What contaminants will be removed using Water Filters with Activated Carbon Cartridges?

Activated carbon (AC) filtration is most effective in removing organic contaminants from water. Organic substances are composed of two basic elements, carbon and hydrogen. Because organic chemicals are often responsible for taste, odor and color problems, AC filtration can generally be used to improve aesthetically objectionable water. In addition, AC filtration removes chlorine. AC filtration is recognized by the Water Quality Association as an acceptable method for maintaining certain drinking water contaminants within the limits of the EPA National Drinking Water Standards (See following Table). Table. Water contaminants that can be reduced to acceptable standards by activated carbon filtration. (Water Quality Association, 1989) --------------------------------------- Primary Drinking Water Standards Contaminant *MCL, mg/L --------------------------------------- Inorganic Contaminants Organic Arsenic Complexes 0.05 Organic Chromium Complexes 0.05 Mercury (Hg+2) Inorganic 0.05 Organic Mercury Complexes 0.002 Organic Contaminants Benzene 0.005 Endrin 0.0002 Lindane 0.004 Methoxychlor 0.1 1,2-dichloroethane 0.005 1,1-dichloroethylene 0.007 1,1,1-trichloroethane 0.200 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 0.10 Toxaphene 0.005 Trichloroethylene 0.005 2,4-D 0.1 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) 0.01 Para-dichlorobenzene 0.075 --------------------------------------- Secondary Drinking Water Standards Contaminant **SMCL --------------------------------------- Color 15 color units Foaming Agents (MBAS) 0.5 mg/L Odor 3 threshold odor number --------------------------------------- *Maximum Contaminant Level **Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level AC filtration does remove some organic chemicals that can be harmful if present in quantities above the EPA Health Advisory Level (HAL). Included in this category are trihalomethanes (THM), pesticides, industrial solvents (halogenated hydrocarbons), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). THMs are a byproduct of the chlorination process that most public drinking water systems use for disinfection. Chloroform is the primary THM of concern. EPA does not allow public systems to have more than 100 parts per billion (ppb) of THMs in their treated water. Some municipal systems have had difficulty in meeting this standard. The Safe Drinking Water Act mandates the EPA to strictly regulate contaminants in community drinking water systems. As a result, organic chemical contamination of municipal drinking water is not likely to be a health problem. However, within unregulated private water systems contamination has been known to go unknown and, accordingly, untreated. Therefore, AC filtration is a viable option for protecting private drinking water systems from organic chemical contamination. Radon gas can also be removed from water by AC filtration, but actual removal rates of radon for different types of AC filtration equipment have not been established. What Activated Carbon will not remove. Similar to other types of water treatment, AC filtration is effective for some contaminants and not effective for others. AC filtration does not remove microbes, sodium, nitrates, fluoride and hardness. In addition, only a very specific type of AC filter removes lead and other heavy metals. Unless the manufacturer states that its product will remove heavy metals, the consumer should assume that the AC filter is not effective in removing them. Home Page | FAQs | Glossary | Contact Us