Whether for drinking, washing, or other activities, we use water daily. This makes it essential to test the quality of your water. Regular water quality testing ensures your water is safe for drinking and helps monitor any changes that may occur over time. Testing can detect everything from contaminants to the stability of your distribution system.
The quality of your water can be influenced by a wide variety of factors, which include:
The testing process is done on-site. Simply place the removed water sample into a proper container to be sent off for analysis. The analysis can cover everything from the chemical makeup, to even checking for specific bacteria.
Water quality testing comes in various forms. Each form of testing analyzes for specific contaminants and materials that influence the safety and drinkability of your water. Below is a sample of the different types of water testing.
Your water can contain a variety of different bacteria. One common contaminant is E. coli, which typically originates from fecal matter. Consuming contaminated water significantly increases health risks.
Water contains a staggering amount of minerals. Some common ones are sodium, chlorine, zinc, and even iron. Normally these minerals do not have a drastic effect on the water’s quality but having testing done can track down if there are any larger buildups of these occurring. When these buildups occur, your water will need a specified treatment to purify.
pH is the concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution. In this case, it’s water. When there is a large accumulation of ions, your water becomes more acidic which affects its taste and safety. This means your nice sip of refreshing water not only tastes bad but also can make you sick.
Several other tests analyze factors outside the chemical composition of your water. These tests focus on measuring the physical properties of the water. The analysis can check for everything from odor, sediment, and even the water’s conductivity.
The water you use every day is composed of a wide range of chemicals that influence the quality. Below are the common chemicals found in your drinking water:
Natural water systems have a low concentration of chloride ions but increase with contaminated waters. When highly concentrated, chloride ions corrode pipework and cause your drinking water to taste salty.
This is oxygen in its most oxidized form. In water, it comes from the decomposition of organic matter or the fixation of atmospheric nitrogen. This chemical is crucial for natural water systems as it enables the eutrophication process to occur.
Eutrophication enriches the natural water with nutrients, allowing for the growth of aquatic plant life. Nitrate should not exceed an amount of 3mg/ltr since it reduces nitrite which can be poisonous, especially if ingested by babies.
The more unstable form is between Nitrate and NH2. When oxidized in an aerobic condition it becomes nitrate, but in an anaerobic condition, it becomes ammonia.
High concentrations in drinking water have severe health risks when consumed, such as blue baby syndrome. The nitrite amount should not exceed 3 mg/ltr in your drinking water.
Ammonia naturally occurs when organic matter decomposes. This chemical can also build up from human activity, typically involving introducing chloramines into the water for disinfecting purposes.
When concentration increases higher than 50 mg/ltr (groundwater systems are typically 3mg/ltr), it gives the water a musty smell and taste.
A non-toxic chemical comes from sources like sewage, agricultural wastes, and industrial discharges. When in high concentrations, this chemical enables eutrophication to occur in natural water systems.
Also known as “BOD,” Biological Oxygen Demand describes the amount of oxygen required for living organisms to properly oxidate biodegradable organic matter within water. This not only measures the quality of oxygen needed for biodegradation but also indirectly measures the amount of biodegradable matter in water. Without the proper amount of oxygen, organic matter begins decomposing anaerobically (without oxygen), which affects water’s smell and taste.
Hard water contains salt from calcium or magnesium. Hard water can be temporary due to the carbonate or bicarbonate of the calcium and magnesium—but if your water is hard all the time, it’s because of the chloride and sulfate. While normally not harmful for consumption, very high concentrations cause adverse effects on your health.
The first step in water testing is figuring out when to test it. Below are the most common signs that you should have your water quality tested.
Water that smells like rotting eggs or sulfur indicates your water has a bacteria issue. Bacteria emit waste in a gas form, thus in larger concentrations, creating a harsh smell in your water.
Cloudiness is caused by mineral residue present in the water supply. Minerals like calcium and magnesium enter the water, usually because the aquifer is placed in dolomite or limestone. While these impurities are not harmful to your health, they can create an irritating cloudy appearance in your water.
Contaminated drinking water can be directly linked with respiratory and stomach issues. Bacteria contamination leads to diseases ranging from run-of-the-mill stomach aches to severe illnesses like cholera. If family members are suddenly coming down with these problems, it is time to get your water tested and fast.
A yellowish-red tinge in your drinking water isn’t the most appealing thing to look at. Iron, manganese, and oxygen can all create a yellow tint. If your water has a reddish color, this can indicate the presence of rust within your pipes.
Blood work that shows metal contamination usually indicates metal in your water supply. Common metal contamination comes from lead which can be in certain pipes or fixtures. Other common metals can be found and while some are completely fine, some such as arsenic or chromium are toxic when ingested.
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