Is phosphate bad in drinking water?
Phosphorus is an essential element for plant life, but when there is too much of it in water, it can speed up eutrophication (a reduction in dissolved oxygen in water bodies caused by an increase of mineral and organic nutrients) of rivers and lakes.
How much phosphate is safe in drinking water?
In 1986, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the following recommended criteria for phosphorus: No more than 0.1 mg/L for streams that do not empty into reservoirs; no more than 0.05 mg/L for streams discharging into reservoirs; and no more than 0.024 mg/L for reservoirs.
What happens if you drink phosphate?
You can also get too much phosphorus, a condition called hyperphosphatemia, if you take too much of the supplement phosphate. Side effects include diarrhea and stomach cramps. Talk to your doctor about the right balance for your body.
Are phosphates in drinking water?
Elemental Phosphorus (P) is not just a key component of the blended phosphates added to drinking water. It also finds its way into our daily lives through a large number of pharmaceutical and consumer products, and is added to foods as leavening agents, dairy emulsifiers, and to acidify soft drinks.
How do you remove phosphates from drinking water?
Chemical treatment is widely used for phosphate removal. The common chemicals used for treatments are aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride. At present, chemical treatments are not used due to disadvantages like high costs of maintenance, problems of sludge handling and its disposal, and neutralization of the effluent.
How do I lower phosphates in my well water?
The application of aluminum salts (alum) has been used for over 30 years to remove phosphorus from the water column and to control its release from the sediment. This method of phosphorus inactivation can actually reverse the effects of nutrient loading on ponds and lakes.
How do you remove nitrates and phosphates from water?
Phosphate and nitrate pollutants can be removed by chemical precipitation, biological treatment, membrane processes, electrolytic treatment, ion-exchange and adsorption process to remove these pollutants from water sources effectively.
Is phosphate toxic to humans?
White phosphorus is extremely toxic to humans, while other forms of phosphorus are much less toxic.
What happens if your phosphate levels are too high?
Your body needs some phosphate to strengthen your bones and teeth, produce energy, and build cell membranes. Yet in larger-than-normal amounts, phosphate can cause bone and muscle problems and increase your risk for heart attacks and strokes. A high phosphate level is often a sign of kidney damage.
How much phosphorus do we need daily?
Phosphorus is absorbed in the small intestines and stored in the bones. Healthy kidneys get rid of the extra amounts not needed in the body. It is recommended that healthy adults get between 800 mg and 1,200 mg of phosphorus each day.