New Adsorption Treatment Technology Provides Broad Spectrum Control of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Heavy Metals such as Arsenic, Lead, Fluoride etc., Present in Drinking Water

摘要

The recent failures in public water treatment systems in Canada, and other parts of the world, and a growing population with suppressed immune systems have increased consumer awareness and demand for point-of use (POU), point-of entry (POE), and other commercial devices that protect against harmful water borne microorganisms. A new emerging adsorption technology using naturally occurring metals and metal oxides which does not require electricity is now available that will help reduce risk to end users by mitigating unwanted microbes in a variety of potable and non-potable water supplies, all over the world. The results of this treatment technology indicate a high log (10~3 -10~7) reductions of bacteria and viruses. The treated water meets all USEPA drinking water standards, and the treatment is less sensitive to influent water quality i.e., hardness, iron, TDS than UV Technology, which requires electricity for its operation. The adsorbent material can also be customized for their applications to selectively remove toxic contaminants such as arsenic, lead, and fluoride present in drinking water. Although the vast majority of municipal water supply systems deliver "safe" water to their consumers, incidental and often undetected contamination does occur. Added to this is an increased understanding of the ill effects microorganisms can have on at-risk individuals such as the elderly, young and those with suppressed immune systems like chemotherapy patients. Together, these factors and others have created a groundswell of demand for water treatment devices and systems that are effective over a wide range of microbes. While many commercially marketed POU devices, such as countertop and faucet-mount filters, carafes, etc., now include anti-microbial media to address this need, they are often limited in the range of microorganisms they can control continuing to leave the consumer potentially at risk from disease causing pathogens.