Do you have doubts about the purity of the water that's coming out of your tap? You may have already switched to drinking bottled water, but you still make coffee, wash your dishes, wash your laundry, and shower in the water that's coming directly from your lines, which may or may not be safe.
Fortunately, there are numerous home testing kits out there on the market that can give you some insights into your water's overall quality,
What Can a Home Water Testing Kit Show?
Ultimately, the best way to learn what's in your water is to have it tested professionally, but home tests can at least give you some indications of where your problems may lie. Here are three things you can test for at home:
1. The pH Level
The potential of hydrogen (pH) level of your water is a way of describing whether it is alkaline or acidic. Using a scale from 1 to 14, you generally want your drinking water's pH level to be close to right in the middle (between 6.5 and 9). If the number is lower, the water is acidic and could contain dangerous heavy metals that can hurt your brain and organs.
If the pH number is higher than that range, your water is highly alkaline and may have too many minerals, like calcium and magnesium. That's called "hard" water. It's safer to drink, but it can cause your pipes and appliances to quickly corrode.
2. Arsenic Levels
Arsenic is used in all kinds of pesticides, wood treatment processes, and smelting. Companies that improperly dispose of their waste can end up contaminating an area's groundwater. From there, it can easily get into your well or your pipes.
Arsenic is an extremely common substance and naturally occurring, so it's unlikely that your water will be entirely arsenic-free. However, the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act says that drinking water should contain 10 parts per billion or less of arsenic to be considered safe to drink.
3. Coliform Bacteria
Far too often, household water supplies suffer from contamination caused by improper backflow from sewer lines. That can lead to harmful coliform bacteria, a product of human waste, in your water supply.
If your household has been suffering from gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, that might be the first thing to check.
Knowing more about the quality and purity of the water that's being used in your home can allow you to make informed choices about whether you need water treatment services to protect yourself and your loved ones.
Contact a water treatment company today to learn more.