Over the past few years we have written a few blog postings about the potential effects on water quality that gas drilling may have. Today, a woman named ‘Sylvia’ who lives in an area where a lot of drilling has started asks,

Looking to by a TDS monitor for personal use.

We have a lot of gas drilling starting where I live, I’m having my well and water checked by a professional well service. But there are a few of us that would like to have a tds monitor for after the fact to keep a check on our water instead of constantly having to pay a professional to find out if there has been any change. I would like to know if you have a tds monitor that would pick up pH, barium, chloride, and methane. iron manganese, hardness (calcium and magnesium), sodium, total organic carbon, strontium, oil&grease, detergents, lead, arsenic, alkalinity, coliform bacteria, sulfate and nitrate. Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) or a subgroup of VOC’s called BTEX (benzene etc.) along with radionuclides like gross alpha, radium and radon.

The first thing we need to point out: TDS Meters cannot detect all of those things. This does not mean, however, that they do not have their use in monitoring water quality in regions where gas drilling, or other industrial activities, take place.

Wikipedia describes TDS in the following manner: “Primary sources for TDS in receiving waters are agricultural and residential runoff, leaching of soil contamination and point source water pollution discharge from industrial or sewage treatment plants. The most common chemical constituents are calcium, phosphates, nitrates, sodium, potassium and chloride, which are found in nutrient runoff, general stormwater runoff and runoff from snowy climates where road de-icing salts are applied. The chemicals may be cations, anions, molecules or agglomerations on the order of one thousand or fewer molecules, so long as a soluble micro-granule is formed. More exotic and harmful elements of TDS are pesticides arising from surface runoff.” ( source )

Given the possibilities of what TDS meters COULD possibly detect, one could safely say that regardless of whether or not a person lives near gas drilling or not, a sudden change in TDS readings might warrant further investigation.

Sudden and/or drastic changes in the pH levels of source water may also serve as good reason to perform additional testing so having a pH meter handy may also prove beneficial.

At-Home Testing vs. Laboratory Testing

In a situation like Sylvia’s where a myriad of both simple and complex drinking water contaminants could show up at any time, we feel confident saying that no at-home test kit will protect her and her neighbors fully and we hope that local health officials will step up to the challenge of keeping tabs on local water quality by implementing a full regimen of independent testing… instead of blindly trusting the results handed down from private industry.

Without knowing how much your local lab charges for a ‘full battery’ of testing, Sylvia, we will suggest contacting companies like National Testing Labs to see what they have to offer.

Inexpensive Spot Checking Options

As we previously stated, occasionally testing the TDS and pH levels of source water may provide clues as to whether or not it contains contaminants. You may also want to test for the following:

• Chlorides
• Nitrates/Nitrites
• Heavy Metals (Collectively)
• Heavy Metals (Independently — Lead, Copper, Arsenic, Iron, Chromium, etc.)

A company by the name of Industrial Test Systems, Inc. manufactures an excellent test kit known as the Well Driller Master Test Kit which offers a number of useful tests designed for use on well water at a reasonable price — usually around $200 — and the kits come with multiple tests for each parameter.

We recently received an email inquiry from Lisa containing a question about water treatment systems for people with compromised immune systems.

My son has just been diagnoses with an immune deficiency, and I should be sterilizing his drinking water -which I am doing by boiling for him. I am wondering if distilled or reverse osmosis, bottled water would effectively remove bacteria from the water, and be a safe alternative. Would one be better then the other.

Thank you for your time,

Lisa

Thank you, Lisa, for your question and it pains us to learn of your son’s condition. We hope that modern medicine can find a way to help your son live a long and healthy life.

Regarding your question about the best way to sterilize water for people with compromised immune systems, the EPA and CDC co-released a document back in 1995 that gives a lot of useful information on the topic entitled Guidance for People with Severely Weakened Immune Systems.

Below you will find excerpts from that document relating directly to the questions you asked:

• Cryptosporidium has caused several large waterborne disease outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms that include diarrhea, nausea, and/or stomach cramps. People with severely weakened immune systems (that is, severely immunocompromised) are likely to have more severe and more persistent symptoms than healthy individuals. Moreover, Cryptosporidium has been a contributing cause of death in some immunocompromised people.

• Although data are not sufficient for EPA/CDC to recommend that all severely immunocompromised persons take extra caution with regards to their drinking water, individuals who wish to take extra measures to avoid waterborne Cryptosporidiosis can bring their drinking water to a full boil for one minute. Boiling water is the most effective way of killing Cryptosporidium.

