How Drinking Water Testing Is Done

By Judy Sullivan


Drinking water should always be safe for human consumption. A large percentage of the world population drink water that is not safe leading to widespread diseases and death. Minimising the related diseases is one of the most important public health goals in many countries. Drinking water testing is just one of the ways to achieve this goal.

Regular sampling should be done to ensure that purity is maintained and safety is guaranteed. As much as this is the responsibility of the public health department, you should not take any chances. Instead you should take the initiative to collect samples and ensure that indeed they are of good quality. Depending on the location of the source, various substances may be detected. These include radon, sulphate, iron, manganese, pesticides and so forth. The most common quality challenge is bacteria, which has to be tested at least once a year.

A number of changes and occurrences may call for testing of samples more than once a year. One should suspect extremely high levels of manganese, sulphate and iron in the event of changes in clarity, taste, color and smell. The tests are also crucial when unexplained illness occur within the immediate environment. Pregnancy is another critical indicator for home testing.

The occurrence of unwanted events such as sewage drainage destruction or blockage should raise the suspicion of contamination. One should also get concerned when there is a certain outbreak of diarrhea diseases. When water equipment gets worn out at a faster rate than usual, chances are high that this is linked to corrosion, hardness and pH changes. Inability of soaps to lather easily should also be considered.

Babies are highly susceptible to nitrate poisoning. Exposure to high concentrations of nitrates may result in blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia) where oxygen levels in the body are insufficient to meet the body demands. Immediate medical attention is crucial for the survival of affected babies.

Either a simple flush in the morning or after the tap has run for a while can be used as a sample. Sampling from different points may be needed in case contamination is suspected to be in the plumbing system. This can be before and after water enters a storage container or at the inlet and outlet of a filter. Testing for corrosion in the plumbing system warrants collection of the sample after twelve hours of settling.

Once the samples have been adequately tested and the contaminants identified, one of the steps that can be undertaken is the installation of filter systems to remove impurities. The main downside is that important components such as fluoride may be filtered out. Fluoride is an element that helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevents decay.

Drinking water testing should become a routine if some of the most fatal diseases affecting the world today are to be prevented. Apart from testing, there is a need to have proper storage mechanisms to prevent contamination. If the water is being stored for a long time, regular sampling for tests should be done.




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