One would THINK that we could send our children to school and feel confident knowing that the water dispensed from drinking fountains and faucets would not contain coliform bacteria, lead, copper, pesticides, etc. As sad as this will sound, we apparently cannot think like that.

In an article written by Associated Press Writer Garance Burke for publication last Friday (Sept. 25, 2009)…

CUTLER, Calif. – Over the last decade, the drinking water at thousands of schools across the country has been found to contain unsafe levels of lead, pesticides and dozens of other toxins.

An Associated Press investigation found that contaminants have surfaced at public and private schools in all 50 states — in small towns and inner cities alike.

But the problem has gone largely unmonitored by the federal government, even as the number of water safety violations has multiplied.

“It’s an outrage,” said Marc Edwards, an engineer at Virginia Tech who has been honored for his work on water quality. “If a landlord doesn’t tell a tenant about lead paint in an apartment, he can go to jail. But we have no system to make people follow the rules to keep school children safe?” ( source )

After reading that last bit you most likely would like to know what schools have the greatest problems, what sorts of problems they experience, and how often they experience them.

According to the article by the Associated Press,

The contamination is most apparent at schools with wells, which represent 8 to 11 percent of the nation’s schools. Roughly one of every five schools with its own water supply violated the Safe Drinking Water Act in the past decade, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency analyzed by the AP.

In California’s farm belt, wells at some schools are so tainted with pesticides that students have taken to stuffing their backpacks with bottled water for fear of getting sick from the drinking fountain.

…

The AP analyzed a database showing federal drinking water violations from 1998 to 2008 in schools with their own water supplies. The findings:

• Water in about 100 school districts and 2,250 schools breached federal safety standards.

• Those schools and districts racked up more than 5,550 separate violations. In 2008, the EPA recorded 577 violations, up from 59 in 1998 — an increase that officials attribute mainly to tougher rules.

• California, which has the most schools of any state, also recorded the most violations with 612, followed by Ohio (451), Maine (417), Connecticut (318) and Indiana (289).

• Nearly half the violators in California were repeat offenders. One elementary school in Tulare County, in the farm country of the Central Valley, broke safe-water laws 20 times.

• The most frequently cited contaminant was coliform bacteria, followed by lead and copper, arsenic and nitrates.

( source )

Simple test kits exist for arsenic, coliform bacteria, lead, copper and nitrates but in most cases schools do not have to test for and report the quality of their water since it comes from municipal water water source which does have to issue water quality reports to the government on a regular basis.

So where do the contaminants come from? In many cases the contaminants may come from old or faulty plumbing within the schools’ own walls. Older copper piping with fused together with lead solder can very easily contaminate water supplies to an entire school with the highest readings typically found in the mornings and after weekends or vacations.

What can a concerned parent do?

• Ask your child’s school administrators questions: Do they test the water quality? How often do they test the water quality? What do they test the water for?

• If the people you initially speak with cannot answer you, then ask them who can provide you with the answers you seek and move up the food chain until you get them.

• Ask the school to perform simple testing for heavy metals and coliform bacteria on a regular basis. Schools using well water should also consider testing for pesticides, nitrates and nitrites. If they will not do the testing, ask then if they will allow YOU to perform the testing before or after normal school hours as long as you have a member of school staff as an escort.

We cannot protect our children from EVERY hazard out there but we CAN do our best to keep them from drinking contaminated water at school.

Test Kits to Consider:

• Arsenic in Water Test Kit
• Bacteria in Water Test Kit (Coliform)
• Copper in Water Test Kit
• Lead in Water Test Kit
• Metals in Water Test Kit
• Nitrates/Nitrites in Water Test Kit
• Pesticides in Water Test Kit

Mentioning the topic of radon in water or radon in air always results in people asking for ways to test for radon. Soon afterwards we receive emails from people asking how they can remove radon from the air and/or water in their building.

Below you will find links to Radon Mitigation Systems.