• Only point-of-use filters that remove particles one micrometer or less in diameter should be considered. Filters in this category that provide the greatest assurance of Cryptosporidium removal include those that use reverse osmosis, those labeled as “Absolute” one micrometer filters, or those labeled as certified by NSF International under standard 53 for “Cyst Removal.” …. Water treated with a point-of-use filter that meets the above criteria may not necessarily be free of organisms smaller than Cryptosporidium that could pose a health hazard for severely immunocompromised individuals.

• Many, but not all, brands of bottled water may provide a reasonable alternative to boiling tap water. …. Any bottled water treated by distillation or reverse osmosis before bottling assures Cryptosporidium removal.

• Neither EPA nor CDC maintains a list of point-of-use filters or bottled water brands that meet the above criteria. NSF International can provide a list of filters that meet the NSF criteria.

We suggest you take a look at the NSF Web Site to see what systems meet their requirements. In a situation like yours, you will want to make certain the product you purchase will accomplish all your objectives — and then some.

One system we came across recently, the Pentek RO-3500 Monitored Reverse Osmosis System,

NSF Tested & Certified Standard 58 for reduction of TDS, Fluoride, Turbidity, Lead, Nitrates, Selenium, Arsenic, Copper, Cadmium, Barium, Cyst, and Radium.

The Pentek R0-3500 features the 3 stage system, one ROM-230TN membrane, a D15 sediment filter, a D20 carbon filter, and one long-reach lead-free faucet. Unit comes with a standard installation kit and instructions.

Another feature of the the Pentek RO3500 which makes it quite nice… an electronic monitoring system that keeps track of the water filters cartridges’ lifespans and informs the owner when they need replacing.

What elements does the RO-3500 Reverse Osmosis System reduce and/or eliminate? The unit has the ability to filter out the following elements as well as many other chemical compounds:

• 90.2% TDS ( test for TDS )
• 98.9% Arsenic ( test for arsenic )
• 90.5% Fluoride
• 98% Phosphates ( test for arsenic )
• 99.99% Cysts
• 99.7% Turbidity
• 98.7% Lead ( test for lead )
• 87.4% Nitrate ( test for nitrates )
• 80.7% Nitrite ( test for nitrites )
• 97.5% Selenium
• 99.9% Copper ( test for copper )
• 97.3% Cadmium
• 86.6% Hexavalent Chromium ( test for chromium )
• 92.8% Trivalent Chromium
• 80% Radium 226/228
• 90.7% Barium
• Chlorine ( test for chlorine )
• Sediment & Particulates

For more information on the Pentek Reverse Osmosis System mentioned above, please read its detailed specifications on FiltersFast.Com.

One final word

Use of a reverse osmosis systems does NOT guarantee the elimination of ALL possible biological contaminants since some biological contaminants have sizes smaller than the membranes in RO units can filter out.

For that reason you may want to consider adding a UV Sterilizer to your filtration setup. These devices render biological contaminants incapable of reproducing by altering their genetic structure with specific wavelengths of light.

Yesterday we talked about a device called the FM-2 Water Filter Monitor which uses 5 timers and a ‘volumizer’ to keep track of how long water filters have stayed in use.

Today we want to show you a quick and easy way to check the efficiency of your reverse osmosis water filtration system: The AP-1 AquaPro TDS/Temperature Meter makes checking to see if your reverse osmosis filter works properly a quick and painless process.

Simply test the TDS level of water before the filter and after the filter. If you do NOT see the TDS level drop dramatically after the filter, you have a problem with the filter system… and most likely need to change the RO filter.

Benefits and features of the AP-1 AquaPro TDS/Temperature Meter include:

• AP1 Measures TDS (total dissolved solids) and temperature
• Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC).
• Water resistant housing.
• Measuring range: 0-5000 ppm (parts per million)
• Digital calibration via push button.
• Auto-off and data holding functions. Low battery indicator
• Large and easy to read LCD display includes simultaneous TDS and temperature reading
• Comes factory calibrated with 342 ppm NaCl solution.

Throw in the fact that the meter costs less than $30 at FilterWater.Com, a leading online distributor of water quality filters and drinking water test kits, and you have found yourself an easy and inexpensive way to test the working status of your reverse osmosis water filter system.

Tyler had a question about conductivity:

Hi. Yesterday we had an appointment with a man who came by the house with one of those fancy pants test kits that is supposed to shock homeowners into buying an expensive and unnecessary(?) water filter system. One question: Does a high conductivity value really mean our water is bad

Thanks for your help!

When talking about water or another solution containing electrolytes, conductivity, also called to as specific conductance, refers to the water’s ability to conduct electricity. We measure conductivity in siemens per meter (S/m).

High quality deionized water has a conductivity of about 5.5 mS/m, typical drinking water in the range of 5-50 mS/m, while sea water about 5 S/m[2] (i.e., sea water’s conductivity is one million times higher than deionized water). ( source )

Many times a solution’s conductivity value gives a good indication of how many dissolved solids (aka: total dissolved solids) the solution contains. As for whether or not drinking highly conductive water poses a danger to your health, that will depend on what TYPES of solids you have dissolved in your water.

