In this article residents in the Dallas, TX area express concerns over the ‘inadvertent return to the surface’ of drilling clay containing bentonite, a compound used as a lubricant/sealant around the casing of drills. Apparently a few thousand gallons of the stuff seeped up through cracks in rock formations under wetlands and had to get cleaned up by the company doing the drilling.

DALLAS TWP. – Residents and township officials told supervisors Tuesday night they want tests done on water wells near the sites of five drilling mud spills that have taken place since the beginning of the month.

Contractors hired by Chief Gathering LLC, which was recently bought out by PVR Partners, are installing a pipeline to connect natural gas wells in Susquehanna County to the Transco interstate pipeline in Dallas.

Since May 1, there were a total of five spills of more than 6,000 gallons of drilling mud at two different Dallas Township sites: Leonards Creek on Kunkle Road, and Upper Demunds Road and Goodleigh Road.

Residents’ concerns revolve around bentonite, a type of clay used in well drilling.

About 20 residents attended the meeting, but they didn’t seem convinced the bentonite was benign.

“You have to please understand the skepticism we have,” resident Jim DeMichele said. “We’re new to this. We’re here. They’re getting done and they’re getting out of here.”

Representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection and Chief were on hand to answer questions.

An “inadvertent return to surface” of drilling mud occurs when drilling horizontally beneath a wetlands or stream, according to John Pittinger, Chief’s environmental coordinator. The mud will find a weak spot and come to the surface, he said.

…

Tom Doughton, the township’s engineering representative, said he is very familiar with bentonite and there is no need for “hysteria.”

Anyone who had a home well drilled in the last 20 years probably had it sealed with bentonite, he said. It was also used at the Huntsville Reservoir after the flood were the dam almost breached, Doughton said.

“Bentonite is a common product used in many, many applications,” he said.

But he said he thought water testing is a good idea to give people peace of mind – although it can be expensive.

Supervisor William Grant said he had his well tested recently and it was $600. ( source )

We did a little checking on the Internet to see if the experts’ opinions on bentonite matched information currently available from online sources… and for the most part it did.

The MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for bentonite that we found mentioned the potential for eye and respiratory irritation but not much else. It contained no mention of LD50 for humans or known definite environmental effects.

In other places on the web we found articles praising the healing effects of bentonite clay… but we will not go into the details of those findings since we prefer not to discuss medicinal matters on our site. We leave those discussions for folks with more experience in the field of medicine.

Testing for bentonite?

The article mentioned something about $600 for well water testing but did not specifically say that the well got tested for bentonite — though the implication did get made.

We did not find a readily available test kit for bentonite but we did locate a few comments scattered about on the web indicating that bentonite clay would more than likely show up as increased turbidity in a body of water.

Regular testing of well water?

Regardless of whether you live near gas/oil drilling or the laying of the pipeline for the transportation of gas/oil through your area, the responsibility for making sure you have safe, clean water coming out of your well falls on you. No government agency will knock on your door to ask for permission to test your well water; not unless they already know about a potential health concern you more than likely do not know about and by then it’s more than likely way after the time when it would have behooved you to know about the problem.

Moral of the story?

Get your well water tested periodically by a qualified water testing lab (we suggest considering a lab like National Testing Laboratories) and perform regular testing of basic well water quality parameters on your own using Multi-Parameter Drinking Water Test Kits like the ones we offer in our water test kit store.

Question: Who besides us remembers the tragedy of kids’ toys and jewelry containing higher than acceptable levels of lead? Yeah, we thought that would ring a bell or two.

Next question: Who besides us remembers playing in the yard on a hot Summer day, getting thirsty and then taking a nice long drink of cold water out of the garden hose? We certainly do! Mom would have YELLED at us if we dared go into the house with dirty shoes on every time we got thirsty!

Well now we, as parents, may want to think twice about the hassle of vacuuming up the tracked in grass and dirt from our little ones… because recent studies have shown that a good number of garden hoses contain and give off potentially hazardous metals like lead.

