Whole Home Arsenic & Heavy Metal Filters

  • Point-of-Entry (POE) – Whole-House Arsenic Filter

    Treats all the water entering your home. Installed on the main line, it reduces arsenic at every faucet, shower, and appliance. Best when you want full-home protection.

  • Point-of-Use (POU) – Reverse Osmosis (RO)

    Treats water at a single location, usually the kitchen sink. An under-sink RO system is highly effective at reducing arsenic for drinking and cooking water only. It does not protect showers, baths, or other fixtures.
Whole-home arsenic filtration system installed by Lifewell Water Solutions in Queenstown, MD

What Is a Whole-House Arsenic Filter?

A whole-house (point-of-entry) arsenic filter treats all the water entering your home. Unlike under-sink filters that only protect drinking water, these systems are installed on the main line so every tap, shower, and appliance receives treated water.

The systems we install use specialized adsorptive or hybrid ion-exchange media engineered for arsenic reduction. Depending on your water chemistry, we select the most effective media and properly size the system for your home’s flow rate and usage.

Why Arsenic Is a Concern on the Eastern Shore & in Anne Arundel County

Arsenic occurs naturally in certain Coastal Plain aquifers that supply many private wells in this region, including parts of the Aquia formation. Elevated levels have been documented in areas of Anne Arundel County (including parts of the Annapolis Neck and Edgewater area) and in some Eastern Shore locations.

Arsenic is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. The only reliable way to know if it is present is through proper laboratory testing. The EPA maximum contaminant level for arsenic in drinking water is 10 parts per billion (ppb).

Because private wells are not regulated like municipal systems, testing and treatment are the homeowner’s responsibility.

How Our Arsenic Removal Systems Work

Hybrid Arsenic-Selective Resin (ResinTech ASM-10-HP)
This is a chloride-form hybrid anion exchange resin with hydrated iron oxide dispersed throughout the polymer. It is designed for selective arsenic removal and can also reduce uranium and certain other trace contaminants. Under ideal conditions, it can reduce arsenate from 50 ppb to below 10 ppb for a high gallon capacity per cubic foot of media. These systems are available in residential flow rates (commonly 6 GPM and 10 GPM configurations).

Adsorptive Media (such as Adedge AD33-type iron oxide media)
This type of media is widely used for whole-house arsenic reduction and is effective on both Arsenic III and Arsenic V. It can reduce up to 99% of total arsenic under proper conditions and also helps reduce other heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium. Spent media is typically discarded (no chemical regeneration required). Media life varies based on water chemistry and usage, often lasting several years before replacement.

Important: Performance depends heavily on water chemistry (pH, iron, silica, sulfate, competing ions, etc.). This is why we always test first and design the system around your actual results rather than installing a generic unit.

Our Process for Arsenic Treatment

1. Proper Testing
We start with a free in-home water test and, when indicated, collect samples for laboratory analysis. Accurate arsenic results (and related water chemistry) are essential before recommending treatment. Our team is certified water samplers through the Maryland Department of the Environment (Cert #2907-99-028).

2. System Design
Based on your lab results, flow requirements, and home layout, we select the appropriate media and system size. Pre-treatment (such as sediment filtration, iron removal, or pH adjustment) is sometimes required for the arsenic media to perform properly and last longer.

3. Professional Installation
Our licensed Master Plumber-led team installs the system on the main water line with clean, professional workmanship. Most installations are completed with minimal disruption.

4. Ongoing Support
Media has a finite capacity. We help you understand expected lifespan based on your water and usage, and we offer maintenance support when media replacement is eventually needed.

Benefits of a Properly Designed Whole-House Arsenic System

  • Treats all water in the home (not just drinking water)
  • Reduces arsenic and can also reduce other heavy metals
  • No chemicals added to the water
  • Long media life when properly sized and pre-treated
  • Works alongside softeners, UV systems, and reverse osmosis when a complete solution is needed
  • Provides peace of mind for families concerned about long-term exposure

Why Choose Lifewell for Arsenic Filtration

  • Local team with direct experience treating Eastern Shore and Anne Arundel well water
  • Licensed Master Plumber-owned company (License #102054)
  • Certified water samplers (MDE Cert #2907-99-028)
  • We test first and design around real water chemistry
  • Honest recommendations — we only recommend arsenic treatment when test results justify it
  • Clean professional installation and ongoing local support

Service Areas

We install whole-house arsenic and heavy metal filtration systems throughout Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Dorchester, Kent, Caroline, and Anne Arundel Counties, including Annapolis, Edgewater, Stevensville, Easton, St. Michaels, Centreville, Queenstown, Cambridge, and surrounding communities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is arsenic a concern in Anne Arundel County and the Eastern Shore?

Arsenic occurs naturally in certain local aquifers (especially shallow wells in the Aquia aquifer). Areas like Saunders Point and parts of Mayo in Anne Arundel County have documented higher levels. Long-term exposure can increase health risks, which is why the EPA sets a strict limit of 10 ppb (0.010 mg/L).

Is arsenic detectable by taste, smell, or appearance?

No. Arsenic is completely invisible, odorless, and tasteless in water. The only way to know if it’s present is through proper laboratory testing.

What heavy metals does this system remove?

It effectively removes arsenic, lead, manganese, iron, and many other dissolved heavy metals common in Eastern Shore and Anne Arundel County wells.

How long does the filter media last?

Most systems last 5–10 years depending on your water usage and contaminant levels. We monitor and replace the media on a schedule tailored to your home with our membership plans.