Having said that, we suggest that you not let an in-home water filter system salesman persuade to buy ANYthing based solely upon the results of a conductivity test. Get your water tested by an independent laboratory such as National Testing Labs first and then start looking for a water filter system after you find out if you really have any ‘issues’ with your water.

Digital Conductivity Meter With Cap

SusanB wrote us recently to ask a question that many people people have probably asked after reading some of the postings here on the Water Testing Blog, but never bothered to ask anyone at the Water Testing Blog…

Your site and many others talk about ‘reverse osmosis‘ water treatment systems all the time but never really explain how they work. Are they just some sort of fancy carbon filter or something? I really want to know because I need to do something about my bad water and if they’re no different, except in price, than a simple carbon filter then I won’t waste my money on one. Can you explain the difference? IS there a difference? Thanks!

Actually, SusanB, we have posted information on Reverse Osmosis Water Filters in the past that addresses most of the questions you asked…

• What is Reverse Osmosis
• How Do Reverse Osmosis Systems Work
• Why Install a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter?
• Where Can I Buy Replacement RO Membranes?

And now, after re-reading our own posts we have decided that we really ought to locate and re-post a more user-friendly definition and explanation of reverse osmosis water filtration.

There are a range of water filtration systems available to today’s consumer to meet the different challenges of raising water quality. Often, a simple activated carbon filter does the trick, but many people have more complicated water problems, and find that they need more complex water filtration systems because of this. A reverse osmosis water filtration system will, in many cases, solve these more advanced problems.

Reverse osmosis (RO) water filtration is a multi-step water filtering process which works slowly but is extremely effective. Reverse osmosis systems are generally used to treat cooking and drinking water supplies. It’s often used in industry but works very well in the home. Reverse osmosis uses the principles of osmosis (in which material passes slowly through a membrane and is concentrated and purified in the process) to produce very clean water.

The first step is that a simple sediment filter is installed and all water to be used passes through it; the filter catches large particles of materials such as rust or calcium carbonate (a compound which is not at all harmful but which isn’t desirable in your drinking and cooking water – it’s commonly used as an antacid). Sometimes a second filter of a similar design, but more fine, is used after the initial filtering. An activated carbon filter traps organic chemicals, and then the RO filter, which is a very fine membrane, is used. It may be helpful to think of all these filters as being similar to sieves with differently-sized holes. Basically, the process of reverse osmosis water filtration would be akin to draining cooked food through a series of increasingly-fine sieves, rather than just emptying the pot into a basic perforated colander. Reverse osmosis water filtration systems, being more complex and increasingly sensitive, can trap far more contaminants than just one simple carbon filter. Some RO systems will, even after the water has passed through the RO membrane, use yet another carbon filter or, alternatively, an ultra-violet lamp, to purify the water even further. The result of all of this filtering is extremely high quality water.

Reverse osmosis is not the most efficient of all water filtration systems, and some have expressed concern about the fact that it takes approximately four gallons of processed water to result in one gallon of clear water. However, its effectiveness makes it a preferred water filtration method for many. Some describe it as “ultrafiltration,” which gives a sense of how powerful RO is. RO results in very pure water. The Water Quality Association says that RO filter systems produce water purity levels as high as 95 percent, which is extraordinary.

The fact remains that reverse osmosis water purification systems remove an astounding range of contaminants from your water. Arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium (hexavalent), chromium (trivalent), copper, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radium 226/228, selenium, iron and TDS are all removed from your water with an RO system.

A reverse osmosis water filtering system is obviously more complicated than a simple carbon-filter water pitcher, but the benefits of its complex design are also obvious. For those who are concerned not merely with the aesthetics of their water – taste – but have more concrete problems with water quality, an RO water filter may be the best solution to your problem. ( source )

Well, SusanB, and everyone else reading this, we hope the information above helped you to understand a little bit more about the ways in which reverse osmosis water filters operate and the benefits they offer. Below you will find links to three popular reverse osmosis water filters units available from WaterFilters.Net.

Measuring the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) count in water allows you to get a quick estimate of how much dissolved matter you have in your water. Water with high TDS readings may appear cloudy, though it does not always have to.

In drinking water settings, high TDS levels may mean cloudy water and possibly mean that water may stain or leave deposits adfter it dries.

In swimming pools cloudy water may result and pool chemicals such as granular chlorine and chlorine tablets may not dissolve properly. As a general rule underchlorinated pool water can become aesthetically displeasing (also known as ‘green’ because of an algae problem) and potentially unsafe to swim in.

