Arsenic in Drinking Water?

Halifax Real Estate

As a result of what I have discoved is a bit of an underdiscussed element of buying or selling a home here in Nova Scotia that happens to be on Well Water.
Arsenic exists in a number of wells here in Nova Scotia, and there are certain areas in the province that have higher concentrations than others. I am going to try to answer some of the more common questions that come up about arsenic as it pertains to a real estate transaction.

1. Is arsenic in my water dangerous?

The simple answer to this is, over the long term - yes. According to the Governement of Nova Scotia research, high concentrations of arsenic can cause sickness, diarrhea and muscle pain. Even in lower levels, concentration over the long term can cause cancer.

2. What are the accepted levels of Arsenic according to the Government standards?

The limit has recently been reduced, and now stands at 10 micrograms per litre. This reduction happened early in 2006, so there are some homes in NS which will have met the guidelines prior to 2006 (which was 25 micrograms per litre), but don't meet them any more. If you are at all concerned about your levels, you should have your water tested. Feel free to contact us for water bottles, and for help with the sampling and testing process.

3. Can arsenic hurt me if I don't drink it?

Arsenic is not well absorbed by the skin, and as a result, there minimum exposure due to showering or bathing. However, you should avoid having the kids drink the bath water - although it wouldn't be a significant health risk if they aren't doing it consistently.

4. Can Arsenic be treated?

Arsenic can be treated, through 3 different methods right now. Reverse Osmosis is the most common method, and involves a filter system being set up and having the water being forced through a membrane. Ultimately, the water passes through, and all the contents (including arsenic) are left behind on the membrane. This can be installed either at the point of entry (ie. where the water comes into the house) or a the point of use (on a drinking water tap). The single taps are much cheaper than the systems that cover the entire home, however, you are then using that tap only for you drinking water.

The anion exchange and distillation units are generally used as point of entry systems, and involve the removal of arsenic by passing it over a resin bed in the case of the anion exchange and of course - boiling to complete steam in the case of distillation.

Note - Arsenic can not be taken out of water by simply bringing it to a boil. It is not the same as bacteria and other minerals. Arsenic can also not be treated by filtering it through a canister system (ie. Brita). It must be treated with a system specifically designed to remove it.

Have more questions? Contact us at www.homesinhrm.com - or visit the Department of Environment and Labour.