Alabama Water Quality Information System

— Choose a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) —


	1.-		A local contractor was digging a pond behind my house when he discovered water seepage about ten feet below the surface that had a brown to black color with what looked like an oil film on top of the water. He refused to work any more in this area until I was able to determine if this was coming from buried waste, a broken pipeline or whatever. What is causing this?


	2.-		A test on my well water shows that it contains 100 micrograms per liter of arsenic. Does this mean that I am going to die from arsenic poisoning?


	3.-		Are flue-gas emissions a source of toxic organic pollutants that contaminate soil and water environments?


	4.-		Are medicines and beauty aids that we flush down our toilets polluting our waterways?


	5.-		Are tarballs from oil spills hazardous to your health?


	6.-		Are the health risks from eating mercury contaminated seafood overstated?


	7.-		Are the tests for environmental effects of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) on aquatic organisms adequate?


	8.-		Are there any regulations for mercury contamination in bottled water?


	9.-		Are there areas where surface waters exceed the drinking water standard for arsenic?


	10.-		Are there health risks for humans who drink water containing a moderate level of sulfate (SO4)?


	11.-		Are there long-term health effects of the diseases caused by marine toxins?


	12.-		Are there situations where specific components of EPA's recommended nutrient criteria for defining water quality conditions may not be necessary?


	13.-		Are there specific studies or specific non-regulatory recommendations on safe perchlorate consumption levels in drinking water?


	14.-		Are traces of hormones or hormone mimicking chemicals finding their way to our waterways and causing mutations in fish?


	15.-		At what air concentration can hydrogen sulfide gas be detected by the human nose?


	16.-		Can a state or authorized tribe develop its own nutrient criteria for defining water quality impacts?


	17.-		Can chemicals used to treat water that circulates through cooling towers cause problems for wastewater facilities and the biosolids produced at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs)?


	18.-		Can coal mining or even other types of surface mining operations cause arsenic contamination of surface waters?


	19.-		Can deep well water be contaminated with organic iron?


	20.-		Can exhausted filter media that contains arsenic or heavy metals such as selenium, uranium, and chromium be legally disposed in landfills?


	21.-		Can high road salt levels in storm water runoff lead to non-native species taking over in fresh water lakes?


	22.-		Can hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) be used to de-chlorinate municipal wastewater?


	23.-		Can iron and calcium precipitate out of water together?


	24.-		Can nanofiltration (NF) be used to soften hard water?


	25.-		Can pH of water be an indicator of chemical pollution?


	26.-		Can some contaminants improve the quality of water for certain uses?


	27.-		Can specific conductance of water be an indicator of chemical pollution?


	28.-		Can there be significant spatial variability in ground water arsenic concentrations within a relatively uniform aquifer system, and if so, what causes this?


	29.-		Can use of road salt as a safety measure to clear roads of ice and snow lead to water quality issues or drinking water problems?


	30.-		Do agricultural food crops accumulate perchlorate from contaminated irrigation water?

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This website was developed by the ACES Water Quality Team, under the leadership of Dr. James E. Hairston. It is funded, in part, by USDA-CSREES water quality grant support under Section 406 of the Agricultural Research, Extension and Education Reform Act of 1998.