We recently learned of another vendor, WaterFilters.Net, that offers drinking water water test kits on their web site.

Recently we have come across several useful web sites which feature water quality testing information, links to highly accurate home drinking water test kits from several reputable manufacturers, high quality water filter systems, and replacement filters for a wide range of drinking water filter systems. The links below will take you to their main pages:

• Your Water Test
• Quick Water Test
• Water Test Blog
• Air and Water Filters

Below please find a very simplified table of potential symptoms and testing methods for several contaminants which sometimes wind up in drinking water. This list in no way, shape or form represents the total number of potential drinking water contaminants. For a ‘complete’ list of water contaminants and their potential effects on human health, plese refer to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s SafeWater Web Site.

An excellent question!

Many municipalities still use the older, metal-based piping systems put in the ground many years ago when concepts such as sterilization did not enter city planners’ minds. Over time these large systems of metal pipes may have shifted as a result earthquakes, vibrations from vehicles traveling the roads above them, etc. Connections between pipes may have gotten wrenched slightly out of place resulting in the creation of small openings where outside matter such as dust, dirt, debris and harmful bacteria could enter the water supply.

Here’s a fact that many NEW homeowners overlook: While almost all new homes built in the United States use PVC or some other form of high density, metal-free piping to convey water into the residence, they still must connect those brand new plastic pipes to the older metal water pipes coming from their local water supplier.

Remember we said that a lot of the older water systems used metal pipes? What happens to metal over time? It corrodes, right? Where do you think those broken off pieces of metal may wind up? Answer: Your faucet.

The question which naturally follows deals with figuring out the most appropriate way to test the water coming into one’s home, school or place of business. To this end we recommend several different water quality test kits, all regarded by water professionals as some of the most accurate, reliable and easy-to-use water quality test kits in the industry. Oh, and remember that since we DID say ‘easy-to-use’, you won’t need to break out your old chemistry text books from high school.

• WaterSafe All-In-One Drinking Water Test Kit
• Complete Water Quality Test Kit
• Drinking Water Quality Test Kit

Although we keep repeating ourselves, do-it-yourself drinking water test kits serve as great screening tools for the average consumers but no one should ever rely upon them as their sole testing method. Remember: It’s your water, your health, your life.