Aluminium

Aluminium salts are added during water treatment to remove colour and suspended solids.

Lead

Lead does not usually occur naturally in water supplies but is derived from lead distribution and
domestic pipework and fittings. Although water suppliers have removed most of the original lead
piping from the mains distribution system, many older properties still have lead service pipes and
internal lead pipework. The pipework (including the service pipe) within the boundary of the
property is the responsibility of the owner of the property, not the water supplier.

Water Hardness

There are two types of hardness: temporary and permanent. Temporary hardness comes out of the
water when it’s heated and is deposited as scale and fur on kettles, coffee makers and taps and appears as a scum or film on tea and coffee. Permanent hardness is unaffected by heating.

Cysts

These are associated with the reproductive stages of parasitic micro-organisms (protozoans) which
can cause acute diarrhoea-type illnesses; they come from famr animals, wild animals and people.
They are very resistant to normal disinfection processes but can be removed by advanced filtration
processes installed in water treatment works. Cysts are rarely present in the public water supply.

Particles and rust

These come from the gradual breakdown of the linking of concrete or iron mains water pipes or from
sediment which has accumulated over the years and is disturbed in some way.

The additional treatment of domestic drinking water in the UK by the consumer is entirely a matter
of personal choice. Some people may not like the taste of chlorine, while others might be concerned
about effects of, say, temporary hardness or, possibly, nitrates in their drinking water.

It is important to decide what aspect of your drinking water gives you cause for concern and then to
ask your equipment supplier to specify the most suitable device. Some systems will effectively treat
a number of problems but they might not, perhaps, be the most cost effective or efficient solution to
your specific problem.

For example, a reverse osmosis system will reduce tastes and odours. However, if your concern is the
taste of the residual chlorine, then a simple carbon filter, at a fraction of the cost, will achieve your
objective as effectively. This is where your supplier will, in conjunction with the manufacturer's
literature, give you the best advice and the following table will then enable you to confirm the
capabilities of the recommended treatment device.

The treatment methods in the table can be used individually or in combination. Any of the treatment
methods listed can be bought as a plumbed-in system from a water treatment specialist supplier.
There is a range of products available to treat your drinking water in the home ranging from jug filters
to plumbed-in combinations of filters and reverse osmosis systems. The removal capabilities can be selected according to personal needs or preferences. It is very important that manufacturer’s installation, use, maintenance and replacement recommendations are followed to ensure you safely obtain the maximum benefit from any water treatment device used in the home.