AboutSteve Young Expertise I will answer questions on residential water treatment, i.e. use of softeners, filters, reverse osmosis systems, disinfection, iron and/or sediment removal and other issues facing the homeowner.
Experience I have worked in the water treatment area for 30 years. I have specialized in the design of reverse osmosis, deionization, and water softening units. I have also done work in water quality and stream and river remediation as it relates to the Clean Water Act.
Organizations I am currently serving as an Expert for Home Improvement, Travel (New Mexico) and Travel (North Carolina)
Question I plan on building a low cost water filter in thailand. I will collect the rain water from the roof of a shelter. Thailand has a problem with heavy metals in their water mostly arsenic contamination.
I am wondering how relevant heavy metal contamination will be if I collect the water directly from the roof?
Also if you have any easy cheap technique of removing heavy metals from the water it would be very helpfull (shells and boiling not an option). Thanks
Answer Hi Brian,
Providing that the roof is clean and won't rust, the water that you get from this method should be very clean. Normally rain water is almost pure water - the exception being what is called "acid rain" where the rain has picked up Sulfur and CO2 from the atmosphere and literally makes a dilute version of sulfuric acid and carbonic acid. However, arsenic is a heavy metal, and thus will not be present in rain water. So, as long as you take precautions to prevent contamination from your roof you should have a good source of water.
As far as a "cheap" method of removing heavy metals from water there really isn't one. Boiling would have no effect whatsoever. In fact, boiling would actually concentrate the heavy metals since it would boil off the pure water and leave behind all the "crap." Depending on the amount of water you need to be purified you can use a Reverse Osmosis unit. Units capable of providing about 25-50 gallons of water per day can be purchased in the US for about $200.
I hope this answers your question. Let me know if I can be of further help.
Steve
