We recently received a rather interesting question from ‘Chmst411′ who asked, “Are your arsenic test kits dangerous? We want to do an experiment with the kids for a school project but fear the arsenic gas you say gets ‘liberated’ during testing. How dangerous IS that gas and what risk does that acid used pose?”

Having worked with the Arsenic Quick test kits for a number of years now we can honestly say that they do not pose much of a risk at all. To answer your questions more directly, though…

• Liberated Arsenic Gas – While true that this test procedure does generate a very small amount of gaseous arsenic, the volume created poses no risk to test personnel as long as the test gets performed in a normally ventilated room.

• Use of Tartaric Acid – All of the Arsenic Quick test procedures require the use of an acid, true, but the acid in question (tartaric acid) qualifies as a food grade acid rather than a more aggressive industrial grade acid like other test kits use. Use of tartaric acid in the Arsenic Quick test procedure poses no real danger to test personnel.

So… should you fear the Arsenic Quick Test Kits because they use an acid as a reagent and generate a small amount of arsenic gas? Not in our opinion — and as we said, we have used them many times in the past 7+ years.

Compared to the other methods available to the public for testing drinking or ground water for free, dissolved arsenic, the Arsenic Quick line of arsenic test kits have a shorter total test time, safer reagents and simpler instruction set. And yes, we have used other arsenic test kits manufactured by other companies, as well.

Previously when we wrote about fracking (hydraulic fracturing) we stressed the importance of performing water quality testing on well water and ground water in the region before any fracking activity begins. Today we happily report that officials in the Sanford, NC area required baseline water quality test results get recorded before any gas companies could get permits to begin drilling.

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

After years of getting requests from loyal readers to open an online store where they could quickly and easily locate a lot of the products we frequently write about… we have finally taken the plunge and opened the Water Testing Blog Store.

Water Testing Blog Store Now Open

To start we have selected 20 water quality testing products that we feel do an excellent job of accurately measuring various water quality parameters that really and truly should matter to more people.

Examples: Arsenic, Bacteria, Chlorine, Metals, and, of course, everyone’s favorite in the Summer, Pool & Spa Water Quality.

Look for us to expand our offerings as time goes on and, as always, thanks for dropping by the Water Testing Blog… and don’t forget to test your water on a regular basis!

The internet makes locating information, goods and services so much easier than in the past and when it comes to inquiries about water testing the Water Testing Blog definitely gets its share of inquiries from outside the United States.

Today’s inquiry came to us from ‘Ashish’ who wrote, “hi,i am a mp govt emploie i want all test for water because my department allso belong these.”

As best we can interpret, Ashish works for a government agency that has responsibility for performing water quality testing and Ashish would like to know where he can obtain all the required water quality testing products that his agency would need to carry out its water testing duty.

Unfortunately, without knowing exactly what testing Ashish’s department performs we really can’t provide him with much of an answer except to recommend the following general, all-purpose testing equipment:

• eXact Micro 10 Water Testing Meter — We selected this water testing product because of its versatility. The eXact Micro 10 provides direct readings for Total Alkalinity, Bromine, Calcium Hardness, Free Chlorine, Total Chlorine, Copper, Ozone, Permanganate and pH. When used in % Transmission Mode along with the appropriate reagentstrips the eXact Micro 10 has the ability to read an additional 17 water quality parameters.

  In addition to having extreme versatility, the eXact Micro 10 Water Testing Meter also has extremely easy-to-follow testing procedures. Children in the grade school age range can operate this meter and obtain accurate water test results.
   

• Well Driller Master Test Kit — We keep mentioning this test kit because of the value it has for people seriously interested in testing water on a regular basis. Testing for a total of 14 different water quality parameters (some as many as 50 times!) this conveniently packaged water testing kit offers awesome value for under $200.

So, we regretfully cannot say that we have satisfactorily addresses Ashish, but we did at least try. If you have more specific questions, Ashish, please feel free to contact us again!

Today’s inquiry came to us from The United Arab Emirates and their inquiry dealt with DPD-1 (What is DPD?, the chemical reagent used to detect free chlorine in a water sample. Mohanad asked,

Dear Sir

Please could you quote a best price for: Chorine- DPD Free Reagent Qty:600 Pk, each pk containing 100 pillows

When testing for free chlorine most test methods use DPD-1 as the test reagent, though in the United States the USEPA has approved an alternate method (SenSafe Free Chlorine Water Check) for testing free chlorine levels in drinking water.

