TDS and pH

TDS AND pH FACT SHEET

What are TDS?

TDS stands for total dissolved solids, and represents the total concentration of dissolved
substances in water. TDS is made up of inorganic salts, as well as a small amount of organic
matter. Common inorganic salts that can be found in water include calcium, magnesium,
potassium and sodium, which are all cations, and carbonates, nitrates, bicarbonates, chlorides
and sulfates, which are all anions. Cations are positively charged ions and anions are
negatively charged ions.

How do these solids end up dissolved in water?

These minerals can originate from a number of sources, both natural and as a result of human
activities. Mineral springs contain water with high levels of dissolved solids, because the
water has flowed through a region where the rocks have a high salt content. The water in the
Prairie provinces tends to have high levels of dissolved solids, because of high amounts of
calcium and magnesium in the ground.

These minerals can also come from human activities. Agricultural and urban runoff can carry
excess minerals into water sources, as can wastewater discharges, industrial wastewater and
salt that is used to de-ice roads.

What happens to the water when the TDS level is high?

Alone, a high concentration of dissolved solids is usually not a health hazard. In fact, many
people buy mineral water, which has naturally elevated levels of dissolved solids. The United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is responsible for drinking water
regulations in the United States, includes TDS as a secondary standard, meaning that it is a
voluntary guideline in the United States. While the United States set legal standards for many
harmful substances, TDS, along with other contaminants that cause aesthetic, cosmetic and
technical effects, has only a guideline.

Most people think of TDS as being an aesthetic factor. In a study by the World Health
Organization, a panel of tasters came to the following conclusions about the preferable level
of TDS in water:

Taste of Water with Different TDS Concentrations; http://www.who.int/

water_sanitation_health/dwq/chemicals/tds.pdf
However, a very low concentration of TDS has been found to give water a flat taste, which is
undesirable to many people.

Increased concentrations of dissolved solids can also have technical effects. Dissolved solids
can produce hard water, which leaves deposits and films on fixtures, and on the insides of hot
water pipes and boilers. Soaps and detergents do not produce as much lather with hard water
as with soft water. As well, high amounts of dissolved solids can stain household fixtures,
corrode pipes, and have a metallic taste. Hard water causes water filters to wear out sooner,
because of the amount of minerals in the water. The picture below was taken near the
Mammoth Hot Springs, in Yellowstone National Park, and shows the effect that water with
high concentrations of minerals can have on the landscape. The same minerals that are
deposited on these rocks can cause problems when they build up in pipes and fixtures.

Mineral Deposition from Minerals in Water at Mammoth Hot Springs

However, while TDS itself may be only an aesthetic and technical factor, a high
concentration of TDS is an indicator that harmful contaminants, such as iron, manganese,
sulfate, bromide and arsenic, can also be present in the water. This is especially true when the
excessive dissolved solids are added to the water as human pollution, through runoff and
wastewater discharges.

What are the guidelines for TDS?

In Canada, substances that are considered to be dangerous in high amounts are listed as
Maximum Acceptable Concentrations (MACs) in the Canadian Guidelines for Drinking
Water Quality. However, substances that are not considered dangerous at their MAC, such as
TDS, are given an aesthetic objective in the Guidelines. The Canadian guideline for TDS is
less than 500 milligrams per litre (which is the same as 500 parts per million). However,
since the Canadian guidelines are not enforceable, each province is free to choose whether or
not they will follow the guidelines. Saskatchewan has water that naturally contains high
concentrations of TDS, so the province has chosen to not follow the Canadian guideline of
500 parts per million, and to implement its own guideline of 1,500 parts per million.

In the United States, substances that are health-based have Maximum Contaminant Levels
(MCLs), and are enforceable by law. However, TDS, and other substances that are
considered aesthetic, are given Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCLs), but are
not enforced, because they do not pose as great a health risk as the primary contaminants do.
The United States guideline for TDS is also 500 parts per million.

How can water treatment facilities remove TDS?

