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Tests on Water Imperative to Ensure Safety

You have hired a company who has located the presence of fresh groundwater on your land, and you have employed the services of a water well driller. Clean, clear water now runs from your taps! But tests on water must be conducted before you can be sure your water is safe for you and your family.

What would the tests show? First of all, you would learn of the naturally-occurring chemicals that are present, which may not be harmful but may require you to add a water treatment system so the water is more suitable for use. These include minerals in which the water has had contact underground, such as calcium, magnesium and iron. As well, gasses and dust from the atmosphere may come in contact with your water supply too. As time goes on, if your water source is located near an industry such as an agricultural livestock operation or chemical plant, your water may become contaminated from the run-off so frequent re-testing is necessary.

The tests on water would indicate if metal from the pipes and fixtures that it runs through is being dissolved and getting into the water supply. Tests would show if the water has a low alkalinity which is more likely to corrode the pipes and allow lead, cadmium, zinc or copper into the water. Fortunately these minerals can be detected through laboratory testing at a reliable company such as AquaKnow. Once identified, the chemicals and minerals can be removed through water treatment, but the water still needs to be tested annually or more often if there are concerns.

With the ever-increasing numbers of consumer products being manufactured in plants and factories all over the world, it’s always important to conduct tests on water on an annual basis. Various countries are recognizing the harmful effects of emissions on the environment and putting restrictions in place, such as the Safe Drinking Water Act which the United States passed in 1974. In Canada, a contaminated water source in the small community of Walkerton, Ontario caused several people to die and many to become sick, resulting in an inquiry that recommended stronger legislation to be enacted to ensure safe water protection throughout the country. Other countries have experienced similar tragedies and continue to have episodes of illness, with up to 80 percent attributed to the ingesting contaminated water. In extreme cases, bottled water may have to be used for cooking, making baby formula and drinking.

Arsenic occurs naturally in the ground and cannot be detected by taste, smell or color. It is only discovered through tests on water. As high levels have been shown that may lead to an increased likelihood of cancer, diabetes and other medical conditions, it is imperative to test. Also radon is a radioactive gas that also occurs naturally and is recognized as a carcinogen.

At AquaKnow, we can run tests on water for individuals, municipalities, golf courses and recreation areas, as well as businesses who wish to ensure their operation is not contaminating the ground water source. Go online at www.aquaknow.com or call us at 877-734-7661 ext. 2 to find out more about our services. By getting one of our testing kits, you can check on the safety of your water and use it with confidence.

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May 10, 2012 at 7:56 pm Comments (0)

A Test on Water Quality Ensures Safe Drinking Water

Water quality changes over time. A test on water should be performed at least one time a year if you own a water well to detect any contamination and to ensure quality drinking water for your family. As a well owner, it is extremely important to maintain regular testing because your water is not regulated by any outside source, meaning you are responsible for proper maintenance and testing of your well site.

If you live in a residential area, where water is provided to you through a city water system, you are still urged to conduct a test on water. Even if the city water is regulated through a Safe Drinking Water Act, enforcing strict water testing standards and demanding approval from the government, no one is safe from contamination. You can only lower your risk by testing your water on a regular basis.

People are often confused by the terms, “pure water” and “safe drinking water”. Pure water does not exist naturally in the environment. It contains no minerals or chemicals and has been filtered and processed for consumption. Safe drinking water, the water from our taps, has natural minerals and chemicals, such as potassium, calcium, sodium or fluoride, which are not harmful to humans and can actually be a beneficial source of minerals. Safe drinking water is the standard for our water systems.

When water is analyzed, quality is defined by its chemical content, physical content and biological content. A test on water can be as basic as tasting it, making a visual observation of its color or simply smelling it for odor. If your water seems cloudy, tastes strange or has an odor of any kind, a Coliform test will reveal if there is a presence of bacteria in the water. If the test on water reveals no Coliform, it is safe for consumption. If bacteria are found, the source needs to be investigated. In a well, the problem may involve the structure of your well, such as a crack in the well casing, which could provide an entry point for contaminated surface water. Once the source is located, you should immediately fix the defect and disinfect your entire system, including pipes and pumps.