Alarm: Radon Gas Detector/Monitor 0.1 to 999.9 pCi/L EPA Approved ProSeries 3 (HS71512) w/Digital Display & 85dB Horn		$129.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 3″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 40 to 60 watts (GP201) 82 CFM		$219.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 3″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 55 to 90 watts (GP301) 92 CFM		$229.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 3″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 60 to 110 watts (GP401) 93 CFM		$239.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 3″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 70 to 140 watts (GP501) 95 CFM		$249.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 4″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 14 to 20 watts (RP140) 134 CFM		$147.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 4″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 37 to 71 watts (RP145) 173 CFM		$149.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 4″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 45 to 60 watts (XP151) 180 CFM		$154.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 4″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 45 to 66 watts (XP201) 125 CFM		$159.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 6″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 52 to 72 watts (RP260) 275 CFM		$174.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 6″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 65 to 105 watts (XR261) 230 CFM		$194.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 6″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 86 to 140 watts (RP265) 327 CFM		$199.95
Radon Away Mitigation Fan: 8″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter 110vAC, 103 to 156 watts (RP380) 510 CFM		$239.00
RadonAway High Suction Fan: 3″ Inlet 2″ Outlet Diameter 105 to 195 watts (HS3000) 40 CFM		$1,475.00
RadonAway High Suction Fan: 3″ Inlet 2″ Outlet Diameter 150 to 270 watts (HS2000) 110 CFM		$1,495.00
RadonAway High Suction Fan: 3″ Inlet 2″ Outlet Diameter 180 to 320 watts (HS5000) 53 CFM		$1,495.00
RadonAway High Suction Mitigation Fan: 3″ Inlet/Outlet Diameter White Rectangular Exterior 70 to 130 watts (GP500) 88 CFM		$379.95
Spruce Dryer Boosting Fan Kit: 4″ Duct, 130 CFM at 0″ WC (RB110) with Pressure Sensing Switch & Remote Sensor Probe		$229.00
Water Mitigation System: AiRaider™ 321, up to 10 GPM 3/4″ (RA-28196) 115V Diffused Bubble Aeration Radon/VOC Removal System		$2,450.00
Water Mitigation System: AiRaider™ 433, up to 15 GPM 3/4″ (RA-28171) 230V Diffused Bubble Aeration Radon/VOC Removal System		$3,495.00
Water Mitigation System: AiRaider™ 433, up to 15 GPM 3/4″ (RA-28172) 115V Diffused Bubble Aeration Radon/VOC Removal System		$3,450.00
Water Mitigation System: AiRaider™ 433-1, up to 20 GPM 1″ (RA-28180) 115V Diffused Bubble Aeration Radon/VOC Removal System		$3,955.00
Water Mitigation System: AiRaider™ 433-1, up to 20 GPM 1″ (RA-28182) 230V Diffused Bubble Aeration Radon/VOC Removal System		$3,995.00

As usual, we begin looking into a water quality topic and we uncover all sorts of interesting information… such as studies linking exposure to fluoride and damage to sperm, reduced sperm count, etc.

High doses of fluoride have repeatedly been found to interfere with the reproductive system of animals. Commonly observed effects in fluoride-exposed animals include: oxidative stress, damaged sperm, reduced sperm count, and reduced fertility. ( source )

Yes, the author of that quote did say ‘high doses’. After reading the article we naturally wanted to know if low doses of fluoride exposure could have detrimental effects as well. Thankfully some other folks also had the same question.

When given at high doses, fluoride has been found to damage virtually any tissue in the body, whether it be the thyroid, the brain, or the reproductive system. On this, there is now little debate. What is still disputed, however, is whether low levels of fluoride can also cause harm. Towards this end, it will be important for researchers conducting animal studies in the future to put greater focus on low-level effects than has heretofore been the case. In 2007, two research teams did this, in separate investigations of how fluoride ingestion may affect sperm function.

The two studies examined the effect of water fluoride concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 ppm. Since rats and mice are significantly more tolerant to fluoride than humans, 1 to 10 ppm represents a notably low level of fluoride for these animals. It has been estimated, for example, that rats are 5 times less sensitive to fluoride than humans (Turner 1996), and thus a 4.5 ppm concentration would be roughly equivalent to 1 ppm for humans, while 10 ppm fluoride would be roughly equivalent to 2 ppm. It is striking, therefore, that these 2 studies found damaging effects of fluoride on sperm at these levels. ( source )

What does this mean to couples struggling to have a baby? Get your water tested for fluoride and if your results come back positive, you may want to consider installing a fluoride removal system in your home.

Wanna’ hear a joke? What do you get when you cross chlorine with a fish tank? Dead fish!

Whether first starting out w/ a new aquarium or adding water to an existing aquarium, you must add water that contains as close to 0% total chlorine as possible — or your fish will die. For an explanation of the difference between free and total chlorine, please refer to an earlier blog entry entitled “Free, Combined and Total Chlorine Re-Visited“.

It goes without saying that you will want to your the source water for TOTAL chlorine, and not just free chlorine because ALL forms of chlorine can prove fatal to aquatic life even in small amounts.

You may use test strips, liquid test kits and/or a water testing meter. The exact testing method does not matter in so long as you trust the results you get from your testing. Keep in mind that your fishes’ lives depend upon that reading so choose your testing method carefully!

A while back we posted links to radon testing kits. Just recently someone made us aware that residents of New Jersey have specific rules and guidelines which determine the radon testing kits they must use. For that reason we tracked down some kits that residents of New Jersey can use to test for the presence of radon in their homes. See below.