Water treatment facilities can use reverse osmosis to remove the dissolved solids in the water
that are responsible for elevated TDS levels. Reverse osmosis removes virtually all dissolved
substances, including many harmful minerals, such as salt and lead. It also removes healthy
minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, and ideally such water should be filtered through a
magnesium and calcium mineral bed to add the minerals to the water. The mineral bed also
increases the pH and decreases the corrosive potential of the water. For more information
about reverse osmosis, see the Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis fact sheet.

What is pH?

The pH value of a water source is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. The pH level is a
measurement of the activity of the hydrogen atom, because the hydrogen activity is a good
representation of the acidity or alkalinity of the water. The pH scale, as shown below, ranges
from 0 to 14, with 7.0 being neutral. Water with a low pH is said to be acidic, and water with
a high pH is basic, or alkaline. Pure water would have a pH of 7.0, but water sources and
precipitation tends to be slightly acidic, due to contaminants that are in the water.
pH Scale

The pH scale is logarithmic, which means that each step on the pH scale represents a ten-fold
change in acidity. For example, a water body with a pH of 5.0 is ten times more acidic than
water with a pH of 6.0. And water with a pH of 4.0 is 100 times more acidic than water with
a pH of 6.0.

How does the pH of a water source change?

Surface water typically has a pH value between 6.5 and 8.5 and groundwater tends to have a
pH between 6.0 and 8.5. The pH of a water source can vary naturally. Some types of rock and
soil, such as limestone, can neutralize acid more effectively than other types of rock and soil,
such as granite. Or, when there are a large number of plants growing in a lake or river, they
release carbon dioxide when they die and decompose. When the carbon dioxide mixes with
the water, a weak carbonic acid is formed; this can then cause the pH of the water body to
decrease.

A number of human activities have a harmful effect on the pH of nearby water sources. When
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted, through industrial operations and vehicles,
acid rain can be produced. For more information about acid rain, see the Acid Rain fact sheet.

Chemical pollution, from industrial operations, individuals and communities, can cause a
water body to become acidic. These chemicals can enter the water through illegal discharges
or after inadequate wastewater treatment. For more information about chemical pollution,
including ways in which you can minimize pollution, see the Water Pollution fact sheet.
What happens when the pH of the water changes?

A change in the pH of water can have a number of consequences. In the environment, many
plants and animals are harmed, or even killed, as a result of acidification. Many varieties of
fish and aquatic life are extremely sensitive to changes in water temperature and composition.
The below diagram illustrates the pH that is required for a number of aquatic species. Notice
that when the pH is around 6.0 to 7.0 (which is natural for many lakes and streams), the
biodiversity within the ecosystem is wide. As the pH decreases and the acidity increases,
fewer and fewer organisms can survive.

Required pH Level for the Survival of Common Species of Fish

Acidic water is synergistic, which means that a combination of a low pH and an increased
concentration of certain substances is far more harmful than the sum of the parts. For
example, aluminium, lead and mercury are potentially dangerous substances, but when the
pH of the water source is already low, these substances can have extremely detrimental
consequences for aquatic life.

Acidic water can also cause problems for human consumption. While slightly acidic water is
not dangerous, on its own, it can be quite dangerous when combined with other compounds.
Water with a pH that is less than 6.5 can leach metal ions, including iron, manganese, copper,
lead and zinc from plumbing fixtures and pipes. This, in return, can be quite dangerous. On
the other end of the pH scale, water that has a pH greater than 8.0 can be difficult to disinfect.
The World Health Organization recommends that the pH of the water be less than 8.0,
because basic water does not allow for effective chlorination.

What are the guidelines for pH?

Like TDS, pH is given an aesthetic objective in Canada. The Canadian Guidelines for
Drinking Water Quality suggest that the pH of drinking water should be between 7.0 and
10.5. The Saskatchewan Drinking Water Standards and Objectives recommend that the pH of
drinking water be between 6.5 and 9.0.
In the United States, pH is, like TDS, a secondary standard; the Secondary Maximum
Contaminant Level for pH is between 6.5 and 8.5. According to the EPA, the noticeable
effects of a pH that is less than 6.5 include a bitter, metallic taste and corrosion. The
noticeable effects of a pH above 8.5 include a slippery feeling, soda-like taste and deposits.

