Live Wire: Commercial filters may not remove chemical

Q: The chemical information reported in The Fayetteville Observer poses a question. Will the commercial filters, like Pur and Brita, filter the chemical 1,4-dioxane from our drinking water? - J.H., Fayetteville

A: The Fayetteville Public Works Commission says conventional water treatment at public facilities is ineffective at removing this unregulated chemical that has been detected in Fayetteville tap water.

But the PWC says it can't speak for those home filtering products. We tried to reach spokesmen with the manufacturers of Brita and Pur.

We were unsuccessful in our efforts to reach Pur.

David Kargas, a spokesman for the Brita brand, said their filters are not certified for reducing 1,4-dioxane, which is not currently regulated. He said Brita filters are tested only for contaminants on which standards and testing methods have been established by the Environmental Protection Agency's Primary Drinking Water Regulations.

The manmade chemical is widely used in paint strippers, varnishes, dyes, greases and even some cosmetics and shampoos. The Environmental Protection Agency says it may cause cancer if consumed in large quantities over a lifetime.

State and PWC officials are trying to find the source of it in the Cape Fear River, where the chemical appears to be the most prevalent in North Carolina.

One of the researchers, Detlef Knappe, an N.C. State University environmental engineering professor, said he has begun sampling home filtering products for their ability to remove 1,4-dioxane, and he hopes to have the results in the next two to three months.

- Andrew Barksdale

Q: I'm having a lot of light bulbs blowing out on the outside of my house. Do I need to call the electrician? Or should I contact the power company? - L.M., Fayetteville

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Live Wire: Commercial filters may not remove chemical