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We Test Water!

Why is a Water Test Important?

You always want to be sure that the water you drink is safe. If you come in contact with contaminated water, the symptoms are noticed immediately, or not until many years later. The types of illnesses brought on by water contamination are related to the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, and those who drink it experience symptoms such as, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and cramps.
Other factors impacting the health of someone who drinks contaminated water are:
 The amount of water that they drink
 Type of contaminant found in the water test
 The general health and age of the person who drank the contaminated water
 The length of time the person has been consuming the contaminated water.
 Therefore, it’s better to have a water test sooner than later.
One major problem with contaminated water is that there aren’t any obvious signs that the water is contaminated, such as a funny taste, bad odor or weird colors. Whether or not the water is contaminated can only be known after a water test.
The only way to accurately determine if water is contaminated is by having a water test completed in a quality lab. This pertains to water associated with:
 Gas drilling
 Commercial water
 Residential
 Bottled water
What Contaminates Does A Water Test Find
Total Coliform Organisms: These are a group of bacteria normally found within the environment, and they indicate the water’s safety. If they’re present, this indicates that the organisms causing diseases such as parasites, bacteria, and viruses are potentially in the water supply. A water test can easily detect if they’re present.
Bacteria: If a water test finds bacteria in the water, it is then considered to be unsafe to drink until the well has been disinfected. Unfortunately a test that doesn’t find bacteria one time doesn’t ensure that each test will have the same result. Therefore, testing must be done consistently to make sure the water is safe to drink. Long, dry patches, heavy rain, and the run-off after spring potentially affect the quality of the well water.
Nitrates: When nitrates are present in well water, it is usually because of activities linked to farming. This includes activities such as septic system seepage, and fertilizing. If a water test finds that their levels are more than 10 mgs per liter, a baby that is exposed to the water can suffer from blue baby syndrome. This condition happens when the nitrates stop the blood from being able to carry oxygen to the infant’s entire body.
Pesticides and Herbicides: When a water test finds contamination from pesticides and herbicides, it’s because they haven’t been used properly, or are over-used.
E. coli: This bacteria lives in the intestines of humans and animals. If a water test finds any E. coli bacteria, this indicates that animal feces or human sewage has contaminated the supply of water.
AquaKnow provides a comprehensive water test to see if your water has any kind of contamination. To be on the safe side, get your water tested if you have any doubts. Call 877-734-7661 ext 2 or visit www.aquaknow.com.

April 27, 2013 at 9:30 am Comments (0)

Who is Responsible for Tests on Water?

Whether you live in the city and get your water through the city water system or it is supplied from a water well, you should know that it is critically important to conduct multiple tests on the water you are drinking and using for day to day things. You need to ensure it is safe. If you are a water well owner, then testing your water is vital to you and your family’s safety. The tests on water should be conducted once a year at minimum to make sure your family is protected.
There are many people that think safe drinking water is the same thing as pure water. Pure water is water that has been completely filtered, and contains absolutely no chemicals or minerals. It has also been sent through a filtering process that makes it completely safe to be consumed by humans and animals. Now, the water that comes from the taps is considered safe drinking water. Safe drinking water may contain minerals and chemicals that are naturally found in water and are safe to drink. In fact, some of them may even be considered beneficial to drink. The city water systems in America are required to offer safe drinking water to residents, but you need to know that does not mean you are getting pure water from your taps.
Many people think that the only time they should complete tests on water is when the water looks cloudy, smells, is yellow, or just plain undrinkable. The reality is that there can be harmful bacteria and high levels of chemicals and minerals in your water that are invisible to the naked eye. In fact, many people never even know they are drinking bad water until they have the tests on water performed on their water source.
If your test reveals the presence of bacteria, then it is important to get to the root of the problem. If you get all of your water from a well, then the problem could be with the structure of the well. Different scenarios exist for those that are getting bad water out of their taps. Immediately after finding the problem it’s important that you avoid drinking that water until it is repaired and the system is disinfected, including pumps and pipes.
There are times that people think they can avoid testing their water by purchasing a filtration system instead of bringing someone out to do the tests on water. These systems are fantastic at filtering out large particles, but they are not considered a safe way to guarantee safe drinking water. There are many chemicals and other substances that can get through these filtration systems that may cause harm.
Water testing is so easy and affordable that there really is no excuse to not keep track of your water safety for your health and that of your family’s. Advanced technology has made it easy to find the different types of contaminants that can be harmful to your health.
There is a good chance that you are putting your family at risk with your water, especially if you own a water well. The money and time you will have to put into having your water tested is definitely worth every penny if it means the safety of your family. Get help from AquaKnow to run your tests on water so you can breathe easy knowing what is and isn’t in your water.
AquaKnow.com is a trusted and affordable water quality testing service. Once you have had a test water sample taken, our laboratories will interpret those results for you. Contact us at 877-734-7661 or info@aquaknow.com.

