Hello, Marilyn, and thank you for your inquiry. The SenSafe Water Quality Test Kit contains the following:

• 2 Alkalinity, Total
• 1 Bacteria,Coliform in Water
• 2 Chloride
• 2 Chlorine, Free
• 2 Chlorine, Total
• 2 Copper, Total
• 2 Hardness, Total
• 2 Hydrogen Sulfide
• 2 Iron
• 1 Lead
• 2 Nitrate/Nitrite, as Nitrogen
• 1 Pesticide
• 2 ph
• 2 Sulfate

The kit does not contain tests for manganese but that kit is available on its own. We do carry a manganese test as a standalone kit, though.

Regarding magnesium, that value is included in the total hardness reading given by the total hardness test included with the SenSafe Water Quality Test Kit. Note: The test gives a sum of calcium hardness and magnesium hardness levels, not individual concentrations.

And finally, regarding performing testing for the purpose of determining the quality of your water so you can figure out the best treatment option, if you suspect that your water has potentially significant problems and/or health risks, then home water test kits should serve as a preliminary tests only and you should probably use the services of a certified water testing laboratory before investing in a water filtration system.

If you do not wish to use the services of a local water testing laboratory (which your local health department could help you locate), then companies like National Testing Laboratories offer mail-in water testing services that provide results from a certified water testing laboratory usually within 10 business days.

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

Hello, Dan, and thank you for your inquiry. At this time we do not know of an at-home water test kit capable of detecting vinyl chloride, but we do know that National Testing Laboratories offers mail-in water testing services that include vinyl chloride detection. Links to two of their capable products to follow:

WaterCheck City Standard

and...

WaterCheck City Deluxe

Note:  NTL typically sends water test results back to its customers via email in approximately 10 business days.

What is Vinyl Chloride and How Does It Get Into Drinking Water?

Vinyl chloride is a colorless organic gas with a sweet odor. It is used in the manufacture of numerous products in buildings and construction, the automotive industry, electrical wire insulation and cables, piping, industrial and household equipment, medical supplies, and is depended upon heavily by the rubber, paper, and glass industries.

In other words, you can find potential sources of vinyl chloride all around you, but thankfully industry USUALLY keeps a close eye on its supplies and tries hard to minimize leaks of vinyl chloride into the environment.

National Testing Labs 30 Parameter Test Kit w/ Laboratory Testing

National Testing Labs 83 Parameter Test Kit w/ Laboratory Testing

National Testing Labs 103 Parameter Test Kit w/ Laboratory Testing

Thank you, B.L., for your inquiry.  The  WaterWorks Total Hardness Test Strips (480008) CAN get used to test pool water.

Importance of Water Hardness in Swimming Pools

Pool owners should test for water hardness for several reasons including:

• Soft water (low hardness) can act in a corrosive manner and 'pull' elements out of pool surfaces resulting in liner damage and/or pitting of pool surfaces.
   
• Hard water (high hardness) will not allow other chemicals such as chlorine tablets and powders or pool water balancing chemicals to dissolve in the water.
   
• Very hard water may leave tough-to-remove calcium deposits on pool surfaces.
   
• Improper water hardness balance in pool water can result in other chemicals not functioning properly.

What is Difference Between Calcium Hardness and Total Hardness?

Total hardness readings include concentrations of calcium as well as magnesium where as calcium hardness readings include only dissolved calcium concentrations.

What is Considered Hard Water and What is Considered Soft Water?

For drinking water, tap water and well water purposes:

• Very Soft Water: 0 - 40 ppm total hardness
   
• Soft Water: 40 - 120 ppm total hardness
   
• Hard Water: 120 - 425 ppm total hardness
   
• Very Hard Water: Greater Than 425 ppm total hardness

Grains per Gallon vs. Parts per Million

Depending upon where you look, water hardness gets reported as grains per gallon (GPG) or parts per million (PPM).

To convert between the two measurements, simply divide your parts per million value by 17.5 to get grains per gallon or multiply your grains per gallon value by 17.5 to get parts per million.

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.

Thank you, Douglin, for your inquiry.  The COMPLETE Water Test Kit comes with the following tests and easy-to-follow instructions for carrying out the testing.

• 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, detects E. Coli - 1 Test

Another question we get on a regular basis deals with a very similar water test kit called The Water Quality Test Kit also manufactured by SenSafe/WaterWorks.  Folks ask us the difference between COMPLETE Water Test Kit and The Water Quality Test Kit.