Well looky here … HealthyStuff.org, an offshoot of the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center, is an environmental nonprofit that has tested just about everything under the sun for the presence of toxic chemicals ranging from car seats to handbags. Recently, the group extended its reach into the garden shed and the results, released late last week, may find you thinking twice the next time you give Fido a sip from the garden hose on a hot summer’s day.

For the study, the Ecology Center tested a total of 179 run-of-the-mill gardening products — 90 garden hoses, 53 garden gloves, 23 gardening tools, and 13 kneeling pads — for lead, chlorine, bromine, cadmium, phthalates, and bisphenol A (BPA). The results found that slightly more than 70 percent of the products tested contained chemical levels of “high concern.”

The presence of both lead and phthalates, particularly in garden hoses, proved to be the most alarming. One hundred percent of the garden hoses tested (all made from PVC) contained phthalates, the notorious plasticizer that’s been linked to hormone disruption, genital birth defects in boys, breast cancer and other maladies. Two hoses contained the flame retardant 2,3,4,5-tetrabromo-bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (TBPH) and 30 percent of all products tested contained lead levels well over 100 parts per million, the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard for lead in children’ products. What’s more, the water sampled from one hose contained 0.280 mg/l (ppm) lead while the standard for lead in drinking water is 0.015 mg/l. Not that most folks drink directly from garden hoses, but hey, it happens. High levels of BPA were also found in water samples. ( source )

So, after reading all that bad news and knowing that most companies have made serious efforts to rid products of potentially dangerous lead levels, BPA, phthalates, and additives known to leach out of various plastics in recent years… just how badly did WE get dosed with all that garbage BEFORE consumer advocacy groups put pressure on big business?

The answer to that question SCARES THE HECK OUT OF US so we will now abruptly change topics and try to think happy thoughts. Rainbows, Unicorns, Pay Raises, Winning Scratch Off Tickets, 2-for-1 Top Shelf Drinks at Happy Hour…

For the complete article and tips on how you can currently minimize your exposure to harmful chemicals and compounds in gardening tools, supplies, hoses, apparel, etc., you can read the full article here.

BPA-Free Filtrete Water Bottle Station Reduces Chlorine Taste and Odor

Gard’n Gro Chlorine Filter Reduces Chlorine in Garden Water by 85%

]]> http://watertestingblog.com/2012/05/12/dangerous-compounds-like-lead-bpa-phthalates-etc-found-in-garden-hoses/feed/ 0 http://watertestingblog.com/2012/05/09/well-water-testing-in-michigan-quick-easy-affordable/ http://watertestingblog.com/2012/05/09/well-water-testing-in-michigan-quick-easy-affordable/#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 13:03:55 +0000 Water Testing Blog http://watertestingblog.com/?p=5571 We absolutely love finding out that local health officials and water quality experts in areas have banded together to provide low-cost testing to local residents. Today’s water testing good news came to us from Michigan where residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties can take advantage of two different testing packages for nominal fees.

Is your well water safe?

It may look crystal clear, but don’t let that fool you; contaminants could be lurking.

The only way to know for sure if your home’s drinking water is safe is to have it tested.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends having well water tested every year, and the best time to do so is now, in the spring after a few rainy days.

“Unlike public water systems, there are no water quality monitoring requirements for private wells, and many never get tested,” said Scott Kendzierski, director of environmental health services for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. “It is up to well owners to make sure their drinking water is safe for consumption. Fortunately, it’s easy, quick and inexpensive to test drinking water.”

The local health department offers two types of well water testing kits for a nominal fee. Both kits are available the department’s offices in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties. The kit, which tests for the presence of E. coli and other bacteria, costs $16; and the kit that tests for fluoride, chloride, hardness, iron, sodium, sulfates and nitrites is $18. These are small prices to pay to assure your family’s drinking water is safe. ( source )

So, for less than $40 residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties in Michgan can have their water tested for coliform bacteria (including E. Coli), fluoride, chloride, hardness, iron, sodium, sulfates, and nitrites. We consider THAT a really great deal!

OK, but what about everyone else?

