Water is the fundamental element we all require to carry on with our lives. We use water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing, and numerous other purposes. Ironically, the contents of our water supply remain unknown to most of us. With contaminants such as lead, bacteria, and chlorine potentially lurking in your tap water, testing water quality at home should be a priority for homeowners.
This blog will explain the importance of home water quality assessment with step-by-step instructions and essential considerations for isolated water testing at home.
Why Test Water Quality At Home
Before we dive into the how-to, let’s talk about why you should test water quality at home. You must take water contamination seriously as it develops from three primary sources—natural elements, industrial activities, and outdated pipes. Nearly 10% of Americans who use private wells for water supply must carry out testing independently since they are not covered by any federal government regulations.
Although municipal water facilities receive proper treatment chemicals, pathogens might still enter the system because of outdated infrastructure or deficient water purification processes. Testing your home water supply lets you detect early water issues and develop appropriate solutions to resolve them.
Which Method Do You Use to Test Drinking Water
There are multiple methods to test water quality at home. Most of them are inexpensive and easy to conduct. They help users determine water safety levels and proceed accordingly. Let’s look at some of them below.
Use A Home Water Testing Kit
A home water testing kit is one of the easiest ways to test water quality at home. These kits are easily accessible in the market and provide a complete solution with directions on how to use them, test strips, and even prepaid return envelopes to send the samples to the lab.
Home water testing kits measure several substances through their tests, which include:
- Water acidity or alkalinity can be evaluated through the pH testing scale.
- Check chlorine levels as they are mixed in municipal water systems for disinfection.
- Lead and copper can seep into water from water pipes.
- Water hardness levels are caused by calcium and magnesium buildup in the pipes.
- The pathogen E. coli and other bacteria cause illnesses in humans.
Test With Water Test Strips
Water test strips are an easy, low-cost way to test water quality at home. They operate through color change reactions to provide instant feedback about water contamination levels.
Test strips serve as a practical and simple tool to detect basic water problems that include:
- pH imbalances.
- Hardness (high mineral content).
- Chlorine or chlorine dioxide levels.
- Alkalinity.
Sending Samples To Labs For Analysis
Send your samples to certified testing laboratories to obtain a comprehensive and exact water quality analysis. This professional water testing provides a detailed chemical breakdown of your water’s contents, even though it takes time and is costlier than self-testing methods. Professional labs test for multiple water contaminants, from pesticides to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and radioactive materials.
Professional water testing proves helpful when you live in an area with widespread water contamination or when you extract water from a private well.
Common Water Contaminants To Look Out For
When you test water quality at home, it’s important to understand what you’re looking for. Among water contaminants, there are several types that you may encounter.
Lead
Lead poses severe threats as a hazardous substance that targets children in particular. The water supply network may contain lead, which seeps from outdated pipes that carry water to your residence. The EPA classifies lead exposure at any concentration as hazardous, so homeowners must test their water piping system, particularly when the buildings have older structures.
Chlorine
The municipal water facilities kill bacteria through chlorine treatment during their water purification process. Heavy chlorine concentrations in water affect its taste and smell. High chlorine levels in your water supply indicate a good reason to install water filtration equipment to cleanse the water and maintain its quality.
Hard Water
Drinking water with high mineral content, including calcium and magnesium ions, is classified as hard water. Hard water produces no particular health concerns but creates deposits in plumbing systems and home devices. High amounts of chlorine will reduce the lifespan of plumbing components and produce discolored marks in sinks and bathtubs.
Pesticides
People who reside near agricultural lands or spray pesticides on their properties need to inspect water quality for pesticide contamination. These chemicals can enter the water supply system and lead to severe health issues, including reproductive problems and cancer.
Bacteria And Microorganisms
- coli bacteria and other microbes exist in untreated water, resulting in gastrointestinal illness. A suspicious water smell and cloudy appearance mean you should do immediate bacterial testing.
Conclusion
Home water quality testing is essential to protect your family’s health and save it from harm. Water testing permits you to take active measures for water quality improvement when concerns about lead, bacteria, or high chlorine levels exist. For checking water quality, there are multiple testing methods ranging from basic strips to official laboratory tests, and homeowners should normalize water testing as part of routine house maintenance.
If you are unable to test water quality at home or interpret the results, consult a professional about your test results or water quality problems. Orange and South Coast Property Services provides services for water quality evaluation, along with possible solutions to enhance water quality.
Contact Orange and South Coast Property Inspection to book water quality tests and protect your household water supply.