Under ideal conditions, the arsenic-selective ion exchange resin reduces arsenate from 50 parts per billion (ppb) down to less than 10 ppb (the EPA's maximum contaminant level for arsenic in drinking water), and continues doing so for over 500,000 gallons per cubic foot of media. With 2 cubic feet of resin in this system, that's 1,000,000+ gallons of treatment capacity in typical residential conditions. Performance can be reduced by very high pH (above 8), high silica, high sulfate, or fouling from suspended solids. We recommend annual testing of your treated water to monitor performance.

Adsorptive medias (granular iron oxide, titanium-based, alumina) physically trap arsenic on the surface. They're cheaper but have a major flaw: when the media reaches capacity, arsenic can 'dump' back into your treated water at concentrations even higher than the source water. the resin is an ion exchange resin - it captures arsenic through chemical bonding, and even when operated past exhaustion, effluent arsenic levels never exceed influent levels. There is no arsenic dumping. the resin also has higher throughput, lower pressure drop, and doesn't shed particles like coated granular medias do. For something as serious as arsenic, ion exchange is the right call.

the resin is highly effective on arsenate (As V), which is the most common form of arsenic in well water with any oxygen present. Arsenite (As III) is a different chemical form that is not removed effectively by ion exchange resins in their native state. If your water test shows arsenite (or speciation isn't listed), we recommend pre-oxidation with chlorine or aeration to convert arsenite to arsenate before this system. Most aerated well water and city water is already in the arsenate form. Call us with your test results and we'll verify whether you need an upstream oxidation step.

Most residential installations get 3 to 7 years of service life from the resin. Actual lifespan depends on your raw arsenic concentration, daily water usage, competing anions (silica, sulfate), and pH. The system's metered control valve tracks your gallons used and triggers a programmable service reminder. Independent of that, we recommend annual testing of treated water - because ion exchange resin gives consistent removal until it approaches capacity, then breakthrough happens relatively sharply. Annual testing catches the change in time. When it's time to replace media, call us and we'll help you source replacement the resin and walk you through the change-out.

Yes, strongly recommended. Sediment, particulates, and debris can foul the arsenic resin, reducing its effective capacity and potentially causing channeling. A 20" Big Blue sediment filter installed upstream is inexpensive, easy to maintain (cartridge changes every 3-6 months), and protects the more expensive arsenic media. We sell the Big Blue kit separately.

Iron can foul the arsenic resin and reduce its capacity. If your water has more than 0.3 ppm of iron, install an iron filter upstream of this arsenic system. We carry several iron filter options. Send us your water test and we'll recommend the right combination of equipment and the correct installation order. The general sequence is: sediment, then iron, then acid neutralizer (if pH is low), then softener (if hard), then arsenic. Each step protects the next.

Yes. The plumbing is straightforward - 1" male NPT inlet and outlet, with the bypass valve included for service access. No electrical hookup is needed for service operation. Most homeowners with basic plumbing skills can do this in a few hours. The most important things to get right are sizing (do you need a 6 GPM or 10 GPM unit), placement order in the treatment train, and pre-oxidation if you have arsenite. Call or text Aidan at 800-460-5810 before you order and he'll walk you through your specific situation.

Lead/lag means two arsenic systems plumbed in series. The first vessel (the lead) does the bulk of arsenic removal. The second vessel (the lag) acts as a polishing stage that catches anything the lead misses. When the lead resin is exhausted, you swap their positions - the old lag becomes the new lead, and you replace the resin in the old lead vessel. This setup gives uninterrupted protection (you never have unfiltered arsenic-bearing water reach the house) and maximizes media utilization. For homes with arsenic levels above 30 ppb or where exposure is a critical concern, we recommend lead/lag. Call us to discuss.

Yes. Always. We will not knowingly sell an arsenic system to someone who hasn't tested. The reason: arsenic systems require accurate sizing based on your arsenic concentration, your daily water use, and the presence of competing anions like silica and sulfate. They also require knowing the arsenic species (arsenate vs arsenite) so we can recommend pre-oxidation if needed. Order our <a href="https://midatlanticwater.net/products/well-water-test-kit">well water test kit</a> or use any NELAC/ELAP certified lab and send us the results. We'll personally review and confirm the right system for your situation.