Worried about Arsenic in your drinking water?
If the recent news of elevated Arsenic levels in water samples in Hamilton and Auckland has you concerned, here’s what you need to know about Arsenic and how to filter your drinking water to ensure it is safe.
How does Arsenic get into our water supply?
For most people, the words “Arsenic” and “Drinking Water” are not ones you want to hear in the same sentence, however Arsenic occurs naturally in rocks and soil and as it breaks down can dissolve into ground water, entering our lakes and rivers (our drinking water sources). Arsenic also finds its way into the environment through industrial and agricultural waste.
Is there a safe level of Arsenic allowable in drinking water?
The maximum acceptable value of Arsenic in drinking water is 0.01mg per litre, as per New Zealand Drinking Water Guidelines. The reported levels detected in Hamilton and Auckland of 0.013mg/l are marginally above the acceptable value defined for drinking water.
What can I do to ensure my drinking water is safe?
Davey has two cartridge filter options available to help reduce Arsenic in your water
How do I install the cartridge filters?
Both cartridge filters can easily be installed under your kitchen sink and plumbed into your existing tap on the cold water line to filter your drinking water. Just choose one of the below filter housing options:
For a single tap or outlet, this Single 10” Filter Housing (W10PR) is durable and easy to install. Just connect it to your mains supply at one end and your tap hose at the other. Your cartridge filter sits inside.
Installing a Twin 10” Filter Housing (AS10A) will allow you to include a Sediment Filter (Davey’s 5PP10) in the first stage, reducing the sediment load on the second stage filter (NRC10, AFAC10), allowing for better performance.
For best performance the water must have adequate contact time within the cartridge filters so it’s important to ensure maximum flow rates are adhered to – this may mean having to reduce flow prior to the filter housing.