Simply put, both test kits contain the same tests BUT The Water Quality Test Kit also contains (1) one test for Pesticides in Water and (1) one test for Lead in Water.

WaterSafe Well Water Test Kit

COMPLETE Water Quality Test Kit - 13 Parameters

COMPLETE Water Test Kit w/ Lead & Pesticide Tests

Thank you, Jim, for your inquiry.

The Heavy Metals Check product detects, as you quoted, "Cadmium, Cobalt, Cupric Copper, Ferrous Iron, Lead, Mercury, Nickel, Zinc and other metals with a +2 state valence shell" according to the manufacturer.

Regrettably the manufacturer has not made much more information than that available to the public... and yes, we have asked more than once in the past.

As far as detecting tin and titanium goes, at this time we do not know of a simple dip and read test that detects those metals. The manufacturer of Heavy Metals Check manufactures a line of meters that MAY offer ion selective detection of tin and titanium, though, so that may be worth checking out.  We suggest visiting www.sensafe.com and exploring the capabilities of their latest water testing meters.

Mail-in water testing services

Companies such as National Testing Laboratories offer mail-in water testing services that provide prompt water test results from accredited laboratories in approximately 10 to 14 business days and have a range of testing packages available that range from very basic to fairly comprehensive (though we do not see tin or titanium in any of the testing packages we carry...)

• WaterCheck Fluoride Testing Package
• WaterCheck City-Check Basic
• WaterCheck City-Check Deluxe
• WaterCheck Well-Check
• WaterCheck 1 & 2

In case you did not know, health officials and water experts suggest having one's well water tested at least once a year for coliform bacteria and more often than that if the well head seal gets breached or flood waters cover the well head at any point.

The EZ Coliform Cult (MUG) Test makes it possible for homeowners and water professionals alike to get accurate coliform bacteria test results for a water sample in just 24 hours -- no incubator required!

The media turns blue-green in the presence of coliform bacteria and can detect down to the USEPA limit of 1 coliform per 100 mL sample. Additionally, users of this test can confirm the specific presence of E. Coli by illuminating the sample with blue fluorescent lighting (UV light) or by adding a Kovacs reagent.

Why Test for Bacteria?

• If you have a private well the responsibility for the quality of the water coming out of that well rests on your shoulders. No one will come out and do periodic testing to make sure you and your family have safe, clean drinking water free of coliform bacteria such as E. Coli.
• If you have tap water (i.e. city water, municipal water, etc.) the water provider performs regular testing of the water for bacteria at the water treatment facility... but the water must travel through many miles of piping before it reaches your tap and at any point during that long journey bacteria could possibly find its way into the water supply -- and you would never know until after someone got sick.

What Should I Do If My Water Tests Positive for Coliform Bacteria?

Stop drinking the water right away and have the water tested by a certified water testing laboratory. Then, depending upon the results, you may need to invest in some sort of filtration system capable of rendering the bacteria incapable of reproducing (see UV Water Sterilizer) or removing them altogether (see Ceramic Water Filters by Berkey).

The important part: Test your water for coliform bacteria so you can make an educated decision when it comes to purchasing or not purchasing a water filter for your home, school or office!

The USEPA set as a Primary Drinking Water Standard the level of 15 ppb dissolved lead in drinking water. Reaching or exceeding this level, for a water treatment plant, means the plant must immediately act to reduce the level. Failing to do so could result in substantial fines from the USEPA.

Why test for lead?

Scientific studies have shown that prolonged consumption of lead in water may result in learning disabilities, muscular disorders, damage to the kidneys, and a host of other unwanted health problems.

I have city water… so why should I test for lead?

Lead can show up in city/municipal/public water supplies. Why? Older water systems may still have metal tubing in use that, in older days, workers used solder (which contained an amount of lead) to join together.

Over time water makes its way through the joints to the solder and then lead slowly enters the water supply. To make matters worse, older homes that contain copper plumbing usually have joints fused together with solder that contains lead — and no State, Local or Federal law can make homeowners or landlords replace older plumbing with newer, lead-free components.

Testing for other metals in water

If concerned about metals other than lead in your water, we also carry test products for mercury, chromium, zinc, total copper, total iron, manganese and a cumulative test for heavy metals.

For additional information on lead in drinking water

To learn more about the effects of consuming lead, how lead could potentially gets into your water, and information on removing lead from drinking water, please take a look at the lead archives section on the Water Testing Blog.

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