|   Site Design by Resource Media, Giardia, Crytosporidium and Waterborne Disease, Nitrates, Nitrites, Nitrogen: Health Hazard. Lisle, IL 60532-3696 USA, Tel: 630-505-0160 Difficulties in breathing, increased blood pressure, changes in heart rhythm, stomach irritation, brain swelling, muscle weakness, and damage to the liver, kidney, heart, and spleen. Food and drinking water represent the main sources of exposure to barium for the general population; however, the available data indicate that contributions from these sources can be highly variable. The following are the treatment systems that can be used to remove barium from water ion exchange, reverse osmosis, lime softening, and electrodialysis. For more information about Western Pennsylvania Saline and Brine Water Chemistry related to Oil and Gas Development. For drinking water the maximum contaminant level set by the EPA and used by the PADEP is 2.0 mg/L or 2000 ppb. Fish and aquatic organisms can accumulate barium. Keystone Clean Water Team, Visit Our Online Blog- My 2 cents - Ok May be A Quarter As an aside, barium is a soft silvery metallic alkaline earth element. (Video Link) With respect to Marcellus Shale Development, high levels of barium may also be associated with elevated level of the following cations (positively charged ions): strontium, chloride, lithium, iron, manganese, calcium, and sodium and elevated levels of the following anion (negatively charged ions) like chloride and bromide. Barium is sometimes found naturally in drinking water and food. Environmental Topics - Infiltration, Permeability, Soil Science, Wellhead Protection. Corrosion Problems - Metallic Taste, Blue Green Staining, Leaking Pipes, You Tube - Videos The most important source of barium is the chemtrails that are seen in the skies over many cities in America and other nations. Strontium shares many physical and chemical properties with calcium and barium and is highly susceptible to chemical changes. In partial fulfillment of that obligation we are proud to make this report available to YOU. Click here to access all of WQA's Technical Fact Sheets. Greases, though, continue to use barium in the form of a thickener system. Lithium In Groundwater, Well Water Check with Pesticides In drinking water, barium content can also vary greatly, depending on the geological formations and the anthropogenic activities surrounding the source water. with deposits in many parts of the world. What is the background level of  barium in PA's surfacewater and groundwater? The Water Quality Association (WQA) is a not-for-profit international trade Barium levels can also vary greatly in Canadian drinking water, depending on geological formations and anthropogenic activities surrounding the source water. Barium reacts with water to make barium hydroxide and hydrogen gas. This saline seep has a barium level of over 160 mg/L and saturated levels of methane gas. Barium in water comes primarily from natural sources, although barium also enters the environment from industrial emissions and anthropogenic uses. 4151 Naperville Road Drinking water is defined as water intended for human consumption for drinking and cooking purposes from any source. You wil see hydrogen bubles all around the metal and rising in water to escape it and move into air. Barium is a silvery-white metal that can be found in the environment, where it exists naturally. Production water, barium concentrations may be over 6000 mg/L. It has also been suggested cause kidney damage and cause problems with the nervous system. **Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) - The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals. Exposure from air, consumer products or soil is expected to be negligible. The primary sources of barium related to natural gas development would include saline water, flowback water, brine water, connate water (water trapped in the formation at the time the material was deposited), production water, and as an additive in drilling muds, i.e., barite, and natural deposits of halite (See Figure 2). Barium reacts with many other metal oxides and sulfides to make barium oxide or sulfide and the metal. Click on the above button to report a counterfeit filter. Therefore, it is likely that as the water is exposed to more sulfates in the environment the barium would precipitate out as barium sulfate. This inorganic chemical occurs naturally in some aquifers that serve as sources of It is a localized problem in several areas of the United States. Groundwater, Watersheds PowerPoint Presentations, The Water Library - Pdf files on Water Issues & Topics, Keystone Clean Water Team Website Blog PSAs, Field Training & Workshops in Earth Science, OSHA Training It’s often mixed with water to make a thick drink that looks like a milkshake. This testing was part of a baseline predrilling water test at a time when there was no active or past drilling within this region and the area does not have any historic oil and gas development. The health effects of the different barium compounds depend on how well the compound dissolves in water. Water Testing Kits - Do It Yourself at Home ! Since the solubility of barium chloride is over 30,000 mg/L, the barium is typically removed using a co-precipitation process by the introduction of bases (High pH solutions or other salts that form a compound with a lower solubility, such as the reaction of barium with sulfate. The primary commercial source of barium is baryte (also called barytes or heavy spar), a barium sulfate mineral. The primary source of barium in our drinking water is due to groundwater erosion of geological formations containing barium compounds; however, barium can also be introduced into groundwater due to any of the above-mentioned industrial processes. Radiological Testing - Uranium, Radon, Radium, and More The health effects of the different barium compounds depend on how well the compound dissolves in water. Because of its high chemical reactivity, barium is never found in nature as a