It is good to pay attention to the quality of water you take. Though not many people do so, it is necessary as contaminated water can cause diseases and other health problems such as teeth discoloration. Water quality is an essential factor, as the water is to the body for your well-being and health. To establish the quality of water, use a water test kit to screen it. Water test kits are in many varieties. Choose a kit suitable for the contaminant you are screening for. Follow the tips below to test the water quality;
1. The Quality And Safety Of Bottled Water
There is high consumption of bottled water as it is assumed to be safe and of good quality. However, the same safety is not guaranteed with tap water. The Food and Drugs Administration, FDA, regulates bottled water. FDA ensures the water is sourced and packaged per the safety standards. The bottled water distributors are required to specify on the label the source of the water and the chemical composition in it. Bottled water is safe, therefore, since distributors follow laid down safety guidelines.
2. Identify The Water Source
Choose a water test kit depending on the water source you are screening. For urban areas, use a basic kit to filter the water for contaminants such as chlorine and lead. To test underground water, you require a comprehensive test kit to screen for several pollutants such as lead, mercury, pesticides, lead, and microorganisms.
3. Choose A Method Of Testing
There are many water test kits in the market. However, some are high-tech and require laboratories to use. Fortunately, smaller, practical, and less complicated kits are available for home use. These kits are categorized into three;
Water Test strips
The kit is a single-use strip that tests for specific chemicals. It uses color to establish the presence and quantity levels of a specific contaminant in the water. The strip is dipped into the water for some time. It is then removed, and the color it has turned to is compared to the color chart to identify the chemical concentration levels. This method is simple but less accurate if not followed properly.
Color Strip
Color strips are available in many varieties to screen water for different chemicals. A reagent is added to a water sample that is in a reusable plastic tube. The tube with the sample is placed in a plastic viewing box with a color disk with a color gradient. The color of the water sample is matched to the color on the gradient to identify chemical concentration. This test kit is more accurate than test strips but requires multiple steps to get reliable results.
Hand-held Digital Instruments
These are portable digital kits that provide accurate water tests results. However, they are more expensive and delicate to use compared to the color strips and test strips. To use the kits requires calibration and batteries. They are suitable for field and remote areas water testing but not ideal for testing crowded areas.
4. Determine The Contaminant To Test
To determine the test kit to use, identify the water contaminant you would like to screen the water for. Some kits identify a range of contaminants, whereas others test one or two pollutants. If you have a specific pollutant to screen for, you can use the appropriate test kits. If you are not sure which contaminant is in the water and would like to know, it is advisable to use a kit that screens several toxins. According to National Sanitation Foundation International’s Global Water Program, drinking water’s common contaminants are chromium, chloramine, fluoride, nitrates, nitrites, PFOA, lead, arsenic, bacteria, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), viruses, and cysts.
5. Ensure the Results Are Accurate
To get accurate water quality results, follow the instructions on the test kits to the letter. Use a specific kit to test the particular pollutant you are screening the water for. A broader kit that picks several pollutants is more accurate. Routine water tests will as well give a general overview of the water quality.
The quality of water can be contaminated though it has been treated from the source. Pathogens, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms may find their way into it from human fecal matter or other means. Pesticides from the farms, chemicals from industrial waste, lead from the corroding pipes, and other such sources can compromise the water quality. It is advisable to, therefore, test the quality of water to ensure its safe for consumption. You can do this from the comfort of your home using the above process.
