Page 74 - Winter2014

If your water PUT TO THE TEST quested quotes from want around four hundred
One major difference between home tests dollars for what National Labs does for $130,
tests positive and laboratory tests is the format of the results. plus the cost of shipping the original sample to
for pathogens Labs generally will provide exact parts per mil- the lab (another twenty dollars or so at most).
and you are lion (ppm) or similar precise results. Home test That is a significant savings, to say the least, for
on well water kits will provide far more general results, usu- a full panel of tests (one hundred and thirty or
ally in a color-coded format for ease of reading. so individual items tested for).
or another Some results will come back only as a negative
groundwater or positive, using the EPA guidelines or some GENERAL NOTES ON TEST KITS
source, your other standard. The various test kits we sampled were very
Depending on your results, you may have similar. Many of the tests strips, such as for lead

well may nothing to do, a lot to do, or more testing to and pesticides, were identical from kit to kit, even
need to be do. For instance, if your water tests positive for down to the packaging. Some had small differ-
serviced or pathogens, and you are on well water or another ences, such as putting multiple tests onto a single
test strip rather than each test on a single strip.
groundwater source, your well may need servic-
treated. ing or treatment, something that may require For all the test kits, reading the directions
a professional if you are unsure how to make twice before actually performing the tests is rec-
repairs safely and effectively. It may also point ommended. Many of the tests are time-sensitive,
to a management issue with your animals on so you want to know the time frame for each test
your farm or homestead that needs addressing. before you actually start it. Also, having a stop
Testing thus points to the presence of possible watch or other timer is useful and important since
or real problems but won't always pinpoint the both the exposure-to-water segment of the test
problem's origin. and resulting development are constrained to
particular time windows. For some tests, these
BEYOND HOME TESTING are quite specific and short. Also, if you are color
If home tests or other extenuating cir- challenged (like me!), having an extra person or
cumstances show a need for additional testing, two to read the color charts and color-match the
professional testing is the next step. Several results is certainly wise.
companies offer more complete testing, covering The Sensafe Complete Home Water Quality
one hundred to two hundred individual chemicals Test Kit at $29 (www.sensafe.com/), is the most
and contaminants. Getting a full panel on your complete test kit of those we sampled. It is also
water every so often is a worthwhile investment, most compact in size, while containing twenty-
especially if there are any reasons for concern. five total tests (twelve parameters with two tests
The cost of such advanced testing varies greatly, for each, and a single bacterial coliform test).
so comparing pricing and tests included between The insert helpfully contains a place to
local and national labs is prudent, as you may end record your results next to the sensitivity ranges
up paying half as much for twice the testing by of the test and other data. However, the test
shopping around and shipping water samples. color guide and insert are very small in size and
For instance, in our area the labs we re- print. The four-in-one water test strip asks you

MOODY WELL WATER TEST RESULTS: ARSENIC AND TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS
The Sensafe stand-alone arsenic test revealed 0 ppb (parts per billion).

HM Digital provided three TDS meters for us to try. We tested the water at the well house and then at various spigots
around the house itself. All came back in the 400-450 ppm range, confirming the kit test results. Interestingly, our one
water filter returned results that were higher after filtering than before, something we will be looking into further.
Reflecting on the test results we must accede to the fact that our water is so hard that it makes the Man of Steel
seem soft and Ironman rather jealous. The various test kits merely confirmed what we already knew from observing our
homestead's plumbing problems and knowing the geology and soil of our area. The solution for us will be to move over
to rain catchment or city water if it becomes available, as we have concerns about water softeners.
70 Wise Traditions WINTER 2014 Wise Traditions

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