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How Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) Works

Granular Activated Carbon is a highly adsorbent material used to remove contamination from water. Activated carbon has been known as a miracle filter media by many researchers because of its unique ability to remove offensive tastes, odors, color, chlorine and volatile organic chemicals, pesticides, and trihalomethanes (a group of suspected carcinogens).

In short, activated carbon acts like a sponge, with a large surface area to absorb contaminants in the water. The surface area of one pound of activated carbon is equal to 125 acres. Many scientists believe this is a result of an affinity that these chemicals have for carbon because of Van Der Waal forces.

Activated carbon is the preferred treatment and method recommended by the EPA to remove a host of potentially hazardous and possibly carcinogenic chemicals in drinking water.

The data below shows partial contaminants regulated for public water systems by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the maximum contaminant levels, source, health effects and treatment options for each.

Contaminants Regulated For Public Water Systems by The Safe Drinking Water Act

Source: Used as a solvent for paint and metal manufacturing. Also used in insecticides. MCL: 0.1 Health Effect: Affects the nervous system, kidneys, and liver. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used as an industrial solvent in the manufacturing of dyes, perfumes, and lacquers. MCL: 0.07 Health Effect: Affects liver, and nervous and circulatory systems. A probable cause of cancer. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Soil fumigant on soybeans, and cotton. Canceled in 1997. MCL: 0.0002 Health Effect: Cancer Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Chemical production by-product; impurity in herbicides. MCL: 0.00000003 Health Effect: Affects lungs, liver, and kidney. A probable cause of cancer Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in epoxy resins and coating, and in flocculants. MCL: 0 Health Effect: Affects the nervous system, kidney, and liver. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in the manufacture of gasoline, insecticides, and asphalt. MCL: 0.7 Health Effect: Probable cause of cancer. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used as a gasoline additive and soil fumigant. MCL: 0.00005 Health Effect: Affects the nervous system, kidneys, and liver. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in the manufacture of pesticides and as a metal cleaner and industrial solvent. MCL: 0.01 Health Effect: Cancer Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Coal tar coating, burnings organic matter, volcanoes, fossil fuels. MCL: 0.0002 Health Effect: Cancer Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: PVC and other plastics. MCL: 0.006 Health Effect: Affects skin and liver. Causes nausea. A probable cause of cancer. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in electrical transformers. MCL: 0.0005 Health Effect: Affects the nervous system, kidneys, and liver. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in manufacturing plastic, resins and foams. MCL: 0.01 Health Effect: Affects the nervous system. A probable cause of cancer and anesthesia. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in dry cleaning and as a degreasing agent for metals. Also used for manufacturing rubber, waxes, paints and inks. MCL: 0.005 Health Effect: Affects the nervous system, liver, and kidneys. Causes narcosis. Irritant to the respiratory system. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in gasoline, paint thinners, lacquers, and adhesives. MCL: 1 Health Effect: Cancer. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in synthetic rubber, food packaging, cosmetics. MCL: 0.4 Health Effect: Decreased body weight; liver and testes damage. Treatment: Activated Carbon, Aeration

Source: Used in fuels and as a solvent in manufacturing pharmaceuticals, plastics, pesticides and paints. Often traced to leaking underground storage tanks. MCL: 0.005 Health Effect: Leukemia, anemia and possibly cancer. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in dry cleaning and as a degreasing agent. Also used for manufacturing rubber, paints, adhesives, resins, oils and fumigants. MCL: 0.1 Health Effect: Irritates body tissue. Affects the nervous system. A probable cause of cancer. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used as a plastic adhesive and refrigerant. The main component of PVC pipe. MCL: 0.005 Health Effect: Affects the nervous system. A probable cause of cancer. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Source: Used in manufacturing paint, ink, petroleum and detergents. MCL: 0.002 Health Effect: Affects the nervous system, kidneys, lungs, liver, and mucous membranes. Treatment: Activated Carbon

Pesticides

On the cartridge, there is a viewing window that allows you to see to the inside of the cartridge. When the media inside turns from its original golden color with white beads to a dark grey or black color with white beads, it is time to replace the cartridge.

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