| When is drinking water testing necessary? This is an | | | | If you drink from your own well, you are responsible |
| important question because it can affect the health | | | | to ensure that the contents are safe. For this reason, |
| of your family. Your supply should be safe enough | | | | regular testing for common impurities is |
| for drinking and acceptable for other uses in the | | | | recommended. Even if your source is safe, periodic |
| household. Apart from illness, other minor problems | | | | testing is valuable because it will evaluate the water |
| can occur if the supply is contaminated. These include | | | | quality. This could prove useful in possible problems in |
| odor, color, taste and staining. | | | | the future. It will also help your cause if you want to |
| Most homeowners receive their source from | | | | claim compensation from someone who damages |
| municipalities, while others provide their own. These | | | | your supply. |
| are referred to as public and private supplies, | | | | So, the question remains: When should you have |
| respectively. A public system draws its supply from | | | | your water tested? Irrespective of whether you |
| reservoirs, rivers, ground water wells, or springs. | | | | receive your supply publicly or privately, it should be |
| Private supplies come from springs, wells and even | | | | tested if any family member or visitor suffers with |
| ponds on the homeowners' properties. | | | | repeated episodes of gastrointestinal problems. |
| If yours comes from a municipal or public system, it | | | | Common ones include diarrhea, constipation or |
| will be tested regularly for contaminants in | | | | abdominal pain. In these cases, testing for sulfate, |
| accordance with government standards. Most | | | | nitrate and coliform bacteria is necessary. |
| municipalities test for radioactive elements, toxic | | | | If the plumbing in your home consists of lead fittings, |
| chemicals and pathogens. However, in some | | | | pipes or joints, then testing for zinc, cadmium and |
| countries, municipal supplies are inadequate because | | | | lead is necessary. Drinking water testing is also |
| of inferior distribution and treatment facilities. | | | | important if you are moving into a new home. You |
| Many rural municipalities do not have enough funding | | | | will want to establish the quality and safety of the |
| to comply with government regulations. Neither can | | | | supply. It should be tested for iron, nitrate, lead, |
| they afford to call in specialists to advise them about | | | | coliform bacteria, pH sulfate, hardness, TDS (total |
| purification ideas. The problem is increased by | | | | dissolved solids), and corrosion index. If the source |
| deteriorating or rusty pipes which can add additional | | | | comes from a contaminated area in close proximity, |
| impurities into municipal drinking water. | | | | it should also be tested for other pollutants. |