A critical review of point-of-use drinking water treatment in the United States

Wu, Jishan; Cao, Mengyu; Tong, Draco; Finkelstein, Zach; Hoek, Eric M.V.

doi:10.1038/s41545-021-00128-z

Cited by 82 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 98 publications

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“… 159 The median per sample number of health-benchmark exceedances in this study was two (range: 0–5), illustrating the importance of identifying stand-alone POE/POU treatment options for unregulated private-well TW, which are effective against multiple contaminants, 159 , 160 and highlighting the potential value of POU treatment of public-supply TW for additional contaminant removal, including DBP. 159 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Tapwater Exposures, Effects Potential, and Residential Risk Management in Northern Plains Nations

et al. 2022

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In the United States (US), private-supply tapwater (TW) is rarely monitored. This data gap undermines individual/community risk-management decision-making, leading to an increased probability of unrecognized contaminant exposures in rural and remote locations that rely on private wells. We assessed point-of-use (POU) TW in three northern plains Tribal Nations, where ongoing TW arsenic (As) interventions include expansion of small community water systems and POU adsorptive-media treatment for Strong Heart Water Study participants. Samples from 34 private-well and 22 public-supply sites were analyzed for 476 organics, 34 inorganics, and 3 in vitro bioactivities. 63 organics and 30 inorganics were detected. Arsenic, uranium (U), and lead (Pb) were detected in 54%, 43%, and 20% of samples, respectively. Concentrations equivalent to public-supply maximum contaminant level(s) (MCL) were exceeded only in untreated private-well samples (As 47%, U 3%). Precautionary health-based screening levels were exceeded frequently, due to inorganics in private supplies and chlorine-based disinfection byproducts in public supplies. The results indicate that simultaneous exposures to co-occurring TW contaminants are common, warranting consideration of expanded source, point-of-entry, or POU treatment(s). This study illustrates the importance of increased monitoring of private-well TW, employing a broad, environmentally informative analytical scope, to reduce the risks of unrecognized contaminant exposures.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 77%

Tapwater Exposures, Effects Potential, and Residential Risk Management in Northern Plains Nations

et al. 2022

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“…True Colour (1) universal, clean, affordable, trustworthy, and uniformly governed water access 91 . The reality in reportedly high-performing countries, including Canada 92,93 and the United States [94][95][96] , is that water access is uneven and many challenges remain 97,98 . Race, income, housing, geography, and utility size correspond to gaps in water access and drinking water quality 94,95,97,99 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Measuring the gaps in drinking water quality and policy across regional and remote Australia

et al. 2022

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Drinking water quality remains a persistent challenge across regional and remote Australia. We reviewed public reporting by 177 utilities and conducted a national assessment of reported exceedances against the health-based and aesthetic guideline values of the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG). Four definitions of a basic level of drinking water quality were tested to quantify service gaps across regional and remote areas of each subnational jurisdiction in 2018–2019. At least 25,245 people across 99 locations with populations <1000 reportedly accessed water services that did not comply with health-based guideline values. Including larger towns and water systems, the estimated service gap rises to at least 194,572 people across more than 115 locations. Considering health parameters and the ADWG definition of ‘good’ aesthetic characteristics, the reported service gap rises further to at least 627,736 people across 408 locations. Forty percent of all locations with recorded health exceedances were remote Indigenous communities. Monitoring and reporting gaps indicate that the actual incidence of non-compliance with the guideline values of the ADWG could be much higher than our estimates. Our results quantified the divergence in the assessment of water quality outcomes between Sustainable Development Goal Target 6.1 and the ADWG, demonstrated disparities between service levels in capital cities and the rest of Australia, and highlighted the need for place-based solutions. The methods and dataset provide a ‘proof-of-concept’ for an Australian national drinking water quality database to guide government investments in water services.

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“…The method is efficient for small-scale remediation sites and has the capability to remove multiple contaminants without any chemical additives. Reverse osmosis is dependent on high pressure pumps that require a constant electrical power supply [113,114]. It is not ideal for industrial wastewater that could have various suspended solids, extreme low or high pH, and metals which can easily clog the system, necessitating regular membrane and filter changes [1].…”

Section: Physical Nitrate Remediationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrate Water Contamination from Industrial Activities and Complete Denitrification as a Remediation Option

Moloantoa

Khetsha

Heerden

et al. 2022

Water

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Freshwater is a scarce resource that continues to be at high risk of pollution from anthropogenic activities, requiring remediation in such cases for its continuous use. The agricultural and mining industries extensively use water and nitrogen (N)-dependent products, mainly in fertilizers and explosives, respectively, with their excess accumulating in different water bodies. Although removal of NO3 from water and soil through the application of chemical, physical, and biological methods has been studied globally, these methods seldom yield N2 gas as a desired byproduct for nitrogen cycling. These methods predominantly cause secondary contamination with deposits of chemical waste such as slurry brine, nitrite (NO2), ammonia (NH3), and nitrous oxide (N2O), which are also harmful and fastidious to remove. This review focuses on complete denitrification facilitated by bacteria as a remedial option aimed at producing nitrogen gas as a terminal byproduct. Synergistic interaction of different nitrogen metabolisms from different bacteria is highlighted, with detailed attention to the optimization of their enzymatic activities. A biotechnological approach to mitigating industrial NO3 contamination using indigenous bacteria from wastewater is proposed, holding the prospect of optimizing to the point of complete denitrification. The approach was reviewed and found to be durable, sustainable, cost effective, and environmentally friendly, as opposed to current chemical and physical water remediation technologies.

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A critical review of point-of-use drinking water treatment in the United States

Cited by 82 publications

References 98 publications

Tapwater Exposures, Effects Potential, and Residential Risk Management in Northern Plains Nations

Tapwater Exposures, Effects Potential, and Residential Risk Management in Northern Plains Nations

Measuring the gaps in drinking water quality and policy across regional and remote Australia

Nitrate Water Contamination from Industrial Activities and Complete Denitrification as a Remediation Option

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