Green Power And Company

WHY DO I NEED TO TEST MY WATER?

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 87% of the population receives water from a public supply system, while 13% of homes use private sources for their water needs (the vast majority of these homes use water stored in wells nearby).

Now, if you receive your drinking water from the local municipality, you can use a few resources to learn what contaminants are present in your water. Homeowners who have water pumped into their houses from the city can check a municipal water quality report. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires community water systems to send residents a copy of their water quality report, also called a consumer confidence report.

On the other hand, if you use private well water, well, there’s a lot less information floating out there for you to find. You see, the EPA does not regulate private wells, so they do not receive the same federal safeguards that public systems do. So your well, and the quality of your water, is entirely your responsibility. (NOTE: If you are unsure of where your water comes from, ask yourself: do you receive a water bill in the mail? If the answer is no, you are likely in the private well water world.)

No matter which source you use in your home, it’s important for your peace of mind to know that the water in your home is safe for you and your family to use and consume on a daily basis. And that demands a boost in your water wisdom. Which starts with a water test.

First Things First: What Is A Water Test?

In simplest terms, a water test takes a sample of your water and determines the concentration of substances other than water, called …ewww… “contaminants,” that are present in the sample.

Where do contaminants come from?

Many factors can cause contamination. And many routes can bring it into your water supply. Let’s break it down further.

Municipal Water.

Contaminants can get into municipal water in between treatment and flowing out of your tap. Chemicals and pipe coating can leech into drinking water. Chlorines and chloramines that treat your water can interact with organic compounds to create disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Naturally-occurring contaminants and pollution can enter water sources directly.

According to the EPA, common municipal water contaminants include:

Disinfection chemicals (chlorine and chloramines)
Heavy metals from pipes (lead and copper)
Disinfection byproducts like trihalomethanes (THMs)
Total coliform bacteria (often from septic tanks)
Naturally-occurring minerals and chemicals (manganese, arsenic, radium)
Pesticides
Nitrates and nitrites from fertilizers

Private Well Water.

Contaminants can find their way into wells during inclement weather or gradually over time. Flooding or agricultural runoff can sometimes contain chemicals and live bacteria. Check sanitary seals in wells regularly to ensure they haven’t been broken and thereby compromised the well water quality.

According to the EPA, potential well water contaminants include:

Animal waste
Heavy metals (arsenic, lead, chromium, cadmium, and selenium)
Industrial chemicals
Microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and parasites)
Naturally-occurring fluoride
Naturally-occurring radionuclides (uranium, radium, and radon)
Nitrates and nitrites from fertilizers
Pesticides

To enjoy worry-free water, the best way to detect contamination is with a water quality test.

HOW FREQUENTLY SHOULD I TEST MY WATER?

Most municipal water agencies will release water quality reports that you can read online once a year. Still, if you want a breakdown of what’s present in your water, and not just a reading from somewhere in your city, test your water quality yearly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend owners of private wells also test their well water at least once a year. The organization recommends that well owners conduct well water tests for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants in spring after checking the well for mechanical problems. To build on that, the Groundwater Foundation notes that shallow wells, and wells that utilize surface water sources, are more susceptible to contamination. The foundation recommends well owners in these conditions conduct a water test seasonally.

What Are The Common Contamination Clues To Look For?

If you notice a significant change to the quality of your water, you should order a water test immediately. Possible changes in water quality include, but are not limited to:

A change in taste
A change in color
A change in smell
A change in consistency (for example, does your water feel chalky?)

Also, if any abnormal occurrences threaten your well’s integrity, you should test your water immediately and refrain from drinking it until your results are back. These situations include:

Flooding near or in your well
A storm like a hurricane or a tornado
An earthquake that can destroy the lining of your well
An abrupt change in water quality of any kind after a heavy rain
Spills or leaks reported from nearby processing, power, or manufacturing plants
Reports of runoff from nearby farms or agricultural lands

Again, test your water seasonally if:

You have a shallow well or utilize a surface water source
Hazardous waste or chemicals are used near your home
Your well water has previously tested positive for any worrisome contaminants

These guidelines will help you determine when it’s best to conduct the testing of your well water. Remember: when you perform a test, test both the water from the tap and the source water. This will let you know if the problem exists in your well or your pipes.

TYPES OF WATER TESTS

Depending on your budget and what contaminants you suspect are present in your water, there are multiple options for water testing. Pentair Water Solutions offers water tests that detect basic contaminants, as well as tests that are more comprehensive. Let’s explore the options:

STANDARD WATER TEST

Our affordable 16-Point Rapid Water Test checks for 16 common water contaminants:

Total Coliform (Bacteria)
Copper
Chloride
Turbidity
Sulfate
Tannins
Lead
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
Total Iron
Fluoride
Water Hardness
Nitrates
Nitrites
Manganese
Arsenic
pH Level

When you want to understand the makeup of your well water, the 16-Point Rapid Water Test gives you precise results.

HOW TO TEST YOUR WATER.

A professional can conduct a water test in your home, or you can order a water test that you can do yourself for convenience. Once you collect your sample, ship the vials off to a lab for testing. Depending on your level of concern, budget, and if you are conducting a general test or a specialty test, choose and order the Pentair Water Solutions water test that best suits your needs.

Interpreting and understanding the results of your water test can sometimes be challenging. If you have any questions, it’s best to contact the lab that conducted the testing, then reach out to Pentair Water Solutions directly if you still have questions.

Depending on what test you ordered, your water analysis report can be quite lengthy. To understand if the amounts or parameters of contaminants listed in your report require attention, you must compare the concentrations against the contaminant’s general limits for drinking standards. Some tests will include this information, so you will know which contaminants require treatment by a filtration system.