If you live close to those counties but not actually in any of them, the article concludes by saying, “For more information about well water testing, visit www.nwhealth.org or call your local health department office.” — and we could not have said it any better than that.

Looking for test kits for home use?

Although all of us at Water Testing Blog highly suggest that private well owners get their water tested annually by a certified water testing laboratory such as National Testing Laboratories (see what they test for) or one recommended by your local Health Department, if you would like to test your own well or ground water we can definitely point you in the right direction.

The Water Testing Blog Store carries a variety of useful test kits for home water testing. Below you will find some of the more popular kits we carry:

Water Quality Test Kit

COMPLETE Water Quality Test Kit

4-in-1 City Water Check

You will find the full selection of test kits currently available on the Water Testing Blog Store’s Main Page.

Sanford, N.C. — Water-quality experts are testing people’s wells in Lee County to create a baseline that will help state regulators measure the environmental impact of natural gas drilling.

Teams from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Water Science Center are fanning out across the county to assess the best places to test the groundwater. About 150 area homeowners have asked the USGS to test their wells, but officials said locations will be chosen based on scientific criteria.

“We haven’t sampled in this area since the 1960s, 1970s,” Melinda Chapman, a USGS groundwater specialist, said Wednesday.

State lawmakers are expected to consider legislation when they reconvene later this month that would allow gas drilling as quickly as 2014.

Environmental groups have expressed concern about the controversial drilling method of hydraulic fracturing, saying that they fear it could contaminate water sources in central North Carolina. ( source )

As with any water quality situation, having baseline water quality test results to compare newer test results against makes it much easier to ‘prove’ that fracking mining or other activities in a region have had a negative effect on the water quality.

While the exact reason for a change in water quality cannot always get pinpointed and/or assigned to a particular cause, not having before drilling test results to compare against makes it easier for gas and mining companies to deny that their activities in an area have anything to do with changes in the environment.

Basic tests well owners can perform on their own?

Do owners of private wells have to pay for (expensive) laboratory tests each and every time they want to check their well water for evidence of contamination by fracking? Only sophisticated laboratory testing can detect some of the chemicals contained in fracking fluid but simple tests for indicators of contamination do exist.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) – This basic test checks for the presence of dissolved solids in a water sample. Spikes in TDS readings may occur on a regular basis but prolonged spikes with no apparent cause (i.e. heavy rains, etc.) may serve as an indicator that a new contaminant has entered the water source.

Simple meters like the COM-100 EC/TDS Meter and AquaPro TDS Water Tester make monitoring the total dissolved solids levels in samples a quick and easy process.

Heavy Metals – Since drilling involves a large amount of metal in its operations monitoring the level of heavy metals in ground/well water near hydraulic fracturing activity makes a lot of sense.

Products like the SenSafe Heavy Metals Test Strip allow users to quickly and easily monitor a water source’s overall heavy metal content — without the need for complicated lab equipment, potentially hazardous reagents, etc.

pH & Alkalinity – Keeping an eye on a water source’s pH and alkalinity also aids in determining if hydraulic fracturing activity in a region has had an effect on water quality. Sharp, prolonged changes in pH and alkalinity may indicate the possible presence of unwanted chemicals in the water source.

Meters like the pH-200 Waterproof pH Meter make pH testing about as easy as it gets. For those unwilling to spend the money on a meter, you can also use more traditional methods like pH & Alkalinity Test Strips.

Moral of the story?

Establishing the quality level of well and ground water in Sanford, NC prior to any fracking activity begins may give homeowners a leg to stand on if the quality of their water suffers after hydraulic fracturing begins.

It may also provide the gas companies with the evidence they need to ‘prove’ that hydraulic fracturing did not affect the quality of water in the area.

A double-edged blade, yes, but in our opinion a necessary one for any region considering issuing hydraulic fracturing permits to gas companies.

Multi-Parameter Test Kit for Ground & Well Water

State health and environmental experts performed testing of well water around a know 1,4 Dioxane contamination site and detected the compound in a number of wells… with that number expected to rise as more test results return from the lab.

