Water Testing Kits

Water Testing Kits

A lot of companies on the internet offer mail order water testing kits. Testing in this way can seem like an inexpensive alternative to certified laboratory analysis.

However, it is important to understand that the results may not be accurate and the analysis may not meet regulatory guidelines because the labs are not certified in your state.

Why Use A Certified Lab For My Drinking Water Testing?

Local laboratories are certified and meet all the state and local requirements for testing.

They are held to the highest standards to ensure proper testing protocols are met and the results are accurate for your safety.

Certified local laboratories are not treatment companies.

Testing and analysis is their only business. How many of the mail order testing kits are sent by treatment companies that will offer to sell you a filtration system after they have checked your mailed sample? Worse yet, how many of them will sell your information to treatment companies for referrals?

Certified local laboratories can advise you as to the parameters you should be testing.

A mail-in lab in South Dakota will not know that Jackson Township, New Jersey testing requirements are different than Hillsborough Township, New Jersey.

Local laboratories are far more knowledgeable when it comes to knowing what common contaminants are found in private wells and/or public water systems in your area. These companies will send a certified sampling technician right to your home and you’ll be able to take comfort in knowing you’re getting testing that meets your specific needs.

What Affects The Actual Water Test?

There are several factors that can impact the results of a water test.

These factors may not be taken into consideration by mail order laboratories and can have a substantial impact on your results.

If you choose the mail order process for water testing, we would recommend that you keep a few things in mind:

• The actual sampling of water is a process that, in many states, requires a certification by the state. This is because proper sanitizing methods must be followed as sampling your drinking water incorrectly can lead to bad samples and false results.
• Certain water samples need to be kept at very specific temperatures in order for the testing to have accurate results. This will not happen if your sample is shipped by mail.

Most water samples have what are referred to as hold times. This means samples must be tested within a specific amount of time to be considered valid. A few important testing aspects that have hold times include:

• Total Coliform Bacteria (24 hours)
• pH (15 minutes)
• Nitrates (48 hours)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (14 days)

Testing water outside of the hold times may compromise the accuracy of your results.

When testing water, we implore every homeowner to contact your local health department and find certified laboratories in your area. This is your health and the health of your family. This is something you use everyday to drink, bathe and cook. Hold your family’s health to the same standard as certified laboratories hold theirs.