What are the Natural Impurities Picked Up by Water?
Natural impurities picked up by water consist chiefly of minerals and gases. The most common minerals present are calcium carbonate, or limestone; magnesium carbonate, or dolomite; calcium sulfate, or gypsum; magnesium sulfate, or Epsom salts; sodium sulfate, or Glaubers salts; sodium chloride, or common salt; silica, or sand; with minor quantities of iron, aluminum, and others. In the vicinity of mines, water sometimes contains considerable acidity, and in some alkali districts, considerable sodium carbonate, or natural soda ash. The carbonate rarely exists as true carbonate, but rather as bicarbonate, which is a union between the true carbonates, carbon dioxide and water.
