Specification
Arsenic Fact Sheet
Background
Arsenic (abbreviated As) can occur naturally in well water. There are two forms of
arsenic: pentavalent arsenic (also called As (V), As (+5), and arsenate) and trivalent
arsenic (also called As(III), As(+3), and arsenite). Although both forms are potentially
harmful to human health, trivalent arsenic is considered more harmful than
pentavalent arsenic. In well water, arsenic may be pentavalent, trivalent, or a
combination of both. Additional information about arsenic in water can be found on
the Internet at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
Testing Your Water
Arsenic in water has no color, taste or odor. It must be measured by a lab test. Public
water utilities must have their water tested for arsenic. You can get the results from
your water utility. If you have your own well, you can have the water tested. The local
health department or the state environmental health agency can provide a list of
certified labs. The cost is typically $15 to $30.
Pentavalent vs.Trivalent Arsenic Removal
These systems are very effective at reducing pentavalent arsenic from drinking water.
These models were tested in a lab and proven to reduce 300 parts per billion (ppb) of
pentavalent arsenic to below the USEPA standard of 10 ppb for safe drinking water.
RO systems are not as effective at reducing trivalent arsenic from water. These models
will not convert trivalent arsenic to pentavalent arsenic. If you have free chlorine
residual in contact with your water supply for at least one minute any trivalent arsenic
will be converted to pentavalent arsenic and reduced by this RO. 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) may not convert all the trivalent arsenic. If you get your water from a
public water utility, contact the utility to find out if free chlorine or combined chlorine
is used in the water system.
Maintenance
It is strongly recommended that you follow the maintenance instructions and have
your water tested periodically to make sure the system is performing properly. See
replacement element information above for recommendations on maintaining your
Reverse Osmosis drinking water treatment system.
Models GXRQ18NBN & GNRQ18NBN
Substance
Maximum
Concentration
Maximum
permissible
product water
concentration
Overall %
Reduction Results
Asbestos 10
7
to 10
8
fibers/L 99% reduction >99.9% Pass
Arsenic (pentavalent) 0.30 mg/L 10% 0.010 mg/L 98.2% Pass
Barium 10 mg/L 10% 2.0 mg/L 97.8% Pass
Cadmium 0.03 mg/L 10% 0.005 mg/L 98.1 Pass
Chromium (VI) 0.3 mg/L 10% 0.1 mg/L 97.0%
Pass
Chromium (III) 0.3 mg/L 10% 0.1 mg/L 98.3%
Pass
Copper 3.0 mg/L 10% 1.3mg/L 98.8%
Pass
Cysts 50,000 #/mL
4
99.95% 99.99%
Pass
Lead 0.15 mg/L 10% 0.010 mg/L 99.1%
Pass
Fluoride 8.0 mg/L 1.5 mg/L 96.5%
Pass
Nitrate plus Nitrite (as N) 30 mg/L 10% 10.0 mg/L 75.4%
Pass
Nitrate (as N)
27.0 mg/L 10% 10.0 mg/L 74.9%
Pass
Nitrite (as N) 3.0 mg/L 10% 1.0 mg/L 80.9%
Pass
Radium 226/228 25 pCi/L 10% 5 pCi/L 80%
Pass
Selenium 0.10 mg/L 10% 0.05 mg/L 98.0%
Pass
Turbidity 11 1 NTU 0.5 NTU 99.0%
Pass
TDS 750 mg/L 40 187 mg/L 90.6%
Pass
Ammonium
1
1.2 mg/L 10% - 90%
Pass
Bicarbonate
1
300 mg/L 10% - 96%
Pass
Bromide
1
1.5 mg/L 10% - 89%
Pass
Chloride
1
800 mg/L 10% - 92%
Pass
Magnesium
1
30 mg/L 10% - 97%
Pass
Sodium
1
350 mg/L 10% - 88%
Pass
Sulfate
1
800 mg/L 10% - 98%
Pass
Tannin
1
3.0 mg/L 10% - 97%
Pass
Zinc
1
15 mg/L 10% - 98%
Pass
NSF/ANSI 401*
Influent challenge
concentration (ng/L)
Maximum
permissible
product water
concentration
(ng/L)
Overall %
Reduction Results
Atenolol 200 20% 60 94.2% Pass
Bisphenol A 2,000 20% 300 96.3% Pass
Carbamazepine 1,400 20% 200 98.9% Pass
DEET 1,400 20% 200 95.4% Pass
Estrone 140 20% 20 90.1% Pass
Ibuprofen 400 20% 60 95.9% Pass
Linuron 140 20% 20 92.5% Pass
Meprobamate 400 20% 60 97.2% Pass
Metolachlor 1.400 20% 200 97.8% Pass
Naproxen 140 20% 20 92.0% Pass
Nonyl phenol 1,400 20% 200 97.1% Pass
Phenytoin 200 20% 30 94.2% Pass
TCEP 5,000 20% 700 96.9% Pass
TCPP 5,000 20% 700 97.8% Pass
Trimethoprim 140 20% 20 90.0% Pass
*These systems have been tested according to NSF/ANSI 401 for reduction of substances
listed above. The concentration of the indicated substances in water entering the system
was reduced to a concentration less than or equal to the permissible limit for water leaving
the system, as specified in NSF/ANSI 401.
4/2/19 (Rev. D)
7376046
Models GXRQ18NBN and GNRQ18NBN tested and certified by
NSF International against NSF/ANSI Standard 42,53 ,and 58 for
reduction of claims specified on the Performance Data Sheet and at
www.nsf.org.
Models GXRQ18NBN and GNRQ18NBN tested and certified by
IAPMO R&T against NSF/ANSI Standard 42,53,58 and 401 and
conformance to NSF P473 for reduction of claims specified on the
Performance Data Sheet.