Pure water, special treatment - water purification

New Mexico Business Journal, Nov, 1991 by S. Frink

New Mexico's quality of water is as precious as its quantity, and whether it's for home, commercial or industrial use, New Mexico businesses and industries -- by choice or by law -- are having to learn to toe the line.

That, in itself, is no small undertaking.

In New Mexico, the dilemma has been brought more heavily into the public spotlight by Sandia Laboratory plans to dump treated water used in a nuclear reactor program into the Rio Grande.

At Los Alamos, the years of dumping wastewater into ravines from laboratory research projects has brought out the need for major studies on the effects on longtime area residents.

Continuing reports of abandoned leaking underground storage tanks for petroleum and gasoline products abound in the state.

Aluminum meanwhile has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, higher levels of the metal in drinking water increasing the risk of the disease by up to 50 percent, according to British studies.

In New Mexico, residents are becoming more and more health conscience about their own tap water for consumption, many choosing to opt for distilled water either purchased by the gallon or treated with filtering devices in the home.

Energy analysts are saying, too, that water conditioning can lead to a reduction in utility bills, whether in dishwashers, plumbing, hot water heaters, coffee makers, refrigeration uses and a host of other appliances.

American Leak Detection in Albuquerque, calling themselves "Leak Busters," are specialists in detecting small sewer leaks that not only can cause contamination in groundwater, but can also cause major damage to the foundation of a home or building.

Common TDS Levels in Water
* Less than .05 ppm         Laboratory grade water
* Less than 10 ppm          Deionized water; distilled water
                            (batteries, irons)
* Less than 150 ppm         High quality bottled drinking water
* Less than 225 ppm         Acceptable quality tap water
* 250-350 ppm               Average TDS in the US
* Greater than 500 ppm      Not recommended for human
                            consumption by EPA
* Greater than 1000 ppm     Not fit for human consumption --
                            potential health hazards
* 35,000 ppm                Seawater
Source: Huron Valley Sales, Dearborne, Mich.

Regardless, the environmental problems are a bonanza for a growing water purification industry that will be around from now on, keeping a close eye on impurities in water and what to do about them.

Here are some of the basic statistics.

"Acceptable quality tap water" can contain up to 225 total dissolved solvent parts per million (225 ppm TDS).

High quality bottled drinking water can contain up to 15 ppm TDS; laboratory grade water may not contain more than .05 ppm TDS.

The average total dissolved solvents in U.S. drinking water is between 250-350 ppm.

At greater than 500 ppm, the water is not recommended for human consumption by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

At greater than 1,000 ppm, the water presents a potential health hazard.

Bakers, ice-makers and restaurateurs appreciate having demineralized water to serve in drinks, prepare foods and wash dishes without leaving spots.

Photographers, printers, dentists and doctors need the purest water for special processes and patients.

Beauticians, laundries and car washes, too, prefer the results made possible by conditioned water.

Light industry, such as metal finishers and makers of printed circuit boards, use purified water for rinsing. They must specially treat it before returning the contaminated water to the environment, or face stiff fines.

So how can an industry, a business, or homeowner be certain of water quality, before, during and after its use?

Bio-Recovery Systems Inc., of Las Cruces is among a new breed of technological watchdogs and innovators in the growing nationwide industry dedicated to protecting water resources.

The company designs and builds automated ion-exchange equipment systems for removing toxic heavy metals from industrial wastewater and contaminated groundwater, says Tom Bertoglio, vice president of manufacturing.

Bio Recovery's president, Tom Powers, who joined the firm last summer after 33 years at AT&T, says the company clients include Juarez/El Paso's Potter and Brumfield, and Fortune 500 companies throughout the United States.

"The metals in the stream bond chemically to resin, resulting in a stream largely free of contaminants, ready for reuse or safe discharge," says Mike Hosea, the company's product chemistry director. Heavy or precious metals, he says, can also be reclaimed and recycled.

Albuquerque's TechniPure designs ion exchange and reverse osmosis water treatment systems, strictly for business and industry.

Connie Jayne, president and chief executive officer, says his company solves water problems for Sandia Labs, Los Alamos National Laboratory and various hospitals, clinics, plating shops and research facilities.

"Pure water does not conduct electricity," he explains, "so it is often used to insulate high voltage experiments, performing underneath it. As it evaporates, pure water leaves nothing behind, so it is perfect for rinsing electronic devices.