Is Water Testing Really Necessary?
Ever since the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) was passed by Congress back in 1974, many of our nation’s drinking water concerns have been alleviated. There have been much stricter guidelines put into place that aim to protect the safety and integrity of our water supply. Due to the tighter regulations, many water borne illnesses of the past have been all but eliminated, which causes some to question if independent water testing is really necessary.
In order to answer this question, let’s first take a look at how publicly supplied water is delivered to your home. Once it has been tested and treated in a water treatment facility, it is then piped to a water holding tank in your town or city. Through a system utilizing gravity and electricity, water then passes through a labyrinth of pipes and tubes underground to eventually end up coming out of your tap.
The water that was treated and tested back at the treatment facility has now travelled through many miles of underground pipes to reach your home. Is it possible, that the once treated water has become tainted along the way? Of course it is! We aren’t saying that all water is going to become contaminated on its way to your tap, however, there are a lot of unknown variables along the way that could affect the quality of your water – even the pipes in your own home.
So what criterion determines whether or not you should have your water tested? We have compiled a basic list of questions that can help guide you in your decision.
- Does your water have a strange taste or odor?
- Does your water leave soap scum on bathroom fixtures?
- Do you have an existing water treatment system in place and wonder about its efficiency?
- Did you just move into your home and didn’t receive a water quality report? Click here if so! http://water.epa.gov/drink/local/index.cfm
- Are you interested in installing a water filtration system in your home?
- Does your home have lead pipes or lead soldered joints?
- Do you have brass fixtures?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should definitely look into having your water tested. Most home improvement stores sell basic water testing kits, however if you are going to go to the effort of having your water tested, we would recommend using a private water testing laboratory. A certified water testing laboratory has the capability of testing for a much broader range of contaminants and will give you a better overview of your water quality. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a link on their website you can use to find certified testing labs in your state.
Once you determine the condition of your water, you are in a much better position to choose a water filtration system that will compliment your unique water concerns or whether you need one at all. Whichever way you decide to go, it is still recommended that you have your water tested to know the condition of the water you are drinking on a daily basis and prevent any health issue before they arise.