How do water treatment facilities change the pH of water?

There are several methods that can increase the pH of water, before disinfection. The pH is
commonly increased using sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide, but a better way of
dealing with low pH is to use calcium and magnesium carbonate, which not only will
increase pH levels, but will also make the water less corrosive and both calcium and
magnesium are of health benefits as opposed to sodium.

Why is it important to monitor TDS and pH?

It is important to monitor the TDS level and the pH of drinking water for several reasons.
When a water source has a high level of TDS or a low pH, it is likely that there are other
harmful contaminants in the water. Both TDS and pH are also easy to measure and if
something is happening to a water, such as pollution, chances are both TDS and pH levels
will change so keeping track of those changes can act as an early warning signal that
something is happening to the water. For these reasons, it is important to monitor the TDS
and pH levels, so that if they change, action can be taken immediately.

For more information about TDS and pH, including the ways in which you can use these tests
on your drinking water, see the Operation Water Pollution program.

The Safe Drinking Water Foundation has educational programs that can supplement the
information found in this fact sheet. Operation Water Drop looks at the chemical
contaminants that are found in water; it is designed for a science class. Operation Water Flow
looks at how water is used, where it comes from and how much it costs; it has lessons that are
designed for Social Studies, Math, Biology, Chemistry and Science classes. Operation Water
Spirit presents a First Nations perspective of water and the surrounding issues; it is designed
for Native Studies or Social Studies classes. Operation Water Health looks at common health
issues surrounding drinking water in Canada and around the world and is designed for a
Health, Science and Social Studies collaboration. Operation Water Pollution focuses on how
water pollution occurs and how it is cleaned up and has been designed for a Science and
Social Studies collaboration. To access more information on these and other educational
activities, as well as additional fact sheets, visit the Safe Drinking Water Foundation website
at www.safewater.org.
Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration and Reverse
Osmosis
ULTRAFILTRATION, NANOFILTRATION AND
REVERSE OSMOSIS FACT SHEET
What is filtration?

Filtration is a process of removing particulate matter from water by forcing the water through
a porous media. This porous media can be natural, in the case of sand, gravel and clay, or it
can be a membrane wall made of various materials. Sometimes, large particles are settled
before filtration; this is called sedimentation. For information on sedimentation and filtration,
in general, see the Conventional Water Treatment: Coagulation and Filtration fact sheet.

The size of materials that can be removed during filtration depends upon the size of the pores
of the filter. The chart below summarizes the various separation processes relative to
common materials that would be filtered out through each process. Particle filtration refers to
conventional media filtration, while the other types are membrane filtrations.

Size of Materials That Are Removed By Various Separation Processes

The chart below summarizes the types of particles that are removed from the water with each
type of membrane filter. The green arrow indicates that the particle is small enough to pass
through the filter, whereas the deflected orange arrow indicates that the filter blocks the
particle from passing through the filter.
Substances Removed From Water By Membrane Filtration Processes;

What is ultrafiltration?

An ultrafiltration filter has a pore size around 0.01 micron. A microfiltration filter has a pore
size around 0.1 micron, so when water undergoes microfiltration, many microorganisms are
removed, but viruses remain in the water. Ultrafiltration would remove these larger particles,
and may remove some viruses. Neither microfiltration nor ultrafiltration can remove
dissolved substances unless they are first adsorbed (with activated carbon) or coagulated
(with alum or iron salts).

What is nanofiltration?

A nanofiltration filter has a pore size around 0.001 micron. Nanofiltration removes most
organic molecules, nearly all viruses, most of the natural organic matter and a range of salts.
Nanofiltration removes divalent ions, which make water hard, so nanofiltration is often used
to soften hard water.

What is reverse osmosis?

