To our knowledge, the iron in your well water ought not cause a problem for the Arsenic Quick Test Kit.

We have heard of only one common well water component that causes know interference with the Arsenic Quick line of water test kits: Hydrogen Sulfide.

Arsenic Quick test kits eliminate (negate the effects of) lower amounts of hydrogen sulfide in a water sample but hydrogen sulfide levels in excess of 2 mg/L (ppm) will interfere with testing.

Unsure if your water contains elevated levels of dissolved hydrogen sulfide?  The WaterWorks Hydrogen Sulfide Low Range test kit detects levels from 0.3 up to 2.0 mg/L (ppm).

As for which Arsenic Quick Test Kit to choose, we suggest opting for one with a wide detection range (i.e. one that starts below the EPA action level of 10ppb and can also detect levels much higher than 10ppb).  For most people looking to get a general feel for how much, if any, arsenic their water contains, the original Arsenic Quick Test Kit (packaged as 2 test, 5 test and 100 test versions) works quite well.

"We would like to know about the availability of spare chemicals reagent no 1 and bromide paper for Econo Quick Arsenic Test Kit in Bangladesh. We have a good number of test kits still to be used in which the reagent 1 need to be used by June/2014 and the bromide paper by September/2014. But our testing program will continue upto the end of this year. The other reagents arsenic OK for use by this year 2014."

Good morning, Tanveer, and thank you for your inquiry.

At this time we do not carry replacement reagents for the Arsenic Quick test kits and do not know of anyone other than the manufacturer (www.sensafe.com) that does. We suggest contacting them to see what they can do to help you purchase the test kit reagent(s) you require.

For those in search of a full arsenic test kit...

The Water Test Kit Store currently carries several different Arsenic Quick Test Kits:

• Arsenic Quick (2 Tests)
• Arsenic Quick (5 Tests)
• Arsenic Quick (100 Tests)
• Arsenic Low-Range Quick (2 Tests)

Thank you for contacting the Water Testing Blog, Yulia. We know that the Arsenic Quick Test Kit can test for dissolved arsenic in wood (wood shavings/chips in water) since the test pad itself does not actually get immersed in the sample. Therefore we suspect that one could use the test kit on pretty much any ‘liquid’ — sort of.

Hypothetically, if one performed a test on the same amount (i.e. mass or weight) of formula as called out for wood in the test procedure for testing arsenic levels in wood, then logically the results obtained ought to have some level of validity.

Keep in mind, though, that deviating from ANY test procedure inherently introduces elements of inaccuracy when it comes to the test’s results… and therefore one should take ‘positive’ results as a sign that additional (i.e. laboratory) testing should get performed using methodology specifically designed for the testing of dissolved arsenic levels in food substances.

What was the problem?

With only around 3,000 residents in its tax base, Timmonsville simply could not seem to keep in line with EPA mandated regulations concerning water quality and functionality of its sewer lines.

As examples, the federal government recently sued Timmonsville for failing to adequately chlorinate its public water supply and for the collapsing of a sewer line that resulted in raw sewage backing up into buildings in the downtown area.

Obviously both raw sewage and improperly treated drinking water can make a person ill — but, again, with such a small tax base, the town simply could not afford to make things right.

Trouble paying for needed repairs not a new phenomenon

Just a few short years ago the EPA reduced the allowable dissolved arsenic concentration in drinking water to 10ppb and many smaller communities that had issues with arsenic in their water supply clamored that they could not currently — or in the foreseeable future — afford to install the equipment needed to bring their arsenic levels down under 10ppb.

Naturally the government set up special programs (i.e. arranged for funding & gave extensions for compliance) for communities facing non-compliance with the new arsenic in drinking water regulations but sometimes we wonder just how many small towns (like Timmonsville, SC) still have not managed to get their water quality issues under control.

Larger cities have water & sewer troubles, too

Just so that no one accuses us of saying only small communities have troubles keeping their water and sewer lines in order, the same article also mentioned how Columbia, SC, a MUCH larger city than Timmonsville, SC, recently reached an agreement with the federal government that will require Columbia to make an estimated $750M dollars in repairs to its sewer lines in the near future.

Moral of the story?

Whether you live in a small town on the backside a grassy hill surrounded by lush fields of wild grass or you reside in the heart of thriving metropolitan area with scarcely a tree in sight, water problems can pop up without warning and most certainly without mercy.

