Water Quality & Potability Testing
Determine the Quality & Potability of Your Water
Water is essential for life, 70% of the human body is water and different parts and organs of the body have varying, but significant water content; for example the heart is 79% water, the brain is 75% water, the liver is 86% water, and the bones are 22% water. At NextDay Inspect, we test for the presence, absence, and the most likely number of bacteria coliforms and E.coli.
Bacteria
-E-Coli
-Coliform
-H2S (Hydrogen Sulfide) Producing Bacteria
Water Quality
-pH (Acidic/basic)
-EC (Conductivity)
-TDS (Total Dissolved Solid)
-Salinity
-ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential)
-Turbidity
What effect does Water Quality have on our health?
The quality of the water we drink has a profound and direct effect on the health of our body and mind. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), The United States has one of the world’s safest water supplies. Even though public drinking water, in general, is safe, water contamination can still occur. There are many possible sources of contamination, including:
- Sewage releases
- Cross-Connection
- Naturally occurring chemicals and minerals (for example, arsenic, radon, uranium)
- Local land use practices (for example, fertilizers, pesticides, livestock, concentrated feeding operations)
- Manufacturing processes (for example, heavy metals, cyanide)
- Malfunctioning on-site wastewater treatment systems (for example, septic systems)
- Poor maintenance of the water supply distribution systems(pipes)
Consuming contaminated water can lead to mild to severe and even life-threatening health complications. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems may be especially at risk for illness.
The EPA sets standards and regulations for the presence and levels of over 90 contaminants in public drinking water, including E.coli, Salmonella, Cryptosporidium, Metals such as lead, and disinfection byproducts.
Schedule for Water Testing
What is Water Turbidty?
Turbidity is the clarity of the water, and it is an important factor in water quality.
The presence of foreign objects, organic or non-organic, in the water can affect its turbidity (clarity).
Some of these particles are harmless to the human, and others can cause serious discomfort or illness. Excessive turbidity in drinking water in addition to being aesthetically unappealing, these particles can present a health concern.
Turbidity can be a source of food and shelter for pathogens. High turbidity can promote pathogens’ growth and can harbor bacteria and viruses, leading to waterborne diseases upon consumption of this contaminated water.
Schedule for Water Testing
Water Acidity & Alkalinity
In general, a water with a pH less than 7 is considered acidic and with a pH higher than 7 is considered basic. The normal range for pH in surface water systems is 6.5 to 8.5 and for groundwater systems 6 to 8.5.
Water with a low pH (less than 6.5) could be acidic, soft, and corrosive. Therefore, the water could leach metal ions such as iron, manganese, copper, lead, and zinc from the aquifer, plumbing fixtures, and piping. Water with a low pH could:
- Contain elevated levels of toxic metals
- Cause premature damage to metal piping
- Aesthetic problems such as a metallic or sour taste
- Staining of laundry
- Characteristic “blue-green” staining of sinks and drains
A water with a pH > 8.5 could indicate that the water is hard. Hard water does not pose a health risk, but can cause aesthetic problems.
These problems include:
- Formation of a “scale” or precipitate on piping and fixtures causing water pressures and interior diameter of piping to decrease;
- Causes an alkali taste to the water
- Formation of a scale or deposit on dishes, utensils, and laundry basins;
- Difficulty in getting soaps and detergents to foam and formation of insoluble precipitates on clothing, etc.; and
- Decreases efficiency of electric water heaters.
Schedule for Water Testing
Take a Look at a Sample Report
Get an idea of the format and items that would be listed under a Mold & Moisture Testing Report.