If you want to ensure your family’s health, it never hurts to have your water tested. In fact, you should have the well water checked at least annually to eliminate any concerns.
Tests that are performed by a Grants Pass water lab include assessments for hardness, sulfides, iron, and manganese. These components in a water supply are related to odors, appearance, and stains. Any changes in the constituents may also mark changes in the groundwater or the well. You may have to have additional tests performed if your water appears oily or somewhat clouded as well.
Measuring the Level of Coliform
Testing by a water lab is indeed essential if you notice that bacterial growth is present in specific fixtures in your home. The need for testing is also indicated if your water treatment device is not operating correctly. The most regularly used measure for bacterial contamination is the amount of total coliform. When coliform bacteria are present, it indicates pollution from human or animal wastes.
The presence of coliform in the well water, therefore, should be noted. While some coliform bacteria originate from fecal matter, other coliform bacteria occur in vegetation or the soil. If fecal contamination is suspected, further testing by a water lab is usually performed.
Ask for an Interpretation of the Results
When you receive the results from lab testing, you should ask the lab to clarify them. Dissolved gases, for example, are represented by CO2 or hydrogen sulfide. Inorganic matter, on the other hand, is depicted by major constituents, such as calcium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfate. Some of the pesticides that can be found in a water supply include atrazine, dalapon, carbofuran, and endrin.
Some of the volatile organic contaminants include benzene, carbon tetrachloride, and chlorobenzene. Even if the testing is extensive, you should obtain information about how all these elements can affect your water supply. For more information about testing services, review websites such as Website online.