Water is essential for life, used for drinking, cooking, washing, and countless other everyday activities. But with the increasing number of industries, chances of water contamination are also increasing. It is thus necessary for homeowners to know the quality of water they are using in their homes, and see whether it is safe for consumption. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the factors that could be contaminating your water and what you can do about it.
The risk of potential contaminants prompts homeowners to check the quality of water they use in their homes. The common question that everyone has in their minds is how can I test water quality at home? To maintain the water quality and learn about its current condition, you can check your water at home or through a certified home inspection company like Pro-Spect FL.
In this blog, we will discuss how to test your drinking water at home and provide you with five simple testing steps that can help you ensure your water is clean and safe for use.
Why Water Quality Testing Matters?
Water plays a massive role in everyday lives, therefore requiring the attention of homeowners. If your home’s water gets contaminated, it may bring different types of pollutants that are not visible to the naked eye or can bypass standard filtration processes. Some of these pollutants include harmful bacteria, lead, chlorine, and even harmful chemicals such as pesticides. Old water pipes are also a source of lead, which causes multiple problems, including diseases in children and expecting mothers. Even more concerning, poor water quality can delay a baby’s development in the womb and lead to kidney disease in adults.
Bacteria also mixes with the water supply through various means, and causes gastrointestinal problems in addition to many other ailments. Additionally, although chlorine is used to disinfect water, high concentrations can be harmful to the human body.
If water contamination goes unnoticed for an extended period, it might cause diarrhea, vomiting, or, in some instances, cancer.
Therefore, regular water quality inspections and tests can help you identify problems long before they turn into major health issues. This proactive approach helps you maintain a healthy home environment for yourself and your family.
Read more about the importance of water testing.
How can I Test Water Quality at Home?
Here, we will discuss the five steps that can help you in checking your home’s water quality:
Step 1 – Identify the Water Source
In Florida, most of the freshwater supply comes from underground aquifers. However, according to the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Science, around 12% of Floridians rely on well water. Thus, first, you need to identify your water source.
Water from underground aquifers might contain pollutants because it passes through sand, rocks, and other elements. So, there is a high chance of contamination with bacteria and other pesticides.
Step 2 – Need Water Quality Test Kits
After identifying the water source, you need to get water quality test kits. There are various water quality test kits in the market, depending upon which test you want to perform. You can get them online or at a local high-standard store. The following kits are useful for checking the extent and presence of contamination in your home’s water.
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Basic Kit
The basic kit is used to check the pH level, hardness, and any basic contaminants in the water. It is a general water quality test kit to check the basic condition of water.
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Comprehensive Kit
These can test for a wide range of contaminants and heavy metals such as lead, nitrates, and pesticides. It is the best choice for homeowners if they want to know their home’s water condition in detail.
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Bacteria Identifying Kit
This kit is used to detect the presence of harmful bacteria like E. coli. It helps you ensure that your water has no contaminants or bacteria. This kit is specially used for well water or in bacteria outbreak areas.
Choosing a testing kit based on your water source
If you are using municipal water then you need to select a basic kit to check the pH and hardness of the water. But if you are using well water, a comprehensive kit will be best for identifying bacteria and pesticides.
Tips for Buying a Suitable Kit
If you want to buy water quality test kits online, then you must follow these steps:
Read the Reviews
Before buying the drinking water quality test kit, read product reviews first. Check how many customers are satisfied and are getting the required results.
Check for Certifications
Verify that the kit has been approved by the Water Quality Association. An approved and authentic kit will give accurate results.
Detailed Instruction
The user’s manual comes with clear and simple steps. Follow these steps to perform tests for accurate results.
Step 3 – Collecting samples from various locations
Collecting water samples is a crucial step for getting the best results. Follow these steps to collect water samples. Ensure the container is clean and avoid touching the inside.
Tap Water
Collect the water sample from the tap, which you usually use for drinking water. Fill the container without touching it inside.
Well Water
Get a water sample from the well pump to identify the presence of bacteria. Store it in the container and
Mark the date of collection and location of the sample.
Bottle Water
Collect the water sample from the bottle and keep it in a dark environment to avoid chemical leaching from the plastic.
Things You Need to Follow When Collecting Samples
You need to follow these steps when collecting the water sample:
Labeling
Keep in mind that you label each container and mention the date, time, and location.
Storing
If you cannot perform the test immediately after collecting the samples, store the containers in a dark place.
Timing
After collecting the samples without wasting time, perform the tests as soon as possible.
Step 4 – Performing the Tests
To get accurate results, you need to perform the tests accurately. We are providing you with a step-by-step guide for conducting water quality tests:
pH Test
Dip the pH test strip into the water and wait for the recommended time, which is usually a few seconds to a minute. After that, compare the color change and gauge the pH.
Chlorine Test
Pour the water sample into a vial and add some drops of chlorine reagent as per the instructions. Shake the vial gently and compare the color change with the provided color chart.
Step 5 – Act on the results
After performing the tests, compare them with the water quality standards and regulations in Florida, which are outlined by the EPA.
Final Words
To live a healthy life, it is necessary to know the condition of the water in your home. We have outlined simple and actionable steps that you can follow to identify the contaminants in your drinking water easily at home. But for some comprehensive tests like identifying the presence of bacteria, you need to use a sterile container and incubate samples. These tests require a laboratory and a professional to get accurate results. For this, we strongly recommend hiring a professional company like Pro-Spect to get an in-depth analysis of your water and any contaminants present in it.