Water testing is a broad category for various methods utilized to test the quality of water. The objective is to determine if there are any dangerous chemicals or substances that may be present in the water that can endanger public health or the environment. Thousands of water quality checks are performed daily to maintain municipal safety and to meet regulatory standards. A majority of these tests find bacteria or algae, traces of toxic heavy metals, chemicals like herbicides and pesticides, synthetic organic compounds (SOCs), iron and other metallic contaminants, or other substances that can potentially harm humans and the environment. Many private companies perform water testing for a fee.
Former residents at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
Homeowners have many options for testing their water for contaminants. A home drinking water system is probably the most effective way to test for common contaminants. A homeowners laboratory may also test water for hardness. In the past, the only method to test for arsenic was through reverse osmosis. Today, there are several options available to test for nearly any water contaminants.
A good choice for home water testing is to use a combination of methods to test for the most contaminants. A laboratory can check for total coliform, pH, E-coli, total bacteria, pH level, nitrate/nitrite, alachlor, benzene, alachlor, atrazine, lindane, lindolite, atrazine, tetrachlor, trichloroethylene, TCE, and o-urol. A comprehensive quality report can be useful in informing homeowners about the contaminants in their water. It can also help to explain why a certain contaminant is present in the water and what the environmental and health risks are for exposure.