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— Choose a Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) —
 
1.-

A deep well I have used for more than ten years suddenly developed a hydrogen sulfide odor problem. What could be 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.-

A water quality professional told me that the black slime in my plumbing system is caused by sulfur bacteria. Is this correct?
4.-

Am I likely to be exposed to toxic levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from my private drinking water well if these chemicals have been found in local soil samples?
5.-

Are all blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) poisonous and responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs)?
6.-

Are all granulated activated carbon (GAC) filter units equally effective in removing radon from water?
7.-

Are all tannins removed equally well by a single anionic exchange resin?
8.-

Are asphalt sealants made from coal tar and petroleum-based chemicals responsible for the contamination of our soils and waterways with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)?
9.-

Are chemicals commonly found in nature less toxic in drinking water than synthetic chemicals from pollution?
10.-

Are children more vulnerable than adults to cyanobacteria toxins?
11.-

Are chloramines effective in oxidizing and removing iron and manganese from drinking water?
12.-

Are cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) a year-round problem in water supplies within the United States?
13.-

Are cyanobacteria blooms a relatively new problem?
14.-

Are drinking water plumbing and faucets made from copper alloys that contain lead outlawed by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)?
15.-

Are field test kits available for measuring arsenic concentration in water?
16.-

Are iron flocculate or floc deposits which are commonly observed in discharge seeps down gradient of old unlined solid waste landfills a potential source of arsenic and arsenic contamination for surface water sources?
17.-

Are lead (Pb) containing chemical scales on the inside of water pipes more likely to re-dissolve into drinking water when chloramines are used in place of chlorine for secondary disinfection?
18.-

Are some types of water distribution systems more likely to have nitrification problems than others?
19.-

Are tetrachloroethylene and perchloroethylene (PCE) the same chemical?
20.-

Are the incidences of the protozoan parasites, giardia and cryptosporidium, in streams and surface waters always linked to the presence of livestock?
21.-

Are the organic chemicals known to most commonly permeate or leach from plastic plumbing into drinking water readily detectable by taste or odor before they reach the maximum contaminant level (MCL) that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines as being a safe level to consume in drinking water?
22.-

Are there any potential health risks associated with corrosion byproducts from water transported through galvanized drinking water pipes?
23.-

Are there areas where surface waters exceed the drinking water standard for arsenic?
24.-

Are there cases where arsenic control measures can have negative impacts on finished water quality by increasing certain contaminants or actually increase arsenic levels that reach the taps of consumers?
25.-

Are there limits on how much lead can be in public drinking water?
26.-

Are there more pollutants in drinking water today than there were 25 years ago?
27.-

Are there other concerns besides odor and corrosion problems associated with hydrogen sulfide in water?
28.-

Are there other sources of lead around a home besides drinking water that people should be concerned with?
29.-

Are there other water problems associated with sulfur bacteria besides the odor problems from hydrogen sulfide formation?
30.-

Are there recommended treatment methods to follow where ozonation can still be used for inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in source water containing bromide without exceeding the bromate disinfection byproduct standard for drinking 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.