Quite honestly, we have asked ourselves that very same question ever since the Water Quality Test Kit came on the market. But, when WE asked, we got an answer to the effect of, ‘Well we already a Complete water test kit and we can’t up and change the name… so what would you have us do, call the new kit the More Complete Kit?’

In other words, the seemingly backwards naming for the two water test kits resulted from a combination of the following: 1) Improved water quality testing technology; 2) Public demand for a larger, more comprehensive water test kit; and 3) A slight lapse in marketing foresight on the part of the manufacturer.

In the manufacturer’s defense, however, they also could have had only one test kit called COMPLETE and kept adding more tests to it as demand required, but then the price would have just gone up and up and up… leaving them with no reasonably priced test kit on the market.

What does each test kit contain?

So naturally the question becomes, ‘What makes the one kit more expensive?’ We will answer that question with the table below:

The difference?

The COMPLETE Home Water Quality Test Kit contains everything that the Water Quality Test Kit contains except tests for lead in water and pesticides in water.

Sold on their own, the lead in water test typically sells for about $10 and the pesticide in water typically sells for about $20.

Rebeka on 4/7/2011, said: “I was skeptical at first that a product would be able to tell me something that I thought I would have to pay a professional to test. To my amazement this water test kit worked very well for me with fast and accurate results. I’m very satisfied with the product, it was very easy to use.” ( source )

So… What does the Water Quality Test Kit test for? So glad you asked!

• Free Chlorine – 2 tests
• Total Chlorine – 2 tests
• Chloride – 2 tests
• pH – 2 tests
• Total Alkalinity – 2 tests
• Total Hardness – 2 tests
• Nitrate – 2 tests
• Nitrite – 2 tests
• Iron – 2 tests
• Sulfate – 2 tests
• Hydrogen Sulfide – 2 tests
• Copper – 2 tests
• Lead – 1 test
• Pesticide – 1 test
• Bacteria – 1 test

We did say that we would provide you with feedback from more than one user, so here you go:

Michelle on 1/27/2011, said: “This water quality test kit is a great product that I would recommend to anyone. I’m in the real-estate market, and some places I show my clients have less than desirable water. This kit is an easy way for my clients to find out what they are getting into as far as there water source goes. My clients and I have found this kit very helpful and I will continue using them. A+” ( source )

So there you have actual testimonials from real people about the benefits offered by the Water Quality Test Kit. Now can you see why all of us here at Water Testing Blog like that kit so much?

For a little over 30 bucks you can test your water for 12 drinking water parameters two times and lead, pesticides (atrazine & simazine) and coliform bacteria once.

Does this test kit take the place of laboratory testing?

No, no, no, and NO. Home drinking water test kits work well as a means of performing on-the-spot testing between laboratory tests. Not at-home drinking water test kit which has the user interpret the results takes the place of water testing performed by a certified, qualified water testing lab.

If so, then you and ‘Anne’ have some thing in common. Those evil little part stealing cretins stole Anne’s instructions for her test kit!

I had ordered the test kit a year back or so.
Now want to use the 2nd, duplicate set.

Anne

We would love to help you, Anne, but honestly we don’t have a clue as to which test kit you purchased or from what company you bought it. We would guess, though, that since you mentioned ‘second set’, that you may have purchased the Water Quality Test Kit from SenSafe.

If so, then you will find a link to that particular kit’s instructions and color charts under the image above. We hope this helps!

Looking for a water test kit?

We know of several reputable online merchants who carry reliable and affordable water quality test kits manufactured by industry leaders like SenSafe and WaterSafe.

• Filters Fast
• Filter Water
• Isopure Water
• Test Country
• Test Products
• Water Filters

Below you will find a few of the more popular water test kits offered on several of the sites listed above. These represent but a small fraction of the water quality test kits available these days so in our opinion, if anyone says, “I can’t find the right test kit”, they really haven’t looked for one.

This time not to blast the potentially, and most likely unethical business practices of some water filter companies, but rather to compliment the folks who put the following article together which not only warns people about the possibility of scam artists in their area, but also gives people ways to access the most recent Annual Consumer Confidence Report for their local water company.