ATKINSON – A cancer-causing water contamination in town has left many residents scared to turn on the tap.

The Department of Environmental Services has identified 12 wells contaminated with 1,4 Dioxane, four in just the past month. The contamination could affect more Atkinson residents than originally thought and to address concerns, representatives from DES and the Environmental Protection Agency held a public information session at the Atkinson Community Center last night. More than 80 people attended to learn more about what may be in their water.

Water is unsafe to drink if levels of the chemical exceed three parts per billion, according to David Bowen, hydrologist and project manager for DES. The state has found elevated levels in 12 wells and detectable quantities in 15 wells on Emery Drive and Belknap Drive, But that number will continue to rise.

…

Since DES began testing for it, the chemical has been found in about 70 sites in New Hampshire. 1,4 Dioxane is a stabilizer in chlorinated solvents and found in paint strippers, dyes, degreasers and varnishes, Regan said.

DES is still investigating, but the source of the contamination may have been a release of a chlorinated solvent at the Johnston and Johnston property in 1989, according to DES groundwater expert Stephen Roy. The company, which manufactured rolled aluminum, sold the property at 128 Route 111 to Windfield Alloy, a recycling company, in 2005.

“There is 1,4 Dioxane in the water below that facility,” he said.

…

The chemical does not degrade over time and spreads easily through groundwater. And there are considerable health risks over time, according to David Gordon, DES Health Risk Assessor.

“The EPA has classified it as a likely human carcinogen, based on studies in several animal species,” he said. “The cancer risk is one in one million, if you drink two liters of water per day. It can be toxic to the liver and kidneys.”

Drinking or cooking with the water accounts for about 90 percent of the risk, he said. But Dioxane cannot be filtered effectively with home water filtration systems, which is why DES has been supplying bottled water to residents in the area since finding the contamination. ( source )

Some pretty scary stuff right there AND it appears from this article, as well as some other research we’ve done, that most residential water filters can do NOTHING to make well, ground and drinking water contaminated with 1,4 Dioxane safe for consumption.

Still thinking this cannot happen to you? Ask the folks in Bally, Pennsylvania how THEY feel about the likelihood of an unthinkable well water contamination event happening to THEM. Oh, and by the way: The residents of Bally, Pennsylvania existed on bottled water for a period of around SEVEN YEARS before exhausting attempts at well water remediation and finally drilling a well that did not contain 1,4 Dioxane.

Moral of the story?

Do NOT think drinking water contamination can only happen to others. If you own a private well you need to get it tested regularly (experts suggest yearly) for as many potential contaminants as possible.

We’ve said it before and we will say it until we turn blue in the face… The responsibility for the quality of well water coming out of a private well falls squarely on the shoulders of the well owner!

Personal Well Water Test Kit

Laboratory Testing for Well Water

]]> http://watertestingblog.com/2012/05/07/carcinogens-found-in-new-hampshire-well-water/feed/ 0 http://watertestingblog.com/2012/03/29/water-testing-downstream-from-a-mining-operation/ http://watertestingblog.com/2012/03/29/water-testing-downstream-from-a-mining-operation/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:05:14 +0000 Water Testing Blog http://watertestingblog.com/?p=5366 Diligence in monitoring water quality always makes sense and it really makes sense if you live near industrial complexes, manufacturing facilities… or in this case a mining operation. ‘Andre’ wrote in and asked,

I want to send a sample of river water downstream from a mining opeation to see if and what the chemicals and water is composed of…we fish on this river and would like to submit samples for testing..we are on a budget but still would like to know what is in the water??

and the cost of sending in samples of the river water..thanks

In a situation like this we would suggest submitting a sample to a company like National Testing Laboratories which offers several levels of testing packages. For more information on this company, please refer to a previous article called Who is/are National Testing Labs?

Given the wide range of potential contaminants that could get carried by runoff from the area around a mining operation, we suspect that you will want to run as many tests as possible. National Testing Labs has a 97-Contaminant Test Kit available for around $200 and an 83-Contaminant Test Kit available for around $160.