April 1, 2013 at 7:45 am Comments (0)

Tests on Water

One of the most basic and vital human needs is to have a source of safe, clean, and consistently available water. In much of the world the access to safe water sources for consumption, agriculture and maintaining hygiene is taken for granted. However even in the western world where readily available clean water is an automatic assumption, those who dig private wells on their property face more uncertainty as to the quality and safety of water. Before digging a well it is imperative to conduct tests on water sources that one will be accessing, as well as conducting subsequent tests on at least an annual basis.

Water that is used for direct or indirect consumption (aka through cooking, washing, agriculture, etc) must be free from dangerous organisms and bacterial agents, chemical substances, and radioactive matter to ensure the safety of ones body. With well water there are a variety of sources of contamination that can cause ones water to develop a distinctly unhealthy color, odor and taste. However, some contaminants might be present without the presence of a noticeable change in its taste, color and odor, meaning that the only way to ensure consistent safety is to conduct frequent tests on water supplies.

With the increasing negative perceptions of reliance on foreign sources of energy, the presence of a process called ‘fracking’ has become more commonplace. This process accesses natural gas buried deep within shale formations, which when cracked, releases the gas. Fracking uses a drilling mechanism along with substantial amounts of water, sand, and chemicals to insert into wells causing fractures that release natural gas that is then drawn to the surface. The water used in the process becomes contaminated with various pollutants such as radon, uranium and other radiological substances. Although drilling companies claim that the protective measures used prevent these incredibly dangerous fluids from seeping into surrounding groundwater, there is an understandable growing concern that accidental leakage or mishaps may happen. Although every state has regulations saying that a gas company must conduct tests on water wells surrounding their intended drill site, the area specified is often not as wide reaching as contamination can travel. This means that it is up to individuals to test the water on their well site to ensure contamination has not reached their water source.

Fracking is not the only source of contamination that could possibly make ones well water dangerous to consume. There is always the possibility of bacterial contamination from surrounding farms, where fertilizer and animal byproducts (feces) can contain a dangerous bacterial agent called coliform. There is also the danger of ammonia from nearby sewage treatment areas, or naturally occurring arsenic and uranium from minerals. Whatever the contamination source might be, protecting the quality of water should be taken as a high priority; the health of individuals and their families may be seriously compromised should consumption of these contaminants reach dangerous levels. The cost of conducting tests on water sources on a semi-consistent basis is an important preventative measure that all well users can engage in.

Clean water is vital for a healthy mind and body, and the access to safe, clean water should be protected for the sake of oneself and loved ones. If frequent tests on water are conducted, one can obtain peace of mind that the water they consume will nourish the body rather than do harm.

AquaKnow.com is a trusted and affordable water quality testing service. Once you have had a test water sample taken, our laboratories will interpret those results for you. Contact us at 877-734-7661 ext 2.

