The first step in testing your home’s water quality is to purchase a water testing kit. You can find these at most hardware stores or online. I purchased the SJ Wave 16 in 1 Water Test Kit.
The kit comes with 100 test strips and are designed to test a variety of different parameters, including pH (or acidity/alkalinity) levels, hardness, chlorine content, iron levels, and other potential contaminants
Our home is supplied water from a well rather than public city water. There are pros and cons to having a well as the water quality can vary considerably. I like to test our water from time to time to make sure there are no heavy metals or contaminants present.
Remove strip from the bag. Immediately seal the bag tightly and put it away. It’s important that the unused strips do not get exposed to moisture otherwise they will become defective.
Dip the strip in water. Immerse the reagent area of the strip in the water sample for 2 second and take it out immediately. Usage a clean paper towel to absorb excess water from the edge of the testing pads.
Wait 30 seconds. Hold the strip horizontally for about 30 seconds and compare the results against the chart provided with the kit. Get the results. Read the results within 30 seconds in good light for the most accurate results.
Once you’ve read your results, it’s time to interpret them! Different regions will have different standards for acceptable water quality levels, so consult with local government or environmental agencies if you need help understanding what constitutes safe drinking water in your area.