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| The term Volatile Organic Compound (VOC)
refers to a variety of chemical compounds that contain carbon, and
evaporate at relatively low temperatures. Drinking water that
contains VOCs can increase your risk for a variety of health
problems. Some VOCs have been proven to cause cancer after prolonged
exposure at certain concentrations, while others are considered
possible cancer risks. VOCs can also cause other health problems. |
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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) provides
funding to remediate affected wells through the Inland Protection
Trust Fund. The funding provides the cost for replacing wells,
connecting to public water supplies, or installing granular
activated carbon (GAC) filters to reduce VOCs to safe levels.
County Health Departments (CHDs) are responsible for maintaining a
current list of FDEP filter systems in their county and conducting
routine sampling to ensure continued equipment operation. The
illustration below shows a typical GAC filter setup. The
effectiveness of carbon filters in removing VOCs is related to: (1)
the type and amount of contaminant, (2) the rate of water usage, and
(3) the type of carbon being used. Large contaminant concentrations
and high water use rates reduce the carbon life. Water entering and
leaving the filter is tested by the CHD every three months or as
specified by the FDEP to ensure that the treatment system is working
properly.
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In addition, bacteria may grow on the surface of a carbon filter.
Water should be disinfected after it passes through the filter to
ensure its safety. Many types of disinfection systems are available.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is one type of system shown to work
effectively and efficiently to eliminate bacteria problems in water.
Another disinfectionant system is a chlorinator. |
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This page was last modified on: 05/17/2007 04:18:55
