Whether you get your water from a municipal supply or a private well, you must know how to test your drinking water. Germs and chemicals in drinking water can pose a risk to everyone, but people with compromised immune systems or pregnant women should take extra precautions.
Water Quality Testing Colorado looks for coliform bacteria, improper pH levels, and nitrates. (which restricts the blood’s ability to carry oxygen), sodium, chloride, iron, manganese, and water hardness.
Water quality testing can provide a variety of information including physical characteristics, such as pH, electrical conductivity and temperature; a statement of the levels of various nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; and an indication of key elements and compounds, such as dissolved oxygen. Depending on the parameters being tested, testing can be done using laboratory techniques or with home kits, such as test strips. Testing results can then be compared against the corresponding standards set by national or international bodies to determine if the water is acceptable.
Among the physical water quality parameters is turbidity, which measures how cloudy the water is. This is caused by different suspended materials in the water including organic material, silt and clay. High turbidity can make water unappetizing to drink and increases the cost of treating the water. It also provides hiding places for harmful microorganisms that can resist disinfection processes and absorb heavy metals.
Other physical water parameters include acidity and alkalinity. Acidity indicates how much acid the water has in it, which can affect biological activity and increase corrosion from chemical reactions. Alkalinity is measured by the amount of soda ash needed to neutralize the acid. Water that is extremely acidic or alkaline can damage equipment and corrode pipes, making it unsuitable for certain applications.
One of the most important chemicals to test for is dissolved oxygen (DO). Water that has low DO is unhealthy to drink as it makes it hard for organisms to breathe. High DO can indicate that the water is rich in organic matter or that there are pollutants such as nitrates and phosphorous present.
Another important water quality parameter is dissolved solids, which measures the total amount of soluble minerals in the water. Water that contains a lot of solids is often contaminated with harmful substances, such as arsenic and lead. These can cause serious health problems, such as cancers of the skin and digestive tract.
Another critical water quality parameter is chlorine residual, which indicates the level of chloride in the water. Chlorine is an effective disinfectant, but at high concentrations it can also be toxic.
Water quality testing involves measuring the presence of a variety of chemical substances and parameters. These may include dissolved minerals like calcium and magnesium (water hardness) as well as chlorine residual from drinking water disinfection processes. Other tests check for dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity.
These tests are usually conducted by certified laboratories, but they can also be performed in the field using portable test kits. For example, a sleeve-mounted chromatograph can be used to measure dissolved oxygen in water, and hand-held digital instruments are available for testing pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity. While these devices are useful for monitoring water quality in remote areas, they require regular calibration and battery replacement. Thus, they are not suitable for “citizen science” or crowdsourced testing.
TDS is a mixture of inorganic anions and cations, including carbonates, chlorides, sulfates and nitrates. The concentration of these in the water is a direct indicator of environmental pollution from domestic or industrial sources. It can also indicate the presence of nutrient rich fertilizers in agricultural runoff. TDS is also a common parameter to monitor in chlorinated water systems.
In addition to dissolved minerals, chemical water quality tests can also determine the levels of other elements in the water. These may include arsenic, fluoride and lead as well as nitrates and phosphates. If these are present in the water at high concentrations, they can be toxic to humans and other organisms.
Another important parameter to monitor is fecal coliforms, or E. coli, which can be indicators of fecal contamination in the water. These bacteria can cause a wide range of illnesses in humans, including diarrheal diseases.
Additional parameters to monitor include the presence of viruses, algae and protozoa. Viruses like hepatitis can be present in the water and cause disease, while protozoa such as cryptosporidium and Giardia can survive disinfection and may cause gastrointestinal symptoms. Algae can produce toxins that are harmful to human health and also create an unpleasant taste and odor in the water. Most of these can be tested using simple color disk tests or test strips, although the detection of some — such as E. coli — requires more sophisticated specialized equipment.
Biological water quality testing involves sampling the water to determine the concentration of microorganisms. This includes tests to detect fecal contamination as well as indicators such as total coliform bacteria or E. coli, which indicate that the water may be unfit for human consumption or swimming.
These bacteria are typically found in the digestive tracts of warm-blooded animals as well as in soil and surface water. They are also opportunistic pathogens, meaning that they can cause disease in immuno-compromised individuals such as infants and seniors. Since identifying specific disease-producing bacteria in water can be difficult, total coliform testing is the preferred indicator of potential germs in drinking water.
Other important biological water quality testing involves assessing the presence of pathogens that can contaminate food and crops grown in water-based media. These can include fungal spores such as Phytophthora and Pythium, which cause root rot and other plant diseases. In general, these types of testing require samples to be sent to a lab for analysis and can take up to two weeks to complete.
In addition to these types of tests, many well owners have additional water quality tests performed by their water treatment contractor or state department of natural resources. These can include tests for lead, arsenic, mercury, radium and pesticides. The type of tests you need may depend on where your well is located and how your local environment affects groundwater quality.
When performing these tests, it is important to follow proper sampling techniques. Samples should be taken from the source being tested, and they should be collected in sterile bottles or containers to prevent contamination. In addition, the water should be stored in a sterile container until it is ready for analysis.
In addition to these types of tests, many private water well owners also test their water for other constituents such as iron, manganese, sulfides and pH. These factors can impact plumbing, staining and the odor of the water. Another important parameter is dissolved oxygen, which can be measured using electrochemical instruments or colorimeters. Generally, the higher the level of dissolved oxygen in the water, the healthier it is for human use.
Water quality testing is carried out to meet the regulatory requirements and adhere to the safety procedures needed for pollutant-free water. It can be done by anyone from governmental organizations that monitor water sources to ensure compliance with environmental regulations, to homeowners trying to test their home’s drinking water for contaminants. The process of testing water can be quite involved and can vary from a simple test of dissolved oxygen to a complete analysis of a water source’s chemical components and constituents.
While most people receive drinking water from regulated public water systems, there are still a large number of people that rely on private wells for their household water supply. In these cases, it is important that people understand how to properly test their own drinking water for any potential contamination. This is especially true for people that are new to private well water as they will need to follow recommended residential tests (see “Recommended Residential Water Quality Testing” table below).
In most volunteer monitoring programs, the main focus for water quality testing is stream flow and water temperature, dissolved oxygen levels, turbidity and biochemical oxygen demand, pH, nitrates, total solids, conductivity and phosphorus. Some programs may also include tests for fecal pollution bacteria. These types of tests are expensive and time consuming to perform in remote locations without access to labs, electricity or cold chain transport. Therefore, it is not practical for them to be used on a routine basis.
For many of the other parameters listed, there are commercial test kits available for homeowners to use. These kits can range in complexity from basic colorimetric comparison tests to spectrophotometers. It is suggested that individuals consult their local health department or contact a professional water testing company for more detailed information about which tests to purchase and how to perform the test at home. Some of these companies provide a range of tests from a standard scan that compares your water to the EPA’s drinking water standards, to comprehensive and health scans that will tell you what specific contaminants are in your water and at what level they exist.