Water Testing

What Does Water Quality Testing Show You?

The Benefits of Water Quality Testing

Have you been asked about performing water quality testing in your home or business? You’re probably wondering if it is a scam and you may have asked, “ What is the purpose of water quality testing?” Well, there are several purposes to having water quality testing performed.
This is a key activity of water quality testing that will characterize the quality of your home or business environment and establishes a benchmark prior to any possible environmental disturbance or after a hazardous accent or event that could threaten the local ecosystem. These hazardous accents or events would refer to an oil spill, a major fire, or storm damage that could affect the water supply.
Water quality testing measures include certain chemicals and mineral levels as well as detecting the presence of contaminants. The contaminants that water quality testing can detect include:

What Can Be Detected Through Water Quality Testing?

Water quality testing measures include certain chemicals and mineral levels as well as detecting the presence of contaminants. The contaminants that water quality testing can detect include:
Water quality testing also measures the level of nitrates and phosphates, all to determine if the water is safe for consumption and for agricultural, swimming, and other recreational purposes. use.

What Types of Water Quality Tests are Available?

There are three parameters in water quality testing:
Three commonly used options for water quality testing include:

Testing Strip

You can do your own water quality testing using test strips that are available at various locations and online. These testing strips detect if certain chemicals are present in your water indicated by changing color. After the time stated in the directions, you compare the color of the testing strip to the supplied chart.
This will tell you what specific chemical concentrations are in your water like chlorine and pH balance. Water quality testing strips are inexpensive but not the more accurate in determining if your water is safe.

Test Kit

Disk kits, also referred to as drop water quality testing kits can determine the concentration of certain chemicals in the water. The process of this type of testing is to use a plastic tube to gather a sample of water. Then either drops or a powder are added to the tube and after an allotted time as stated in the directions, the water will change color.
As with the water quality testing strips, depending on the elements detected in the water, the color changes and you then compare it to the color disk provided. This type of water quality testing is more technical but provides better test results than the testing strips about the chemical and microbiological elements detected in your water.

Digital Instrument

You can purchase a handheld digital water quality testing instrument that provides accurate results. This is a more expensive method compared to the first two methods we’ve listed and requires training to use properly. This also requires calibration to ensure you’re getting the most accurate results.

Professional Water Quality Testing Lab

If the water quality is a major concern for you, this will be the most thorough analysis, because it is performed by trained professionals with professional equipment.

What Contaminants are Typically Tested for in Water Quality Tests?

It is important to check with the local environmental or health agency for what contaminants are possible in your area. Water quality testing can find if the following are detected so that you know what steps should be taken next:

How Often Should Water Quality Tests be Performed?

If you’re on city water, the water should be getting tested by them. However, you can purchase any of the water quality testing setups we mentioned above. If you’re on well water, you should perform water quality testing every spring for the following:

How Can Water Quality Testing Help Protect Public Health?

When there are certain contaminants present in the water, they could be hazardous to the public’s health issues. What are the potential risks of not testing water quality? Among other things, the public could be at risk of gastrointestinal illness, neurological disorders, and reproductive problems. The risks are higher for the elderly and young children.

These are just some of the reasons that the federal government has stepped in and required municipalities and water suppliers to perform water quality testing on a regular basis. When you’re not sure your water has been tested but want to test the source of your water, we will be happy to assist.  Call Your Water Matters and have your water tested today 817-752-9695.