Contaminants

Contaminants common to source water are:

  • Chlorine
  • Coliform bacteria, other micro organisms
  • Colour
  • Hydrogen Sulphide
  • Inorganics: Some macrominerals and heavy metals (e.g. mercury, arsenic)
  • Iron / manganese - dissolved
  • Iron / manganese - insoluble
  • Nitrate / Nitrite
  • Odour and off taste
  • Pesticides
  • Radium
  • Radon gas
  • Salt
  • Sand, silt, clay (turbidity)
  • Volatile organic chemicals
  • Water hardness

See Table 2 for a general guide for treatment methods to remove unwanted contaminants.