TABLE 3.

1 General Effectiveness of Water Treatment Processes for Removal of Soluble Contaminants

Membrane processes Ion exchange Adsorption

Chemical oxidation
Precoat filtration
sedimentation or

Reverse osmosis

activated carbon

activated carbon
DAF,* filtration

and disinfection

Electrodialysis/
Lime softening

Nanofiltration
Aeration and

Coagulation,

ED reversal

Powdered

Activated
Granular
stripping

alumina
Cation
Anion
Contaminant categories
Primary contaminants
Inorganics
Antimony X X
Arsenic (+3) XO XO X X X X
Arsenic (+5) X X X X X X
Barium X X X X
Beryllium X X X X
Cadmium X X X X X
Chromium (+3) X X X X X
Chromium (+6) X X X
Cyanide X
Fluoride X X X X
Lead
Mercury (inorganic) X X X
Nickel X X X X
Nitrate X X X
Nitrite X X X
Selenium (+4) X X X X X
Selenium (+6) X X X X
Thallium X X X
3.6
TABLE 3.1 General Effectiveness of Water Treatment Processes for Removal of Soluble Contaminants (Continued)

Membrane processes Ion exchange Adsorption

Chemical oxidation
Precoat filtration
sedimentation or

Reverse osmosis

activated carbon

activated carbon
DAF,* filtration

and disinfection

Electrodialysis/
Lime softening

Nanofiltration
Aeration and

Coagulation,

ED reversal

Powdered

Activated
Granular
stripping

alumina
Cation
Anion
Contaminant categories
Primary contaminants
Organic Contaminants
Volatile organics X X
Synthetic organics X X X
Pesticides/Herbicides X X X X
Dissolved organic carbon X X X X X
Radionuclides
Radium (226 + 228) X X X X
Uranium X X X
Secondary contaminants and constituents causing aesthetic problems
Hardness X X X X X
Iron XO XO X X
Manganese XO XO X X
Total dissolved solids X X
Chloride X X
Sulfate X X X
Zinc X X X X
Color X X X X X X
Taste and odor X X X X
* DAF, dissolved air flotation.

X, appropriate process for this contaminant.

XO, appropriate when oxidation used in conjunction with this process.

Lead is generally a product of corrosion and is controlled by corrosion control treatment rather than removed by

3.7
water treatment processes.