Water is the most valuable resource we consume daily, which is why it is vital to maintain its quality. Cases of microbial disease are becoming prevalent in an alarming number of drinking water systems. The Public Health Agency of Canada reported a link between gastroenteritis in humans and contaminated water supply. Because of this risk, stricter water quality guidelines are being discussed. Health should be a main priority, especially if you are a well owner and are exempt from government water regulation. A regular test on water supply is necessary for your health and the continued luxury of safe drinking water in your home.

AquaKnow, in association with American Water Surveyors, performs water analysis for both residential and commercial customers, including public water systems, bottled water plants, well drillers, food producers and many more. With a priority and dedication to water quality, AquaKnow provides trusted and affordable water testing kits for wells, municipalities, and gas drilling sites, where you can obtain a sample and send it to their laboratory for efficient testing.

To contact AquaKnow:
Phone: 877-734-7661
817-788-5716
Fax: 817-210-4225
Email: info@aquaknow.com

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March 18, 2012 at 4:15 pm Comments (0)

Test for Water Quality to Reassure Safe Consumption

Water is our wellbeing. We use it for cooking, bathing, drinking, cleaning and many more of our daily activities. Without it, human beings wouldn’t be able to survive. Drinking contaminated water is like being without water, meaning it could have lethal effects, which is why a consistent test for water quality is important no matter where you live or where your water supply comes from.

A test for water quality is vital if you receive your water from an underground well. The EPA suggests testing your well water at least one times every year to keep you up-to-date on the quality of your family’s drinking water.

Groundwater is generally safe to consume and contamination of well water is usually the result of improper installation or cracks in the casing of the well, which can cause surface water to leak into your supply. National Groundwater Association recommends building a well on level ground, away from any source of possible pollution. They also encourage you to check the structure of your well regularly (pipes, pumps and casing) to ensure no structural defects.

Private well owners are not regulated by government water testing standards and are responsible for their own testing. In other words, it’s up to the individual owner to guarantee they have safe drinking water.

Though city water supplies are regulated through a Safe Drinking Water Act (water systems are held to specific testing standards and need to be approved by state and federal governments), you should still test for water quality to be absolutely sure it is safe for your family to consume. And because cities have various water distribution systems, it is not uncommon for naturally occurring contamination.

Contamination comes in many forms. Most are colorless, tasteless and odorless. This is dangerous because it has people believing what they are drinking is safe, which is not always the case. A test for water contamination includes total levels of Coliform, indicating the presence or absence of microorganisms in the water. If Coliform is found in the water, it’s usually contaminated, and further tests are done for Escherichia coli (E. Coli) and Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC).

The health risks of contaminated water vary. If you ever experience unexplained nausea, lung irritation, dizziness or a skin rash, your water may have microorganisms and should be tested immediately. If left untreated, long-term water contamination may lead to liver and kidney damage, cancer, immune deficiency and gastrointestinal illness for those who consume it.

Water is the basis for all life. A simple test for water contamination will continue to reassure safe consumption and well being for you and your family.

AquaKnow is associated with one of the most independent water testing laboratories in the United States. It provides a range of services for commercial and residential customers. Some of their products include water-testing kits for well water, municipal water, quick bacteria checks, and gas drilling kits, which can be ordered and sent to the customer with simple instructions on how to take a sample collection. The sample is then sent back to the lab for testing. AquaKnow values their customers and are willing to answer any questions you may have about the process.

To contact AquaKnow:
Phone: 877-734-7661 or 817-788-5716
Fax: 817-210-4225
Email: info@aquaknow.com

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March 15, 2012 at 11:52 pm Comments (0)

Why You Shouldn’t Avoid A Water Test

When many homeowners think of having someone test the quality of their well water, they envision massive equipment, dangerous chemicals, and of course, massive expenses. Because of this notion, an alarming number of well owners admit that they have never tested their drinking water for quality and contamination. Simply put, this is a very risky move and one that could potentially put you and your loved ones in danger. It is remarkably simple and affordable to test the water in your well for contaminants, and it is certainly a very worthwhile choice to make.

Wouldn’t I Know If There Was a Problem?

