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Thursday, February 6, 2014

How Drinking Water Testing Is Done

By Judy Sullivan


Drinking water should always be safe for human consumption. A large percentage of the world population drink water that is not safe leading to widespread diseases and death. Minimising the related diseases is one of the most important public health goals in many countries. Drinking water testing is just one of the ways to achieve this goal.

Testing needs to be done often to make sure that what you are drinking is safe. A variety of contaminants may be found in samples based on the environment. Examples include iron, manganese, lead, radon and sulphate. Perhaps the most troublesome problem is the presence of bacterial organisms. Organisms are difficult to visualise and the samples taken may actually appear to be of good quality just by looking. Microorganisms should be tested in stored sources at least once a year.

There are situations that may require testing to be done more frequently within a year. If there are changes in colour, smell, taste and clarity one should suspect high levels of contaminants such as iron, sulphate and manganese. At the same time, whenever unexplained illnesses are noted among people who drink from the same source. Home testing should be done if a member of the household is pregnant.

The occurrence of unwanted events such as sewage drainage destruction or blockage should raise the suspicion of contamination. One should also get concerned when there is a certain outbreak of diarrhea diseases. When water equipment gets worn out at a faster rate than usual, chances are high that this is linked to corrosion, hardness and pH changes. Inability of soaps to lather easily should also be considered.

The most vulnerable group of persons with regard to diseases are children less than five years and particularly the infants. Overexposure to nitrates to these group leads to nitrate poisoning. It subsequently results in a condition known as the blue baby syndrome in which the levels of oxygen are too low to meet the metabolic requirements. When identified, this condition should be treated as a medical emergency.

Various types of samples are required. The first sample is what will come out the tap in the morning once it is turned on. The second is taken after the stream has run for some time. If there are several points of contamination within a piping system, then different points should be sampled. The best sites to sample are the inlet and outlet of a filtering device that is place on points before and after a storage tank. In the event of corrosion, the stream from the tap should first be allowed to run for at least twelve hours.

After samples have been tested and specific contaminants identified, filters can be installed to get rid of impurities. Reverse osmosis systems and distillation systems filter out fluoride, an element crucial for strengthening enamel and preventing tooth decay. AS such, caution should be taken when using such filters.

Drinking water testing should become a routine if some of the most fatal diseases affecting the world today are to be prevented. Apart from testing, there is a need to have proper storage mechanisms to prevent contamination. If the water is being stored for a long time, regular sampling for tests should be done.




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