How To Test Water at Home with Testing Kits

Your family’s health is impacted by the water you drink and use every day. You may be concerned about the chemicals or contaminants in your well water. You may be concerned about the pH level of the water supply to your home. Whatever the source of water, using water quality testing kits can help you get a clear idea of the water’s condition and select the right water filtering systems.

Need for Testing Drinking Water

Choosing a water purification system can be impossible without learning about the types of impurities present in drinking water. From unpleasant smells to waterborne diseases, there are many signs that the water coming to your home needs testing. Instead of sending out your drinking water to a lab for testing, it can be more convenient and time-saving to have it tested at home.

This guide will make it easier for you to use water testing kits at home. There are different types of kits. Some use a combination of methods such as powders and strips. For the best outcomes, follow these suggestions.

Water Sources

The first step is to determine the water sources that need to be tested. The choice of the testing kit will vary based on this factor. 

• The city’s drinking water supply can be tested using a basic kit. It will test for common contaminants such as chlorine and lead.
• Well water will need a higher quality testing kit with comprehensive functionalities, including pesticide screening.

The ideal water quality testing kits feature easy-to-use strips for multiple commonly found contaminants and water pH levels. 

Select the Water Quality Testing Technique

These test kits are usually designed for single usage. It is advised to follow these steps:

• Consider whether there is a need for a follow-up professional lab-based testing after the initial home testing.
• Most test strips are designed to provide a range of results. 
• Colour disk kits tend to be more accurate and the increased price is worth it.

Consider the Contaminants to Test for

As mentioned above, the types of contaminants vary based on the source of water supply. Well water is more common in rural areas and there is a higher chance of runoff from crop fields, potentially increasing the levels of fertilizer or pesticide chemicals.

You should choose your water quality testing kits after determining which contaminants are more likely to be present in your area. This includes:

• Chlorine
• Lead
• Bacteria
• Nitrites
• Nitrates

You should also consider whether there is a need to test pH levels and water hardness.

Strip-based water testing kits can be used using the following steps:

• Fill a test container with the sample of water and dip the test strip in it. Swirl and wait for some time, leaving the strip in the water.
• Remove the strip from the container and compare the colours on the strip with the colour chart that comes with the kit.

This testing method can provide information on the types of contaminants in the water and the respective ppm. 

Powder Kits & Bacteria Testing

Powder water testing kits don’t use strips. Instead, they require you to add a few drops of water to the powder contained in a container. You will have to shake the container and compare the colours to find a match. Such kits tend to be more accurate when detecting certain contaminants, including bacteria. When using these water quality testing kits, it is important to ensure that the results are accurate. This means reading the directions in their entirety and following them carefully, opening the testing kit only at the time of the test, using a timer, using cold water as the sample, and pouring carefully.

Contact Waterlilly Australia at 61 2 9798 9975 and get the best water testing kit, or visit our website to view our extensive range of instruments.