Drought conditions in Australia have uncovered a potentially deadly threat to our drinking water in some areas. Historically low water levels in our reservoirs has in some cases disturbed silt containing arsenic and heavy metals from our mining past. A recent story in the Sydney Morning Herald described this exact situation occurring in the Kentucky Dam in New South Wales, forcing the town of Uralla onto bottled water .[1]

Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance with a metallic appearance. It has had many commercial applications in the past including as a component in metal alloys, lead acid batteries, pesticides and wood treatments. It was even used in beauty products and medicines in the 18th and 19th centuries.  It is also a by-product of the smelting process to extract gold, copper and lead from ore. However, it is toxic to most forms of life and known to be carcinogenic if taken in sufficient quantity over a period of time. It was even developed as a chemical weapon during WW1 and later used as an ingredient in a defoliant referred to as “Agent Blue” during the Vietnam War. [2]

Elemental arsenic — mineral specimen.

While higher than safe levels of arsenic does occur naturally in some cases, our ancestors’ ignorance and/or apathy to its toxicity not only led to its use in consumer products but also allowed it to freely runoff or leech into water sources, affecting private wells and municipal supplies in some areas.

The symptoms of arsenic poisoning, known as arsenicosis, may include anything from drowsiness, headaches, confusion and severe diarrhoea up to a metallic taste in the mouth, passing blood, convulsions and even coma or death. Drinking water with higher than safe levels of arsenic over a long period of time is linked to cancer, liver disease and diabetes. [3]

The World Health Organisation recommends a guideline of no more than 10 micrograms per litre [4] in water. Exposure to levels below this is considered relatively safe. In fact, most Australians consume tiny amounts of arsenic every day in our food and water supplies with no ill effects.

While water sources dangerously contaminated with arsenic are relatively rare and usually well known to authorities to prevent them being used for drinking, a household water filter system can provide extra peace of mind.

Overview of RO-2000 system

Standard carbon filters are a reasonable starting point but a Reverse Osmosis water purification system offers a much higher level of purification to reduce any arsenic that may be present in the water to a much safer level if not totally remove it. Check out Clean Pure’s RO-2000, Alya’s ROC-188 and ROC-189 Reverse Osmosis systems.

Call us today on (02) 8840 5177, or email us at sales@ilanwater.com.au, to discuss our range of water filtration systems to provide clean and great tasting drinking water at your home or office.
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  1. Arsenic contamination forces town on to bottled water – https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/arsenic-contamination-forces-town-on-to-bottled-water-20191218-p53l89.html
  2. Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arsenic
  3. What is arsenic poisoning? – https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241860.php
  4. World Health Organisation information – https://www.who.int/ipcs/assessment/public_health/arsenic/en/