Principles Of Drinking Water Testing

By Judy Sullivan


Drinking water is defined as water that does not pose health concerns to users. A huge percentage of people drink contaminated water resulting in many illnesses some of which are rapidly fatal. These diseases can be rapidly spread especially among communities that live close together. Eradicating related diseases is one of the major public health goals in the developing world. Drinking water testing is one of the many ways towards attaining this aim.

Testing needs to be done often to make sure that what you are drinking is safe. A variety of contaminants may be found in samples based on the environment. Examples include iron, manganese, lead, radon and sulphate. Perhaps the most troublesome problem is the presence of bacterial organisms. Organisms are difficult to visualise and the samples taken may actually appear to be of good quality just by looking. Microorganisms should be tested in stored sources at least once a year.

Certain circumstances may require testing more than once a year. For instance, alteration in odour, taste or color may require regular testing of sulphate, manganese and iron concentration levels. Mysterious diseases arising in the family or neighbours may also be linked to source contaminatio. If one is pregnant, it is necessary to test samples before the baby is born, after birth and during the first six months of life.

Specific conditions call for specific tests to be carried out. For example, there should be tests for the presence of coliform bacteria when users develop recurrent gastrointestinal illness. Failure of soaps to lather easily during washing may require a test for hardness. Rapid wear of pipping equipment is a sign that samples need to be tested for PH, alkalinity, corrosion and hardness.

Babies are highly susceptible to nitrate poisoning. Exposure to high concentrations of nitrates may result in blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia) where oxygen levels in the body are insufficient to meet the body demands. Immediate medical attention is crucial for the survival of affected babies.

The samples used for this process are taken in different ways. The first sample is what comes out of the tap first once it is turned on in the morning. Another sample should be taken after the stream runs for some time. Samples can be collected at different points in the piping system when contamination has occurred in more than one section. Suggested points include inlet and outlet of a filtering device or before and after entry in storage tank. An allowance of 12 hours should be given when collecting the sample from a system suspected of corrosion.

Installing filters in the home can help get rid of some troublesome contaminants such as lead. This should be done after the samples have been tested to know exactly what impurities are to be removed. There are particular types of filters: distillation systems and reverse osmosis systems filter out fluoride. In such cases, measures have to be taken to ensure fluoride is obtained by other means to avoid tooth decay. Also, change the filters often to prevent accumulation of contaminants.

Water is essential for the survival of humans and other living organisms. It makes up over 70% of the human body weight. Sampling is the most important part of drinking water testing. Therefore, instructions should be carefully followed to obtain accurate results.




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