WHY AT HOME WATER TESTS ARE IMPORTANT
Imagine you are at a friend’s house and have just asked for a glass of water, watching as they hold a clear crystalline glass under the tap and a stream of water steadily fills the vessel.
You’ve just returned from a walk around the neighborhood in the sun, and you are thirsty! (Or you were out all night at the karaoke bar putting back fireball shots, and your organs are screaming for rehydration!) You put the glass to parched lips, catching a slight whiff of an unpleasant odor, too delicate to register before the liquid floods your taste buds, and your brain suggests that perhaps this is not the cleanest water.
Too late. This would be an unpleasant experience for most people, and one most of us certainly wouldn’t want our guests to experience
DON'T JUDGE A GLASS OF WATER BY IT'S COVER
“Dirty” water is not always noticeable, however. Sometimes, the harmful bacteria and pollutants are silent; tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Not something you want to be handing a glass full of to your children every day or ingesting yourself.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE OPTIONS
You could get a water filter to help clean out some unwanted particles. But to be very sure that your water is safe (and tastes good), test it.
You don’t need a lot of money or hire a large-scale testing test company.
You can choose from various at-home water test kits that vary in price and focus. Best At-Home Water Test Kit
AND THE LIST GOES ON...
What could be making your water unhealthy? Lead, chlorine, coliform, heavy arsenic, bacteria, and volatile organic compounds are among the possible contaminants.
In 2022, we should all know how harmful lead and arsenic can be for a person, especially a young one.
The presence of these in our water can trigger a slough of bad outcomes, including illnesses, developmental disruptions, and disgusted friends who simply wanted a glass of water.
CAREFUL WHERE YOU PUT YOUR TRUST
Maybe you assume your water is safe because it comes from a water treatment plant. (Though I would say again that in 2022, we have the information to know we must be more aware…think of Flint, Michigan.)
EXCUSE ME, COUNCIL MEMBER
Bad water doesn’t just come from a collective source. It can also be the pipes leading to your home causing the issues. So before you head to that city council meeting to rail at the water treatment plant representatives (unless you’re in Flint), test your water to learn more about the contaminants. You will gain a clearer argument.
WHETHER FROM THE CITY OR THE GROUND, WATER QUALITY MATTERS
Your water may come from a well or some other localized water source. In that case, testing is critical, as it is likely the only testing being done on your water.
You will be doing you and your family a favor by ordering a water quality test kit. Remember, bad water doesn’t affect just your health; it can also ruin clothes and plumbing fixtures. (You do not want that cute little sundress you found on vacation destroyed by something as simple as bad water!)
BENEFITS OF WATER TESTING
And if you test the water and the results come out clean, you can sleep a little easier at night or at least feel more confident when you hand your friend a tall glass of clear water