Removing Uranium from Drinking Water
Published October 27, 2008 | 
Sandra from Saskatchewan Writes:
How do you safely remove for drinking from a private well?
Thanks for the question, Sandra.
Uranium is common to aquifers in or in contact with a sedimentary based bedrock, like the kind you have in Saskatchewan. It can also be found in granite, so is common to well waters in England, among other places.
The accepted maximum safe level of uranium in drinking water is 20 parts per billion in most parts of Canada. If you have not already done so, it is advisable to have your drinking water tested. You should be able to find a laboratory that tests for uranium locally. If you cannot locate one, contact your municipality, they should be able to direct you to the lab closest to you.
Uranium is a heavy dissolved metal, and can be removed one of two ways:
Distillers are expensive and hard to maintain. Your best option is to use a reverse osmosis filter. R.O. filter. These filters can be purchased relatively inexpensively in small sizes, small enough to fit under your kitchen counter and provide water through a special tap, which can be used for drinking and cooking.
Reverse Osmosis filters are the tightest filters, removing almost all dissolved substances from your water. This creates a few problems. Firstly, the water must be very clean before entering the R.O. filter, or it will clog it up quickly. When selecting your R.O. filter, most good manufacturers will provide several pre filters with your R.O. filter to preserve the integrity of the filter. It is also important to purchase a good quality R.O. filter to ensure that it has high removal efficiencies for dissolved contaminants like uranium. Make sure that the filter is NSF (National Sanitation Foundation) certified or has similar accreditations.
The other issue with reverse osmosis water is that it tends to be corrosive. R.O. water, plain water by itself with no dissolved minerals will take those minerals from wherever it can, like a sponge. If you plan on drinking R.O. water on a regular basis, ensure that you also take a daily multivitamin to help replace minerals lost from this water. Even better, ask the manufacturer if he can provide a remineralizer.
Reverse Osmosis filters are a very common staple filter among water treatment companies. While they can be inexpensive in the “under the counter” style, it is important you don’t buy cheap. A good quality filter will go a long way to protecting you and your family from the uranium you are concerned about. Peace of mind is worth a few extra dollars.
I do know of a manufacturer of R.O. systems in Winnipeg, Manitoba that can help you if you cannot find a good system locally. Visit http://www.waterite.ca/ for more information.
I hope I’ve been helpful, please do not hesitate to write in again for clarification or to ask another question.
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Posted in Drinking Water, Filtration | 
r.o., reverse osmosis, uranium, uranium removal, water treatment, wateriteQuestions on a Refridgerator Filter
Published October 22, 2008 | Sheila from Toronto writes:
I have a pur water filter in my fridge. Does it remove most of the bad elements from the water. Also, does it take out the calcium. How often do the filters need to be changed.
Hi Sheila, thanks for your question.
I looked at the Frigidaire website. They offer three different models of filters for their refrigerators. Each one claims to be able to remove chlorine and particulates to varying degrees. This means that all of them use some sort of carbon filter, either carbon block or a form of activated carbon. Two of them seem to use a pleated paper filter as well.
Not knowing exactly which filter you have, I can’t give you specifics. I can tell you that none of the filters will remove calcium from the water. You need a reverse osmosis filter, or an ion exchange unit to do this, and the Fridgidaire filters do not perform any of those functions.
The idea that there are “bad” elements in your municipally treated tap water is a misconception propagated by companies manufacturing bottled water and home water filtration products. Municipal tap water is clean and safe to drink. Further, a myriad of tests are preformed on a regular basis on raw, treated and distribution water making sure this is so, and have checks and balances to make sure it is this way at all times. The minimum regulations for municipal water far exceed the regulations for bottled water or home filtration products.
You may notice that your fridge water has a better taste. The secondary disinfectant, chlorine, and sometimes chloramines, are removed by this carbon filter. This filter can only improve the aestethics of already safe water.
I could not find a minimum change out frequency for these filters. Because these filters have carbon in them, it is very important to change them out on a regular basis. Carbon encourages bacterial growth after a certain period of time.
I would change them at least once a month, or more if you go through a lot of water.
I hope this has helped you. Please do not hesitate to write again if you need further clarification or have another question.
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Want more information, have a question or want to see more cool water stuff? Then Head on over to the main site!
Posted in Drinking Water, Filtration | r.o., reverse osmosis, uranium, uranium removal, water treatment, waterite