Reverse osmosis filters have a pore size around 0.0001 micron. After water passes through a
reverse osmosis filter, it is essentially pure water. In addition to removing all organic
molecules and viruses, reverse osmosis also removes most minerals that are present in the
water. Reverse osmosis removes monovalent ions, which means that it desalinates the water.
To understand how reverse osmosis works, it is helpful to understand osmosis.

Osmosis occurs when a semi-permeable membrane separates two salt solutions of different
concentrations. The water will migrate from the weaker solution to the stronger solution, until
the two solutions are of the same concentration, because the semi-permeable membrane
allows the water to pass through, but not the salt. In the following diagram, (A) and (B)
illustrate the process of osmosis.
In reverse osmosis, the two solutions are still separated by a semi-permeable membrane, but
pressure is applied to reverse the natural flow of the water. This forces the water to move
from the more concentrated solution to the weaker. Thus, the contaminants end up on one
side of the semi-permeable membrane and the pure water is on the other side. In the diagram
below, reverse osmosis is represented in (C).

Osmosis and Reverse Osmosis

What do these three processes remove?

Ultrafiltration removes bacteria, protozoa and some viruses from the water. Nanofiltration
removes these microbes, as well as most natural organic matter and some natural minerals,
especially divalent ions which cause hard water. Nanofiltration, however, does not remove
dissolved compounds. Reverse osmosis removes turbidity, including microbes and virtually
all dissolved substances. However, while reverse osmosis removes many harmful minerals,
such as salt and lead, it also removes some healthy minerals, such as calcium and magnesium.
This is why water that is treated by reverse osmosis benefits by going through a magnesium
and calcium mineral bed. This adds calcium and magnesium to the water, while also
increasing the pH and decreasing the corrosive potential of the water. Corrosive water may
leach lead and copper from distribution systems and household water pipes.
What are the advantages of using ultrafiltration, nanofiltration or reverse
osmosis to treat water?

All three of these membrane filtration processes are effective methods of treating water that
cannot be treated using conventional treatment methods. Reverse osmosis, in particular, has
been responsible for ending several nearly decade long Boil Water Advisories. For example,
in 2003, a reverse osmosis system, together with a biological treatment process, was set up to
successfully treat drinking water for the Yellow Quill First Nation, which had been on a Boil
Water Advisory since 1995. The water in the First Nations community, which is located in
Saskatchewan, contained high levels of organic matter, iron, manganese, ammonium and
arsenic, to name a few. Besides the obvious benefit of providing safe drinking water to a
community which had been under a Boil Water Advisory for approximately nine years, the
reverse osmosis system (together with the biological treatment) allowed the communit y to
treat their water using small quantities of chemicals. For more information about the water
treatment facility at Yellow Quill First Nation, read Watered Down Excuse, According to one
scientist, high cost is no excuse for lack of safe drinking water in First Nations communities,
written by Kim Peterson and published in The Dominion.

A portable reverse osmosis unit was brought in to Kashechewan, a First Nations community
in Ontario, in October of 2005. The community had experienced water contamination issues
for years, and in October 2005, approximately 1,100 of the 1,900 residents were evacuated,
after E. coli was found in their water. The reverse osmosis unit was brought in by the
military, and could provide 50,000 litres of water each day for the residents of Kashechewan,
until their water treatment plant could be fixed. The picture below compares the colour of the
untreated water to that of the water after being treated with reverse osmosis.

Water Before and After Reverse Osmosis Treatment at the Kashechewan First Nation

What are the disadvantages of using ultrafiltration, nanofiltration or reverse

osmosis to
treat water?
Compared with the benefits of using membrane filtration to treat water, there are very few
disadvantages. If conventional water treatment processes can effectively treat the water, then
constructing a reverse osmosis water treatment facility would be an unnecessary cost. But for
the First Nations communities that have been on Boil Water Advisories for many years, a
reverse osmosis treatment system can be a valuable investment that can provide safe drinking
water for the residents.