February 19, 2013 at 3:48 pm Comments (0)

How to Research and Test the water for A Well Site

There are more aspects involved in choosing where, when, and how to drill a water well than one might initially think. It is a process that must be undertaken with all factors having been considered and with an adequate level of knowledge on how to test the quality of the groundwater that is going to be sourced. One should always test the water and the well water site in order to establish its potential output.

The first step to determining the quality of a well site is to ascertain the exact location of the potential property; the exact location must be known by acknowledged legal language (for example, by section or range and by quarters within this section). The importance of being able to describe the exact location is so when one attempts to access Public Land Survey databases, that the proper results for that piece of land can be found. After determining the correct language to pinpoint the exact location of the property, one should look for history of well water activity in that area. It is fruitful to research what wells have been dug in the past, how deep these wells were dug, and the resulting success or failure. This gives a good indication of whether somebody previously endeavored to test the water and found it at a quality deserving of multiple well sites.

Accessing geological and topographical records is always a generally good idea, as the type of rock formations and components of that surface can be a good indicator of quality and quantity of groundwater. Groundwater is present in greater quantities near the surface and is more prominent among valley terrain rather than in upland regions. Groundwater, just like any component of the hydrologic cycle, does not stay in one place for long however, so should an external factor chance the geology of a potential well site, the water source may not be as plentiful as records and previous testing would suggest. Before one can test the water, examine the topographical records more closely and examine the vegetation around the potential well site. The vegetation, in both its quantity and its health, demonstrates whether or not there is groundwater present near the surface.

Before engaging in drilling a well, it is also useful to ask the neighbors about any other well sites that may have been drilled that are not available on public records. It is often the case that people will drill for groundwater without registering their location, so it is helpful to talk to those around the potential well site. To test the water present at the well site, a test hole can often be drilled in order to assess the level of contaminants that might be present in the groundwater. However, before drilling it is important to check any regulatory agencies for construction restrictions of any sort.

When all is said and done and water is flowing from your well, regularly test the water using the services of a qualified lab. There are many factors that affect your well water, including pesticides, flooding, nearby oil well drilling and more. By conducting a regular schedule to test the water, you will have the confidence to know that your well water is safe and healthy to drink.

There is much more to drilling a well than to simply start the physical process; researching the quality of the land and having a lab test the water are both vital components to ensuring the greatest results from your chosen well site.

We test water. Contact us today at 877-734-7661 ext 4 for a water testing kit.

January 14, 2013 at 7:46 pm Comments (0)

Conducting Tests on Water Before Buying a Property

Those that plan to purchase residential or commercial real estate that include water wells on the property should test the quality of water that comes from those wells before signing any agreements. Just because the seller of the property offers assurances that the well water is clean and safe, without a test there is no guarantee. The look and smell of the water may also offer no concrete clues as to its purity and safety since many contaminants are microscopic, colorless and/or and odorless. This is where tests on water come into the picture.
Potential buyers can—and should—take water samples from all wells on the property. They should then conduct purity tests on water from each well. Although it seems like a long process, it is actually quite simple, and the cost of doing it is well worth it for the peace of mind that will be gained in return. Buyers can simply purchase water testing kits from a certified water testing company, take water samples from each well and then send the samples to the lab. The analysis is conducted by trained, qualified laboratory technicians, and the results are returned in a timely manner and in an easy-to-understand report. Technicians are also available to answer any further questions that buyers have once they have received their water results. The process is seamless. One thing consumers should check in advance, however, is whether the water testing company they want to use has state certification in the state where the buyer resides.
Potential buyers who are not familiar with tests on water can choose a standard set of tests to have completed rather than trying to choose from a list of individual tests for specific contaminants. For example, tests can be conducted for an array of heavy metals, minerals and inorganic chemicals such as chloride, fluoride, nitrates etc. as well as characteristics like alkalinity, hardness and pH. Consulting with the professionals in the water testing company can also help buyers decide which tests are most useful for their needs and for the geographical area where the property is located.
If, as buyers hope for, the end results of these tests on water don’t turn up any contaminants, the property purchase can go ahead without concern. If water contaminants are found in some or all of the samples, then potential real estate buyers can make informed purchasing decisions; they may still choose to buy the property, but if they do so, they do it with the full information at hand to help them make decisions about the best way to deal with the contaminated water problem.
Anyone person or company interested in buying a commercial or residential property that has a water well can get kits to conduct tests on water by contacting aquaknow.com or 877-734-7661.

