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DRINKING WATER ANALYSIS SELECTION
There are three
major reasons why private water suppliesshould
be tested:
1) to determine if
the supply is Bacterially and Chemically safe
for drinking purposes,
2) to determine if there will be any problem due
to minerals found in the supply and if so how to
treat the supply and
3) to determine if the supply is properly
constructed and in good repair. (Wells and
springs are no different than any other machine,
they break down and require periodic
maintenance; seals leak, walls crack, vents plug
and animals can crawl into the systems.)
The tests described
below were selected to meet the above testing
requirements. It is true that. literally
hundreds of other tests could have been
selected; however, our experience with local
public water supplies indicate that the tests
selected are the most beneficial. Other tests
such as PCB-'s, Pesticides, and Heavy Metals,
with the exception of Sodium, are seldom a
problem in private water supplies. However, if
you have any questions pertaining to other tests
not described below, please call for further
advice. For your convenience we have developed
the following testing packages to meet
particular testing needs for different types of
water supplies and the problems associated with
them.
TESTING PACKAGE «1
includes all the tests described below. With
this series of tests we can evaluate: 1) if the
supply is Bacterially and Chemically safe for
drinking purposes,2) if there will be any common
mineral problems as well as the best way to
treat these problems if required and 3) if the
supply does have elevated bacterial levels is
the bacteria coming from septic systems, as well
as, advice in repairing your supply. We suggest
that every water supply be tested for this
series of tests at least once and preferably
retested every three to five years. However,
due to the cost of this work we suggest that
this testing be a community function
(Municipality, Neighborhood, etc.) in order to
obtain the most information at reasonable cost.
TESTING PACKAGE #2
is specifically designed to detect septic
flowage toward a water supply. Since shallow
wells and springs are most susceptible to septic
contamination we advise that these supplies be
tested at least once a year and preferable twice
a year, during spring and late summer when
septic infiltration problems are typically
greatest.
TESTING PACKAGE #5
is designed to provide a general bacterial and
chemical overview of the quality of the supply.
We suggest that this series of tests be
performed whenever the supply is to be tested
for the first time and it is not possible to
obtain Testing Package #1. However, we do
advise that Testing Package #1 be performed at a
later date.
TESTING PACKAGE #4
is suggested once a year for deep wells
(preferably in the spring) and twice a year for
shallow wells and springs (preferably in the
spring and late summer). This package is a
general bacterial check of your water system to
make sure that there are no unforeseen changes
in your system since the last time you had it
chemically tested and to verify that all of the
seals and vents are functioning properly.
IN ADDITION TO THE
ABOVE TESTING PACKAGES, WE SUGGESTTHAT THE WATER
SUPPLY BE TESTED FOR STD. PLATE COUNT,TOTAL
BACTERIA, WHENEVER THERE IS A QUESTIONABLE TASTE
AND/OR ODOR IN THE
WATER SYSTEM.
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