The majority of us take our water supply for granted. It is piped into our home from the local water company and we use it for lots of different tasks throughout the household. We use it to clean, cook, wash and drink. It is very important that the liquid we get is pure, or at least extremely safe.
However, we often hear stories of the supply becoming contaminated. These are accompanied by people becoming extremely sick, something that we do not want to happen to our children. In order to reassure ourselves, we can now use a drinking water test kit to monitor the state of our water supply.
In most towns and cities people get their supply from the local utility company, and just except that what they distribute is fit for human consumption. The problem is that they do not have much control over what happens to the water once it is left their compound. It usually has to pass through miles of their pipes, which has been used for many years, and then onto the householders property, of which they have no responsibility.
Poorly maintained pipes can become corroded, and this could affect the purity of the water that is passing through them. The smallest breach in one of these pipes could result in harmful chemicals and bacteria from the soil entering the water supply. It is possible to test for these impurities so as to be confident that you are keeping your family members safe.
Some people find it hard to believe that it can cause a whole host of diseases, some fatal, to a family. These can include such things as legionnaires disease, lead poisoning, and heart problems. It only takes a small investment on your part to have a means of testing your own personal water supply.
Before these kits became available you could send samples to the local laboratory if you were at all concerned. However, this was extremely expensive and time-consuming. These kits make it possible for you to do initial tests and if you feel that there is a problem, then forward the samples to either the local supplier or an independent laboratory.
It is very difficult to judge whether there is anything wrong just by the taste or smell of the liquid, as a lot of these bacteria do not offer any clues. However, the results you get from doing these tests will not mean anything unless you have an understanding of what they mean. What could be harmless readings could get you are extremely worried. It is very rare that the water will be totally pure, but it is the level of the bacteria that is present that has to be noted.
Unless you are highly qualified chemist, you should pass on any doubts to a specialist. If any member of the household is pregnant, or under 12 months old, these precautions are vital. It is far better to lean on the side of safety in cases like this, and nobody will feel that you are wasting their time doing so.
However, we often hear stories of the supply becoming contaminated. These are accompanied by people becoming extremely sick, something that we do not want to happen to our children. In order to reassure ourselves, we can now use a drinking water test kit to monitor the state of our water supply.
In most towns and cities people get their supply from the local utility company, and just except that what they distribute is fit for human consumption. The problem is that they do not have much control over what happens to the water once it is left their compound. It usually has to pass through miles of their pipes, which has been used for many years, and then onto the householders property, of which they have no responsibility.
Poorly maintained pipes can become corroded, and this could affect the purity of the water that is passing through them. The smallest breach in one of these pipes could result in harmful chemicals and bacteria from the soil entering the water supply. It is possible to test for these impurities so as to be confident that you are keeping your family members safe.
Some people find it hard to believe that it can cause a whole host of diseases, some fatal, to a family. These can include such things as legionnaires disease, lead poisoning, and heart problems. It only takes a small investment on your part to have a means of testing your own personal water supply.
Before these kits became available you could send samples to the local laboratory if you were at all concerned. However, this was extremely expensive and time-consuming. These kits make it possible for you to do initial tests and if you feel that there is a problem, then forward the samples to either the local supplier or an independent laboratory.
It is very difficult to judge whether there is anything wrong just by the taste or smell of the liquid, as a lot of these bacteria do not offer any clues. However, the results you get from doing these tests will not mean anything unless you have an understanding of what they mean. What could be harmless readings could get you are extremely worried. It is very rare that the water will be totally pure, but it is the level of the bacteria that is present that has to be noted.
Unless you are highly qualified chemist, you should pass on any doubts to a specialist. If any member of the household is pregnant, or under 12 months old, these precautions are vital. It is far better to lean on the side of safety in cases like this, and nobody will feel that you are wasting their time doing so.
