No matter how many ‘new’ and/or ‘innovative’ methods scientists devise to make water safe for drinking, we believe a certain faction in society will still put its trust in the sanitizing effects of free chlorine. This also means we believe a need for chlorine testing will always exist.

As an immediate example of this need, a Water Testing Blog reader named John recently asked,

“Hi, I am installing a 5000 litre water tank which i intend to add chlorine to and need an inexpensive free chlorine meter could you advise me on what to purchase as this is a new venture for me. Regards, John M.”

Thank you, John, for your question. We will begin by saying that you should immediately narrow your search by eliminating any water quality testing meters not using a form of DPD-1 as the reagent for free chlorine testing.

eXact Micro 7+ Meter
EPA Compliant Meter for
Free & Total Chlorine Testing

While ORP meters do offer a good bit of utility, their readings do not directly monitor just free chlorine content of water and a great number of water quality purists still feel that traditional DPD chemistry provides the best means of determining a sample’s relative safety — based solely upon the sample’s chlorine concentration, of course.

With that said, DPD comes in several forms: Liquids, Powders, Tablets, and ReagentStrips.

To answer John’s question directly, though, we suggest that he take a look at the eXact Micro 7+ Water Testing Meter. It offers quality chlorine testing capabilities and the option of testing for a host of other parameters, as well — if desired.

The basic test kit includes…

  • 1 eXact® Micro 7+ Meter
  • 1 bottle of eXact® Strip Micro DPD-1 (25 tests)
  • 1 bottle of eXact® Strip Micro DPD-3 (25 tests)
  • 1 bottle of eXact® Strip Micro pH (25 tests)
  • 1 bottle of eXact® Strip Micro Total Alkalinity (25 tests)
  • 1 bottle of eXact® Strip Micro Calcium Hardness (25 tests)
  • 1 bottle of eXact® Strip Micro Copper (25 tests)
  • 1 Mixing Cap
  • 1 Cell Cleaning Brush
  • 1 Instruction Booklet
  • Plastic Carrying Case
  • Four AAA Batteries to power the meter

What sort of detection range does the meter have? So glad you asked!

Naturally you will want to, or you should want to, know about the cost of replacement reagent(strips) for the meter. Since John asked about chlorine testing, below you will find links to, and pricing for, replacement DPD-1 and DPD-3 ReagentStrips — currently available at several online locations such as FiltersFast.Com and FilterWater.Com.

Filters Fast Web Site

* Free Chlorine ReagentStrips 486637 — DPD-1. Used to test for free chlorine residuals. Around $13.

* Total Chlorine Test Strips 486670 — DPD-4. Used to test for total chlorine, but does NOT require the use of DPD-1 first, unlike the DPD-3 reagentstrips that come with the basic kit. Around $14 for 100 tests.

Filter Water Web Site

* ITS-EZ7-486637 — DPD-1 used for free chlorine testing. Around $13 for 100 tests.

* ITS-EZ7-486638 — DPD-3 used for free chlorine testing. Requires use of DPD-1 first. Around $8 for 100 tests.

So if you find yourself in the market for a chlorine testing meter that uses an EPA Compliant testing method AND offers additional testing capabilities, definitely take a look at the line of eXact Micro 7+ Meters.