Reverse osmosis removes a number of healthy minerals from water, in addition to the
harmful minerals and particles. The removal of these minerals, including calcium and
magnesium, can actually make water unhealthy, especially for people with inadequate diets
and people who live in hot climates, as water can provide these necessary minerals. The
addition of calcium and magnesium, as described above, can resolve these concerns.

The Safe Drinking Water Foundation has educational programs that can supplement the
information found in this fact sheet. Operation Water Drop looks at the chemical
contaminants that are found in water; it is designed for a science class. Operation Water Flow
looks at how water is used, where it comes from and how much it costs; it has lessons that are
designed for Social Studies, Math, Biology, Chemistry and Science classes. Operation Water
Spirit presents a First Nations perspective of water and the surrounding issues; it is designed
for Native Studies or Social Studies classes. Operation Water Health looks at common health
issues surrounding drinking water in Canada and around the world and is designed for a
Health, Science and Social Studies collaboration. Operation Water Pollution focuses on how
water pollution occurs and how it is cleaned up and has been designed for a Science and
Social Studies collaboration. To access more information on these and other educational
activities, as well as additional fact sheets, visit the Safe Drinking Water Foundation website
at www.safewater.org.

Did you know that our Operation Water Biology program teaches students about biological
water treatment - a more effective and environmentally friendly way to treat drinking water?
In the Operation Water Biology program students build a model of a biological water
treatment plant and learn about chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, and iron in a hands-on
manner. Please help us send more Operation Water Biology kits to schools! Please chip in $5
or donate $20 or more and receive an Official Donation Receipt for Income Tax Purposes - or
donate $170 to provide a school with an Operation Water Biology kit.
Acid Rain
ACID RAIN FACT SHEET
WHAT IS ACID RAIN?

Acid rain is a broad term that is often used to describe several forms of acid deposition. Wet
deposition is when rain, snow, fog, or mist contains high amounts of sulfuric and nitric acid.
When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, they dissolve in
water and fall as precipitation. Dry deposition occurs when dust and smoke that contain high
amounts of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides settle to the ground, or onto buildings, cars
and vegetation. These gases are converted to acids when they contact water. The acidity of
acid rain can vary. Pure water has a pH of 7 and normal rainwater has a pH around 5.6. In
2000, the most acidic rain that fell in the United States had a pH of 4.3.

pH Value of Common Household Items and the Environmental Effects of acidic

water; https://www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/images/phscale.gif

WHERE DOES ACID RAIN COME FROM?

Acid rain develops when sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides enter the atmosphere. While
natural processes, such as the eruption of a volcano or decomposing vegetation, can emit
sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the air, acid rain is primarily caused by excessive
emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as a result of human actions. Sulfur dioxide is
emitted from industrial processes and the burning of fossil fuels. In particular, ore smelting,
coal-fired power generators, and the processing of natural gas result in the greatest emissions
of sulfur dioxide. In 2000, Canada emitted 2.4 million tonnes of sulfur dioxide; the following
graph shows the distribution, by sector.

Sulfur Dioxide Emissions in Canada in 2000 by Sector; https://www.ec.gc.ca/air/7E5E9F00-

8EE2-42DF-9E30-9F3B37273C0C/figure4_SO2_e.gif

The primary cause of nitrogen oxide emissions are vehicles, which account for about 60
percent of all nitrogen oxide emissions. However, emissions also come from furnaces, boilers
and engines. In 2000, Canada emitted 2.5 million tonnes of nitrogen oxide; the following
graph shows the distribution, by sector.

Nitrogen Oxide Emissions in Canada in 2000 by Sector; https://www.ec.gc.ca/air/7E5E9F00-

8EE2-42DF-9E30-9F3B37273C0C/figure5_NOX_e.gif
DOES THAT MEAN THAT ACID RAIN ONLY OCCURS IN AREAS OF
HIGH INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY AND TRANSPORTATION?

When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, winds can carry
them a long way (hundreds of kilometres) before they fall as acid rain. Acid rain is more
prevalent in Eastern Canada, but this is due to a combination of factors, including high
industrial activity, soil quality and wind directions. The following diagram illustrates the path
that sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can take before they fall to the earth as acid rain.

