Testing Your Water For Contaminants

Water can harbor many different contaminants such as heavy metals, toxic sludge, bacteria, human excreta and the like. These substances can cause different water borne diseases varying from the diarrhea related ones or intoxication with fatal chemicals. In these modern times, the awareness in water safety has prompted the creation of agencies that would ensure water potability. A leader in water safety is the Environmental Protection Agency. This agency sets rules and standards to protect consumers against dirty and poisonous water supply. Every consumer’s question on how to test your water can be seriously addressed.

            There are many reasons for testing water. If people have brass fixtures, lead pipes or lead soldered joints, checking for lead content is integral. If water has a strange taste or odor, contaminated must be suspected. If water is hard and leaves soap scum, there may be harmful contaminants in water. The presence of gastrointestinal distress in the family or community warrants testing for colliform. Furthermore, the existence of underground storage tanks, septic tanks or a gas tank needs more checking since incorporation of unwanted impurities is likely. If the house is near a chemical plant, a gas station, dumpsite, junk yard, dry cleaner and mining operation, testing water is important. For consumers about to make a house, checking for the water treatment set-up is vital to know the efficiency or the existing problems in the water system. If the house is next to a livestock facility or a pesticide prone area, there is a good reason to doubt the potability of the water.

            The testing can be done by private testing laboratories or state health laboratories. As such, it is necessary to find out if these agencies are certified by the state department of health. The EPA has hotlines to guide consumers in ensuring water safety.

            The question for many is how to test your water. At home, one needs home water quality kits, boiled water and a clear drinking glass. First, one must look closely at a glass filled with water in good lighting. One must check for sediments or turbidity and a different smell. The bathroom or kitchen fixture should be checked for a red, green, blue or brown staining. Another way is to buy a home water test instrument which is rather less expensive than laboratory ones.

            Indeed, water is life. However, just like anything that goes inside our body, people must ensure the safety of water. There can be a lot of diseases that can cling with it. As such, the question on how to test our water must never be taken for granted.