CARE AND MAINTENANCE
14
This system has been tested for the treatment of water containing pentavalent arsenic
(also known as As(V), As(+5), or arsenate) at concentrations of 0.30 mg/L or less. This system
reduces pentavalent arsenic, but may not remove other forms of arsenic. This system is
to be used on water supplies containing a detectable free chlorine residual at the system
inlet or on water supplies that have been demonstrated to contain only pentavalent
arsenic. Treatment with chloramine (combined chlorine) is not sufficient to ensure complete
conversion of trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. Please see the Arsenic Facts section
of this Performance Data Sheet for further information.
Arsenic Facts
Arsenic (abbreviated As) is found naturally
in some well water. Arsenic in water has
no color, taste or odor. It is measured by
a laboratory test. Public water utilities
must have their water tested for arsenic.
You can get the results from your water
utility. 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 certified
labs. Information about arsenic in water
can be found on the internet at the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency website:
epa.gov/safewater/arsenic
There are two forms of arsenic:
pentavalent arsenic (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 combination 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 do not completely remove
trivalent arsenic from water. RO systems
are very effective at removing pentavalent
arsenic. A free chlorine residual will rapidly
convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent
• Efficiency rating is the percentage of
the influent water to the system that
is available to the user as reverse
osmosis treated water under operating
conditions that approximate typical
daily usage.
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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 to trivalent arsenic. If
you get your water from a public water
utility, contact the utility to find out if
free chlorine or combined chlorine is used
in the water system. The AO-US-RO-4000
System is designed to remove pentavalent
arsenic. It will not convert trivalent arsenic
to pentavalent arsenic. This System was
tested in a lab. Under testing conditions,
the system reduced [0.30 mg/L (ppm) or
0.050 mg/L (ppm)] pentavalent arsenic to
0.010 mg/L (ppm) (the USEPA standard for
drinking water) or less. The performance
of the system may be different with your
installation. Have your treated water
tested for arsenic to check whether the
system is working properly.
The RO component of the AO-US-
RO-4000 System must be replaced every
1-3 years to ensure the system will
continue to remove pentavalent arsenic.
The component identification and
locations where you can purchase the
component are listed in the installation/
operation manual.
• Recovery rating is the percentage of
the influent water to the membrane
portion of the system that is available
to the user as reverse osmosis treated
water when the system is operated
without a storage Tank or when the
storage Tank is bypassed.