Residents in Auburn and Opelika are currently being contacted by private companies offering to provide free water testing services. These companies are not affiliated with any local government or water provider. These companies offer the free water testing services in an effort to persuade residents to purchase water treatment systems.

The Water Works Board of the City of Auburn (AWWB) and Opelika Utilities provide water service in the Auburn and Opelika area. The water provided to residents in Auburn and Opelika is safe to drink and does not require additional treatment. Additionally, the water provided to residents in Auburn and Opelika is tested on a routine basis and meets all state and federal water quality standards. Water quality information presented in the Annual Consumer Confidence Report for the AWWB can be found at www.auburnalabama.org/wrm-water under the Annual Reports tab. Water quality information presented in the Annual Water Quality Report for Opelika Utilities can be found at www.owwb.com under the Water Quality Report tab.

For more information regarding water quality in Auburn, please contact the Water Resource Management Department at 334-501-3060. For more information regarding water quality in Opelika, please contact Opelika Utilities at 334-705-5500. ( source )

It does not matter where you live. If some stranger shows up on your doorstep claiming to represent the local Health department or your local water company and they don’t seem to have proper credentials, call the police immediately and do NOT allow them entry to your home.

Legitimate parties will remain at your door until the officers arrive. Scam artists and phonies will high tail it out of your yard in a heartbeat.

In-Home water test demonstrations?

First of all, remember that the person, hopefully from a reputable water treatment system company, coming out to your home had one goal in mind: To sell you a water filter system. In other words, they don’t make any money if you don’t buy a water filter system.

With that said, we suggest you do a little prep work before your appointment with the rep from the water filter company:

1) If on city or tap water, request and read the Consumer Confidence Report issued by your local water company.

2) Pick up an at-home water test kit such as the WaterSafe City or Water Quality Test Kit made by SenSafe and test your own water for a few basic parameters.

Arming yourself with a little bit of knowledge before the water filter company’s representative starts bombarding you with ‘facts and figures’ that may or not have a basis in reality may allow you to quickly determine whether or not the person has come to your home to blind you with BS so they can sell you a water filter — regardless of your actual, real water quality needs.

Water Quality Test Kit for 15 Parameters
Regularly $40, Now Just $32.00

Everyone loves a bargain, right? Well if you have waited to purchase a test kit for drinking water because you could never find one on sale, well, you no longer have a reason to wait.

FilterWater.Com recently dropped the price of Sensafe’s most popular test kit for drinking water quality, an easy-to-use test kit that tests for 15 critical water quality contaminants and does not require users to mix powders, crush tablets, or have a degree in chemistry to figure out the directions.

Considered by some the most complete do-it-yourself Water Quality Test Kit on the market, this water test kit tests up to 2 water sources for 15 critical water quality parameters and allows you to quickly and easily test your drinking water and/or check to see if your water filter does a good job.

In this particular drinking water test kit you will find the only available USEPA Approved Free Chlorine Test Strip as well as color-coded, visual, on the spot tests for 13 other parameters. The bacteria test kit, however, requires 48 hours, just as it does in kits manufactured by all other companies.

In total, the Water Quality Test Kit contains the following:

• Free Chlorine – 2 tests
• Total Chlorine – 2 tests
• Chloride – 2 tests
• pH – 2 tests
• Total Alkalinity – 2 tests
• Total Hardness – 2 tests
• Nitrate – 2 tests
• Nitrite – 2 tests
• Iron – 2 tests
• Sulfate – 2 tests
• Hydrogen Sulfide – 2 tests
• Copper – 2 tests
• Lead – 1 test
• Pesticide – 1 test
• Bacteria – 1 test

Included with the kit you will receive a chart so that you can compare your results to USEPA recommended levels is included.

And remember…

Despite the great price on this home drinking water test kit, no at-home testing can ever take the place of having a certified water testing laboratory such as National Testing Labs analyze your drinking water if you have serious reason to suspect contamination.

We recently visited the Filter Water web site to see what new products they offered and discovered that they have LOWERED THE PRICE on the Water Quality Test Kit manufactured by SenSafe to $32 plus shipping.

