DIY Water testing

[mscher]

Does anyone test their own water?

I'm looking to test our water sources for bacteria, etc, plus water hardness.

Are there good reasonably priced kits, or other procedures, or will I need to send it to a lab?

Thanks

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: DIY Water testing

Around here you can just co to the County Health Dept. and get a bottle you fill and take to the State Health Dept.
They test for about a bajillion things and it's free.
It takes a little while but what the hey.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: DIY Water testing

http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/pdfs/fs_homewatertesting.pdf

good luck.

 

[DaleT]

Re: DIY Water testing

Depending on the specific items you are looking for there are companies that you can rent the equipment from. There are models that supply data in digital format. However, deciphering that data could be a tad be more complicated.

 

[rentalguy1]

Re: DIY Water testing

Just get a good sample in a clean bottle and take it to your local water filtration plant. Be sure to rinse your bottle at least three times and then fill it up and seal it (rinse the cap three times, too). If you live near Bristol, TN I'll do it for you, as I am a water plant operator there. If you have "municipal" treated water, then you can look at the "CCR" that the EPA requires us to mail out to all of our customers once a year. All of the parameters of the water are listed on it. You can also rest assured that your municipal water meets very strict EPA and state standards, and that all of the operators take great pride in making the cleanest water they can. If you are on a well or a spring, then I suggest you call Culligan right away, because I can guarantee you are drinking E. coli every day.

 

[mscher]

Re: DIY Water testing

Just get a good sample in a clean bottle and take it to your local water filtration plant. Be sure to rinse your bottle at least three times and then fill it up and seal it (rinse the cap three times, too). If you live near Bristol, TN I'll do it for you, as I am a water plant operator there. If you have "municipal" treated water, then you can look at the "CCR" that the EPA requires us to mail out to all of our customers once a year. All of the parameters of the water are listed on it. You can also rest assured that your municipal water meets very strict EPA and state standards, and that all of the operators take great pride in making the cleanest water they can. If you are on a well or a spring, then I suggest you call Culligan right away, because I can guarantee you are drinking E. coli every day.

What do I need to test my own water, if only for the basics like e.coli or nitrates? I live in the country and the only water testing available is through the county health dept. and they want a min. of $25 for each test.

I would like to test my water well, farm pond and nearby streams, at least twice year.


Are there kits or chemicals available, so I can can just test my water when necessary?

I will go ahead and get the water well test through the county.

Marty

 

[tommays]

Re: DIY Water testing

If you Google it there are plenty of DIY test kits online


We do are own at work but the petri dish thing requires a lot of stuff and then you need to know type of colony your looking at


http://www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer/EColi/TestKits.htm

During 2004 and 2005, volunteers in Indiana and Iowa were trained to assess E. coli using both field/home lab test methods and to collect samples that were analyzed in a state certified laboratory in Iowa. Six E. coli tests were assessed by these volunteer monitors. Following that sampling season, two test methods were recommended for use in all 6 participating states based on volunteer preference surveys, costs of the methods, and comparability of results between the methods and laboratory methods. In 2005 volunteers in MI, MN, OH, and WI initiated use of 3M Petrifilm and Coliscan Easgygel. Volunteers in all 6 participating states continue to test these two methods in 200

 

[rentalguy1]

Re: DIY Water testing

Marty....Google HACH. They are a scientific company and they are the largest supplier to the water industry. We buy the bulk of our testing equipment and supplies from them. As to what needs to be tested, that would be up to the use of the water. If you are watering cattle, then little if not tests need to be performed. If it is your personal well, then I would test for e. coli, nitrites/nitrates, fluoride, iron, manganese, hardness, suspended solids (or turbidity), and free chlorine residual. You are chlorinating your well, aren't you?

If you don't have any treatment for the well at all, you should seriously think about calling Culligan. They have some great well/spring equipment. It's kind of pricey, but it works well.

 

[DaleT]

Re: DIY Water testing

I'll second the HACH units. Just spent 3 days doing training on water quality instruments, repair of unit not how to use, and they were by far the easiest to function. There are some "better" units available but not nearly as user friendly. A quick search pulled up a number of companies that do rentals on them. Best of luck.