6 tips on How to test for polluted drinking water

When you pour yourself a glass of water to drink, it may appear clean, taste good, and you may expect it to be safe. However, many sources of water we assume are safe may contain dissolved minerals, organic compounds or even live organisms at harmful concentrations. Contaminated water used for drinking and cooking may affect your health.  So that’s why we wrote this article to give you 6 tips on how to test for polluted drinking water in your home.

1. Smelling the water

If the water smells  like rotten eggs, a swimming pool, nail polish remover, or anything else unpleasant then these odors  indicate the presence of high chlorine content, organic solvents, or naturally-occurring sulfur.

2.  Talk to a professional

A professional understands the chemistry of the water and how all the different factors interact to come up with treatment options.

3. Purchase a water purity test kit

The tests typically measure chlorine, nitrates and nitrites, minerals such as iron, copper, and lead, and the hardness of your water. The results will be more accurate than you can get by simply looking at your water.

4. Health  Department

Your local health department , can advise you on any possible well water contaminations in your area.  Good thing to check in with them , just to make sure the water running through your house doesn’t have any contamination caused by your area in general.

5.  Collecting Samples

In order to collect samples to test for polluted water, you will have to get some sterile containers in order to collect water that is contaminated.  Must allow the water to run for several minutes before filling the sample containers, and then sending them to the labs for testing. Thoroughly clean the bottles with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap. w Additionally, for plastic soft drink bottles, sanitize the bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart (1/4 gallon) of water. Swish the sanitizing solution in the bottle so that it touches all surfaces. After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water.

6.  Hold the glass up to the light and take a look at the water.

If the water is cloudy, you see particles floating in the water or settling to the bottom of the glass.   Anything other than clear liquid could be a sign of bacterial or particulate contamination.