How To Get Your Water Tested? { A Proven And Confirmed Easy Way }
Do you fear that the water you consume could make you sick? Is there an easy way to test your water and make it safe to drink? Water is important in numerous ways; it helps flush toxins from our bodies, keeps our cells working optimally, and can even help enhance cognitive performance. But if the water we drink is contaminated with bacteria or metals, it can cause serious health issues.
Thankfully, testing your water for contaminants doesn’t need to take a lot of time or money. This article will explore how easy it is to get your water tested for impurities accurately and quickly using an affordable method.
Is My Water Safe to Drink?
Test the water in a certified laboratory. Then you can be sure that your drinking water is safe and drinkable. Dangerous parasites, bacteria, and viruses aren’t visible to open eyes. So the water that looks good isn’t safe and pure. This water isn’t safe to drink.
Microbes are found in groundwater and surface water supplies. Contaminated water causes instantaneous sickness for humans when not accurately treated. Some chemical contaminants are found in a water source which causes permanent health problems. It takes lots of time to develop it. Continuous testing of water detects unsafe water. Moreover, it ensures the treatment system works correctly to get a pleasing level.
How To Get Your Water Tested?
You get useful tests to determine whether the water is healthy or safe. It measures the performance of the water treatment system. Local Health Departments may help you choose tests important for assessing drinking water. You can get your water tested by following the below methods:
1. Decide Which Sources of Water to Test
Testing your water source is an important step in ensuring the safety of your drinking water. Depending on the type of water source, the kind of testing kit you need will vary. A basic test kit covering common contaminants such as lead and chlorine should be sufficient if you use city drinking water.
However, if you have well water, it is important to use a more comprehensive testing kit that includes screening for pesticides.
The Health Metric Drinking, Water Quality Test, provides reliable and easy-to-use test strips for nine common contaminants and overall pH levels. While this test does not cover pesticides, it is still an effective way to ensure that your drinking water is safe from other potential contaminants.
It is important to remember that no matter what type of water source you have, regular testing is essential for maintaining the safety of your drinking water supply.
2. Choose a Method for Testing Water Quality
Water quality testing is important to ensure that the water we use and consume is safe. Various methods are available for testing water quality, ranging from simple test strips to more complex color disk kits. Test strips are the most common method used for home testing, as they are relatively inexpensive and easy to use.
Most test strips provide a range of results rather than a specific number, so it is important to read the instructions carefully when interpreting the results.
For more accurate results, color disk kits may be worth considering. These kits involve adding a sample of water to a special solution and then comparing the resulting color with a chart provided in the kit. This method provides more precise readings than test strips but can be more expensive and time-consuming to use.
Additionally, most water quality test kits are intended for one-time use only, so if you plan on doing follow-up tests, it may be best to send your samples off to a professional lab for analysis.
3. Use the Strips in Right Way
Water quality test strips are an easy and affordable way to check your water quality. These strips are usually included in kits like the Health Metric kit, which provides instructions on how to use them. To use a test strip, you fill a container with a water sample, dip the strip in, swirl it around, and wait a few minutes for the results.
After taking out the strip from the water sample, you can compare its color changes to a color chart with the kit. This will indicate the type of contaminant in your water and its parts per million (ppm) concentration level.
Homeowners often use test strips to ensure tap water is safe for drinking or other uses. They can also be used by professionals such as plumbers or environmental scientists who need to monitor water quality in rivers or lakes.
Test strips are also useful for testing swimming pools or hot tubs for bacteria levels and other contaminants. With these simple test strips, you can quickly get an idea of what kind of contaminants may be present in your water and take steps to address any issues that may arise.
How Long Does the Testing Take?
At-home water quality tests are a great way to quickly and easily check the safety of your drinking water. Most at-home tests don’t require mailing samples to a lab and can provide results within 10 minutes. These tests typically measure pH, hardness, chlorine, nitrate, and iron levels in the water. Depending on the type of test kit you purchase, you may also be able to test for other contaminants, such as lead or copper.
However, some of the more complicated tests, like those for bacteria, may require maintaining a certain temperature and up to 48 hours to develop fully. This is because these types of tests need time for the bacteria to grow for them to be detected by the test kit.
If you are looking for quick results, then an at-home water quality test is not recommended for testing bacteria levels in your water. It is best to send samples off to a lab if you want accurate results regarding bacterial contamination in your water supply.
When Should I Test My Well Water?
Testing your well water is important in ensuring that your drinking water is safe and free from contaminants. It is recommended that you test your well water at least once a year for total and fecal coliform bacteria, as well as check the wellhead to make sure it is working properly and there are no cracks or openings where contaminants can get in.
It is also recommended to test for heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, lead and copper every two years. Additionally, you should test for pesticides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) every five years. If you know of a particular pesticide applied in your area, then yearly testing would be beneficial.
It’s important to note that if any tests come back with results that indicate contamination or unsafe levels of certain substances, further testing may be necessary. In addition to regular testing, it’s also important to keep an eye out for any changes in the taste or smell of your water which could indicate a problem.
By regularly testing your well water and being aware of any changes in its quality, you can ensure that you have access to clean and safe drinking water.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. How do I get my local water tested?
If your local health department is not able to help, contact a state certified laboratory to perform the test. To find a state certified laboratory in your area.
2. What kind of contaminants should I test for?
The type of contaminants you should test for will depend on the source of your water and the potential risks in your area. Generally, it is recommended to test for total and fecal coliform bacteria, heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, lead, and copper every two years. Additionally, you should test for pesticides and volatile organic compounds ( VOCs) every five years.
3. What is the best pH level for drinking water?
pH isn’t a quality that falls under EPA regulation because it’s considered an aesthetic quality of water. However, the agency recommends that municipal drinking water suppliers keep their water supply at a pH of 6.5 to 8.5.
4. How often should I test my well water?
It is recommended that you test your well water at least once a year for total and fecal coliform bacteria and check the wellhead to ensure it is working properly. There are no cracks or openings where contaminants can get in. Additionally, it is recommended to test for heavy metals, nitrates, nitrites, lead, and copper every two years. Additionally, you should test for pesticides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) every five years.
5. What should I do if my water tests positive for contaminants?
If your water tests positive for contaminants, it is important to take action immediately. Depending on the type of contaminant, you may need to install a filtration system or take other steps to ensure that your drinking water is safe. If the contamination is severe, you may need to find an alternate source of drinking water until the issue is resolved.
Conclusion
Water is an important part of our life. So, determining its quality is essential. The first step to do so is testing the water in above mentions ways. If you find anything buzzing, then inform your local and drink water from another source until the problem is solved.
