Case Study: Fixing Community Well Water Taste & Quality in Raleigh, NC

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Client

Old North State Water Company (ONSWC), Olde Mill Trace Neighborhood

Services

Well water flow optimization; installation of twin-tank backwashing water filtration and ion exchange water treatment systems

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Addressing Radium, Iron and Manganese Water Contamination

We worked with the Old North State Water Company (ONSWC) to address and resolve issues of radioactive elements in water in the Olde Mill Trace neighborhood in Raleigh, North Carolina.

ONSWC, the community well management company for this neighborhood, reached out to us due to new test results on their wells showing high levels of radium in the water. Radium in well water was a known potential concern in this geographic location prior to drilling the wells.

Background & Analysis

Water Testing and Improving Well Water Flow

There are six wells total in Olde Mill Trace, three of which were currently online when we began work. Wells five and six were not producing enough water to operate individually, so we connected these two wells together to improve flow.

Well number five tested high for iron and manganese, which has been an ongoing complaint for customers in the neighborhood. Residents had been noticing brown and black discoloration of the water.

Wells five and six also tested positive for radium in the water at moderately high levels. While the results were below the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) in most cases, ONSWC chose to treat the water for this contaminant, as well as for the iron and manganese.

Below are initial water test results before installing Kinetico water treatment:

ContaminantEPA LimitLevels Tested
Iron0.3 mg/L0.12 mg/L
Manganese0.05 mg/L0.12 mg/L
Radium5 pCi/L5.4 pCi/L
*The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set a legally enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) for combined radium 226/228 at 5 picoCuries per liter (pCi/L) in public drinking water. For iron and manganese, the EPA has established a Secondary MCL (not enforceable) using milligrams per liter (mg/L) based on aesthetic, cosmetic and technical criteria.

Solution

Cleaner, Better Tasting Well Water With Filtration and Ion Exchange

We worked with ONSWC to install water treatment systems within a facility in the neighborhood to house the Kinetico systems.

Installation included the KineticoPRO Hydrus® duplex (two tanks) backwashing filtration system with Pyrolux oxidizing media, which will oxidize and filter the iron and manganese.

The water will then go through four large passive media tanks filled with a special resin to effectively remove the radium through ion exchange. We do not want to dump regenerant effluent with salt and radium into the ground, so these tanks will NOT be backwashing.

When the resin is at capacity, we will extract the resin from the tanks and replace it with fresh resin to protect the groundwater. Once treated, the water will then be chlorinated to prevent bacterial growth and sent to the neighborhood for use.

Results

Effectively Eliminating Water Contaminants With Kinetico

This solution, combining water filtration with ion exchange, will eliminate radiological concerns, solve the discoloration issue and prevent individual homeowners from having to treat these specific contaminants. The result is a drastic improvement in the water’s quality, taste and health.

Contact Kinetico for Cleaner, Purer Water

At Kinetico Advanced Water Systems, we’re here for all of your water needs, from custom water filtration and treatment systems to fixing common water and plumbing issues. We work with you to find the best solution for your home or business, including support for home builders and utility providers, backed by an industry-leading warranty and over 30 years of experience.

Get started by booking a free, no-obligation water test today.

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