01-25-2025, 12:03 AM
A family we know looking to buy property in Volcano had to get a water test as part of the loan process. The results showed higher lead concentrations than the EPA allows.
Surprisingly (to me anyways) the water test guy said the high lead content was likely from the volcano, and the house has been empty so the water hasn't been getting flushed through the system. He recommended draining the tank and filling it with county water and retesting.
This made me curious about our own water supply, even though the winds usually carry the worst of the volcano air away from us. I tested the water both at the tank and from a faucet after going through our filters and both of them showed no measurable amounts of lead. The first test at the faucet showed elevated levels of copper, but then I realized that I forgot to let the water run for a bit, so I tested it again, and the copper level tested at no measurable level- the copper was coming from the water sitting in our pipes (so I guess the test kit works). I tested for 18 things and the only outlier was that our water was on the acidic side, which wouldn't be unusual for any type of rain water but even more for water sourced near an erupting volcano. Acidic rain can also slowly dissolves copper pipes...
So I looked up the volcano / lead thing and this is what the AI had to say about it:
"Rain affected by vog (volcanic smog) can contain elevated levels of lead, among other heavy metals. Vog is primarily composed of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and fine particulate matter emitted from volcanoes, such as Kīlauea in Hawaii. When these emissions interact with the atmosphere, they can form acidic aerosols that may include trace metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury. These metals originate from volcanic gases or fine ash particles.
When vog particles mix with moisture in the atmosphere, they can be deposited onto the Earth's surface through rain (a process called "wet deposition"). The rainwater in vog-affected areas may thus carry higher concentrations of these toxic elements, depending on the composition of the volcanic emissions, the distance from the source, and the environmental conditions.
If you suspect vog-affected rain in your area, it’s a good idea to avoid drinking it or using it for crops without proper filtration and testing."
In a rain catchment tank, would water with lead in it have higher concentration of lead in the bottom of the tank versus the top?
"Yes, water with a high level of lead in a rain catchment tank can have a higher concentration of lead at the bottom of the tank compared to the top, primarily because lead particles tend to settle over time. Here's how it works:
Recommendations for Catchment Systems
Surprisingly (to me anyways) the water test guy said the high lead content was likely from the volcano, and the house has been empty so the water hasn't been getting flushed through the system. He recommended draining the tank and filling it with county water and retesting.
This made me curious about our own water supply, even though the winds usually carry the worst of the volcano air away from us. I tested the water both at the tank and from a faucet after going through our filters and both of them showed no measurable amounts of lead. The first test at the faucet showed elevated levels of copper, but then I realized that I forgot to let the water run for a bit, so I tested it again, and the copper level tested at no measurable level- the copper was coming from the water sitting in our pipes (so I guess the test kit works). I tested for 18 things and the only outlier was that our water was on the acidic side, which wouldn't be unusual for any type of rain water but even more for water sourced near an erupting volcano. Acidic rain can also slowly dissolves copper pipes...
So I looked up the volcano / lead thing and this is what the AI had to say about it:
"Rain affected by vog (volcanic smog) can contain elevated levels of lead, among other heavy metals. Vog is primarily composed of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and fine particulate matter emitted from volcanoes, such as Kīlauea in Hawaii. When these emissions interact with the atmosphere, they can form acidic aerosols that may include trace metals like lead, arsenic, and mercury. These metals originate from volcanic gases or fine ash particles.
When vog particles mix with moisture in the atmosphere, they can be deposited onto the Earth's surface through rain (a process called "wet deposition"). The rainwater in vog-affected areas may thus carry higher concentrations of these toxic elements, depending on the composition of the volcanic emissions, the distance from the source, and the environmental conditions.
If you suspect vog-affected rain in your area, it’s a good idea to avoid drinking it or using it for crops without proper filtration and testing."
In a rain catchment tank, would water with lead in it have higher concentration of lead in the bottom of the tank versus the top?
"Yes, water with a high level of lead in a rain catchment tank can have a higher concentration of lead at the bottom of the tank compared to the top, primarily because lead particles tend to settle over time. Here's how it works:
- Lead as Particulates: If the lead in the water exists as suspended particulate matter (e.g., small solid particles), gravity will cause these particles to settle to the bottom of the tank over time, resulting in a higher concentration of lead in the sediment at the bottom.
- Chemical Precipitation: If the water chemistry causes lead to form insoluble compounds (like lead sulfates or lead carbonates), these compounds can precipitate out of the water and accumulate at the bottom.
- Tank Sediment: Over time, other debris, like organic material or dust, also settles in the tank. Lead particles often bind to this sediment, further increasing lead concentrations in the lower layers.
Recommendations for Catchment Systems
- Regular Cleaning: Clean the bottom of the tank periodically to remove sediment where lead might concentrate.
- Water Testing: Regularly test the water, especially after cleaning or stirring up the sediment.
- Filtration: Use filters certified for lead removal to treat the water before use.
- Avoid Stirring: Minimize disturbance of the tank to prevent resuspension of settled lead particles.