Water is an organic solvent capable of dissolving everything it comes into contact with, including organic material, chemicals and even levels of dissolved oxygen.
Water testing will enable you to detect whether your drinking water contains contaminants that could pose health risks, from bacteria and lead to disinfection byproducts and more.
You may visit https://jblantonplumbing.com/water-testing/ for water testing and if you need professional assistance with your plumbing issues.
Bacteria and viruses
Viral and bacterial pathogens are indicators of water quality. Testing methods vary, from laboratory techniques that deliver more accurate but longer results, to home testing kits that produce quicker but less precise tests.
Many pathogens that cause disease in humans can be spread through drinking water, but infection may also come through other methods, including inhaling droplets from shower or bathtub spray, especially when hand hygiene and excreta disposal practices are inadequate.
Drinking water may also become contaminated with slow-growing mycobacteria that are transmissible via skin and mucous membrane contact – such as Pseudomonas spp and Flavobacterium, Klebsiella or Serratia genera of mycobacteria that grow slowly over time and are transmitted through contact between shower and bath spray, for instance.
Bacteria such as E coli that enter drinking water from livestock, human faeces or waste can cause diseases like diarrhea. Many public water systems test for fecal coliforms – an indicator of recent contamination – and publish Consumer Confidence Reports with results.
Turbidity
Water quality testing for bacteria and hazardous chemicals is critical for maintaining proper hygiene standards. If water contains arsenic, lead, mercury or radium it could pose health hazards that could even be lethal; detection methods include home test kits such as turbidity meters, nitrate meters or pH meters to make this assessment.
Other tests for microbial contamination include those which detect bacteria indicative of excremental pollution and those that demonstrate water treatment efficacy. It would be impractical and costly to conduct routine examinations for all possible pathogens; such an endeavor requires isolation and enumeration which takes considerable time and resources.
Other parameters to be measured for water quality include dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, turbidity, colour, bicarbonate alkalinity and chemical content such as cadmium, copper, lead sodium radium atrazine.
Most municipalities and bottled water suppliers make their water quality reports available online while home kits measure some parameters; lab testing provides more comprehensive results but is more costly.
Dissolved oxygen
Water quality impacts every aspect of life. Maintaining high standards of water quality is crucial to ensure end users remain healthy and functioning optimally, whether this means people drinking healthily, businesses operating smoothly without interference due to poor-grade water, or natural environments thriving without contaminants.
Disintegrated oxygen concentration is a key indicator of water quality. Oxygen can enter the water either by diffusion from the atmosphere or exudation by aquatic plants; higher levels provide improved taste and corrosion protection while low concentrations stress aquatic wildlife and contribute to hypoxic conditions.
Water is typically tested in a laboratory using sophisticated technology for germs and harmful chemicals; home testing kits may also be available but take longer to deliver results. Depending on where your house is situated and whether its water source comes from an urban or rural location, more tests may need to be completed than just for germs and heavy metals.
Lead
Well-documented research indicates that exposure to even low levels of result in drinking water can cause permanent and devastating brain damage in children under six years of age. Testing your home water for lead is simple, affordable and highly recommended.
As water travels over, through, and around the earth it picks up various natural contaminants from its surroundings. Furthermore, human activity such as open defecation or garbage dumping pollutes it further; mining operations or industrial operations also release chemicals into its waters that contaminate it further.
Regular water testing is of critical importance in cities where contamination risks increase due to outdated city plumbing systems and industrial activities nearby, and for homeowners relying on private wells. Consult a water well professional on how often and what specific tests would best serve you – these could include:
