Why test my water?
The one thing we know for certain about water, is that it can and does change, a water test is the only way to truly know what is in your water. Whether you are on a well or a city source you should test your water on a regular basis.
Testing your private well's water quality is an important part of maintaining a safe and reliable source. The test results allow you to properly address the specific problems of a water supply. This will help ensure that the water source is being properly protected from potential contamination, and that appropriate treatment is selected and operating properly.
Regular testing is important to:
- Identify existing problems
- Ensure water is suitable for its intended use, especially if it’s being used for drinking by people or animals
- Tracks changes over time
- Determine if water treatment is being effective.
Changes can occur over time and are normal but can go unnoticed. The water may look, smell, and taste, the same but yet have contaminants.
Is my water safe to drink?
The only way to know if your water is safe is to have a certified lab perform a test. Harmful bacteria, parasites, and other contaminants are not visible to the naked eye so even if water looks and tastes good it may not be safe to drink. These microbes can exist in groundwater supplies and may cause you and your family to become ill.
Mineral contents in water:
Most well water has minerals present. Things like iron, manganese, hardness etc. while not unsafe, can be quite troublesome. Staining, scale deposits, water spots, dingy laundry and many other nuisance problems can be caused by minerals.
How often should you test your water?
Well water should be tested at least once per year. If your water has health related contaminants such as bacteria, arsenic, lead, etc. you may want to test more frequently. It’s important to test at the site and at the faucet. This will help you to know if your treatment is working and at what capacity. Contact your local county health department for the names and contact information for labs in your area. For a list of certified water testing facilities compiled by the EPA, click here.
Now What?
You've got the results, what do yo do with them. Here are some typical uses;
- Look for and immediately deal with anything health related and over the EPA limit.
- Compare against the operating conditions of any treatment you have and adjust, if necessary, for changes.
- Send them to Cascadian Water for review and treatment recommendation
- Use them to find treatment via the Filter Finder Quiz.
With Cascadian Water you can have hassle free, great tasting, clean water, at a fraction of the price of conventional treatments.
