Residential Water Softeners Release Carbon, Consume Chlorine, and Require Remediation after Hydrocarbon Contamination.

ABSTRACT: Water quality impacts of new ion exchange point-of-entry residential softeners and their ability to be decontaminated following hydrocarbon exposure were investigated. During startup, significant amounts of total sulfur (445 ± 815 mg/L) and total organic carbon (937 ± 119 mg/L) were released into the drinking water that flowed through the softeners. Particulate organic carbon was released until the third regeneration cycle, and resin may also have been released. After one week of device use, softeners continued to cause organic carbon levels to be four to five times greater than background levels. Leached materials from the ion-exchange resin contributed to chlorine decay. When resins were exposed to hydrocarbon-contaminated water, they sorbed benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (B

SUBMITTER: Jankowski CM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10269340 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature