Is Better For You- Bottled Water Or Tap Water?

Everyone knows that drinking an adequate amount of water is critical to our survival, but should we worry about whether we get our water from a bottle with a nice label or from the kitchen sink? According to Mr. Benjamin Grumbles, the head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s water programs says “It’s an urban myth that bottled water is safer than tap water .” Many consumers admit to actually drinking both tap water and bottled water. For most people, if you have a filter at home, you probably could not distinguish the taste between the two. Nearly half of bottled water comes from a tap not the artisan springs and beautiful tropical waterfalls as we would like to imagine. In those cases, the water is filtered in many of the same ways as a home water filter works, except on a much larger scale. Chlorine and other contaminants are removed from the water prior to bottling. If you are still trying to decide between the two, there is no question that tap water is bett...
发表评论
阅读全文