December 23, 2012 at 11:32 am Comments (0)

Conducting Tests on Water before Buying a Property

Those that plan to purchase residential or commercial real estate that include water wells on the property should test the quality of water that comes from those wells before signing any agreements. Just because the seller of the property offers assurances that the well water is clean and safe, without a test there is no guarantee. The look and smell of the water may also offer no concrete clues as to its purity and safety since many contaminants are microscopic, colorless and/or and odorless. This is where tests on water come into the picture.
Potential buyers can—and should—take water samples from all wells on the property. They should then conduct purity tests on water from each well. Although it seems like a long process, it is actually quite simple, and the cost of doing it is well worth it for the peace of mind that will be gained in return. Buyers can simply purchase water testing kits from a certified water testing company, take water samples from each well and then send the samples to the lab. The analysis is conducted by trained, qualified laboratory technicians, and the results are returned in a timely manner and in an easy-to-understand report. Technicians are also available to answer any further questions that buyers have once they have received their water results. The process is seamless. One thing consumers should check in advance, however, is whether the water testing company they want to use has state certification in the state where the buyer resides.
Potential buyers who are not familiar with tests on water can choose a standard set of tests to have completed rather than trying to choose from a list of individual tests for specific contaminants. For example, tests can be conducted for an array of heavy metals, minerals and inorganic chemicals such as chloride, fluoride, nitrates etc. as well as characteristics like alkalinity, hardness and pH. Consulting with the professionals in the water testing company can also help buyers decide which tests are most useful for their needs and for the geographical area where the property is located.
If, as buyers hope for, the end results of these tests on water don’t turn up any contaminants, the property purchase can go ahead without concern. If water contaminants are found in some or all of the samples, then potential real estate buyers can make informed purchasing decisions; they may still choose to buy the property, but if they do so, they do it with the full information at hand to help them make decisions about the best way to deal with the contaminated water problem.
Anyone person or company interested in buying a commercial or residential property that has a water well can get kits to conduct tests on water by contacting aquaknow.com or 877-734-7661.

December 10, 2012 at 9:13 pm Comments (0)

Conduct Your Own Tests on Water Because the Truth Isn’t Always As It Appears

Making Tests on Water Crystal Clear
Water – it’s clean, clear, and pure. At least that’s what some people think when they turn on their tap and fill up a glass of water to drink. The truth is that just because the water that comes out of the faucet looks clear doesn’t mean that it is safe to drink. Today finding safe drinking water might not be as easy as one might believe. It is important that everyone understand what constitutes safe drinking water and what tests on water can be done to ensure the health and safety of everyone.
When words like “water pollution” come to mind, some people might immediately think of polluted waterways: oceans, rivers, and lakes. For many communities these are important sources of water to drink, for waste treatment systems, even (in some cases) for power. Of course it is vital that water that’s being used as drinking water is free from pollutants, and this does not just refer to pieces of garbage floating in these bodies of waters. It is easy enough to spot these pollutants. The pollutants which are really concerning are the pollutants that are invisible, and most people might not have a clue that these pollutants are in their water supply. The only way to really know what you and your family are drinking is to do tests on water.
You don’t need to be James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, or even a scientist in order to find out what is actually going on with your drinking water. Some people might argue that their local community government does a good enough job of making sure the water is safe, but do you really want to take that chance? Is it worth it to just accept what a government official has reported about your city or town’s drinking water in a general press release? Most people won’t have any idea of what type of tests, if any, a community does on their water source. Wouldn’t it be nice to perform tests on water—on the water you and your family drink and use for cleaning and other important household tasks?
While it is all good to talk about doing tests on water to ensure your safety and the safety of the people you care about, you need to actually test your water. So what do you do? Luckily the answer is as simple as what you are doing right now – using a computer. AquaKnow is a nationwide company which ships water testing kits for individuals to test their own drinking water. You don’t need a background in chemistry in order to use the tests, and all the tests follow USEPA standards. The test kits ship out within 1-2 business days of being ordered, and AquaKnow is accredited by the Better Business Bureau. All you have to do is collect the water samples in the bottles and vials that are included in your kit and return them to the lab in the same container they were shipped to you in. This means that you will be purchasing a high standard water testing kit from a high quality company and that your water results will have been tested by a certified lab to meet industry and higher standards. When it comes to your safety and health and that of others in your life compromising on water quality is not a risk you want to take. Contact AquaKnow today at 877-734-7661 to speak with a technical representative or go online to http://www.aquaknow.com/products.html

