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42445 Avenida Alvarado, Temecula, CA 92590
(800) 451-9343 · www.nimbuswater.com
Arsenic Fact Sheet
Arsenic (AS) is a natually occuring contaminant found in many ground waters. Arsenic in water has no color, taste or odor.
It must be measured by a lab test. Public water ulies must have their water tested for arsenic. You can get the results
from your water ulity. If you have your own well, you can have the water tested. The local health department or the state
environmental health agency can provide a list of cered labs. The cost is typically $15 to $30. Informaon about arsenic
in water can be found on the Internet at the US Environmental Protecon Agency website: www.epa.gov/safewater/arse-
nic.html.
There are two forms of arsenic: pentavalent arsenic (also called AS(V), As
+5
, and arsenate) and trivalent arsenic (also called
AS(III), As
+3
, and arsenite). In well water, arsenic may be pentavalent, trivalent, or a combinaon of both. Special sampling
procedures are needed for a lab to determine what type and how much of each type of arsenic is in the water. Check with
the labs in your area to see if they can provide this type of service.
Reverse osmosis (RO) water treatment systems are very eecve at removing pentavalent arsenic. RO systems do not
remove trivalent arsenic from water very well. A free chlorine residual will rapidly convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent
arsenic. Other water treatment chemicals such as ozone and potassium permanganate will also change trivalent arsenic to
pentavalent arsenic. A combined chlorine residual (also called chloramine) may not convert all the trivalent arsenic. If you
get your water from a public water ulity, contact the ulity to nd out if free chlorine or combined chlorine is used in the
water system.
The WM5-50 system is designed to remove pentavalent arsenic. It will not convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic.
The system was tested in a lab. Under those condions, the system reduced 50 ppb pentavalent arsenic to 10 ppb (the
USEPA standard for drinking water) or less. The performance of the system may be dierent at your installaon. Have the
water tested for arsenic to check if the system is working properly.
The RO component of the WM5-50 system must be replaced yearly to ensure the system will connue to remove pentava-
lent arsenic. The component idencaon and locaon where you can purchase the component are listed in the installa-
on/operaon manual.
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