Basic testing options for day-to-day monitoring?

Once you have established a baseline reading by getting the water tested by a qualified water testing laboratory you will want to keep tabs on the water’s quality by using basic test kits from companies like SenSafe and WaterSafe.

WaterSafe Test Kit

Water Quality Test Kit

Well Water Test Kit

While basic, at-home drinking water test kits will not test for nearly the number water contaminants as laboratory testing, many basic water tests serve as potential indicators of more serious water quality issues.

* TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)

We suggest keeping an eye on the total dissolved solids level in a water source with a simple TDS Meter and monitoring for sudden spikes in TDS levels. Massive changes mean something has entered the water supply.

While that ‘something’ may just be silt kicked up by heavy rains, one should get curious if the levels spike at times other than after rainstorms or other plausible explanations for elevated TDS levels.

* Dissolved Metals

Sudden changes in dissolved metals concentrations should certainly raise a few red flags and Heavy Metals Test Strips make monitoring dissolved metals levels in water a quick, safe and easy process.

* Multi-Parameter Monitoring

If you want to perform a wide range of water tests on a regular basis we suggest investing in a kit like the Well Driller Master Test Kit since it allows users to test up to 50 samples of water for critical water quality parameters.

Arsenic Test Kit -- 2 Tests

Thus far we suspect that either water used to irrigate the apple orchards contained trace elements of arsenic or the arsenic came from residuals of pesticides that contained arsenic. While laws currently prohibit the use of pesticides that contain arsenic now, no such laws existed 10 or 20 years ago and the possibility that residuals from those pesticides still may linger in some of the trees and soil around the trees certainly exists.

Testing ground water for arsenic?

Well water experts and health officials suggest having one’s well water tested for basic drinking water quality parameters — including arsenic — at least once a year.

As environmental conditions change (i.e. seasons change, heavy amounts of rainfall, low amounts of rainfall, etc.) the aquifer levels change, as well. Those level changes can result in previously undisturbed pockets of arsenic buried deep in the ground finding their way into the water supply.

One can have a certified laboratory like National Testing Labs analyze their water for a wide range of potential well water contaminants (including arsenic), have a local lab come out and grab a sample for testing, or use one of the Arsenic Quick Water Test Kits.

Removing and/or reducing arsenic levels in water?

The average person can install a water filter in their home or business that can remove or reduce arsenic levels in their source water. Typically one can install a counter top, under sink or whole house system but make certain the model you select will work for your specific water quality situation before making a purchase.

Some water filters for arsenic (and many other water contaminants) may have performance problems if certain other water quality parameters like pH, alkalinity, total hardness, iron, copper, manganese, chlorine, etc. have strayed too far out of expected ranges.

Crystal Quest Undersink Replaceable Triple Arsenic PLUS Water Filter System

Crystal Quest Whole House Multi/Softener/Arsenic 2.0 Water Filter System

]]> http://watertestingblog.com/2012/02/10/where-did-the-arsenic-in-juice-come-from/feed/ 0 http://watertestingblog.com/2012/02/01/kansas-residents-concerned-about-bad-smelling-well-water/ http://watertestingblog.com/2012/02/01/kansas-residents-concerned-about-bad-smelling-well-water/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:03:09 +0000 Water Testing Blog http://watertestingblog.com/?p=5154

Pentek US-1500 Water Filter System
NSF/ANSI STANDARD 053 for VOC Reduction

Many people believe well water cannot become tainted by contaminants because it typically comes from locations far beneath the surface. Water Testing Blog strongly suggests that you DO NOT BUY INTO THAT LINE OF THOUGHT.

We ‘yelled’ that last bit for a reason. Unwanted and potentially harmful contaminants can find their way into well water regardless of how far below the surface it comes from.

Hence the reason why well water professionals and health officials suggest having one’s well water tested yearly.

Today’s story about well water contamination came from Kansas where residents of Butler County have had to all but abandon the use of their drinking water wells because of an unpleasant chemical smell.

Specifically, the water coming out of the private wells has a gasoline like odor to it.

