Water quality is a serious issue these days. Well water is unregulated, so people with wells are used to testing their water regularly. If you are on city water, however, you rely on the water company to provide clean, safe drinking water. Unfortunately, the people of Flint, Michigan found out that municipal water isn’t always safe to drink.
Why You Should Test Your Water
Even if the water tests clean at the source, it can still pick up harmful contaminants as it travels through the pipes to your tap. The best way to know what is in your water is to test it. You can have your water tested by a lab, but this can be costly, and it can take days or even weeks before you have results. A quick and inexpensive way to find out what is in your water is to test it yourself with a home testing kit.
Home Test Kit
TestAssured makes a Complete Water Analysis Test Kit that includes tests for the most common contaminants. This kit allows you to test for chlorine, nitrates, nitrites, copper, alkalinity, hardness, pH, iron, lead, pesticides, and bacteria.
Test for Common Contaminants in Minutes
Here’s how you can test your water and have results within ten minutes, with the exception of the bacteria test which takes 48 hours to develop.
- Fill the large vial almost to the top with the water to be tested.
- Remove the test strip from the packet labeled CL/CO/NA/NI and swirl it in the water three times, then hold it level for two seconds. Place the strip on the corresponding color-coded chart to read your results.
- Next, remove the strip from the packet marked AKL/pH/Hard and dip it in the vial for one second. Hold the strip level for ten seconds and then place it on the corresponding color-coded chart to read your results.
- To perform the iron test, add the iron reagent tablet to the water, place the cap on the vial and shake until the tablet is completely dissolved. Open the packet market Iron Test and dip the strip into the vial for two seconds. Remove the strip and shake once to remove excess water. Wait 60 seconds and compare to the color chart for results.
- For the lead and pesticide test, use the dropper pipette to place two dropperfuls of your water sample into the test vial. Swirl the test vial for a few seconds, then place it on a flat surface. Place the test strips into the vial with the arrows pointing DOWN. After 10 minutes, remove the strips from the vial, lay them on a flat surface, and review the instruction card to determine if your result is positive or negative.
- The final test is for bacteria. Remove the protective wrapper from the remaining sample vial and stand it upright on a flat surface. Twist off the cap, being careful not to spill the bacterial growth powder it contains. Fill the vial to the 5ml line, about a ½ inch below the top. Screw the cap back on the vial and secure it tightly, then shake vigorously for 20 seconds. Place the vial upright in a warm area (between 70-90°F) where it will not be disturbed. After 48 hours, the color of the liquid indicates the results.
All Water Should Be Tested
Don’t take chances with your drinking water. Whether you have well water or city water, either can contain dangerous pollutants. Many contaminants can go unnoticed because they are colorless and odorless. Know what’s in your water by performing these simple at home tests.
