Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Learn About Water Testing Kits

By Judy Sullivan


Water testing kits are very important appliances that every household should probably have. This kit is used in the testing of various properties to prevent possible poisoning or other health problems especially to pregnant ladies and little babies. They are cheap and easily accessible from shops and stores that stock related products. The low-end models can go for as little as ten US Dollars.

Public water suppliers are needed by most government authorities to have their waters tested for various pollutants and test results provided to customers annually. Private supplies however are primarily the responsibility of property owners and there are no rules that require individuals to have their wells assessed. Even with no rules demanding for assessment of private water sources, an individual must take the initiative to make sure that it is performed at least ones yearly or unless there is some pressing emergency for doing 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 refers to a bacteria that resides in the human intestine. Its presence inside stomachs results into serious recurrent intestinal diseases. Therefore, any types of stomach ailments may be indicators that coliform bacteria should be assessed for its presence. If residential plumbing has traces of lead or in case plumbing system was repaired, installed, or replaced recently, lead is the stuff 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 major indicators are colors and odors. The colors may be seen by naked eyes whereas the smells may be noticed using nostrils. Color issues are shown by waters looking unclear, cloudy, or frothy. The smells depend on the form of contaminants that are present at sources. Equipment for treating water that wear out too soon could symbolize that pH is improperly set.

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.




About the Author:



0 comments:

Post a Comment