Let’s face it: City and town governments have artfully avoided dealing with ailing sewer and water lines for many years (aka: elected officials shy away from important issues that would hint at a possible [probable!] tax hike… so they can get re-elected) and now many regions all across the United States find themselves teetering on the brink of infrastructure collapse.

Bonus round: Throw in a bit of ‘sequestration’ (just to spice things up) and now even LESS money exists in city/town budgets and coffers to make necessary sewer and water line improvements.

And in conclusion…

At the beginning, middle, and end of the day responsibility for the quality of the water we use in our home rests in our hands… so we will continue testing our drinking water periodically and using appropriate water filters to handle any ‘problems’ we detect.

It’s our water, our health, and ultimately… our LIFE!

Arsenic Quick Test Kit (100 Tests)

Today’s inquiry comes to us from an aspiring environmental scientist who asked a very shrewd question about a product that we believe very strongly in: Arsenic Quick™ test kits for drinking water.

‘Kelley’, contacted us from the Southwestern US and asked, “Recently a local news channel did a story on arsenic in drinking water in our area and it sounded like our water could really have problems. My family and most families where we live all have well water and after asking some neighbors about it none of them or us have a clue about arsenic or testing for arsenic. I found your site via a google search and you talk a lot about arsenic quick. Is that a product that I could use to help my family and neighbors learn if we have a problem with arsenic? If so why do you recommend it more than others on the market?”

Thank you, Kelley, for contacting us about the Arsenic Quick line of arsenic in drinking water test kits. Let us first say that we have USED most of the test kits ourselves and yes, we believe very strongly in their ability to help the average person get a handle on any arsenic concentrations that may lurk in their water supply… and here’s why:

• As we stated, we have used the kits ourselves — successfully and with ease.
   
• The reagents in the kit pose less of an environmental hazard when compared to ingredients included with competing kits on the market.
   
• EPA/ETV Test Verified Chemistry — The chemistry and procedures used by the Arsenic Quick Test Kit has undergone a rigorous review by a division of the EPA and that showed both the chemistry and procedures simple enough for testing personnel of all levels to carry out and obtain accurate, repeatable results.
   
• Please feel free to read through the details contained in both the EPA/ETV Verification Statement and the EPA/ETV Verification Report to see exactly what the EPA said about the Arsenic Quick Test Kit.
   
• Arsenic Quick has a shorter and simpler test time than any other comparable arsenic test kit we have seen on the market.
   
• Users of the Arsenic Quick line of test kits can choose from a number of kits ranging from 2-test versions all the way up to 300-test versions… and also from a range of kits with varying detection ranges designed to look for high levels of arsenic in water or very, very low levels of arsenic in water.
   
• Versions of the Arsenic Quick test have gotten incorporated into Compliance Guidelines for arsenic monitoring in at least two US States which means water systems required to monitor arsenic levels in drinking water may use specific versions of the Arsenic Quick test for reporting purposes.

We truly do not believe you can go wrong with the Arsenic Quick line of test kits, Kelley. We wish you the best with all your arsenic testing and let us know if you have any other questions!

Denise asked, “I am the President of the [blocked for privacy reasons] homeowners association in [blocked for privacy reasons] and several of our members mentioned wanting to test for arsenic in the last community meeting. The local paper published an article very recently about water quality and how arsenic runs quite common in these parts so no everyone wants to do a test. One person told us you have sets of 2 tests and sets of 5 tests for sale at around $5 per test but really we need one test per home and we have about 85 homes to test. Do you have a more economical; solution available? Maybe a larger economy pack or maybe can we get a group rate?”

Thank you, Denise, for your inquiry and in these rough economic times we can certainly appreciate wanting to save a dollar or three wherever possible!

On a personal note, we find it wonderful that your community has the ability to get together and address a potential water quality issue like arsenic in well water as a collective body rather than as a group of individuals all doing one thing or another and never really pooling the collected data for useful analysis.

Getting to your question, though, yes, we do carry a number of larger arsenic test kits. From what you described, the ‘full’ Arsenic Quick™ Test Kit that contains 100 tests should work just fine for your needs. It has the same detection range as the 2 & 5 test versions — and mathematically adds up to a much better bargain than buying a whole bunch of the smaller versions.

Other suggested tests for well water?

Ground water may contain an insane number of contaminants — potentially. Some of the basic things that most folks concern themselves with, though, are as follows: Nitrates/Nitrites, Water Metals, Total Iron, Manganese, Coliform Bacteria, Hydrogen Sulfide, pH & Total Alkalinity, Copper, and (of course) Arsenic.

