Good afternoon, Jeanette, and thank you for your inquiry. The links below will allow you to learn more about the test procedure for  SenSafe Manganese Check:

• http://watertestingblog.com/products/481020-card-1.jpg
  
  
• http://watertestingblog.com/products/481020-card-2.jpg

Regarding accuracy, we really have not heard any complaints from users of the product. When we experimented with it years ago we found that it did a pretty decent job... for a dip-n-read style of test.

If you need something with greater precision, range, etc., then we suggest considering a product such as the following which provides a digital readout of results:

The Well Water (Driller) version of the eXact Micro 20 Handheld Water Testing Meter (information available on this page: http://www.filterwater.com/pc-458-32-exact-micro-20-water-tester-kit.aspx) comes with testing materials for a number of important water quality parameters in addition to manganese.

Is Manganese a Health Hazard?

As a general rule manganese in drinking water does NOT present a health hazard, though in great enough concentration ANYthing could pose a threat to human health.

Typically manganese in water presents itself as more a nuisance for laundry since it may cause black staining and for that reason water professionals suggest keeping its levels below 0.05mg/L (ppm).

Filtering Out Manganese?

Should you find yourself in a situation where manganese levels in your water supply give you trouble, the following Propur water filters have been tested by an independent lab to reduce manganese levels in drinking water by >99%.

• ProPur ProMax PMC-4000 Undercounter Water Filter
  
  
• ProPur ProMax PMC-3000 Countertop Water Filter
  
  
• ProPur Inline Connect FS10 Under Counter Water Filter

Thank you, Tina, for your question about the Hydrogen Sulfide Low-Range Test Kit (481197-20) and its testing capabilities for aquarium water.  The test CAN get used for aquarium water, yes, but only freshwater samples.

Thank you, Robert, for the inquiry. At this time we carry two kits that contain MOST of the items in your list. See below for details:

COMPLETE Water Quality Test Kit includes tests for:

• Iron: 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, 1.0 ppm (mg/L) – 2 tests
• Copper: 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 ppm (mg/L) – 2 tests
• Chloride: 0, 250, 500 ppm (mg/L) – 2 tests
• Nitrate: 0, 2.0, 10, 20, 50, ppm (mg/L) (as N) – 2 tests
• Nitrite: 0, 0.2, 1.0, 1.5, 3.0 ppm (mg/L) (as N) – 2 tests
• pH: 2.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.5, 8.5, 9.5, 10.5, 12 – 2 tests
• Total Alkalinity: 0, 80, 120, 180, 240, 500 ppm (mg/L) – 2 tests
• Total Chlorine: 0, 0.2, 1, 4, 10 ppm (mg/L) – 2 tests
• Total Hardness: 0, 50, 120, 250, 425, 1000 ppm (mg/L) – 2 tests
• Free Chlorine: 0, 0.5, 0.2, 0.6, 1.5, 4.0, 10 ppm (mg/L) – 2 tests
• Sulfate: 0, 250, >500 – 2 tests
• Hydrogen Sulfide: 0, 0.2, 2.0 ppm (mg/L) – 2 tests
• Bacteria: presence / absence media for total coliforms 1 test

The Water Quality Test Kit includes tests for:

• 2 tests for Alkalinity, Total
• 1 test for Bacteria, Coliform in Water
• 2 tests for Chloride
• 2 tests for Chlorine, Free
• 2 tests for Chlorine, Total
• 2 tests for Copper, Total
• 2 tests for Hardness, Total
• 2 tests for Hydrogen Sulfide
• 2 tests for Iron
• 1 test for Lead
• 2 tests for Nitrate/Nitrite, as Nitrogen
• 1 test for Pesticides (Atrazine & Simazine)
• 2 tests for ph
• 2 tests for Sulfate

Neither kit includes a tests for Manganese, though.

Got larger or more frequent testing needs?

If you need to test more than one or two water sources for a range of water quality parameters, you may want to consider either the Well Driller Standard Test Kit or Well Driller Master Test Kit.

Example: If the sample contained 60ppb dissolved nickel, 40ppb dissolved  iron, 100 ppb dissolved copper... this test strip would give a reading of 200ppb. It would not, however, identify individual metals detected or their individual concentrations.

Detailed water analysis including metals

To get a better, more detailed analysis of potential water contaminants including dissolved metals we suggest taking a look at the mail-in water testing services of  National Testing Laboratories.  You can select from a number of water testing packages ranging from 'basic' to 'advanced' and test results typically come back in approximately 10 business days.

We checked with the WaterSafe and learned the following:

According to the manufacturer, "Our Watersafe® Lead Test Kit can detect dissolved lead at levels below the EPA Action Level of 15 parts per billion (ppb)."

To test for what some call total lead, which would include particulate lead and free dissolved lead you would need to send a water sample to a laboratory where they would more than likely perform some sort of acid digestion to break down the all forms of the metal into a detectable state.

Testing for metals in general?

For most folks the first step in determining what, if any advanced metals testing needs to or should take place involves taking a look at a water sample to see if it contains metals at all.  For that task the SenSafe Heavy Metals Check product works well since it detects a wide range of metals and gives a total metal concentration as its result.

SenSafe Heavy Metals Check will not tell you what metal(s) it detects or give individual metal concentrations, but rather it adds any observed concentrations together into a single value.  If that value seems 'high', then you may want to consider testing for metals of particular interest due to their potentially hazardous nature if consumed in drinking water.  Those metals may include (but are in no way limited to) lead, mercury, chromium and/or arsenic.