Where to Buy DPD-1 Test Reagents

We have found that online pool stores such as serve as very convenient place to purchase DPD-1 test reagents. As of right now, In the Swim has 1,000 DPD-1 tablets (for use in 10mL samples) available for less than 5 cents per test!

Easier to Use Form of DPD-1 Chlorine Test Reagent?

Looking for an equivalent but easier way to test free chlorine using your existing meter or test system that uses a 10mL sample size? If so, DPD-1 ReagentStrips function the same as or better than traditional DPD-1 test tablets, powders and liquids.

For a simple demonstration of how the DPD-1 ReagentStrips for free chlorine testing work in a Hach water quality testing meter, take a look at this free chlorine testing flowchart that illustrates how much easier DPD-1 ReagenetStrips make free chlorine testing.

Today’s inquiry came to us from ‘Kishore’ who asked a question about a liquid test reagent that turned yellow when added to a sample of water containing chlorine-based water disinfection tablets.

Dear Sir, I mixed chlorine tablets(water purification Tablets) in water. my friend taken water in Test tube. mixed one drop of liquid then water color changed in yellow. what is name of that liquid. how to by that.please can sent details.

Hello, Kishore, and thank you for the inquiry about a liquid test reagent that turns yellow in the presence of chlorine. Based upon your description we suspect your friend used a chemical called ‘OTO’ to perform the testing. OTO stands for Orthotolidine dihydrochloride. It test for total chlorine (free chlorine plus combined chlorine collectively).

You can find OTO in most pool supply stores, as it normally comes in the more basic pool water testing kits for total chlorine and pH, the two most commonly tested pool water quality parameters.

Many companies also sell the two reagents separately since they do tend to ‘go bad’ after a year once opened and exposed to air.

If you want to perform more precise chlorine concentration testing for free chlorine, the compound most people have the most interest in (usually) when attempting to determine if water has had the proper amount of disinfectant added to it, you will want to invest in a drinking water test kit that uses DPD-based reagents. ( What is DPD? )

For an even simpler means of testing the chlorine levels in water samples you may want to consider a product such as the SenSafe Free Chlorine Water Check, an EPA Approved method for determining free chlorine concentrations in drinking water, or the WaterWorks 2 Free & Total Chlorine product that uses the same free chlorine testing method as the SenSafe Free Chlorine Water Check and also includes a separate test area for total chlorine.

Want to know more about the differences between free and total chlorine? Check out an article called Free Chlorine, Combined Chlorine, Total Chlorine.

One more thing about OTO before we go: We have heard that some countries have outlawed its use due to scientists having evidence that it may cause cancer in humans… so check local laws before making a purchase!

We hope this helps!

With so many news outlets discussing recent findings of arsenic in bottles of apple juice bearing brand names it comes as no surprise to us that we would receive an inquiry like the one we just got from ‘Hadiah’ who asked, “I would like to know exactly what arsenic testing kit i could use for my daughters science fair project. She is testing for arsenic in apple juice.”

Thus far in our limited research we have found only one kit that we THINK may have the ability to perform testing on various juices: Arsenic Quick. Why do we think this kit may have promise? Quite simply, its design (hanging the test pad reaction area above the liquid getting tested and relying solely upon arsenic gas liberated by a small quantity of food grade acid) means the color of the juice ought not interfere with reading the resultant color of the test pad after at the completion of the test.

Food grade acid? Liberated arsenic gas? Is this test SAFE?

Having performed the test numerous times ourselves, we can assure you that the test procedure and required testing reagents pose little to no harm to people performing the tests.

Food Grade Acid – Instead of using more caustic and potentially dangerous acids like other kits, the Arsenic Quick Test Kit uses tartaric acid, an acid commonly found in various ingredients used in foods most of us eat on a daily basis.

Liberated Arsenic Gas – While the directions for the Arsenic Quick Test Kit instruct testing personnel to perform testing in a well-ventilated area, the amount of gas generated by such a small sample should pose no risks.

