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Resource Type: Technical Guidance

  • Guidance for Sanitizing Residential Water Treatment Systems

    This document provides general guidance and information for water treatment professionals who may be called upon to sanitize drinking water treatment systems used within a home or business environment after a prolonged period of stagnation due to building vacancy, flooding, or similar potential contamination events. For example, this guidance would be appropriate when assisting customers […]

  • General Guidance for Water Treatment Professionals on Proper Maintenance of Treatment Systems as Shelter-in-Place Orders are Lifted

    This document provides general guidance and information for water treatment professionals who may be called upon to assist customers with bringing vacant buildings back online, such as when the Shelter-In-Place orders due to COVID-19 are lifted. It addresses the activities necessary to bring the potable water supply treatment systems (treatment systems) in the building back […]

  • Bacteria & Virus

    Microbial and organic contaminants can’t always be detected through sight, smell or taste. You might go years before realizing a problem exists.  Although some waterborne microbes can cause illness, many microbes are harmless or even beneficial. Very small levels of microbes are naturally present in many water supplies, but some are more dangerous than others. […]

  • Hurricanes and Drinking Water: What You Need to Know

    Hurricanes pose a major threat to the safety of drinking water. During and after flooding, water can become contaminated with microorganisms such as bacteria, sewage, heating oil, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals and other substances that can cause serious illness. It is important to know what precautions can be taken to protect yourself from the dangers of drinking unsafe water.

  • Boil Water Notice Brochure

    Treatment for microbial contamination may be applied either where the water enters the home (point of entry) or at the point where drinking water is drawn (point of use). Consumers may boil their water or install a point-of-use or point-of-entry water treatment system certified for total microbial (e.g., bacteria, viruses and protozoa) reduction. If you have a POU or POE treatment system already in place that uses carbon, some other media, or a membrane for the reduction of chemicals or particulate contaminants of concern, be sure to consult the owner’s manual or a local water professional to determine how the system should be safely serviced, cleaned and sanitized prior to reuse. 

  • Flooding Precautions Fact Sheet

    Water may not be safe to drink, cook or clean with after an emergency such as a flood. During and after flooding, water can become contaminated with  microorganisms such as bacteria, sewage, heating oil, agricultural or industrial waste, chemicals and other substances that can cause serious illness. People with private drinking water wells in flooded areas can take precautions and […]

  • Manganese Fact Sheet

    Manganese is a mineral that is found naturally in the environment and is one of the most abundant metals on the earth’s surface, in air, water, and soil. It can be found in both groundwater and surface water from natural sources or as a result of human activity such as mining and industrial discharges.   Manganese is used in various industries, including the manufacture of iron and steel alloys, batteries, glass, fireworks, various cleaning supplies, fertilizers, varnish, fungicides, cosmetics, and livestock feeding supplements.

  • Flouride Fact Sheet

    Fluorine is a natural trace element and exists in almost all soils. Fluoride is classified as any binary compound of fluorine with another element. Perhaps the most widely known use of fluoride is its addition to public drinking water supplies at about one milligram per liter (mg/L) of a fluoride salt, measured as fluoride, for the purpose of reducing tooth decay. 

  • Selenium Fact Sheet

    Selenium is a metal found in natural deposits as ores containing other elements. The greatest use of selenium compounds is in electronic and photocopier components, but they are widely used in other products as well. Selenium releases to the environment have been primarily from copper smelting industries. The largest releases from 1987 to 1993 occurred […]

  • Silver Fact Sheet

    Biologically, silver is a nonessential, non-beneficial element to humans. There are no scientific studies to show adverse health due to its presence in drinking water from natural sources. However, because of its bactericidal abilities, silver is used as a water bacteriostat in carbon containing water filters. The silver is deposited onto the carbon granules to […]