1
Researched by: Jameieka Price Mentored by Research Scientist of the Geography Department and Great Lakes Center: Dr. Charlotte Roehm INTRODUCTION Chlorination’s main purpose is to kill bacteria, algae, microorganisms and other water borne pathogens. It sanitizes and oxidizes to keep water free of bacteria. Chlorination is used in municipal water treatment plants to disinfect water particularly for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Cryptosporidium. The problem with chlorination is that the chlorine by-products and the concentration of residual chlorine can cause alternative adverse health effects such as cancer and…. As a result federal regulations have been made to set standards to minimize these risks. Sink and shower water from a range of households in Niagara County Household was tested to determine the levels of chlorine in the water were high enough to affect public health and if the municipal treatment plants are in compliance with the laws and regulations. Are Chlorine Levels in Niagara County Household Water During the Winter / Spring Season Within the United States Laws and Regulation Standards: Field Research METHODOLOGY The researched involved testing 15 participant households selected in the urban, industrial and agricultural areas; of Niagara County refer to figure 1-4. The study involved both a physical and social science aspect. Each primary member of the household was asked to fill out a questionnaire in order to determine potential exposure to chlorine in the water. A chlorine testing kit ( figure 7) was used to test the free and total chlorine in the household water refer to figure 7a and 7b. Figure 6 shows how a disinfection agent like chlorine RESULTS 0.5 mg/l is the maximum contaminant level for the free and total chlorine allowed in households imposed by laws refer to table 1. Concentrations of chlorine in the households were in the range of 0.5 mg/l to 1.1 mg/l refer to figure 5 . The industrial and urban households had higher concentrations of both free and total chlorine. The pH was found to be in the neutral range of 6.5. The temperature of the warm water was approximately 89 °F and the cold water was approximately 52 °F. The fraction of Free residual to Total chlorine ranged ( which is a percentage of the total and depends on pH) between 0.2 mg/l and 0.5 mg/l for the free chlorine and 0.4 mg/l – 0.8 mg /l and was negatively correlated to pH refer to figure 8. EPA WHO EPA WHO SDWA Combined Cl Combined Cl Residual Cl Residual Cl Residual Cl 0.5 mg/l 3mg/l 4 mg/l 0.3 mg/l 0.2 mg/l DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION The researched determined that the water treatment plant in Niagara County is not in compliance when treating water with chlorine. The results of both the questionnaire and physical measurements of this study, show that some participants are at risk of exposure to chlorination. The Agricultural area had low risk factors for the usage of water and the Urban and Industrial area had intermediate health risk factors for using the water on a daily basis. The household that had the highest fraction of chlorination levels was in the industrial area and the water appeared cloudy. Temperature and pH determines the outcome of the chlorinated water in this case there was no correlation between temperature and pH. RECOMMENDATIONS To maintain clean water with lower chlorine levels in households, it is recommended to use a shower and sink filter or to boil water. This removes the chlorine and other contaminants. There is also the option of putting chlorine in the tap water yourself with correct proportions. Contact your local health department and a professional can determine how much chlorine is in your water. The Environmental Protection Agency has a wealth of chlorination information at 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 Free CL Vs. Total CL in Residential Sink Water Free Cl (cold water) Total Cl (cold water) Number of Households CL Concentration (mg/l) Max Chlorine Levels WHO – 0.3 mg /l SWDA -0.2 mg /l EPA – 0.3 mg/l Recommended Level to kill Microbials 0.3 mg/l – 1.2 mg/l Figure 5 Regulation Standards For Cl WH0 – World Health Organization ; SWDA – Safe Water Drinking Act ; EPA- Environmental Protection Agency Table 1 Regulation Standards for Chlorine Lasalle Water Treatment Plant Niagara River Figure 1 Urban Area Figure 2 Industrial Area Figure 3 Agricultural Area Figure 4 Map of Niagara County Figure 6 Steps for Purifying Waste Water Figure 7 Chlorine Testing Kit Figure 7a & 7b Samples of free and total Cl 7a Chlorinated Water 7b Chlorine free Water 6.35 6.4 6.45 6.5 6.55 6.6 6.65 6.7 6.75 6.8 6.85 0 20 40 60 80 100 Fraction of Free and Total Cl Industrial Warm Agricultural Warm Urban Warm Industrial Cold Agricultural Cold Urban Cold pH Fraction of Free and Total Cl mg/l Free Cold Total Cold 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 Average Free Cl Vs. Total Cl Industrial Agricultural Urban Cl Concentration ( mg/l) Figure 8 Percent Contribution of Free & Total Cl Figure 9 Average Concentration levels

Water Treatment Plant Health Effects in Niagara Falls

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Page 1: Water Treatment Plant Health Effects in Niagara Falls

Researched by: Jameieka Price Mentored by Research Scientist of the Geography Department and Great Lakes Center: Dr.