Alarm: Radon Gas Detector/Monitor 0.1 to 999.9 pCi/L EPA Approved ProSeries 3 (HS71512) w/Digital Display & 85dB Horn		$119.95
New Jersey Long Term Radon Test Kit (AT-NJ) Includes 3 Test Units with State Fees Included		$99.95
New Jersey Radon Gas in Water & Air Combination Test Kit (rn-DLX-NJ) with Lab Analysis Included		$199.00
New Jersey Radon in Water Test Kit (rn-h2o-NJ) NJ State Fees Included		$34.95
New Jersey Short Term Radon Test Kit (LS-NJ) Includes 3 Test Vials with State Fees Included		$79.95

If after having the air and/or water in your home tested for radon you WILL want to have it removed. To get rid of radon you will most likely need to install some sort of Radon Mitigation System.

Several people have asked why we have not talked about water… in aquariums. No particular reason, really, other than not enough people had asked for that sort of information — until now.

Many people have the wrong idea about how much maintenance and testing a healthy aquarium requires. Notice we said, “healthy.”

An UNhealthy aquarium requires next to no maintenance. Simply add water to the tank, throw in some fish, wait for fish to die, scoop up dead fish, re-stock tank with live fish, and repeat the last two steps until common sense kicks in.

Eventually people catch on to the fact that an aquarium needs more attention than just adding fish and dumping in food once in a while. It takes some people longer than others to figure that out, true, but we can discuss that topic another time. For right now let’s stick to the topic at-hand: Testing Aquarium Water so that your fish don’t keep going belly up.

As you can see from the above test kits, you will have to test for a number different water parameters if you want to keep your fish healthy, happy and alive. Thankfully most aquarium test kits these days come with easy-to-follow instructions and the average person can complete the testing in just a few minutes.

Which water parameters matter most? Hard to say, but many pond and aquarium experts agree that a person ought to keep a close eye on the following water quality parameters if they hope to have clean, healthy water for their fish to live in:

• Ammonia Levels — As disgusting as it sounds to us, fish live in their own waste products, one of which is ammonia. Excessive amounts of ammonia result in respiratory problems for fish and if left untreated the fish will eventually stop breathing and die.
• Chlorine/Chloramines Levels — Extremely toxic to fish and pretty much all aquatic life even in small amounts. When adding fresh water to an aquarium, always make sure to test for and remove any and all traces of chlorine and chloramines.
• Nitrite Levels — When ammonia breaks down it forms nitrites, another very toxic compound which can cause respiratory distress in, and eventually the death of, fish.
• pH Levels — It ought to come as no surprise that fish don’t want to swim around in extremely acidic or basic water any more than you would want someone pouring hydrochloric acid or concentrated lye onto your skin. One thing to remember, though, about pH: Not all fish prefer the exact same pH so when choosing your fish, read up on their preferred water conditions — or risk killing some of your fish slowly and painfully.

While the experts may disagree on the benefits and health issues offered by fluoridated drinking water, the fact remains that lots of people do not want fluoride in their drinking water and want to know how to remove it and other potentially dangerous contaminants.

The following information (text) comes from the About.Com Chemistry Section.

Ways to Remove Fluoride from Water:

Reverse Osmosis Filtration — This is used to purify several types of bottled water (not all), so some bottled waters are unfluoridated. Reverse osmosis systems are generally unaffordable for personal use.

Activated Alumina Defluoridation Filter — These filters are used in locales where fluorosis is prevalent. They are relatively expensive (lowest price I saw was $30/filter) and require frequent replacement, but do offer an option for home water filtration.

Distillation Filtration — There are commercially available distillation filters that can be purchased to remove fluoride from water. On a related note: When looking at bottled water, keep in mind that ‘distilled water’ does not imply that a product is suitable for drinking water and other undesirable impurities may be present.

These Methods Do NOT Remove Fluoride:

Brita, Pur, and most other filters — Some websites about fluoride removal state otherwise, but I checked the product descriptions on the companies’ websites to confirm that fluoride is left in the water.

Boiling Water — This will concentrate the fluoride rather than reduce it.

Freezing Water — Freezing water does not affect the concentration of fluoride.

Before investing in a fluoride removal system, or any other water filtration system, you will want to have your water tested to see what contaminants your water contains. We always suggest using a certified water testing laboratory for this sort of thing but for those wishing to do water quality testing on their own, we suggest using a Water Testing Meter such as the eXact Micro 7+ which can test for many different critical water quality parameters and not just fluoride.

Once again we have stumbled across information about the dangers of lead exposure. While not specifically related to lead in drinking water, a common source of lead exposure, the information did catch our attention and we think all parents and care providers for children should know about.

Lead levels below the ‘accepted safe’ limit of 10 µg/dl in the blood of children may have damaging effects on their intellectual and emotional development. ( source )

Back in the early 1990’s the United States Center for Disease Control set the action-level for lead levels in blood at 10 µg/dl and since then evidence has come to light that levels a lot lower may cause irreversible damage to children’s nervous system.

