Friday, January 17, 2014

Learning About Water Testing Kits

By Judy Sullivan


Water testing kits are very vital appliances that each household should probably possess. This kit is utilized in the testing of different properties to stop possible poisoning or other medical problems especially to pregnant women and babies. They are inexpensive and easily available from stores and shops that stock related commodities. The low-end makes can go for as low as 10 US Dollars.

All public suppliers of water are needed by government authorities to test their waters for various contaminants and test results availed to customers on an annual basis. Private supplies are on the other hand primarily the duty of property owners. There are no regulations that need individuals to test their wells. Even with no regulations demanding for yearly analysis of private waters, an individual must make sure that the testing is carried out at least ones annually or unless there are some pressing issues for analyzing more than ones.

Materials that should be tested for yearly in wells and other sources include coliform bacteria, nitrates, pH, and total dissolved solids. Others that should be tested for on a yearly basis are arsenic, pesticides, copper, and lead among others. Chlorides, sulfates, manganese, corrosion, hardness, and iron should be tested for after every three years. Failure to have the tests done can cause some very bad effects on people who consume or use such waters.

Coliform is the bacteria that is known for living in the intestines of the human body. Its presence in the stomach results in severe recurrent intestinal illness. Therefore, any forms of stomach illnesses can be signs that the bacteria needs to be tested for its presence. If household plumbing contains lead or if the plumbing system was recently replaced, installed, or repaired, lead is the substance to test for.

Laundry might also be of some help in finding out if there is necessity for performing any assessment. Often the laundry stains when washed, which is an open sign that sulfate, manganese, chlorides, and iron compounds are available. Hardness may be shown by washing waters that need a lot of soap to get soapy for easy washing. Main elements responsible for hardness are magnesium and calcium chlorides.

Other main indicators are color and odor. The color may be observed by naked eyes while the smell may be smelled using the nostrils. Color problems are shown by the waters looking cloudy, frothy, or not clear. The smell depends on the kind of contaminant that is available at the source. Equipment for treatment that wear off so quickly could indicate that pH is not at the correct value.

Babies and pregnant women are the most at risk of being affected by pollutants especially nitrates because of many reasons. Wells or tap waters must be tested for nitrates just before the baby is given birth to, after birth, and frequently until six months. Exposure to nitrates causes methemoglobinemia, which is a blood condition that affects hemoglobin in babies. The condition causes oxygen supply in blood to drop to dangerously low levels.

Water testing kits appear in a broad variety to suit various environments. They appear in different colors and shapes for people to select according to their requirements. Most of them are inexpensive.




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