Changing water systems can be done safely, as long as it’s done correctly.
About 80 percent of water systems across the country use a disinfectant in drinking water that can lead to undesirable byproducts, including chloroform. There is an alternative, but many cities have been afraid to use it.
That’s because in 2000, when the water authority in Washington, D.C., switched from free chlorine to chloramine, the nation watched as levels of lead in drinking water immediately shot up. They stayed up for four years while scientists determined the problem and implemented a solution.
In other cities that used free chlorine, Washington’s experience had a chilling effect; many have put off switching disinfectants, fearing their own lead crisis.
They may soon be able to safely make the switch, thanks to research from the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. Researchers found that adding orthophosphate to the water supply before switching to chloramine can prevent lead contamination in certain situations.
The results of the study were published in Environmental Science & Technology.
Continue reading at Washington University in St. Louis
Image via Washington University in St. Louis