A bad odor and taste in the well water has some residents in a neighborhood east of Andover concerned. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and a water testing lab are working to find the source of the problem, but residents in the area are becoming frustrated.

Eric and Brittney Hauck say the well water at their house in Butler County smells terrible and they fear it could be unsafe.

“There was the smell of gasoline, kind of a paint-thinner kind of smell,” said Brittney Hauck.

The Haucks immediately stopped drinking the water and contacted the KDHE. Ash Creek Associates out of Portland, Oregon came out to their house and tested the water.

Last week, the Haucks received the results which showed elevated levels of benzene and other contaminants. The testing company gave the Haucks bottled water and installed a charcoal filter at no charge.

A week later, the family and many other neighborhood residents are still waiting for answers from the KDHE about what’s causing their water to become contaminated. KAKE News attempted to contact both the testing company and KDHE but could not get a response because the offices were closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Some residents suspect the contamination may be coming from a petroleum pipeline that runs through their neighborhood. Until they can get some definitive answers about the safety of their well water, residents say they’ll continue to use bottled water for drinking, cooking and bathing. ( source )

We feel very bad for the Haucks and all the other folks in that area affected by the suspected contamination of the aquifer from which they draw their well water. Hopefully the KDHE will determine the source of the well water contamination quickly and make it so the Haucks and their neighbors can once again perform simple tasks like cooking and bathing with their well water.

Testing for benzene in drinking water?

The average person cannot obtain an off-the-shelf test kit capable of testing for the presence of benzene in drinking, tap or well water. That sort of testing must get done in a laboratory using advanced analytical techniques and equipment.

AS usual at this point we suggest contacting your local water department or board of health to see if they can provide you with a list of certified water testing laboratories. For those wishing to use a mail-in water testing service, you may want to take a look at the 83 water quality parameter test package offered by National Testing Laboratories.

National Testing Labs Water Test Kit for 83 Drinking Water Parameters [ Most Popular Testing Option According to FilterWater.Com ]
National Testing Labs Water Test Kit for Fluoride in Water	National Testing Labs Water Test Kit for Iron Bacteria

]]> http://watertestingblog.com/2012/02/01/kansas-residents-concerned-about-bad-smelling-well-water/feed/ 1 http://watertestingblog.com/2012/01/25/river-of-blood-flowing-into-the-trinity-river-tx/ http://watertestingblog.com/2012/01/25/river-of-blood-flowing-into-the-trinity-river-tx/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:45:33 +0000 Water Testing Blog http://watertestingblog.com/?p=5192 OK, so if THIS does not tell you that owners of private wells should perform periodic testing of the water pulled from their wells, then we wholeheartedly doubt we will ever find a better reason. A hobbyist drone (unmanned aircraft) pilot in the Dallas, TX area captured a rather disturbing image of what looked like a river of blood exiting a meatpacking facility and heading towards a nearby river, the Trinity River.

Huh? What? A river of BLOOD? Has somebody taken their love of Twilight or any of the other vampire-themed shows a little too far as a prank?

Unfortunately not. We found this article posted on Yahoo News last night and as ridiculous as it sounds, it also appears quite real from the photograph and later statements made by a spokesperson for the Texas Environmental Crimes Task Force.

What danger does this pose?

Honestly, we lack the proper background to go into this one fully, but we do know that discharging that much untreated biological matter will throw the ecosystem in the Trinity River off in ways that would make ecologists stutter, sweat profusely, and probably possibly go into shock.

That stream appears to contain 100′s of gallons of untreated nitrates, nitrites, proteins, decaying organic matter, bacteria, and microscopic parasites — all capable of disrupting the Trinity River’s ecological balance and eventually making their way into public and private water supplies.

Public water systems using wells

Pretty much all public water systems that pull ground water from wells test and treat the water for contaminants before distribution but in extreme situations even they can get overwhelmed if they receive massive, unexpected levels of biological contaminants in source water. While workers will make the necessary adjustments to chemical feeders and filters to counteract the influx of filth, making those changes may take time and some contaminated water may find its way into the water supply.

