Industrial Water Testing

Water Testing Kits

The first level is the industrial level which is usually done by the water utility or the water supplier. This testing is either done by very sophisticated and expensive devices or through a long, involved process in which the water is tested for different types of contaminants.

Lead, arsenic, cadmium and other heavy metals are tested with a mass spectrometer. A mass spectrometer is a massive device that can cost millions of dollars and they are mostly found in big water laboratories. This water testing gives accurate results and each test costs a few dollars per test.

coli, salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria are tested by plating samples of water and waiting to see if there are colonies of bacteria growing in the sampled water. This test is performed routinely, even on a daily basis in almost any city or neighborhood and it takes usually 24 hours to know if there is something in the water.

Even though industrial water testing today is accurate, it suffers from some inherent problems that lead us to question the effectiveness of it:

The tests in almost 100% of the cases are done by the most biased entity – the water supplier and they have a very strong interest in telling the customers that their water is safe to drink. Not surprisingly,The Guardian found that about one third of American cities fake their water testing results.

The testsare relevant to the water at the point of origin but arenot relevant to the water that you are actually getting at your house. The water coming out of your faucet passed through miles of pipes and containers and you don’t know where that water has been between thesource (where it is tested) and your house.

Water changesover the course of the day so the water coming out of your tap is not the same water that wastested.

It takes at least 24 hours to detect pathogenic bacteria in your water and 36 hours on average and meanwhile you have been drinking contaminated water.

In many cases, the regulators allow the utility to supply bad water.

For all these reasons, people understand that if they don’t test the water in their house, they won’t know the quality of the water they are actually drinking – and that’s how water testing kits, the second level, came to be.

Water testing kitsare also used in situations where no one is otherwise testing the water, for example in cases where the user is in a rural place on vacation and wants to test the water. In a slightly different example, the user could be a well owner that relies on just one unregulated water source and he wants well water testing.

 

Order a Water Sampling Kit

This kit is used to collect a water sample for coliform bacteria and nitrate testing which provides a general indication of the sanitary quality of your drinking water.

Carefully collect your water samples and send them back to the Hygienic Lab. Results are usually mailed within a week of sample collection. Funding for this testing may be available through your county health department and the Grants-to-Counties program. You may be able to get your well water tested at no cost.

 

Pool Water Testing

Regularly testing your water is an essential part of maintaining your pool’s welfare. Getting an accurate reading of your water chemistry helps you understand exactly how much of what product your pool needs. Testing your pool water prevents the possibility of under-treating or over-treating the water, which keeps your pool properly balanced and saves you money!

Home Pool Water Testing

offers several options you can use at home, including test kits and test strips. Testing at home is easy, but there are a few things you need to know before getting started. Which type of test will work best for you?

Liquid Test Kits

PROS

Most accurate type of water test. Liquid DPD reagents are the best for testing chlorine levels in your pool

Testing available for more diverse aspects of water chemistry

This method is used by pool professionals and health departments

CONS

Most expensive water test

Testing process can take longer and be more complicated than test strips

Reagent bottles must be held vertically to ensure uniform drop size, and drops must be counted as they’re slowly added

More prone to user-error

Test Strips

PROS

Fastest water test

Simple to use and read

Least expensive to purchase

Most popular option for pool owners wanting a quick, daily pool chemistry analysis

CONS

Fewer options for testing capabilities

Not as accurate or precise as a liquid test kit

Some results take just a few seconds to develop, and some take longer; for tests with multiple results on the same strip, it’s important to understand the timing so you don’t get inaccurate results

Hands must be completely dry when removing the strip from the container

 

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS WATER

Policy and Guidance

NAVFAC Potable Water Quality Management Guidance – NAVFAC Potable Water Quality Management Guidance Document

MARINE CORPS INSTALLATIONS COMMAND POLICY LETTER 6-19: – Sampling and Testing For Lead in Drinking Water in Priority Areas

MCO P5090.2 – V16 – Environmental Compliance and Protection, Drinking Water Systems and Water Conservation, 11 Jun 2018

COMSUBLANT/COMSUBPACINST 6000.2E – Standard Submarine Medical Procedures Manual for Submarine Medical Departments

OPNAVINST 5090.1E – Environmental Readiness Program, 3 Sep 2019

OPNAV-M 5090.1 – Environmental Readiness Program Manual, 3 Sep 2019

Chapter 7: Sampling and Laboratory Testing

Chapter 21: Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Ashore

Chapter 34: Overseas Environmental Compliance Ashore

CNICINST 5090.1A Navy Overseas Drinking Water Program Ashore

CNIC M-5090.1 Navy Overseas Drinking Water Program Ashore Manual

CNIC M-5090.2 Certificate to Operate Criteria and Requirements for US Navy Overseas Drinking Water Systems

CNIC M-5090.3 Operator in Responsible Charge and Assistant Operator in Responsible Charge Training and Certification Program for US Navy Overseas Drinking Water Systems

BUMEDINST 6240.10C – Department of the Navy Medical Drinking Water Program

NAVMED P-5010-5 – Water Quality For Shore Installations

NAVMED P-5010-6 – Water Supply Afloat

NAVMED P-5010-10 – Sanitary Control and Surveillance of Field Water Supplies

Lead in Drinking Water in Priority Areas

BUMEDINST 6200.14D – 30 Aug 2017 – CHILDHOOD LEAD POISONING PREVENTION

OPNAVINST 5090 – Update to Policy on Sampling and Testing for Lead in Drinking Water in Priority Areas

CNIC Guidance for Lead Testing in Priority Areas INC Encl1 and Appendicies

EPA PN HANDBOOK 2010

CNIC Shore Drinking Water Quality Reports

FINAL FY17 Shore Drinking Water Quality Report

FINAL FY18 Shore Drinking Water Quality Report

Navy Policy on Drinking Water Exceedances

 

HOW TO TEST SWIMMING POOL WATER USER’S GUIDE

With Spring around the corner, it’s about that time to open your pools for a fresh new swim season. We’ve partnered with Poolresearch.com on this article to keep you up-to-date on how to test your pool’s water properly. Let’s dive into the details!

Having a pool is a lot of fun, and it’s crucial to keep it clean. Most people know how to test for pH balance and chlorine levels, which is essential, but end up ignoring phosphates and potential contaminants, such as iron and calcium.

These substances can not only lead to unpleasant looking water that makes your pool uninviting but also cause severe damage to your pool. Fortunately, testing your pool water is easy if you know how to do it correctly.

Why Pool Water Testing Is So Important (And How to Do It)

Pool water testing is essential. Without it, there’s no way to know what’s in your water. While trace contaminants may not seem like a big deal now, over time they can develop into a really big problem. To avoid potential issues, it’s important to test your water regularly.

The first thing you’ll need is a water sample. To be sure to get an accurate reading, follow these simple steps:

Make sure to use a clean cup.

With the opening facing down, dunk the cup elbow deep as close to the center of the pool as possible.

Fill the cup by turning it right-side up.