free element. City Water Testing - We have a kit for YOU. In my opinion, industrial use is perhaps of the largest concern due to the potential for massive environmental pollution. Covers issues related to water conservation, the sources of pollution, ensuring that private water supply systems produce safe drinking water and protecting the long-term quality of our water sources. Barium - Is regulated as a primary drinking water standard, because it is associated with a potential health concern. Barium (Ba+2) can cause an increase in blood pressure,  gastrointestinal problems, muscle weakness, and affects the nervous and circulatory system. Sources of lead include: old lead-pigment paints, batteries, industrial smelting and alloying, … a. Informational Water Testing Commercial Filtration Supply (Official Industrial Distributor) * This is difficult to answer, but from a review of the data submitted by private well owners in Pennsylvania it would appear that the value is normally less than 2 mg/L with typical value of < 1 mg/L. More specifically, barium can be found in such things as (3, 4, 6, 8, 9): Radiological Testing - Uranium, Radon, Radium, and More. Newest Website - The MTBE Fact Sheet There are areas in Pennsylvania were freshwater and private wells are naturally impacted by saline water. LEAD. In addition, barium can be found in landfill leachate, coal waste, paints, corrosion inhibitors, deicing products, and high octane fuels. In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. Our FREE Newsletter for In this use, barium mixed with other chemicals and water utilized to drill the mud as well as clearing up the dirt from the well. Reverse Osmosis Treatment Systems All Rights Reserved. Career Training Programs/ Work Force Development Learn More, International Headquarters & Laboratory Water Treatment Systems Barium can form barium peroxide if it is burned in air. Neighborhood Hazard Reports – Know Your H20 ? In addition to natural sources, barium contamination of soil and groundwater may be related to barium ore mining, smelting of copper, natural gas and oil drilling, and manufacturing. Barium can suggest the presence of industrial waste, mixing of natural saline and brine waters, salt water intrusion, and other sources. City Water Testing - We have a kit for YOU. Barium is released to water and soil in the discharge and disposal of drilling wastes, from the smelting of copper, and the manufacture of motor vehicle parts and accessories. For 25+ years, I have been suggesting well owners get there water tested, here are some options: © 2021 Water Quality Association, All Rights Reserved, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care Products and Endocrine Disrupting Compounds. Exposure to barium and its compounds can happen a number of ways, including through groundwater contamination, ingestion of insoluble barium, inhalation, exposure to environmental pollution, cigarette smoke, occupational exposure, or even from certain medical procedures (3). “High concentrations of barium in drinking water are usually associated with low-pH water in contact with igneous rocks and manganese-rich sedimentary rocks.” Because certain barium compounds (barium sulfate and barium carbonate) do not mix well with water, the amount of barium usually found in drinking water is small. Strontium has 16 known isotopes. Career Development/Energy Barium compounds that do not dissolve well in water are not generally harmful and are often used by doctors for medical purposes. Barium sulfate (or sulphate) is the inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ba SO 4.It is a white crystalline solid that is odorless and insoluble in water.It occurs as the mineral barite, which is the main commercial source of barium and materials prepared from it. Thank you! Work as a Community - Support the Citizen Groundwater Database - Northeastern Pennsylvania association representing the residential, commercial and industrial water The Citizen Groundwater Database suggests that at least 5 % of private wells may be influence by saline water and these wells could have elevated levels of total dissolved solids, barium, strontium, chloride, gross alpha/beta, bromide, sodium, chloride, iron, manganese, and naturally occurring methane gas. ennsylvania Saline and Brine Water Chemistry related to Oil and Gas Development, Private Well Owner and Watershed Survey - Free Radon in Water Testing, Support the Citizen Groundwater Database - Northeastern Pennsylvania. The weight of the barium prevents the oil to leak to the environment. Research Interests, Funded Research & Applied Research, Tools for Environmental Professionals, Citizens, & Students, Watershed Monitoring, Research, Training, Lake and Watershed Studies, Citizen Monitoring, Volunteer Monitoring Programs, Environmental Topics - Infiltration, Permeability, Soil Science, Wellhead Protection, When it’s swallowed, this liquid coats the inside of your upper GI. Water Testing Kits - Do It Yourself at Home ! B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc. Intake of barium from drinking water is not expected to occur through either skin contact or inhalation. It occurs combined with other chemicals, such as sulfur, carbon or oxygen. Allocating a 20% source contribution to drinking water is deemed appropriate… Barium sprayed from the air lands in the water supplies and in the food supply. treatment industry. the Latest News & Information, Order Your Copy of the PA Water Quality Guide. Barium can be removed from your home water in a number of ways. In addition, the bromide level was 1.5 mg/L, chloride over 250 mg/L, strontium 5.6 mg/L, and radon level in water at 577 pCi/L. Homeowners Guide to Drinking Water Test and Testing- What do I test for? Therefore, Barium is really important in the hunt of natural oil source. Click here to open WQA's Technical Fact Sheet on Barium. Barium is used to make dyes, fireworks, ceramics, electrical components, and glass, plus it is used as a component in drilling muds.