Instructions / Assembly

Arsenic Fact Sheet
Arsenic (As) is a naturally occurring contaminant found in many ground waters. Arsenic in
water has no color, taste or odor. It must be measured by an arsenic test kit or lab test.
Public water utilities must have their water tested for arsenic. You can obtain the results from
your water utility contained with in your consumer con fidence report. If you have your own
well, you will need to have the water evaluated. The local health department or the state
environmental health agency can provide a list of test kits or certified labs.
There are two forms of arsenic: pentavalent arsenic (also called As (V), As (+5)) and trivalent
arsenic (also called As (III), As (+3)). In well water, arsenic may be pentavalent, trivalent, or a
combination of both. Although both forms of arsenic are potentially hazardous to your health,
trivalent arsenic is considered more harmful than pentavalent arsenic.
RO systems are very effective at removing pentavalent arsenic. A free chlorine residual will rapidly
convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. Other water treatment chemicals such as ozone
and potassium permanganate will also change trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic.
A combined chlorine residual (also called chloramine) where it does convert trivalent arsenic
to pentavalent arsenic, may not convert all the trivalent arsenic in to pentavalent arsenic. If
you get your water from a public water utility, contact the utility to fi nd out if free chlorine or
combined chlorine is used in the water system.
This Watts Premier reverse osmosis system is designed to remove up to 98% of pentavalent
arsenic. It will not convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. Under laboratory standard
testing conditions, this system reduced 0.30 mg/L (ppm) pentavalent arsenic to under 0.010
mg/L (ppm) (the USEPA standard for drinking water). Actual performance of the system may
vary depending on specific water quality conditions at the consumer’s installation. In addition
to the independent laboratory standard testing conditions Watts Premier has conducted
additional field testing on our reverse osmosis units to determine trivalent arsenic reduction
capabilities. Based upon Watts Premier fi eld testing, it has been determined that the RO units
are capable of reducing up to 67% of trivalent arsenic from the drinking water.
The RO membrane component of this Watts Premier reverse osmosis system must be maintained
according to its recommended maintenance cycle. Specific component identification and ordering
information can be found in the installation/operation manual maintenance section, by phone at
1-800-752-5581 or online www.wattspremier.com
California Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING: this product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other reproductive harm. (Installer: California law requires that this
warning be given to the consumer). For more information: www.watts.com/prop65.
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