How Drinking Water Testing Is Done

By Judy Sullivan


Have you ever questioned the source of the water that you use for drinking? If you have not, it is a high time that you did. A great majority of people all over the world suffer from numerous diseases that arise from use of untreated water. This is a major problem for communities that live in hardship areas particularly in the developing world. Drinking water testing is one of the major strategies used by public health departments in disease prevention.

Testing needs to be done often to make sure that what you are drinking is safe. A variety of contaminants may be found in samples based on the environment. Examples include iron, manganese, lead, radon and sulphate. Perhaps the most troublesome problem is the presence of bacterial organisms. Organisms are difficult to visualise and the samples taken may actually appear to be of good quality just by looking. Microorganisms should be tested in stored sources at least once a year.

Certain circumstances may require testing more than once a year. For instance, alteration in odour, taste or color may require regular testing of sulphate, manganese and iron concentration levels. Mysterious diseases arising in the family or neighbours may also be linked to source contaminatio. If one is pregnant, it is necessary to test samples before the baby is born, after birth and during the first six months of life.

The occurrence of unwanted events such as sewage drainage destruction or blockage should raise the suspicion of contamination. One should also get concerned when there is a certain outbreak of diarrhea diseases. When water equipment gets worn out at a faster rate than usual, chances are high that this is linked to corrosion, hardness and pH changes. Inability of soaps to lather easily should also be considered.

Babies are highly susceptible to nitrate poisoning. Exposure to high concentrations of nitrates may result in blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia) where oxygen levels in the body are insufficient to meet the body demands. Immediate medical attention is crucial for the survival of affected babies.

Various types of samples are required. The first sample is what will come out the tap in the morning once it is turned on. The second is taken after the stream has run for some time. If there are several points of contamination within a piping system, then different points should be sampled. The best sites to sample are the inlet and outlet of a filtering device that is place on points before and after a storage tank. In the event of corrosion, the stream from the tap should first be allowed to run for at least twelve hours.

Once the samples have been adequately tested and the contaminants identified, one of the steps that can be undertaken is the installation of filter systems to remove impurities. The main downside is that important components such as fluoride may be filtered out. Fluoride is an element that helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevents decay.

Drinking water testing should become a routine if some of the most fatal diseases affecting the world today are to be prevented. Apart from testing, there is a need to have proper storage mechanisms to prevent contamination. If the water is being stored for a long time, regular sampling for tests should be done.




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