The Basic Profile is designed to provide a standard water analysis that can quickly and accurately determine the general quality of the water you drink. It is composed of the following 14 test parameters including bacteria, physical properties and chemical constituents:
- Coliform Bacteria – Coliform bacteria are not disease-producing organisms themselves, but are used as an indicator of disease producing organisms. When coliform bacteria are present, there is an increased probability that the source water may have been contaminated by surface water or fecal material, and may also contain disease producing organisms.
- pH – pH is a measure of the acid or alkaline content of water. Water with a low pH (acidic) is corrosive to plumbing and may cause leaching of toxic metals such as lead from pipes and fixtures.
- Turbidity – Turbidity is the presence of suspended material such as clay, silt, plankton, finely divided organic material and other inorganic materials. Turbidities in excess of 5 units are detectable in a glass of water and are usually objectionable for aesthetic reasons.
- Color – Water color may be caused by dissolved organic material from decaying vegetation and/or certain inorganic material such as iron or manganese.
- Odor – Odor in water can be caused by foreign matter such as organic compounds, inorganic salts or dissolved gases. These materials may come from domestic, agricultural or natural sources.
- Chloride – The concentration at which the average person can detect a salty taste from chloride in drinking water is 250 mg/L. A very high chloride level can lead to corrosion of pipes and heating equipment and is usually associated with an elevated sodium level.
- Nitrate Nitrogen – An elevated nitrate nitrogen level may be an indication that agricultural fertilizer or waste disposal is polluting the water. The maximum level of 10 mg/L has been established to prevent a disease called methemoglobinemia “blue baby disease” in infants.
- Sulfate – Sulfate in drinking water has no beneficial effects. The desirable limit is 250 mg/L. At higher concentrations sulfate may have a laxative effect and cause taste deterioration.
- Hardness – Calcium and magnesium salts are the major cause of hardness in water supplies. Although not detrimental to health, hard water retards the cleaning action of soaps and detergents. When hard water is heated it will deposit a hard scale on heating coils and cooking utensils with a consequent waste of fuel.
- Sodium – For healthy persons, the sodium content of water is relatively unimportant because the intake of sodium from other drinks and foods is so much greater. Persons following a low sodium diet because of hypertension, kidney, or cardiovascular disease should be concerned with an elevated level of sodium.
- Copper – Copper in small amounts is not considered detrimental to health, but will impart an undesirable taste to drinking water.
- Iron – Iron levels above 0.3 mg/L can discolor fixtures and laundry and may impart a metallic taste to the water. Iron is frequently present in water because of the large amounts present in soil. Corrosive water will also pick up iron from pipes.
- Manganese – Manganese at levels greater than .05 mg/L may produce brownish black stains in laundry and on fixtures and impart an objectionable odor and taste. It is usually found along with iron in soil with a high mineral content.
- Fluoride – Fluoride can occur naturally in well water as a result of the geological composition of soils and bedrock and is often added to public water supplies to deter dental cavities. However, levels exceeding 2.0 mg/L may cause tooth discoloration and persistent exposure to levels above 4.0 mg/L may cause pits in the tooth enamel of children and increased the likelihood of bone fractures in adults.
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