Charlotte RoehmINTRODUCTION

Chlorination’s main purpose is to kill bacteria, algae, microorganisms and other water borne pathogens. It sanitizes and oxidizes to keep water free of bacteria. Chlorination is used in municipal water treatment plants to disinfect water particularly for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Cryptosporidium. The problem with chlorination is that the chlorine by-products and the concentration of residual chlorine can cause alternative adverse health effects such as cancer and…. As a result federal regulations have been made to set standards to minimize these risks. Sink and shower water from a range of households in Niagara County Household was tested to determine the levels of chlorine in the water were high enough to affect public health and if the municipal treatment plants are in compliance with the laws and regulations.

Are Chlorine Levels in Niagara County Household Water During the Winter / Spring Season Within the United States Laws and Regulation

Standards: Field Research

METHODOLOGY

The researched involved testing 15 participant households selected in the urban, industrial and agricultural areas; of Niagara County refer to figure 1-4. The study involved both a physical and social science aspect. Each primary member of the household was asked to fill out a questionnaire in order to determine potential exposure to chlorine in the water. A chlorine testing kit ( figure 7) was used to test the free and total chlorine in the household water refer to figure 7a and 7b. Figure 6 shows how a disinfection agent like chlorine breaks down waste water so it can be purified once it reaches the household. A pH meter was used to determine how acidic or alkaline the water was and a thermometer was used to measure the temperature of the water.

RESULTS

0.5 mg/l is the maximum contaminant level for the free and total chlorine allowed in households imposed by laws refer to table 1. Concentrations of chlorine in the households were in the range of 0.5 mg/l to 1.1 mg/l refer to figure 5 . The industrial and urban households had higher concentrations of both free and total chlorine. The pH was found to be in the neutral range of 6.5. The temperature of the warm water was approximately 89 °F and the cold water was approximately 52 °F.The fraction of Free residual to Total chlorine ranged ( which is a percentage of the total and depends on pH) between 0.2 mg/l and 0.5 mg/l for the free chlorine and 0.4 mg/l – 0.8 mg /l and was negatively correlated to pH refer to figure 8.

EPA WHO EPA WHO SDWA

Combined Cl Combined Cl Residual Cl Residual Cl Residual Cl

0.5 mg/l 3mg/l 4 mg/l 0.3 mg/l 0.2 mg/l

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

The researched determined that the water treatment plant in Niagara County is not in compliance when treating water with chlorine. The results of both the questionnaire and physical measurements of this study, show that some participants are at risk of exposure to chlorination. The Agricultural area had low risk factors for the usage of water and the Urban and Industrial area had intermediate health risk factors for using the water on a daily basis. The household that had the highest fraction of chlorination levels was in the industrial area and the water appeared cloudy. Temperature and pH determines the outcome of the chlorinated water in this case there was no correlation between temperature and pH.

RECOMMENDATIONS

To maintain clean water with lower chlorine levels in households, it is recommended to use a shower and sink filter or to boil water. This removes the chlorine and other contaminants. There is also the option of putting chlorine in the tap water yourself with correct proportions. Contact your local health department and a professional can determine how much chlorine is in your water. The Environmental Protection Agency has a wealth of chlorination information at www.epa.gov

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 150

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Free CL Vs. Total CL in Residential Sink Water

Free Cl (cold water)

Total Cl (cold water)

Number of Households

CL

Con

cen

trati

on

(m

g/l

)

Max Chlorine Levels

WHO – 0.3 mg /l

SWDA -0.2 mg /l

EPA – 0.3 mg/l

Recommended Level to kill

Microbials

0.3 mg/l – 1.2 mg/l

Figure 5 Regulation Standards For ClWH0 – World Health Organization ; SWDA – Safe Water Drinking Act ; EPA- Environmental Protection Agency

Table 1 Regulation Standards for Chlorine

Lasalle

Water Treatment PlantNiagara River

Figure 1 Urban Area Figure 2 Industrial Area Figure 3 Agricultural Area

Figure 4 Map of Niagara County

Figure 6 Steps for Purifying Waste Water

Figure 7 Chlorine Testing Kit

Figure 7a & 7b Samples of free and total Cl

7a Chlorinated Water 7b Chlorine free Water

6.35 6.4 6.45 6.5 6.55 6.6 6.65 6.7 6.75 6.8 6.850

20

40

60

80

100

Fraction of Free and Total Cl

Industrial Warm

Agricultural Warm

Urban Warm

Industrial Cold

Agricultural Cold

Urban Cold

pH

Fra

cti

on

of

Fre

e a

nd

T

ota

l C

l m

g/l

Free Cold Total Cold0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

Average Free Cl Vs. Total Cl

IndustrialAgriculturalUrban

Cl

Con

cen

trati

on

(

mg

/l)

Figure 8 Percent Contribution of Free & Total Cl

Figure 9 Average Concentration levels