From Source to Acid Rain: How Acid Rain Develops; https://www.nap.edu/openbook

/0309089328/xhtml/images/p2000af8eg61001.jpg

WHAT DOES ACID RAIN DO TO THE SOIL?

Each soil has a buffering capacity, which is the ability of the soil to neutralize acids. An
alkaline soil, for example, has a high buffering capacity, because it can absorb high amounts
of acidic precipitation without a pH change. Alkaline soil is less harmed by acid rain than
sensitive soils with low buffering capacities are. Eastern Canadian soils tend to have lower
buffering capacities than western Canadian soils. However, regions of Canada on the
Canadian Shield, such as north-eastern Alberta, northern Saskatchewan, northern Manitoba,
western British Columbia Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, could be at risk for acid
rain, because the granite bedrock cannot effectively neutralize acid. Due to the concentration
of industry, the soil quality and the easterly winds, however, eastern Canada receives the
majority of acid rain. With the drastic increase in the tar sands mining in northern Alberta,
northern Saskatchewan and Alberta could soon be at risk for acid rain. For more information
about the tar sands mining, and the extreme environmental degradation that accompanies it,
see the Oil Fields fact sheet.

WHAT ABOUT LAKES AND STREAMS?

Most lakes have pH levels between 6 and 8, but can become acidic, due to acid rain and
runoff from soils with low buffering capacities. Alkalinity is a measure of the water’s ability
to resist a pH change; it is similar to the buffering capacity of the soil. The amount of acid
rain that an environment can absorb without damage is often referred to as the critical load.

Acid rain runoff can also pick up aluminum from the soils and carry it into lakes and streams.
Acidic water and high levels of aluminum in the water cause problems for fish and aquatic
life, as many are sensitive to small changes. This diagram illustrates the pH levels that
various species need to survive. You can see that, at a pH of 6 or 6.5, a wide number of
species can survive, but in highly acidic water, the biodiversity is extremely reduced.

Required pH Level for the Survival of Common Species of

Fish; https://www3.epa.gov/caddis/images/cc_fig10-2.jpg

The Canadian government estimates that around 14,000 lakes in eastern Canada are
acidic. Water sources can also experience episodic acidification, which is when a heavy
downpour or runoff from spring melting causes lakes and streams to become temporarily
acidic.

Over the past several decades, Norway has suffered great damage due to the effects of acid
rain. While Norway’s sulfur dioxide emissions have decreased significantly since the 1970s
and 1980s, and nitrogen oxide emissions have decreased slightly, the damages from acid rain
appear to be worsening in southern Norway. This is because it takes years for the ecosystems
and the environment to recover from the effects of acidification. The following map shows
the state of Norway’s fish stocks over 40 years; the red areas are regions in which fish stocks
have been completely lost or damaged as a result of acidification. According to the State of
the Environment in Norway, 18 salmon stocks have been lost and 12 are endangered, and
salmon have been wiped out of all of the large salmon rivers in southern Norway.

Adding lime to water sources can reduce the acidifcation in lakes and rivers, by increasing
the buffering capacity and critical load of an environment. Liming is a temporary solution,
and is often used only on the most severely damaged lakes and rivers, so that ecosystems
have an opportunity to survive and re-build. According to Norway’s State of the
Environment, 90 regions in Norway that used liming were studied, and species diversity was
deemed to be satisfactory in 85 to 90 percent of the regions. However, liming is an expensive
approach to dealing with acidification. The annual cost to lime rivers and lakes in Norway is
more than $18 million (in Canadian dollars).

CAN ACID RAIN MAKE DRINKING WATER UNSAFE?

Water that is slightly acidic should not be dangerous, as there are many food that have low
pH value; for example, lemon juice has a pH of 2.4. However, a low pH can indicate that
there may be other contaminants in the water, because if pollutants have been added to a
water source, the pH typically will change.

