The PRO-LAB® Water Quality Test Kit

We know that man-made chemicals, the majority of which were introduced into society after World War II, have been poisoning our surface drinking water supplies for years. Over the decades they have filtered down and contaminated our vital underground drinking sources as well.

Some experts believe the toxins in our drinking water are the number one health threat causing cancer, heart disease, and lead poisoning. Such chronic illnesses are brought on by the body's absorption of chemicals. Water contaminants not only affect our health, but they can also corrode fixtures, stain and deteriorate clothing and household surfaces, alter the taste of food and drinking water, and slowly turn hair orange.

Types of Contaminants

Chlorine
Total Chlorine consists of both free chlorine and combined (already reacted) chlorine. Free chlorine affects the taste and odor of you water and may irritate your skin and eyes. Chlorine is used to disinfect water in both private and public water systems. Chlorinating water is necessary for disinfecting; however, over-chlorination produces by-products known as trihalomethanes. One trihalomethane, chloroform, is a known carcinogen.

Nitrate/Nitrite
Nitrate/Nitrite is a chemical that seeps our drinking water from fertilizer, sewage, feed lots, and other geological elements. Nitrate over 10 ppm reduces the amount of oxygen available to the fetus in pregnant women, causing "Blue Baby Syndrome" (methemoglobulinemia). It is also considered an immediate threat to children six (6) months to one (1) year old, and is a major health threat to adults.

Iron
Iron is a mineral found in the soil that leaches into drinking water. Although a certain amount of iron is essential to good health, iron levels above .3 ppm cause water to taste bitter, stain and discolor our laundry, fixtures, and even hair. It is listed under the secondary standards for water.

Water Hardness
Total Hardness is a measure of calcium and magnesium in your water. Hard water over 125 parts per million tends to form scales inside pipes. This creates a barrier between lead solder and the water itself and can help to prevent lead from entering into you drinking water. Low hardness (soft water) less than 54 parts per million can be corrosive to your plumbing.

Water Acidity (pH)
pH is a measure of the acidic or basic character of water. Results below seven (7) indicate acidity and above seven (7) indicates alkalinity. Water with low pH can be corrosive to plumbing fixtures and hot water systems. It can also leave red stains on galvanized pipe and blue-green stains on copper. Water with low pH may also release harmful amounts of lead into your water from solder joints and pipes.

Total Alkalinity is the ability of water to resist change in pH. A low total alkalinity may cause your water to appear cloudy and contribute to scaling. When the total alkalinity is too high the pH tends to be high as well.

Measurements below seven (7) indicate that the water is corrosive to plumbing, resulting in lead leaching into your tap water. A reading is between 7 and 7.5 is a desirable water acidity.

Copper
Copper is a metal that is commonly found in drinking water. Small amounts are generally not a problem; however, copper levels above 1ppm can cause jaundice, pancreatitis, poisoning of the red blood cells, gastrointestinal problems, and anemia. The presence of copper also affects water's taste and may stain your porcelain toilets and sinks.

How do I know if my water is contaminated?

With the PRO-LAB Water Quality Test Kit you can easily test for all of these water quality problems. All five tests should take less than five (5) minutes and will provide accurate and reliable results. The Water Quality Test Kit contains eight (8) individually foil wrapped, laboratory grade test strips (patented), allowing you to perform a total of sixteen (16) water tests (two for each test) in order to determine the quality of your water. There are also directions on this page to guide you in how you can check for two (2) additional contaiminants, iron bacteria and hydrogen sulfide. Please note that each test has its own directions. For accurate results, you must follow the directions exactly.

The PRO-LAB® Water Quality Test Kit is an inexpensive, easy-to-use, and reliable means to check water quality at home with instant results. This professional-grade water quality test kit accurately monitors municipal and well water, as well as the efficiency of home water filtration devices, and is recommended for use every three (3) months. The product features laboratory-grade test strips that measure for potentially major water problems such as chlorine, iron, pH, copper, alkalinity, nitrate/nitrite, and water hardness. By placing the test strips under cold water according to the directions, and comparing the results against the color charts provided, homeowners can have accurate test results indicating danger, caution, or safe levels in as quick as one (1) minute.

Click here to download a copy of the PRO-LAB Water Quality Test Kit instructions.