Keep in mind that the quality of well water and ground water can change at any time and that in many cases those who drink/use the water may not notice a change — especially in the case of a drinking water contaminant like arsenic which has no discernible taste, color or odor.

Therefore experts in the well water industry and health officials all pretty much agree that owners of private wells need to test their water on a regular basis.

Using on-the-spot field tests for nitrates and arsenic, representatives from the IRWA will offer free well water testing and provide information and advice on how local residents can lower contaminants in their drinking water (if present), how to prevent contamination of their water wells, and how to properly maintain their water wells.

How to take a water sample…

In order to get the most accurate water test results we suggest keeping the following tips in mind when collecting your sample:

• Use a container about 16 ounces (1 pint) in size and make certain to wash the container with warm, soapy water first. Thoroughly rinse the container to remove all traces of the soap.
   
• If you have a water softener or water filter installed, make sure you collect your water sample from a line before it enters the softener or filter. Often times a faucet or spigot on the outside of the house may work well for this purpose since many are not tied into the whole house water filtration systems.
   
• Allow the water to run for 20 or 30 seconds before collecting your sample.
   
• Collect your sample as close to the time you intend to leave the house as possible and try not to let the water sit for too long between collection and testing.

Residents of Payette County with questions about the free water testing may contact call Adrianna Hummer at (208) 392-3576.

What if we don’t live in Payette County?

Often times you can check with your local health department to see if they offer free or reduced rate water testing. If that does not work out, our Water Test Kit Store offers simple, at-home drinking water test kits for nitrates and arsenic as well as a number of other potential well water contaminants and critical water quality parameters.

“Can arsenic test kit # 481396-2 be used to test for arsenic in soil? If so, how?”

Good afternoon, Jerome, and thank you for this inquiry regarding the Arsenic Quick line of testing products. The Arsenic Quick Test Kits CAN get used for testing soil samples.

We do not have a digital version of the 481396-2’s instruction set online at this time but we DO have a copy of the 481396-5’s instruction set (which includes the procedures for soil testing) at the following link:

• http://watertestingblog.com/images/arsenic-quick-files/481396-5-Instruction-Manual.pdf

For those curious as to WHY a person would want to test for arsenic in soil, before scientists and health experts realized the dangers of exposure to arsenic it once got used extensively in chemical sprays applied to crops grown for human consumption. The runoff from those sprays eventually found its way into the ground.

Additionally, various industrial processes also used arsenic for a number of reasons and the runoff as well as discharge from facilities often times got returned to the environment as untreated waste — because mankind did not, yet, understand the impact its chemical waste streams had on water quality and the well-being of the environment.

Other things to test for arsenic?

Other common places where a person may still find traces of arsenic include:

• Old railroad ties
• Old landscaping timbers
• Old lumber/wood in general

For a long time, and again most of the arsenic use occurred before people realized the hazards associated with exposure to arsenic, lumber processors used pressure treating sprays that contained arsenic… and you can still find some of those products used in landscaping projects and as borders for children’s playgrounds.

What’s the EPA limit for dissolved arsenic in water?

At this time the United States Environmental Protection Agency has set the action limit for public/municipal water systems at 10ppb (parts per billion). This means that during routine water testing performed at a water treatment facility if the detected limit meets or exceeds 10ppb the facility must immediately take steps to reduce that level.

Potential health problems associated with consuming arsenic include various types of cancer which affect organs such as cancer of the bladder, lungs, skin, kidneys, nasal passages, liver, and prostate. Other health problems may result, as well.

Granted most water coming from public water systems ought to pose no threats (at least with arsenic content…) but no one monitors the amount of arsenic found in ground water and reports to private well owners that their drinking water contains a potentially lethal — and definitely unwanted — contaminant.

So, without warning, arsenic, a colorless, odorless and tasteless semi-metal can creep into a home’s water supply and slowly poison all who drink from the home’s water well.

We have always encouraged private well owners to test for the presence of arsenic in their well water and we now carry a variety of arsenic tests kits in our Water Test Kit Store, all capable of detecting dissolved arsenic levels below the USEPA Maximum Contaminant Level of 10ppb (parts per billion).

