Testing of a water quality improvement agent produced by Health by Nature as

Abstract

NIVA has examined the effect of a water quality improvement agent consisting of treated corraline algae - and shell sand, chitosan and calcium ascorbate paced in a "tea bag." One bag should be sufficient to treat 2 litres of water. The bag is submerged in the water during stirring, and shall remain in the water for approx. 10 min. before it is removed and the water is ready for consumption. The effect of the product was examined in 4 diffferent untreated water qualities. The results show that the effect was dependent on the initial water quality. More alkalinity, minerals and essential elements such as K, Na, Ca, Mg and C1 were added to acidic water with low mineral content than to water with a higher pH and mineral content. The treatment with the water quality improvement agent generally resulted in a small increase in turbidity, colour and organic matter. However, this is not belived to have any practical consequences, With regard to examined metals and trace elements, there were small or no differences between treated and untreated water. One exception was mercury, which was reduced. The water quality improvement agent proved to be efficient in the removal of free and combined chlorine from chlorinated drinking water. The results also indicate that the agent reduces the number of culturable E. coli in water.