Water testing in Warrenton, VA is something that not many people spend much time thinking or worrying about. After all, this is the United States. Other countries may have problems with contaminated water, but that’s just not something we see a lot of here, right?
Unfortunately, that’s incorrect.
Not too many years ago, the little town of Flint, Michigan made national headlines because of just how severe their water contamination issues had become. In their case, it was caused by decades of pollution from auto-related manufacturing in the area and a system of municipal water pipes that were several decades out of date. Those two things combined to create a recipe for disaster, and although Flint’s water problems have gotten at least a little better since it dropped out of the headlines, they’ve still got a long way to go.
Even worse is the fact that Flint isn’t unique. It would be one thing if we could say, “well, there were some unique factors that contributed to the problems in Flint, but we don’t see problems like that in most parts of the country.”
Actually, that’s also incorrect. According to data compiled by the Environmental Protection Agency, right now, scattered all across the United States, there are more than eleven hundred communities that have water problems as bad, or even worse than the ones Flint, Michigan has been dealing with. That’s why water testing in Warrenton, VA matter and why you should consider having the water coming out of your tap tested at least once a year.
We make this recommendation, by the way, both to people who are on a municipal water system and for people who rely on well water to meet their daily water needs. The reason comes down to this:
If you live in a rural area and you have a well or a spring, then you probably already know that there’s no government agency checking on the quality of your water. You either do it yourself or it doesn’t get done. Nobody’s going to hound you about it or remind you to do it. It’s just something you have to take responsibility for if you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing the water you’re drinking, bathing in and cooking with is safe.
Now, you might think that if you live in town and use “city water” that having a water test in Warrenton, VA isn’t as important, but again, remember Flint, Michigan. The people living there probably thought the same thing until they started getting sick.
The point is that although municipalities are obligated to provide safe drinking water, the word safe basically means anything that won’t kill you when you drink it, so it’s a pretty broad term. Even then, cities and towns sometimes struggle to deliver on that promise.
It’s also worth mentioning that one thing that municipal water systems don’t have an obligation to provide is good water. High quality water, and if you’ve moved around a lot growing up, you know that water quality matters and can vary quite a bit from one location to the next.
Figuring out why your water is awful is another valid reason to consider having a water test conducted in Warrenton, VA on a regular basis. It gives you the information you need to begin mapping out a strategy for improving the quality and taste of the water you’re drinking.
Our hope is that after reading all of the above, you’re convinced that whether you get your water from a town supply or a well or spring on your property, it’s worth having your water checked at regular intervals to be sure that it’s safe to drink and that if there are any issues where water quality is concerned, you know what steps to take to correct those.
That though, brings up a new question: Exactly what types of water tests are available and how do you know which one(s) you need?
The types of tests available will depend on which lab you use. Not every lab offers a full range of tests, but in our case, as one of the largest and most respected independent labs in the region, we offer a greater number of tests than almost anyone, so whatever your needs are, we’ve got you covered.
In terms of the types of tests we offer, our tests fall into two distinct categories: Tests that look for various health hazards and tests that seek to identify and address water quality issues. As to the specific tests on offer, they are:
- Total Dissolved Solids Test (water quality)
- Sulfates Test (water quality)
- pH test (water quality)
- Manganese Test (water quality)
- Water Hardness Test (water quality)
- Iron Test (water quality)
- Nitrates Test (health)
- Lead Test (health)
- And Total Coliform Bacteria Test (health)
As you can see then, we offer nearly a dozen different water tests in Warrenton, VA, and our clients can have as many tests run as they’d like in order to help them zero in on specific problems or get as complete a picture as possible of their water profile.
Note too that the three things we test for in the health category are all very serious issues if they’re found in your water supply. Coliform bacteria can make you extremely sick, and in very high concentrations, can even be fatal. The same is true for lead concentrations, which was the issue Fling, Michigan was having and if you live in a rural area where there is, or once was lots of farming activity, nitrate contamination can be a serious problem.
Not to worry though, if you’re not sure what you need to be testing for, just tell our lab tech nicians when you give us a call. While most people don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how clean and pure their water is, it’s something our employees think about every single day.
They can ask you a handful of directed questions that will quickly zero in on what your major concerns are, and which tests would offer the best insights about those concerns.
Also, it pays to be mindful of the fact that the condition of your water can change over time. If you get it tested later this month and there are no problems, that’s great! Just keep in mind that by this time next year, the equation may have changed. There are factors you don’t see and can’t control that impact your water supply. The only way you’ll ever know about them is by having your water tested at regular intervals. Once you’ve established your baseline, we recommend annual testing so you can track the profile of your water over time to see how it’s changing and take any corrective actions that are needed to keep it safe and tasting great.
The bottom line is that if you’re not 100% happy with your water, either for health or quality reasons, you don’t have to just accept it. You don’t have to just live with it. You can take an active role in identifying the specific problem or problems that are degrading the overall quality of the water you rely on, and take specific steps to address those issues, with the specific steps varying depending on exactly what the issue with your water is.
In a perfect world, and especially if you get your water from a public water supply, it wouldn’t be an issue. You’d turn on the tap and the water that came out would be cold and bracing and refreshing. There wouldn’t even be a remote chance that it could send you to the hospital or leave dark, unsightly stains on your clothing.
Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world like that, and sometimes, despite their best efforts, the people in charge of a town’s water supply don’t deliver a good quality product. The water that comes out of your tap is either downright dangerous to drink or it smells and tastes so bad that you can’t get it past your lips.
When that happens (and it will), isn’t it nice to know you’ve got someone you can trust and count on on your side? Call us today.