Below you will find a list of the full-size Arsenic Quick^TM test kits that we currently carry along with their detection ranges:

• Arsenic Quick^TM – 0.0, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.06, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, >0.5, >>0.5 ppm (mg/L)
   
• Arsenic Econo-Quick^TM – 0, 0.010, 0.025, 0.050, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0 ppm (mg/L)
   
• Arsenic Quick^TM II – < 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40, >50, >80, >120, >160 ppb (µg/L)
   
• Arsenic Low-Range Quick^TM – <2, 4, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100, >150, >300 ppb (µg/L)
   

• Arsenic Low-Range Quick^TM II – <0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, >20, >30, >50 ppb (µg/L)

In addition to the full-size Arsenic Quick^TM Test Kits, we also carry smaller versions that contain either 2 or 5 tests. See below for our current offerings:

• Arsenic Quick^TM – 2 Water Tests, 5 Water Tests & 5 Wood Tests
   

• Arsenic Low-Range Quick^TM – 2 Water Tests

Now that you know where you can obtain an arsenic test kit for drinking water, well water, surface water, soil, and even wood samples, some of you may wonder how arsenic would get into your water in the first place.

Where arsenic comes from

As we said earlier, arsenic has no taste, no odor, and imparts no color when present in a water sample. This naturally occurring element appears on the periodic table as a semi-metal and depending on location, one can easily find it present in rocks, soil, air, animal and/or plant samples.

Various industrial processes (mining, smelting of other metals, burning of coal, etc. may release arsenic into the environment), agricultural activities (certain fertilizers may contain arsenic), and consumer products (certain types of dyes, paints, metal finishing products, soaps/detergents, wood preservatives, etc. may contain arsenic) also contribute to increased environmental arsenic levels.

Water simply has to pass through areas where any of the aforementioned (or other) products or activities exist and it will undoubtedly carry off some of whatever it encountered along its path.

Additionally, as more and more areas with already scarce water resources get further developed, heavy water usage causes aquifer levels to drop and expose igneous (volcanic) rock to air, an event that allows igneous rock to form water soluble arsenic on its surfaces. Then, once water levels get restored (as happens during areas’ rainy months), the water soluble arsenic gets picked up by the water.

Moral of the story

As always, and as will always be the case, the safety of our water supply faces constant dangers from innumerable sources of contamination… and only regular testing of your own water supply with drinking water test kits will help to ensure that the water you drink does not contain any unwanted and/or potentially harmful surprises.

Item #: ARSENIC-QUICK-2
Manufacturer: SenSafe / WaterWorks
Manufacturer’s Product Number: 481396-2, this is on your website.

I purchased as Quick part number 481297-2. Is this the same test as above ? In the 2006(AWWA) article– it says the as quick was replaced with Quick 2 — problems with the strips and foil packaging. The box or instr. do not indicate it is the quick 2 . So do I have the correct test? When I called ITS , they told me they do not have that part number, yet it is found on numerous sites. Is 481297-2 the quick 2 with the new packaging for the foil. I want the most accurate test

Thanks, Tana

We thank you for contacting us with this question, Tana, and feel confident that others besides yourself have had similar questions regarding the manner in which ITS opted to label their line of Arsenic Quick Test Kits. Hopefully the information below will clear things up for you.

The ‘-2’ you mentioned refers to the number of tests contained in the kit — which means you purchased a kit called the Arsenic Quick Low Range and it contains a total of two tests.

If you want the Arsenic Quick II, then from what we know, you would need to purchase ITS part number 481303. As packaged by ITS, that kit contains 50 tests and should have the following detection levels on its color chart: <1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 20, 25, 30, 40, >50, >80, >120, >160 ppb (µg/L).

You will find more information on the Arsenic Quick II Test Kit on the following web page: http://arsenic-test-kit.com/full-arsenic-quick-II-50-tests.shtml

You also mentioned that you want ‘the most accurate test’. All of the Arsenic Quick tests bearing the EPA/ETV certification should give accurate results when used properly. The differences between the kits lie in the precision offered by each kit and in the low level detection limit offered by each kit.

No matter which Arsenic Quick Test Kit you choose, please keep in mind that the EPA action limit for dissolved inorganic arsenic in water currently sits at 10ppb so if you detect arsenic concentrations greater than 10ppb, we suggest having your water tested immediately by a certified water testing laboratory.

Then, depending upon the results of the ‘official’ analysis, definitely select the correct water treatment system (arsenic filter or arsenic remediation system) for your individual water quality situation. Not all arsenic reduction/removal filters work the same and not all will work in every situation!