TDS Meter: Digital Pen Style 10 to 9990ppm (TDS503) ATC with Calibration Solution, Screwdriver & Hard Case	TDS503		$69.99
Water Purity Tester, Pen Style (WPT100) WaterProof with Protective Cap & Battery	WPT100		$32.95

For more information on other water quality parameters you may want to test, please visit the Water Quality Testing section of WaterTestingBlog.Com

Water Testing Meters for drinking water, pool water, fish tanks, coy ponds, and other bodies of water make balancing water easy! No more messing around with color charts or trying to guess the color of a test strip before the colors fade or wash into one another.

So whether you need a meter to test your chlorine levels, pH levels, alkalinity levels, hardness levels, conductivity levels, ORP levels, TDS levels, or even just check the temperature of your water, one of the water testing meters on WaterTestMeter.Com will do the job quickly and accurately.

With temperatures soaring to record and near record highs all across the United States, it comes as no surprise to us that we have received numerous questions pertaining to the proper treatment of green swimming pool water, smelly swimming pool water… and some water that would make the average sewer worker vomit.

Therefore we have located yet another online source for Pool Water Testing and Pool Chemical Supplies. Below you will find quick links to various pool testing supplies, pool chemicals, pool shock treatments and other items such as automatic chemical feeders for swimming pools.

Just as with your drinking water, though, nothing beats a professional water test if you have reason to suspect that harmful bacteria or harmful levels of contaminants have entered your pool water.

Most pool water professionals will agree that pool owners and pool maintenance staff should check the sanitizer levels (chlorine, bromine, etc.), pH, calcium hardness and total alkalinity on a regular basis.

To check those basic parameters a pool owner can use pool test strips, wet chemistry pool test kits and/or pool testing meters. Each method has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages:

While the four parameters mentioned above (sanitizer levels, pH, total alkalinity and calcium hardness) should get checked on a regular basis, pool owners should also keep a watchful eye on other pool water parameters such as cyanuric acid levels, mineral content (i.e. iron, copper, etc.), TDS (total dissolved solids), and acid/base demand.

Once again we go in the direction of pool water. Why? Because we love drinking clean water, bathing in clean water and swimming in clean water. The cleanliness and safety of water matters in each of those applications. Get over it.

OK, folks… So the warm weather finally got here and you have taken the cover off (if you had to put one on in the Fall), brought the water level up to its normal level (usually about halfway up the skimmer), cleaned out any solid ‘stuff’ or ‘debris’ that may have fallen into the pool over the Winter, taken your pool water to your local pool water for (usually) free chemical analysis, picked up the suggested chemicals (usually chlorine shock, algaecide, pH, stabilizer, alkalinity, and calcium hardness), gone home, and added the recommended doses of everything to your pool once the pump and filter are working.

Think you have finished your work for a while? Not hardly! Maintaining a swimming pool safely throughout the duration of the swimming season requires regular pool water testing. Why? Because bacteria and other waterborne critters harmful to humans don’t miss an opportunity to jump in an improperly maintained pool — so they can wait for a swimmer to ingest them through skin, eyes, ears, nose, mouth… any opening will do.

Keep a close watch on your pool water by testing it regularly on your own, adding the correct amount of pool chemicals as suggested by pool chemical maufacturers and the companies you purchase them from.

Need help choosing a pool test kit for use between trips to the local pool store?

Several options exist, each having its own merits and disadvantages. Choose the one that best suits your needs and supplement accordingly with analysis by your local pool store — especially after a heavy bather load (lots of people in the pool!), long stretches of rainy weather, or after having to add large amounts of fill water to the pool.

Wet Chemistry or Liquid Kits for Pool Testing

• 2-way pool test kits test for pH and total chlorine.
• 4-way pool test kits test for ph, free chlorine, total chlorine and alkalinity.
• Advanced pool service test kits test for chlorine or bromine, pH, acid and base demand, total alkalinity, calcium hardness & cyanuric acid.
• Higher level kits may also test for bacteria, various metals, total dissolved solids and other pool water parameters in addition to the ones listed above.

Water Testing Meters for Pool Water

• AquaChek TruTest Digital Test Strip Reader
• AquaChek TruTest Test Strip Reader

Dip’n'Read Test Strips for Pool Water Testing

• Aquachek 4-Way for free chlorine, pH, alkalinity and cyanuric acid (50 tests)
• Aquachek 4-Way for bromine, pH, alkalinity and cyanuric acid (50 tests)
• Aquachek 7-Way for free chlorine, total chlorine, bromine, pH, alkalinity, cyanuric acid, and total hardness (50 tests)
• Aquachek 7-Way for free chlorine, total chlorine, bromine, pH, alkalinity, cyanuric acid, and total hardness (100 tests)
• Aquachek copper test strips (25 tests)
• Aquacheck calcium hardness test strips (25 tests)