Premium
Committee Report: A survey of the “other” inorganics
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.2009.tb09946.x
Subject(s) - water treatment , water quality , outreach , nitrate , environmental science , waste management , environmental planning , environmental engineering , engineering , political science , chemistry , ecology , organic chemistry , law , biology
Although many water utilities have encountered and dealt with arsenic, total dissolved solids, nitrates, and radionuclides, numerous “other” inorganic constituents can affect water quality and the subsequent choice of treatment processes. These other inorganics receive varying degrees of public attention, and include longstanding concerns with iron and manganese removal, hardness removal, and pH control. This article summarizes the results of a national survey conducted by two AWWA committees to identify national inorganic issues and the data gaps perceived by utilities. Currently, a significant portion of research and regulatory attention is focused on a few inorganic contaminants (including arsenic, nitrate, perchlorate, and radionuclides); however, these contaminants do not affect the majority of water systems. This article provides a basis for justifying additional research and outreach support for utilities facing longstanding inorganic water quality issues. The article can also help utility managers compare their inorganic issues with the issues faced by water utilities across the nation.