October 18, 2012 at 12:14 pm Comments (0)

Home Kits for Water Testing Equipment

Having running water available in your home is a privilege. We’ve all been told that many people around the world don’t have such a luxury, and up until relatively recently in human history even Western civilizations didn’t have running water. For those that do have the privilege of running water, it can be easy to simply use it without thinking twice, but for those who obtain their water from a well instead of pipes, a little attention and conscientiousness can be necessary. Well water should not be used thoughtlessly as there can be a risk of contamination. Fortunately, water testing equipment is becoming more widely available, taking the risk out of enjoying fresh running water.
It is possible to hire a professional to test your well water for contaminants or other potential health hazards. Traditionally, that is how people would test their well water as equipment was complex, cumbersome, and required training to use. Fortunately, over the years many advancements have been made to water testing equipment, resulting in greater efficiency and ease of use. These advancements have led to the development of home testing kits, which may be purchased directly by homeowners so that they can test their well water themselves. Actually, they don’t test the water, but rather collect the water sample themselves and send that sample to a certified laboratory which completes a comprehensive analysis.
One advantage to using home kits of water testing equipment for your well is that you’re more likely to actually get it done. Calling a professional is one of those things that is very easy to put off, especially if it is just as a precautionary measure. Of course if you suspect that you’re water is contaminated, you’d waste no time in calling a professional to test the water so that you could correct the situation immediately, but much like testing smoke detectors or going for dental cleanings, sometimes people neglect precautionary measures and tend to them a little later than they should. If you have a kit of well water testing equipment already waiting for you at home, it will be much easier to find the time and motivation to just get the job done. You won’t have to play phone tag with a professional, you won’t have to make time in your schedule, and you won’t have to squeeze it into your budget.
You can’t just assume that your well water will always be safe. Testing it on a regular basis is crucial. If the wrong contaminants seep into your water supply and you don’t catch it or fix the problem early enough, the results could be fatal. Water testing equipment is so advanced and easy to obtain now, leaving no excuse for well owners to be neglectful. The opinion of a professional might still be valuable for unusual concerns or if your home testing kit turns up serious results. The initial testing i.e. sample collecting, however, can easily be done by the well owner with a convenient kit. If you would like more information on the benefits of home water testing kits, contact the team at AquaKnow. You can find out more information about us at aquaknow.com.

September 21, 2012 at 9:20 am Comments (0)