Other metals such as copper, zinc, iron, manganese may pose health hazards in really high concentrations, but typically water supplies will not contain levels that high without man-made influence(s).  Metals like these can, however, cause aesthetic problems at lower concentrations and some may cause damage to plumbing in the form metallic deposits that restrict water flow.

Chemical name for hydrogen sulfide: H₂S

• Detection Range: 0, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 ppm (mg/L)
• Total Test Time < 2 Minutes
• No Powders to Dissolve or Tablets to Crush
• Each Kit Contains 30 Tests
• Current Inventory Has Expiration Date of 9/2017

The Low Range H₂S Test Kit detects concentrations of H₂S from 0 to 2ppm (mg/L) with its first increment down at 0.3ppm (mg/L).  Other H₂S tests use a 'fizzing agent' to liberate hydrogen sulfide gas from water samples and then detect the gas, but this test does not.  Instead, this product uses a test procedure that changes the color of the sample in direct proportion to the concentration of dissolved H₂S in the aqueous sample.

The color of the sample then gets compared to a visual color chart designed specifically for this water quality test.

Got a rotten egg or sulfur smell in your water?

If so, then you more than likely have dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas in your water... and you also probably want to get that smell OUT of your water as soon as possible.

Before investing in a system to remove dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas you must first determine the concentration of the gas in your water so you can select the correct water treatment system. Otherwise you run the risk of purchasing too little remediation for the job or wasting money on a system that has far more hydrogen sulfide gas removal capabilities than your water quality situation requires.

Learn more about dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas in water, how to test for it, and how to remove it in the Hydrogen Sulfide Archives section of the Water Testing Blog!

Good evening, and thank you for your inquiry. From what we have read, the types chemicals used in the fracking industry range from simple to extremely complex and vary from company to company as well as from well site to well site depending on what needs to happen in order to extract the natural gas from the ground.

With that said, no basic at-home test kit exists (that we know of) for detecting fracking compounds and chemicals.

Some water experts say that sudden shifts in basic water quality parameters such as pH, alkalinity, chlorides, TDS, heavy metals, and total hardness may indicate possible contamination of a well with fracking fluids or frack water... but to know shifts occur one must test on a regular or at least semi-regular basis and also, hopefully, have baseline readings recorded for all the water quality parameters before fracking or other drilling began.

To answer your question more directly, though, no, the COMPLETE Water Test Kit will not detect fracking chemicals.

When it comes to anything related to fracking, it seems as though no simple answers exist.

To qualify for the drawing, simply use the entry form below and choose from a number of free, easy ways to earn entries. Options include following Water Testing Blog & Water Test Kit Store us on social media (Twitter and Pinterest), visiting our Facebook page, and tweeting about the giveaway once a day.  Each option gains you additional contest entries!

If already following us on Twitter and Pinterest, don't worry!  Simply use that option and you will still get entered BUT you still must use the 'official' Rafflecopter entry process for all applicable options to be entered in the drawing for the FREE WaterSafe Science Fair Project Test Kit (4-Pack).

1. Sign into the drawing (log in) using your Facebook account or email address
2. Click the square box w/ the +1
3. Answer the question and earn one entry in the drawing
4. Earn additional drawing entries by sharing, tweeting and/or following Water Testing Blog in social media
5. That's it! You're entered! Good luck and don't forget to come back each day and earn additional entries by tweeting about the drawing!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In our experience 'deep' wells tend to have better quality water than 'shallow' wells which have a greater risk of seeing contamination from pollution activity on the surface.... but that does not mean contaminants cannot infiltrate deep wells, too.

We suggest starting your investigation by contacting your local health department and asking them for information on contaminants they have heard about affecting the quality of well water in the area.

If they do not immediately warn you of known 'issues', then a kit such as the SenSafe Water Quality Test Kit, WaterWorks COMPLETE Water Test Kit, or WaterSafe Well Water Test Kit should work just fine.

If, however, your local health department did know of 'issues', we suggest having your water tested by a professional laboratory such as National Testing Laboratories that offers much more comprehensive testing packages.

Today’s inquiry came from ‘John J’ who asked, “I am looking for a kit to check my drinking water for mercury lead and aluminum.. can you please recommend a product or products?”

The Water Test Kit Store carries several products for testing metals in drinking water.

General Metals Test – SenSafe Heavy Metals Check performs a general test for metals and will let you know if you have any of a number of dissolved metals present. It gives a reading of the total dissolved metals in a water sample. It does not, however, break down the reading by individual metal ion.

WaterSafe Lead in Water Test – A pass/fail water test for dissolved lead in drinking water that yields positive results if a sample contains 15ppb or more dissolved lead. The test will read ‘negative’ for dissolved lead quantities under 15ppb.

Boris’ Mercury Test – Simple test for dissolved mercury in drinking water that has a low detection level equal to the USEPA action level for public water systems (.002 ppm) and a high detection level of .08 ppm. Testing takes just 60 seconds to perform and requires no mixing of chemicals, crushing of tablets, etc.

Regarding your request for an aluminum test, we do not know of an at-home drinking water test kit specifically designed to test for aluminum BUT we do know that the WaterCheck 1 & 2 mail-in testing package for 30 different water quality parameters contains a test for aluminum.