A&L Laboratory
February 2018 Newsletter 


Welcome to the February edition of our newsletter.  We have just begun ringing in the New Year and already it is time for a new month. We hope that you take some time this February to reflect on the ones you love and give them the appreciation they deserve! We certainly appreciate all of you and are very grateful for your continued patronage. We wouldn't be here without loyal customers like you!
Corrosion 

Corrosion is due to physical and chemical reactions between the pipe material and water.  Corrosive water can dissolve metal plumbing components causing unsafe levels of copper and lead and pinhole leaks. There are some signs of corrosion to be aware of: bluish-green stains in your sinks, metallic taste of the first water out of the tap, or small leaks in your metal plumbing components. 
 
The 7 top causes of corrosion are:

   Low pH (acid water less than 6.5)
   High pH (alkaline water greater than 8.5)
   High levels of dissolved oxygen

   High levels of salts dissolved in the water (total dissolved solids)
   Corrosion-causing bacteria such as sulfate or iron bacteria

   High velocity of water, relative to size of piping, causing wear on the piping        

   Sand, sediment or other grit in the water causing wear on the piping

 
There are a few ways to treat corrosive water problems:  Replacement of plumbing components that are corrosive resistant; installing a water treatment system, such as a water neutralizer, to keep the pH at an acceptable level; or running your water to drain the pipes in your home prior to using the water for drinking or cooking.  A first draw lead & copper test as well as a source lead & copper test can be run to determine the source of your problem.  You may also wish to consider water treatment methods such as reverse osmosis, ultra-filtration, distillation, or ion exchange.
 
Because corrosive water is not a drinking water concern by itself; the by-products of corrosion, such as copper and lead, do have drinking water standards. Copper has a secondary drinking water standard of 1.0 mg/L because it causes a bitter, metallic taste to water and a blue-green staining on sinks, tubs and toilets. Copper also has a primary drinking water standard of 1.3 mg/L because it may cause severe stomach cramps and intestinal illnesses at higher concentrations.
 
Lead is a more serious health concern in drinking water. It has a primary drinking water standard of 15 ug/L. Long-term exposure to lead exceeding the drinking water standard has been linked to many health effects in adults including cancer, stroke and high blood pressure. At even greater risk are children, whose rapidly growing bodies absorb lead more quickly and efficiently. Lead can cause premature birth, reduced birth weight, seizures, behavioral disorders, brain damage and lowered IQ in children.

Salt Treatment on Roadways
If you live - and drive - in a northern or mountainous climate, you've seen highway trucks spreading loads of rock salt on snowy highways to melt the ice. But where does the salt go?

A lot of it ends up in our lakes and streams. A recent study of 371 lakes in North America - most in the northern states and southern Canada - showed chloride concentrations rising in more than a third. More than two dozen were nudging toward levels harmful to aquatic life. Extrapolated to all lakes in the U.S. northern Great Lakes and Northeast regions, about "7,770 lakes may be experiencing elevated chloride concentrations, likely due to road salt runoff," the study concludes.

U.S. road maintenance departments have been spreading salt on streets and highways to melt snow and ice since the 1940s, but the use of salt skyrocketed over time - from 0.15 metric tons (0.16 tons) per year during the 1940s to about 18 million metric tons (19.8 million tons) per year today. Road salt use is common and growing throughout Canada, Europe, Japan, China, and even South America. As much as 60 million metric tons (66 million tons) may be applied worldwide each year. Unlike chemicals that break down into less harmful compounds, road salt persists and may remain in water and soil for years, until it eventually is diluted and carried away by moving water.

Despite the ever-greater use, road salt's effects on streams, lakes, and groundwater have been largely ignored until recently. As recently as 2014, when biologist Rick Relyea began studying the effects of salt-laden runoff at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, "the world of science didn't pay very much attention to the impacts of road salt on water," he says. "Now we're paying much more attention."

Recent research is showing that in many waterways, chloride is on a persistent upward trend, with potential to harm aquatic communities and even impair drinking water.

Flooded Well

Mother Nature has certainly shown her true colors this winter; a mixed bag of heavy rain, snow, ice, sleet, and freezing rain we have definitely had to deal with some tricky weather conditions.  Once the cold weather moves in the ground begins to freeze.  Once the ground is frozen the heavy rains have nowhere to go and often we see flooding. 

Flooding can cause an array of problems such as closing roads because of unsafe travel and washing out bridges but it can also cause problems at home such as wet basements and flooded wells.  Swiftly moving flood water can carry large debris that could loosen well hardware, dislodge well construction materials or distort casing. Coarse sediment in the flood waters could erode pump components. If the well is not tightly capped, sediment and flood water could enter the well and contaminate it. Wells that are more than 10 years old or less than 50 feet deep are likely to be contaminated, even if there is no apparent damage. Floods may also cause some wells to collapse.

After the flood waters have returned to normal levels and the electrical system to your pump has dried out be sure to have an electrician inspect the wiring before the pump is turned on to prevent electric shock.

If your well has been flooded then it is likely contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria; it is important to test your water to ensure you don't get sick. It is suggested to have at least a safety test done or you can choose a more comprehensive water test.  If there is bacteria present do not wash, cook or drink the water until you have gone through the chlorination process and retested your water. 

 
For chlorination instructions click here
News From Around The U.S.
 
'Raw Water' Is a New Health Trend. But Is It Safe?
 
U.S. Rivers Getting Saltier, Drinking Water At Risk: Study

Village Votes to Sue Over Tainted Drinking Water

Is There Radium In Your Tap Water? New Map Can Show You

Report Urges Major Investment In NJ's Aging, Leaky Drinking Water Pipes

Newly Patented Wastewater Recycling System Turns Toilet Water Into Purified Drinking Water
A & L Laboratory, a Division of Granite State Analytical Services | 207-784-5354 | rlabranche@granitestateanalytical.com | www.allaboratory.com
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