Why Water Well Companies Need Groundwater Surveying

Imagine you’re going on a road trip. You know exactly what your destination is, but you are unsure of how to get there. So, what do you do? Do you just get in your car and start driving, hoping you’ll luck out and end up in the right spot? Do you accept the possibility of ending up in the wrong city several times before you find the place you’re looking for? Of course not. You use a map to find your destination, and you plan your route accordingly. This way, you’re guaranteed to arrive at your destination safely and as quickly as possible. This is the logic that water well companies need to keep in mind when drilling new wells. Guessing at where the appropriate amount of groundwater lies is illogical and a waste of time. Having a groundwater surveyor take the guess work out of finding water will increase efficiency significantly.
Advancements in gravity and seismic surveying have made it so that water well companies no longer have to leave finding water to chance. Not so long ago, finding water was often left up to the practice of water witching or dowsing. This was when an individual known as a water witch or dowser would use a divining rod to determine where water was flowing beneath the ground. The practice of using magic to find groundwater might sound pretty far-fetched, but this was actually common practice! Fortunately, here in the twenty-first century, advanced technology, not magic, is relied upon to accurately locate groundwater. Seismo-electrics and other geophysical techniques provide an accurate reading of the groundwater in the area.
Hiring a groundwater surveying company might seem like an unnecessary expense, but in the end, it is actually a great way to save water well companies a significant amount of money. A skilled groundwater surveyor will have the expertise, experience, and equipment to accurately survey the area for groundwater as quickly as possible. The surveyor will likely provide you with a geomatic map of the area, so that you have record of where groundwater lies. This enables you to drill only in ideal areas, eliminating guesswork or dry runs. Not having to re-drill due to error ultimately saves man hours and, of course, money. There is a great deal of value in getting the job done right the first time. The amount of money you will lose by drilling in the wrong area is not worth what you would save by foregoing proper groundwater surveying. You are better off to bring a groundwater surveyor on board right from the beginning and just get the job done right the first time! You will be glad you did.
Water well companies are lucky to be practicing their trade in a time when technology favors them as much as it does. The access they have to equipped and knowledgeable groundwater surveyors who understand and employ state of the art technology in their work really improves the efficiency and speed of the well-drilling process. If you’d like more information on how groundwater surveying can improve your drilling process, contact our experts at American Water Surveyors. You can find our website at wefindwater.com.

September 20, 2012 at 2:17 pm Comments (0)

Why Is it Important to Test the Water Quality?

Water is essential to human life. It hydrates the body, protects the organs and without it, human life would not continue to go on. There are roughly 20 million Americans who do not have ready access to a city water supply and these Americans must resort to installing or using existing private wells to provide their water for home and personal uses. There are always questions surrounding water quality in wells and homeowners of wells are the first that need to be proactive about making sure that they test the water in their wells on a regular maintenance schedule.

Utility companies are regulated by state governments and the EPA to ensure that all water supplied to the public is clean and free of contaminants and is tested regularly. However, in the case of a private well, it is up to the homeowner to test their water. A test on the water quality is usually done once a well has been installed and then at periodic intervals throughout the life of the well.

There are three different ways to test the water to ensure that the well is producing clean drinking water. They are all different, but equally vital in ensuring that the water being drank is safe for people and animals to digest.

A bacterial test will search for any microorganisms that could possibly cause disease to people drinking it. Stagnant water can and will foster bacterial growth. This test is most important in preventing sickness and disease in the people and animals drinking the water from the well.

A mineral test will show if the water has mineral imbalances that could be harmful to the human body. All water is supposed to have a specific amount of nutrients and minerals, however when are out of balance, the effects of drinking the water can turn very harmful. If any imbalance is detected, then a treatment plan can be immediately started to bring the water back to a consumable state. After the water is returned to normal and the levels of minerals are balanced, they will re-test the water to verify it is safe for consumption.

It is also important to test the water for chemicals. A chemical test is a type of water screening test that can be done to determine if the well water is safe to drink. Chemicals are used much too often in the modern world; crops are treated with chemicals and chemicals are used for different cleaning purposes everyday. It is these chemicals that can seep down into the groundwater and contaminate water in wells. This type of test is imperative for wells today due to the abundance of chemicals that are being absorbed into the ground.

AquaKnow can test the water in your water well. Having the water tested is imperative in all gas drilling areas. This will make sure your existing well water and the health of everyone drinking it are not being negatively affected. For more information go to www.aquaknow.com or give them a phone call at 1-877-734-7661.

August 31, 2012 at 5:52 pm Comments (0)

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