This is one of the most common reasons why people fail to test water supplies for contaminants and toxins. There seems to be a common belief that water would smell or taste different if there were contaminants. Many also disregard the need for testing because “nobody is sick”. These can actually be very dangerous ways of thinking. Most contaminants are not only too small to see, but colorless and odorless. This means that they are not going to be detectable simply by drinking the water. Because many contaminants can take years to make you sick or to cause cancer, detecting them early is critical.

What Kinds of Contaminants Can Get Into My Water?

If you are curious just what might be lurking in your well water, you may just find yourself surprised. Many wells are found to have trace amounts of radioactive materials. This is especially true for people in mountainous regions where naturally radioactive substances are found in rocks and soil, as well as in certain areas where nuclear power is a primary source of energy and seepage from pipes may have occurred over time.

Of course, not all wells turn up radioactive substances. It is not entirely uncommon, however, for a test on water in a well to turn up levels of arsenic, lead, iron, fluoride, and even numerous types of bacteria. As snow melts and rainwater seeps into the ground, the water starts to carry particles of pollution, animal waste, ground and air chemicals, and a variety of other substances into the supply of drinking water. There are actually a surprising number of potentially harmful substances that can appear in drinking water, most of which can be detected with a standard water analysis.

Can’t I Just Buy a Filter?

While a filter that attaches to your hoses or faucets can be ideal for getting larger particles out of your water, there are many things that can pass through barriers, whether they use charcoal, reverse osmosis, or other filtration methods. The simple fact is that all well owners should be aware of the potential for lead, radon, and other potentially hazardous materials in drinking water. Testing for these substances is not expensive and not overly time consuming, which means that all well owners should take the time and expense of providing tests on a fairly regular basis to help keep their water clean and their families safe. Contact AquaKnow to order your water test kit at 877-734-7661 ext 2. http://www.aquaknow.com/

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July 13, 2011 at 3:49 pm Comments (0)

Performing a Water Test May Be More Important Than Ever

With so much news making headlines these days around the world about the contamination of water in the aftermath of disasters such as the BP oil spill and the Fukushima nuclear disaster, it has gotten a number of people thinking about pollution and water quality. Even if you do not live anywhere near these events, they help bring to mind just how easily pollution can make it into the water supply. With independent labs frequently posting results about things such as medications and illicit drugs found in municipal water supplies, yet governments saying nothing about the issue, it certainly leads well owners to wonder just what is in their water as well.

Test the Water Annually for Good Measure

One thing worth noting is that once things such as lead, radioactive substances, and bacteria enter into your water supply, they can remain in the water supply as long as you are using the well, especially if you do nothing about it. So even if your water tested clean a few years ago, it is likely time to conduct another water test. Most of the contaminants that get into the water supply are fairly harmless in trace amounts, but when you are drinking them daily for years on end, the results can be quite different. Many potential carcinogens and other illness inducing contaminants can easily reach your well water and must be detected quickly.

Filtration Is Not an Acceptable Solution

Many people justify a lack of appropriate water testing by pointing out the household use of water filtration systems. While many of these systems are excellent at filtering out large particles and some can even eliminate lead and other metals from the water, the simple fact is that this is NOT a safe and viable alternative to a simple test on water from your well. Not only can radioactive substances such as radon gas and uranium make it through most filters, but you use your water to wash your car, fill your pool, and generally put it into places where it can be absorbed by the skin. Many people also use well water for irrigating gardens used for household food. In other words, if there is something in your water, it is going to get into your system even if your sink has a filter on it.

A Water Test Is Simple, Affordable, and Critical

The bottom line is that you can easily afford to have professionals test your water supply for a very wide range of contaminants. Testing today is incredibly simple and straightforward and is not nearly as time and budget consuming as many seem to think. Testing procedures and methods have become much more advanced in recent years, offering the ability to not only test more easily, but to test for a much wider range of contaminants. If you own a well that provides drinking water for your home and have not recently had a water test performed, it is certainly time that you take the opportunity to do so. Contact AquaKnow to order your water test kit at 877-734-7661 ext 2. http://www.aquaknow.com/

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June 16, 2011 at 2:16 pm Comments (0)