But, just the same… open a window in the kitchen and turn on the stove exhaust fan (if you have one), test in the garage w/ the door open, or take some other precaution that will keep fresh air coming into the test area.

Proper precaution in any testing environment, even if the testing environment seems safe, always pays off!

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.

Today’s question came to us from ‘Malli’ who asked, “tell me simple method to find out the flourine percentage .Thanque”

For the sake of this article, and because it would make his/her inquiry make more sense, we will assume that Malli intended to ask for a method of testing for FLUORIDE levels in water.

Regretfully we have not heard of any ‘new’ methods a person can use to detect fluoride levels in drinking water since we last addressed this topic. Therefore we will continue to suggest using a meter such as the eXact Micro 7+ Water Testing Meter that uses Fluoride (SPADNS) Reagent to detect fluoride levels in water as low as 0.1 ppm and as high as 1.1 ppm.

One could also use the mail-in fluoride testing services of a company called National Testing Laboratories to determine how much, if any fluoride their drinking water contains.

So, Malli, once you determine if your water contains fluoride, next you will need to decide if you wish to remove or reduce that fluoride level… assuming you have fluoride in your water to begin with.

Removing/Reducing Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water?

When it comes to finding an effective means of reducing fluoride levels in drinking water, thus far our ‘research’ always points us down the same path… towards reverse osmosis water filters. The unit you see on the right, the Pentek RO-3500, has gone through testing and gotten certified by NSF/ANSI to Standard 58 for the reduction of Pentavalent Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Copper, Hexavalent & Trivalent Chromium, Cyst, Fluoride, Lead, Nitrate/Nitrite, Radium 226/228, Selenium, TDS and Turbidity.

Though definitely NOT the most expensive unit on the market, this filter has successfully passed third party testing, can produce nearly 8 gallons of crystal clear, filtered drinking water per day, and does so while reducing fluoride levels by more than 90%.

Moral of the story?

You will never know exactly how much fluoride, iron, copper, manganese, chlorine, salt, or other unwanted contaminants your water contains until you perform the appropriate tests on your water. Then, and only then, will you have the ability to make an educated decision regarding water treatment options.

Though not an often discussed water quality parameter, conductivity plays a critical role in determining water’s ‘safety’ and today’s question came to us from ‘Geoffery T’ who asked,

This is my first time in this site,so I will give my feedback after.

In water testing for conductivity, the required measurement for potable water is what level, and the level of over 550 micro siemens is potable and any effect on the taste?

Thank you

We will begin by saying that scientists define conductivity in the following manner: A given quantity of water’s ability (or inability) to conduct electricity at a specific temperature. Dissolved solids in a water sample make it possible for the sample to conduct an electrical charge and therefore the greater the quantity of dissolved (usually inorganic) solids, the great the water’s conductivity value.

With that said, 100% pure water would contain no dissolved inorganic solids and therefore conduct no electricity.

Government & Regulatory Guidelines

To our knowledge the USEPA has not, yet, included conductivity in its Primary or Secondary Drinking Water Standards so we do wonder where Geoffrey got the value of 500 micro Siemens for a threshold for potable water.

We have seen situations, however, where regulatory bodies have placed upper limits on conductivity as a means of triggering more in-depth water quality evaluations. As an example, we have read that the EPA imposed a 300 to 500 micro Siemens threshold that would stop the issuing of coal mining permits in certain areas.

Conductivity and the taste of the water?

Quite frankly we believe the taste of the water would get determined not necessarily the the quantity of dissolved inorganic solids, but rather by the nature and character of the solids. In other words, dissolved salts would impart a salty taste while dissolved metals would more than likely impart a bitter, metallic taste to the water.

Do high conductivity readings always mean unnatural or man-made contamination of a water supply?

No, not at all. Higher than expected levels of conductivity may quite often result from virtually any activity that disturbs the area around a body of water. High winds during dry weather patterns can result in dust getting blown into water and pretty much any activity that ‘loosens’ or jars loose small pieces of solids could result in additional solids finding their way into a body of water.

Scientists have not, yet, found a clear and definitive link between elevated conductivity levels and the harmful contamination of water, though waters with definite contamination issues have, in many cases, also had elevated conductivity levels.

HM Digital QC-1 Quick Check Monitor
for TDS and Electrical Conductivity