Importance of Testing Your Water

Table of Contents

The Importance of EHS Water Testing

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Why EHS Water Testing?

EHS Water testing measures the existence of contaminants. Contaminants found in water include any chemical, physical, biological, or radiological substances.

First,  we will outline a few examples of contaminants that we test for as according to “Types of Drinking Contaminants”.

 

  • Chemical contaminants are elements or compounds. Examples of chemical contaminants commonly found in water include nitrogen, phosphate, chlorides, pesticides, and metals such as potassium and iron.
  • Physical contaminants are particles that impact the physical properties of water. Some examples include sediment, sand, and silt.
  • Biological contaminants are microbes and organisms in the water. Examples include bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
  • Radiological contaminants are chemicals with unstable atoms that can emit ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is a type of high-energy radiation that can lead to chemical changes in cells while simultaneously damaging DNA.

 

Furthermore, along with testing for contaminants, water testing checks pH levels, water hardness, and total dissolved solids (TDS). By checking pH levels we are measuring how acidic or alkaline your water ranks on the pH scale. TDS testing measures ionized solids which may have increased the conductivity levels in the water.

 

Water Quality and your Health

How do these Contaminants Impact Health?

As previously mentioned there are a vast amount of contaminants that can be found in your water. To better understand the impact these contaminants may have on your health there are two categories, acute and chronic. An acute effect usually occurs within hours or days of consumption of contaminated water and usually leads to gastrointestinal illness.

A chronic effect occurs after someone consumes contaminated water over an extended period. Chronic effects can often lead to increased health risks such as cancer, reproductive difficulties, and liver issues.

 

EHS Water Testing for pH Level Effects

Many things can affect your home’s water including pH levels. For example, a high pH (7.1-14) causes an unpleasant taste in water and can cause residue buildup on your appliances rendering them less effective. A low pH (1-6.9) can cause water to be acidic and corrosive. Acidic water can cause a metallic taste, fabric stains, and damage your home’s pipes.

It is important to monitor pH levels as they help to keep your body in balance by regulating the metabolic process. Studies have shown that high acidity can lead to weight gain and slower immune responses whereas high alkalinity can lead to the inability to metabolize nutrients.

EHS Water Test Ph Scale Picture

Eye Home Solutions has lots of information on the site that explain the effects of hard water. Learn more about the difference between water purifiers and softeners here.

Hard water can interfere with most of your household cleaning tasks, as well as your personal grooming. This in turn can leave your skin and hair dried out, causing itchiness and potentially aggravating minor skin conditions such as eczema flare-ups.

Water hardness reduces the effectiveness of your appliances including your laundry machines. This may lead to your clothes looking dingy due to being washed more than once to get rid of residue buildup. Also, having hard water ruin the efficiency of your appliances will directly impact your energy costs meaning you will be paying more out of pocket on your energy bills.

Simply put, hard water can cause minor skin irritations, and calcium deposits around faucets, reduce the efficacy of your appliances, and clog your pipes. This is why it is important to test for water hardness to address the aforementioned issues.

 

TDS Effects on Water Quality

Measuring the amounts of TDS in your water rules out several common water issues. High levels of total dissolved solids can affect the taste of your drinking water due to the types of TDS found present. Not only do they affect the taste of your water they can also cause fading of your clothes, water spots on your dishes, and residue buildup on your sinks and faucets.

The World Health Organization (https://www.who.int/) has drawn up a chart to help people understand the preferable level of TDS in drinking water.

 

Methods of EHS Water Testing

How is EHS Water Testing Done?

Water testing is a straightforward process however, it is most accurate if done by a professional. It is important to note that factors such as the home’s square footage should be recorded as this directly correlates to the amount of water consumption. After collecting this, it will become easier to determine the best water treatment system for the home. There are a few different ways to test water quality, which we will outline below.

 

Water Testing Strips

Test strips are single-use strips that change colour to show the presence and concentration of a specific chemical. The strips often come with a chart for colour comparison of the results. It is one of the most common tests used to measure pH levels or chlorine amounts. Unfortunately, test strips aren’t the most accurate way to test water quality as they have poor resolution.

 

Colour Disk Kits

Colour disk kits are another method used to test for the concentration of specific chemicals present in your water. First, collect a sample of the water in a plastic test tube, then add a powder or a few drops of liquid reagent to the tube. The water proceeds to change colour depending on which chemical elements are found.

A colour gradient disk is provided to compare the colour. This method of testing is similar to the test strips however is slightly more accurate as it also tests for microbial elements.

 

Handheld Digital Water Testing Instruments

It is important to hire a professional if testing water with a handheld digital instrument as proper training and calibration is key to getting the most accurate results. These instruments can screen for bacteria, and determine pH levels, TDS, and electrical conductivity of your water. Digital instruments when used by a professional are far more accurate than colour disks or test strips.

