top of page

Transcript: Arsenic Removal Video

The water coming from your tap probably looks, smells and tastes clean.  But there’s a good chance it contains arsenic.  And, while the EPA says certain levels of the naturally occurring element are acceptable, others are not.

-Roman Aguirre, Siemens (formerly US Filter)

“The EPA has reduced the maximum contaminant level on arsenic from 50 parts per billion down to 10 parts per billion”.

-Ramesh Narasimhan, Engineer, Narasimhan Consulting Services

“The reason for the new guidelines for arsenic is to protect the public health, particularly from skin cancer, bladder cancer and other toxological effects to the body, for both adults and children”.

To meet the new guidelines, many public water companies across the country, particularly those in the Southwest and Northeast, where the ground water supply contains higher concentrations of arsenic, are turning to technology to filter out arsenic.  One promising option – placing this substance, Granular Ferric Hydroxide, otherwise known as GFH, into treatment systems.

-Roman Aguirre, Siemens (formerly US Filter)

“You’re probably very familiar with a coffee filter or sand filter, where you’re capturing solids.  This process actually absorbs the arsenic, it absorbs the arsenic within the sites of the individual particles and it’s absorbed to the point where it’s not released”.

So, instead of using a screen to filter out floating particles, this process relies on a chemical reaction.  The GFH attracts the arsenic, removes and absorbs the arsenic from the water and ultimately yields water with few, if any, detectable traces of arsenic.

In Chandler, AZ, water officials are implementing the new treatment process at more than a dozen affected wells.  Once completed:

-Wendy Chambers, Utility Systems Manager for Water, City of Chandler

“The citizens will not have to think about the water that they’re drinking at all.  They’ll continue to go to the tap as they always have, fill their swimming pools and know that this is the best quality water that they’re going to get, that it’s safe and that they really don’t have to have any concerns whatsoever”.

-Kate Brookes, Host

“The new drinking water guidelines for arsenic kick in in January [2006], and thanks to technologies like those being used here, affected communities are taking the necessary steps to meet the deadline and help ensure safer drinking water for residents”.

top of page