Why do we keep talking about this particular home water quality test kit? Simple: It offers homeowners the opportunity to easily and safely test 15 different water quality parameters in a matter of minutes — except for the bacteria test which must sit for a day or two.

• Free Chlorine – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Total Chlorine – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Chloride – 2 tests – more info on this test
• pH – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Total Alkalinity – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Total Hardness – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Nitrate – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Nitrite – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Iron – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Sulfate – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Hydrogen Sulfide – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Copper – 2 tests – more info on this test
• Lead – 1 test – more info on this test
• Pesticide – 1 test – more info on this test
• Bacteria – 1 test – more info on this test

Why Should You Test Your Own Drinking Water?

We often get asked that question and our reply typically sounds like, “Have you paid any attention to the news lately? Areas all OVER the country have ‘issues’ with drinking water quality and we know other areas have problems, too, bu they just didn’t make the evening news.”

Need proof? OK, below you will find excepts from RECENT news stories related to water quality issues and water quality testing:

• According to WBZTV, the repairs on the massive pipe that burst over the weekend have been completed and water quality testing has begun. At least two tests have to be performed to determine if the water meets the Federal standards for drinking water.

  According to Boston Globe, State officials are expecting clean water to be available to greater Boston residents within the next 24-48 hours. Ria Convery, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority said “Whoo-hoo, the pipe held. We are back on the regular system and pending water tests, we expect to have (drinking water restored) within 24 to 48 hours.” For now though, the boil water order is still in effect. ( source )

• Park Rapids is issuing the results of monitoring done on its drinking water for the period from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2009.

  …

  During the year, the city had a violation for Nitrate (as Nitrogen). The nitrate result that was over the MCL was collected from a well that is designated as an emergency back-up source. The system has an agreement with the MDH to use this source only in an emergency situation such as fire protection.

  The city’s system returned to compliance as of Aug. 25, 2009.

  Nitrate in drinking water at levels above 10 parts per million is a health risk for infants of less than 6 months of age. High nitrate levels in drinking water can cause blue baby syndrome. Nitrate levels may rise quickly for short periods of time because of rainfall or agricultural activity. ( source )

• WASHINGTON – May 5 – A new testing method by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reveals that pollutants such as arsenic, antimony, chromium and selenium, can leach from coal ash at levels dozens and sometimes hundreds of times greater than the federal drinking water standard. This news comes on the heels of EPA’s proposal to regulate coal ash, in which the agency offered two options: a plan to regulate coal ash as hazardous waste and another to regulate it as non-hazardous. ( source )

So you see, water testing takes place all the time. Some people do it because they have to, as in the case of municipal water systems, others do it because of a problem, as in the case of city workers after a water main break, and others do it because they want to put an end to some form of pollution… as in the case of the EPA looking to regulate coal ash because of its ability to leach arsenic and other dangerous metals into the public water supply.

Before we provide you with the list of items contained by the COMPLETE Water Quality Test Kit, please remember that NO at-home or do-it-yourself water quality test kit will give you a total understanding of your water’s contaminant levels and that only water analysis performed by a certified water testing laboratory will tell the full story.

Consumers should use water quality test kits such as the COMPLETE Water Quality Test Kit and comparable water testing kits such as the SenSafe Water Quality Test Kit and WaterSafe All-in-One Water Test Kit as screening tools only.

COMPLETE Water Quality Test Kit contains: 2 tests for each parameter except bacteria.

• Test for Iron in 2 Minutes
• Test for Copper in 30 Seconds
• Test for Chloride in 40 Seconds
• Test for Nitrate & Nitrite as N in 1 Minute
• Test for pH in 20 Seconds
• Test for Total Alkalinity in 20 Seconds
• Test for Total Chlorine in 20 Seconds
• Test for Total Hardness in 20 Seconds
• Test for Free Chlorine in 10 Seconds
• Test for Sulfate in 40 Seconds
• Test for Hydrogen Sulfide in 30 Seconds
• Test for Coliform Bacteria presence/absence in 48 Hours

You can find the COMPLETE Water Quality Test Kit, and other water quality test kits, available for immediate shipping from online retailers such as FiltersFast.Com and TestProducts.Com.