 

Professional Lab Water Testing

Colour disk kits are another method used to test for the concentration of specific chemicals present in your water. First, collect a sample of the water in a plastic test tube, then add a powder or a few drops of liquid reagent to the tube. The water proceeds to change colour depending on which chemical elements are found. A colour gradient disk is provided to compare the colour.

This method of testing is similar to the test strips however is slightly more accurate as it also tests for microbial elements. It is important to understand that professionals use a couple of methods to test for different contaminants, bacteria, water hardness, and pH levels.

EHS Water Testing Technician

 

Achieving Accurate Water Testing Results

Precautions Taken During Water Testing

Professionals take precautions to ensure the most accurate test results. It is imperative to have clean hands while testing as water testing involves chemical and biological reactions that need to remain untampered with.

Another factor to monitor while performing a water test is maintaining an appropriate water temperature. Especially when testing for bacteria the temperature of the water sample collected can alter and provide inaccurate results.

Lastly, the sampling site is key to retrieving a proper water sample. Obtain the water sample from the main point of use, usually the kitchen faucet. The water will have to run for a few minutes before collecting the sample so that any concentrated amounts of contaminants can pass through.

 

When to Test your Water

Indications it’s Time for Water Testing

There’s never a “wrong time” for water testing, however, there are some common signs to look out for to help you know when a water test is NEEDED.

Some signs to look out for include the following:

 

  • You or your family suffer from recurring gastrointestinal issues
  • You notice residue buildup around your faucets
  • Your appliances aren’t working as effectively as they should
  • There are stains on your laundry
  • Detect an unpleasant taste in your drinking water
  • You or your family are suffering from skin irritations
  • Reside close to a gas station or buried fuel tanks
  • Home’s water has a cloudy appearance
  • Your home uses well water
  • There is a foul odour to your water
  • You or someone in your household is pregnant
  • You plan to install a whole-home water filtration system

 

If you’re experiencing any of the above, then definitely consider having a professional come in to test your home’s water.

How can water quality affect pregnant women?

We recommend having your water tested if you or someone in your home is pregnant or planning to get pregnant. This is because when contaminated water is consumed by a pregnant woman the health of the baby can become endangered.

Not only does it affect the health of the baby, but there have also been studies conducted by https://www.h2olabcheck.com/blog/view/high-levels-of-trihalomethanesymptoms-and-consequences that show a correlation between high levels of trihalomethane (commonly found alongside high levels of chlorine) and miscarriages as well as premature deliveries.

Health should never be taken lightly which is why water purification companies such as Eye Home Solutions offer water testing done by professionals.

Water Testing Before Installing a Water Treatment System

If you’re planning on installing a whole-home treatment system it is important to have a water test done to indicate the different contaminants in your water. This will help to determine which treatment system would be best for your specific water needs.

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How Often to Test your Water Quality

While municipal water supply is usually treated properly for human consumption it is still ideal to have your water tested every few years for bacteria, TDS, and pH levels. If you use well water within your home test your water at least once a year. Water testing routinely as well as for investigating any odd changes to your water.

 

What’s Next after Testing Water Quality

After the water, testing has been completed and your water quality has been assessed, you can now decide what to do next. The professional that has performed your water test will explain the results to you as well as offer a customized water treatment plan to best address the water issues that were discovered.

Should you choose to move forward with the water treatment plan, a water expert will help you with the next steps towards ensuring the water in your home is of the best quality.

In conclusion, we hope you can now understand the importance of having your water tested. High-quality water is essential for the health and overall well-being of you, your home, and your family. To keep the quality of water at a superior level, monitoring the quality of your water is important.

To schedule your FREE water test contact Eye Home Solutions Customer service at Customer Care or call our toll-free number 1-833-246-6636.

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9 Responses

  1. Hi Guys,
    My name is Keith and I was wondering if I can order a water test kit from Eye Home Solutions. Is this possible?

  2. The article on water testing contains a wealth of useful information. I’ve always thought municipal water was adequate. There is more we can do to purify and treat our water after reading the article.

    I’ll be conducting annual water tests in my own home to ensure that I’m getting the best water quality possible.

  3. To me I view water as important if not more important than food. And most people care very much about what they eat.

  4. Thank you once more, gentlemen!
    I wanted to let everyone know how wonderful and pleasant the consultation experience was.

    Since we moved in last summer, my water hasn’t felt this good. No more abrasive water!

  5. My water has a strange odour to it. I did some research and discovered that it could be iron in my water. What kind of filter would I need to solve the problem? According to what I’ve read online, an iron filter would be the ideal solution!

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