A recent study showed that children with lead in blood levels between 5 µg/dl and 10 µg/dl performed worse on standardized tests than children with lead in blood levels below 5 µg/dl.

For more detailed and specific information on the matters just discussed, please refer to Medical News Today.

The more we read about the dangers of lead exposure the more strongly we feel about making sure the water we drink and serve our children contains as few contaminants (like lead) as possible. We also think it very wise to test the paint on (older) children’s toys and on surfaces in the home.

Why? Simple: The United States Center for Disease Control and the United States Environmental Protection Agency have not always viewed lead as a toxic compound and at one time it existed in many forms and in many places in our everyday lives. Not all of those lead-containing items have found their way to facilities for proper disposal yet. others have already found ways to pollute our drinking water sources w/ their toxins as a result of improper disposal in landfills or illegal dump sites.

Recent advances in the field of heavy metals testing have made it possible for the average person to test for lead in paint, lead in water, and even lead in themselves quite easily, conveniently, and without spending hundreds of dollars.

Oh, and you don’t have to have a degree in chemistry, either!

Recently we read about a teacher in Aiken, SC taking her students out to Aiken County Open Land Trust Carolina Bay to do some water testing and take a walk through Nature.

All of us here at Water Testing Blog enjoy hearing about schoolteachers who take students out on field trips and teach them about water quality issues. In our opinion, showing children firsthand that the stuff (science) they learn in the classroom has applications outside of the classroom helps them retain more knowledge than they would if they just learned something for the sake of passing a test.

It had rained most of the night and early Friday morning, but Millbrook Elementary School fourth-graders eagerly arrived at Aiken County Open Land Trust Carolina Bay, ready to collect data.

As always, teacher Karey Santos was holding court on water quality. She gave one student a test strip to determine pH, the water’s acidity. He seemed ready to plunge right into Carolina Bay.

“You don’t have to get into the water,” she said as the kids laughed. “Just touch the strip to the surface.”

The test strip showed that the bay water is quite acidic, and the children quickly guessed why. It’s not just rainwater that falls into the bay, but leaves as well that bring Tannic acid with them. ( source )

Teaching children about simple things like pH, hardness, alkalinity, tds, etc. and giving them an opportunity to test for each of those things in a real world setting adds a level of excitement to the topics and creates a greater understanding of their importance.

Technicians in a water testing laboratory use a chemical testing technique with the anacronym SPADNS to measure the fluoride content of a water sample. Traditionally this test involved the use of labware and chemicals not typically found outside of the laboratory. Therefore pretty much all fluoride in water testing took place in a laboratory setting.

Thanks to a recent breakthrough by the research and development team of Industrial Test Systems, Inc., laboratory technicians have an easier way to test using the SPADNS method — AND the average person can now test for the presence of fluoride in drinking water w/o having to send their water out to a laboratory.

Reasons to Care About Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water:

(1) Your Child’s Teeth — “A little fluoride is a good thing for your child’s teeth, but swallowing too much of it over time can lead to a condition called fluorosis that can cause white spots to show up on his adult teeth.” ( source )

(2) Experts Disagree — “There is a lot of information available about fluoride but the information is also sometimes conflicting. Some leads us to believe fluoride in drinking water is a good thing; and some says just the opposite! Even information in clear opposition claims to have solid scientific backing – how can this be? This situation led us to ask: How can a person make an informed decision about whether fluoride is good or bad when everything they hear is so conflicting?” ( source )

(3) Potential (Accidental) Over Exposure — “Even those who aren’t convinced of the toxicity of fluoride should be concerned about the level of fluoride added to the water supply. The optimum level was set in the 1940s at approximately 1 ppm (equal to 1 mg/l). This was based on assumptions that the total intake of fluoride would be 1 mg/day, assuming 4 glasses of water were drunk per day. However, current intake of fluoride comes not just from the water supply. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Iowa and reported in the November issue of the Journal of American Dental Association found that 71% of more than 300 soft drinks contained 0.60 ppm fluoride. Toothpaste, beverages, processed food, fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamins and mineral supplements all contribute to the intake of fluoride. It is now estimated that the total amount of fluoride ingested per day is 8 mg/day, eight times the optimum levels.” ( source )

Many more reasons exist, but for now just understand that experts disagree about the health effects of fluoride in drinking water, too much fluoride can and will damage teeth, and the possibility exists that we may currently get exposed to a lot more fluoride on a daily basis than we ought to.

With that in mind, anyone bothered that information ought to either get their water tested for fluoride content or consider taking advantage of the fluoride testing capabilities of the versatile eXact Micro 7+ Water Testing Meter.