The article also mentioned that Americans who use water filters in their homes do so for three main reasons: 1) Taste of their drinking water; 2) Unpleasant or strong odors in their drinking water; and/or 3) Concerns about the health effects of drinking contaminated drinking water.

Bad taste and odor

More often than not the main complaints we hear from people regarding the quality of their drinking water have something to do with the way their water tastes and/or smells…. with a large number of the complaints involving the unwanted taste or smell coming from their water’s chlorine content.

Other common odors in drinking water may come from dissolved organic matter (tannins), higher then normal levels of dissolved metals and dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas (abbreviated as H₂S).

As a general rule the majority of common taste and odor problems in drinking water get labeled as aesthetic problems, not health concerns. Please note that extremely high concentrations of ANYthing in drinking water, even contaminants typically considered aesthetic nuisances, can pose health risks in the right concentrations.

Concerned about health risks

As more and more stories about pesticides, heavy metals, arsenic, and volatile organic compounds in drinking water around the country keep appearing in the news, more and more and people take an interest in the quality of their own drinking water by taking the first step: Having their water tested.

While having a certified water testing laboratory such as National Testing Laboratories remains the best way to find out exactly what, if any, contaminants you or someone you know needs to have removed from their water, several do-it-yourself home water test kits make it possible for the average homeowner to check basic aspects of their own water quality on a regular basis w/o the need for laboratory services.

You will find a number of very handy (and easy-to-use!) home water quality test kits in the Water Test Kit Store.

Remember: It’s your water, your health, and ultimately… your LIFE!

Though we did not know the names of any specific labs in his area, we did provide him with some useful resources that could certainly help him find a qualified water testing lab in his area.

Good morning, Albert, and thank you for your inquiry regarding water testing labs in Arizona. Hopefully we can help you to locate a suitable home water testing lab in your area.

We first suggest taking a look at the EPA Web Site, specifically the page containing information about local water quality issues in Arizona. This page also contains contact information for the Arizona’s Drinking Water Offices… excellent sources of information on where to turn for certified drinking water analysis! See below for the link:

http://water.epa.gov/drink/local/az.cfm

Directly related to your question, however, the Arizona Department of Health Services Web Site has an online listing of labs in your area on the following page:

http://www.azdhs.gov/lab/license/env.htm

We hope this will at least point you in the right direction!

Best regards,

– Water Testing Blog Staff

For those of you NOT hailing from the Arizona area, the following web page will provide you with links to resources in other US States: http://water.epa.gov/drink/local/

Popular home water test kits?

As always, we suggest calling upon the services of certified water testing professionals if you have doubts about the safety of your water supply. At-home drinking water test kits do, however, give average home and business owners the power to keep an eye on basic drinking water parameters (i.e. heavy metals like lead, free chlorine, total chlorine, pH, hardness, etc.) whose levels, if seen fluctuating dramatically, could indicate the presence of issues requiring further investigation by a certified water testing lab like National Testing Laboratories or local water testing lab.

SenSafe Free Chlorine Water Test	Mercury in Water Test Strips	Bacteria Check Test Kit
Arsenic Quick Test Kit	Arsenic Quick Test Mini-Kit	Manganese Check Water Test Kit
Total Hardness Test Kit	Water Metals Test Kit	Water Quality Test Kit
Nitrate/Nitrate Test Kit	LEADQuick Paint Home Test Kit	Ida’s Iron Check
Well Drillers Test Kit — Master	Well Drillers Test Kit –Standard	eXact Micro 20 Water Test Kit