How to test the quality of water?
For tap water on a public supply, read your utility's annual water quality report. For a private well, test every year through a state-certified laboratory for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, and test sooner if the taste, smell or color changes. Home strips are only a rough check.
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In this article
How do you test the quality of your water?
It depends on where it comes from. If you are on a public supply, your utility publishes a water quality report, and you can ask them about your area. If you use a private well, nobody tests it for you, so you need to arrange it yourself.
How often should you test a private well?
The US EPA advises testing annually for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH. Test more often if small children, older adults or someone pregnant or nursing live in the home. Test right away if there are known groundwater problems nearby, if conditions change (flooding, construction, industrial activity), if you repair or replace part of the well, or if the odor, color or taste of the water changes.
What should you test for?
| If you notice or live near | Test for |
|---|---|
| Recurring stomach illness | Coliform bacteria |
| Lead pipes or service lines | pH, lead, copper |
| Nearby farming | Nitrate, nitrite, pesticides, coliform |
| Fuel odor, buried tanks, a dump, gas station or dry cleaner | Volatile organic compounds and more |
| Stained fixtures or laundry | Iron, copper, manganese |
| Scaly residue, soap that will not lather | Hardness |
Where should you get it tested?
Use only a laboratory certified to test drinking water. Ask your state certification program or local health department, which may offer free private well testing. Follow the lab’s sampling instructions exactly, because a badly collected sample gives a wrong answer.
Can you test water at home?
The EPA advises using a laboratory certified for drinking water testing. Home kits and strips are at best a rough first look, so confirm any worry with a certified lab.
How do you read the results?
The lab report shows the concentration of each substance and may say whether it exceeds a national drinking water standard. If it does not compare the results to standards, check them against the EPA’s list of drinking water contaminants and their maximum contaminant levels.
What if something is too high?
- Contact your public health department for steps.
- Retest to confirm the contaminant and its level.
- Consider treatment; bacteria can often be controlled by disinfecting the well, and filtration or other methods may remove other contaminants. In some cases a new source or well is needed.
Until you know the water is safe, use bottled or boiled water for drinking if a health agency advises it.
People also ask
How often should I test my well water?
The EPA advises at least once a year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH, and sooner if anything changes.
Are home water test kits accurate?
They are a rough check only. Use a state-certified laboratory for reliable results, especially for bacteria.
How do I test city tap water?
Read your utility's annual water quality report and contact them with questions; testing is their job.
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