Liquid Goods Water Testing For Homeowners Snap

Water Analysis

Testing drinking water can scare the owner of the well, but it can be easier if you know a few basic steps, says the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).

If you are concerned about your own water source, these three steps can help get owners the right tests for contamination that can pose a health risk - or cause a taste, odor, or appearance problem:

1. Find out what to check in your water.

2. Get a reliable water test.

3. Get an explanation of your test results so that you can take any appropriate steps.

A good place to start learning more about these three steps is the NGWA website,

WellOwner.

What to check

NGWA recommends that resource owners test every year to detect bacteria, nitrates, and anything that affects the environment: for example, natural hazards, such as arsenic, or man-made, such as chemicals or heavy metals from industrial or waste sources.

Most health departments in the region are conducting water testing, and many resource owners are within the appropriate range of drinking water testing labs. Both of these are good places to start to find out if there is a potential problem.

Getting a water test

Knowing where to start in getting a water test is not difficult. Go to WellOwner, and then “click” on the “Water Test” tab near the top of the page. Next, use these buttons:

• Click on the details of the provincial health department ”- This takes you to a web page where you can access the contact details of the universal health departments. Ask your health department if you test the water, and if so, how much it costs and how much.

• “Get a certified testing lab” - This takes you to a map where you can go to your state agency web page for information about certified drinking water testing labs.Interpretation of your water test results

To interpret test results, start with the agency or lab that performed the test. For further assistance, www.WellOwner.org links to an online water translation tool available under the "Water Test" tab. Type the values ​​from your water test results into the appropriate fields on the online tool and it will provide a description of the results - usually including health risks, any proven actions, and appropriate water treatment technology.

Visit WellOwner to learn more about water testing, good stewardship, water management, and groundwater protection.