ABSTRACT
UK maximum concentration allowed: 200g/l. WHO Guideline Value: None set – complaints will be expected at 200g/l.
Aluminium (Al) is a metal and is the third most common element in the earth’s crust. Its chemistry is complex and the element can occur in many soluble forms known as species. Aluminium is commonly found combined with silicon as aluminosilicate minerals in clays, rocks and soils. It is a general rule that the lower the pH of the water, the greater will be the amount of metal that can be dissolved from the soil and geological deposits. Thus, where rainwater is acidic, the water should be expected to contain some metal contamination. In private water supplies, because of the ubiquitous nature of aluminium, it should be encountered on a fairly regular basis.