Water treatment facilities monitor the pH level of the water while they are treating it for
municipal use. Acidic or basic water is harder to disinfect than water with a pH that is closer t
7.0. As well, if acidic water was sent through pipes and into homes, there would be a greater
danger of pipe corrosion, which could allow metals to dissolve into the drinking water as it
flow through the pipes. According to the World Health Organization, a pH less than 8.0 is
necessary for effective chlorination. If the pH is too high, water treatment facilities can
decrease the acidity in a number of ways. One common method that is used to increase the
pH is to send the water through a calcium carbonate filter, which neutralizes the acid and
increases the pH of the water. Another common method is to inject a sodium carbonate
solution into the water.

WHAT DOES ACID RAIN DO TO VEGETATION?

Acid rain can weaken trees by damaging the leaves and limiting the amount of available
nutrients. Acid rain dissolves nutrients and minerals and carries them away before the
vegetation can use them to grow. Crops are not usually harmed by acid rain, because farmers
use fertilizer, which includes the necessary nutrients, or add crushed limestone to their fields.
Limestone is an alkaline material, so it increases the buffering capacity of the soil to
neutralize acids. The picture below shows the effects that acid rain had on a pine tree. The
branch on the left has lost needles and turned yellow, which is the result of acid rain.
Comparison Between Tree That Has Been Damaged by Acid Rain and Healthy
Tree; https://media1.britannica.com/eb-media/54/72754-004-B387DF74.jpg

DOES ACID RAIN HARM BUILDINGS?

Acid rain can corrode metals and deteriorate paint and stone. To see the effects of acid rain
for yourself, try this experiment: Put a piece of chalk into a bowl white sugar and another into
a bowl of tap water. Leave them overnight and see which is more worn away in the morning.
Vinegar is an acid with a pH of 2.8, and chalk is made of calcium carbonate, which is a
compound of marble and limestone.

Dry deposition can also cause visibility issues, and sulfate particles account for 50 to 70
percent of the visibility reduction in the eastern United States.

CAN ACID RAIN CAUSE HEALTH PROBLEMS?

There are no direct health issues associated with acid rain. Dry deposition, however, can
contribute to heart and lung problems, such as asthma and bronchitis. If eastern Canada and
the United States (whose emissions are carried, by the wind, into Canada) were to reduce
their sulfur dioxide emissions by 50 percent, it is estimated that Canada could avoid 550
premature deaths, 1,520 emergency room visits, and 210,070 asthma symptom days each
year. These savings, depending on how much value society places on these benefits, are
worth between $500 million and $5 billion each year!
WELL, I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER INDUSTRY EMISSIONS; WHAT
CAN I DO?

While industries can use cleaner coal or find alternative fuels to generate power, the best
things that individuals can do is conserve energy. Here are a few tips:

 Turn off lights, computers and appliances, when you aren't using them.
 Use energy efficient appliances.
 Turn the thermostat down at night and when you’re away from home.
 Insulate your home to reduce air leaks.
 Carpool, take the bus, walk or bike to work and school.
 Maintain your vehicle.

For more information about acid rain and its effects on the environment, see the lesson plan
titled “What is Acid Rain and how does it affect me?" in the Operation Water Flow section.

The Safe Drinking Water Foundation has educational programs that can supplement the
information found in this fact sheet. Operation Water Drop looks at the chemical
contaminants that are found in water; it is designed for a science class. Operation Water Flow
looks at how water is used, where it comes from, and how much it costs; it has lessons that
are designed for Social Studies, Math, Biology, Chemistry and Science classes. Operation
Water Spirit presents a First Nations perspective of water and the surrounding issues; it is
designed for Native Studies or Social Studies classes. Operation Water Health looks at
common health issues surrounding drinking water in Canada and around the world and is
designed for a Health, Science and Social Studies collaboration. Operation Water Pollution
focuses on how water pollution occurs and how it is cleaned up and has been designed for a
Science and Social Studies collaboration. To access more information on these and other
educational activities, as well as additional fact sheets, visit the Safe Drinking Water
Foundation's website at www.safewater.org.