Drinking water quality

Question 1

what are main minerals in hard water

Answer 1

calcium and magnesium

Question 2

where does hard water get its minerals

Answer 2

as it passes through rocks and soil

Question 3

Why does soft water have low mineral content

Answer 3

1. Hasn’t passed through rock and soil yet
2. Rocks/soil passed through have little soluble minerals

Question 4

USGS CaCO3 guidelines

Answer 4

soft- 61
moderately hard - 61-120
hard - 121-180
very hard - more than 181

Question 5

what per cent of homes in America have at least moderately hard water

Answer 5

75%

Question 6

What is limescale

Answer 6

deposits of calcium carbonate
when hard water is heated or sits for too long and evaporates

Question 7

why need to remove the limescale

Answer 7

dull/dry hair
irritate skin
grow bacteria
more heating costs, loss of energy
dirty clothes even after wash
low water pressure

Question 8

how to remove limescale

Answer 8

1. soften water, replaces Ca and Mg with Na or K
2. Chemical inhibitors
3. Carbon filters: helps soften water
4. Softener tablets

Question 9

is hard water injurious to health

Answer 9

-no
- increased hard water drinking, reduced cardiovascular disease due to protective effect of magnesium
- more calcium less blood pressure

Question 10

who supplies water to north of city

Answer 10

Bearspaw plant, Bow River

Question 11

who supplies water to south of city

Answer 11

Glenmore plant, Elbow River

Question 12

where do bow river and elbow river go

Answer 12

South Saskatchewan River -> lake winnipeg -> Hudson’s Bay

Question 13

source of Bow River water

Answer 13

20% : rain/groundwater/glacier melt
80%: snowmelt

Question 14

where is most Bow River water used

Answer 14

irrigation - 76%
municipal water -18%

Question 15

when is water least hard

Answer 15

spring snowmelt

Question 16

when is water the hardest

Answer 16

December and February

Question 17

North calgary water hardness rating

Answer 17

mostly hard range

Question 18

south calgary water hardness rating

Answer 18

extremely hard

Question 19

what is maximum lead (BLL) exposure for children

Answer 19

5ug/dL

Question 20

how has lead in children changed over past 40 years

Answer 20

dramatically decreased

Question 21

2 main sources of lead for children

Answer 21

1. Leaded gasoline
2. Leaded paint

Question 22

Health effects of lead poisoning in children

Answer 22

Learning disabilities
attention deficits
ADHD
Anemia

Question 23

Current BLL of US adults

Answer 23

1.09 ug/dL

Question 24

how many percent of adults in indoor firing ranges have BLL

Answer 24

34%: over 25
20.8%: 10-24

Question 25

what is BLL

Answer 25

blood lead levels

Question 26

spending 2 days every month at outdoor firing range can

Answer 26

quadruple BLL

Question 27

how to reduce lead exposure

Answer 27

showering and changing into new clothes after

Question 28

Gout, severe painful arthritis, BLL level

Answer 28

1.2 ug/dL

Question 29

Where is most lead in body

Answer 29

Bones, 90%

Question 30

Persistent source of toxicity, how?

Answer 30

gradual release from bones

Question 31

after lead was taken away from gasoline, what happened to IQ levels

Answer 31

increased by 4-5 points

Question 32

why was lead added to gasoline?

Answer 32

- tetra ethyl lead reduced engine knocking due to pre ignition - more powerful high compression engines

Question 33

problems with lead

Answer 33

health and environmental damage of Pb incompatibility of Pb with catalytic convertors