Owners of private wells

Most do not use any sort of disinfection system on their wells so events like this put them at great risk. Really not a whole lot more to say except… Only regular testing of your well water can warn you of contamination!

Think about this, private well owners: How long had material flowed out of that ‘secondary pipe’ before a random flyover by a hobbyist’s drone (unmanned aircraft) captured a picture?

Moral of the story?

We believe one of two things happened at that meatpacking facility: 1) Not everyone played by the rules set forth by local officials and the facility broke the rules intentionally; 2) Unexpected events such as equipment malfunctioning or human error caused the slaughter waste to go down the wrong pipe. In either case this bloody mess may not have gotten noticed for quite some time and in that time countless people may have gotten sick from drinking contaminated water.

Periodic testing of well and ground water can help keep you safe from accidents like this one and many others that may take place without you knowing.

as we always like to say, “It’s your water, your health… and ultimately your LIFE!”

Crystal Quest Countertop Water Filter for Bacteria (Cleanable & Replaceable)

Crystal Quest Under Sink Water Filter for Bacteria (Cleanable & Replaceable)

]]> http://watertestingblog.com/2012/01/25/river-of-blood-flowing-into-the-trinity-river-tx/feed/ 0 http://watertestingblog.com/2012/01/17/turns-red-when-mixed-with-chlorinated-water-leak-detection/ http://watertestingblog.com/2012/01/17/turns-red-when-mixed-with-chlorinated-water-leak-detection/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:16:56 +0000 Water Testing Blog http://watertestingblog.com/?p=5140 Every once in a while we get a question about a topic related to water quality, but not quite a water quality question… so today’s question came to us from ‘Michael’ who asked,

I need to purchase a quick test means to locate water leaks in supply pipes to my residential water service meter. The county water uses a small tear able foil packet of chemicals that turns red when mixed with chlorinated water. My home has very low water pressure and volume, we are serviced by an extremely old and much damaged 2″ pvc line serviced by the Logan County PSD, Logan WV. The PSD does not have the time or personnel to investigate all of the water puddles located in the community where I live. I would like to be able to quickly and safely test any ground water in the hope of finding where the line rupture is.

Thank you, Michael, for this inquiry. From the sounds of things your local water department uses DPD powder pillows or tablets to investigate the nature of puddles suspected to have formed as a result of leaks in municipal water lines. The chemical DPD turns various shades of pink through dark red in the presence of oxidizers such as chlorine, bromine, ozone, etc.

Where can the average citizen get DPD?

Chemical supply houses often carry DPD powder and/or tablets in bulk and many swimming pool stores tend to carry DPD powder pillows and tablets intended to work with swimming pool test kits.

For what you want to do, though, we suggest you look more closely at DPD powder. Specifically we think you should focus your acquisition efforts on DPD-4, a compound which will detect both free chlorine and combined chlorine in a water sample. This matters because once water treated with free chlorine exits a controlled environment (i.e. leaves the pipe through a crack, fissure, etc.) the free chlorine will immediately begin acting on any and everything in its environment… and that will result in only combined chlorine possibly reaching the surface and creating a pool of water.

Problems with testing puddles for chlorine?

While not totally impossible that a pool of chlorinated water could potentially wind up on the surface over or near a leak from a chlorinated municipal water line, we believe that only a good sized leak could produce water in the volume required to get water containing highly reactive chlorine molecules through contaminant filled soil and up to the surface — with readable/detectable chlorine residual levels high enough to detect visually (or with a portable meter) using DPD.

But, since your local water department does it, either your water line infrastructure routinely has large leaks or its water lines lie very close to the surface. Either way, a swimming pool supply company called In the Swim carries DPD-1 tablets and DPD-3 tablets.

Crushing (carefully) and then mixing them (carefully) in equal parts should enable you to create your own version of DPD-4, but to play it safe we suggest using the appropriate amount of DPD-1 in a 10 mL sample of water and then using the DPD-3 in that same sample — per the ‘accepted’ procedures for free and total chlorine concentration determination.