You probably remember when Flint, Michigan made national news and the Red Cross had to bring bottled water in by the truckload because the EPA judged Flint’s public water supply to be unsafe. Unfortunately, since the headlines have faded, the situation in Flint hasn’t improved much.
While the water quality is somewhat better, it’s still far from ideal. Worse than that though, is the fact that there are more than a thousand communities scattered all over the country with water problems even worse than those found in Flint. That’s why public water system testing in Warrenton, VA is so important.
The simple truth is that there are all sorts of ways that contaminants can be introduced to public water supplies and it pays to test the water coming out of your tap at periodic intervals so you know exactly what’s in the water you and your family are drinking.
Our public water system testing services in Warrenton, VA are comprehensive. We offer a variety of different tests covering two major areas of concern. Here’s a quick overview of the different types of tests you can order, and the reasons you may want to consider them:
Health-Related Concerns
Obviously, one of the main reasons people take advantage of our public water system testing in Warrenton, VA is to be sure that the water they’re drinking is safe for human consumption. To that end, we offer three specific tests designed to identify specific health hazards in the water coming out of your tap. We can test for:
Total Coliform Bacteria – Coliform bacteria is one of the most common causes of gastrointestinal illnesses. If you, or members of your family are experiencing chronic gastrointestinal issues, the water you’re drinking may be the culprit. This test will either confirm that or rule it out.
This should be considered the standard water safety test. Note that if the sample you send us fails this test, then we will automatically test further, for the presence of E-Coli bacteria.
Lead – This is the exact problem with Flint, Michigan’s water supply. In their case, the lead was introduced by automotive plants in the area, but many older homes in our area may have lead in their water leaching in from older pipes inside the home itself. This test will tell you exactly what the lead levels in your water are.
And Nitrates – If you live in an area where there’s lots of agricultural activity, you could easily have a high concentration of nitrates in the water you are drinking. The results of this test will tell you if the level of nitrates in your water is a problem.
Odor and Taste Issues
Another common reason that people decide to take advantage of our public water system testing service in Warrenton, VA is that the water they’re drinking tastes funny. There are several possible reasons for this and the testing we provide here allows you to zero in on the source of the problem. Our tests include:
pH – Not only does a very high or very low pH level impact the taste of the water you’re drinking, but high pH levels can also corrode the pipes in your home, which can cause a variety of dangerous metals to leach into the water your family relies on. This is an incredibly important test!
Hardness – You’ve almost certainly heard at least some people talk about how ‘hard’ their water is. The reason it’s a problem is that it causes an unsightly scaly residue to build up in your shower, tub, and sinks and hard water prevents soaps from lathering up properly.
Iron – If your sinks, toilet and tub are stained with a reddish-brown discoloration, the likeliest culprit is a high concentration of iron in your water. This test will confirm that to be the root cause of the issue.
Manganese – Like iron, a high concentration of manganese in the water coming into your home will stain your sinks, toilets, and tub, along with any clothing you wash.
Sulfates – Does your water smell like rotten eggs? Sulfates are the likely culprit. This test will confirm that, and tell you how big a problem you’ve got.
And Total Dissolved Solids – A small amount of minerals in your water can actually be a good thing, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing, and minerals in high concentration can dramatically alter the taste of the water you’re drinking, and usually not in a good way. This test will tell you what minerals are present, and in what concentrations.
If you’re interested to know exactly what’s in the water you and your family are drinking, the process of taking advantage of our public water system testing service in Warrenton, VA is simple. It starts by making a phone call to our office so you can speak to a knowledgeable technician about your water and the things you notice about its character and quality, and what you’re most concerned about.
After speaking with you, our technicians will be able to recommend one or more tests that seem to be the best fit for you. That done, we’ll send you the appropriate sample containers for your needs, along with instructions on how to collect your water samples and where to take them for testing. Once we get the results of the tests you order back, we’ll get them into your hands via the delivery method you choose.
Here’s a quick overview of the process you’ll follow when taking water samples, regardless of the specific type of test you’re ordering:
- Use only the sample collection containers provided by us
- Don’t use our sample container if the seal is broken or if the bottle is cracked. In those cases, we will send you a replacement.
- Remove the aerator screen from the faucet you’ll be collecting your sample from.
- Soak a cotton ball with isopropyl alcohol.
- Swab the inside and outer portion of the faucet to ensure it is free of external contaminants.
- Run cold water for five minutes
- Without touching the insides of the collection container, open it.
- Fill the collection container to the 125 mL line.
- Screw the cap back on securely
- Write your name on the container
- Keep your sample cold or refrigerated until it is delivered to the lab or drop-off location nearest you.
That’s all there is to it!
Something else that many people aren’t aware of is this: If you’re getting your water from a public source, your provider as no obligation, legal or otherwise to provide you and your family with high-quality drinking water. It only has to provide water that is safe to drink, but as seen in the case of Flint, Michigan, sometimes providers fail even to do that.
Thus, it’s entirely possible that your water is within the limits that the EPA considers to be safe, but that is of relatively low quality. There are a number of ways that you can improve the quality of the water your family is drinking, but of course, the first step in that process is understanding exactly what’s diminishing the water quality in the first place. That’s another reason testing is so important.
In addition to providing peace of mind and hard-hitting data designed to help those on public water supplies to better understand the quality and safety of their water, we also perform well water testing and wastewater testing, so whatever your needs are, we’ve got you covered.
We understand that your family’s health is simply too important to take chances with. That’s why we’re so passionate about what we do. Working hand in hand with you, our skilled technicians will guide you to the tests you need to get a detailed snapshot of exactly what’s in the water you’re drinking and thus, gain a better understanding of its safety and overall quality.
We’re a family-owned business, proudly serving the region since 1991, and we are absolutely committed to providing accurate scientific data to each and every customer we serve. If you even suspect that there’s a problem with the water your family relies on, don’t hesitate to give our office a call.