The quality level of the water is very important from the point of view of health, and, moreover, it also affects its flavor. The presence of some mineral salts can in fact make the taste unpleasant, and can also, when used for cleaning, limit its ability to foam. Although many municipalities have fairly stringent regulations on the matter, it may still be advisable to check the quality level of the water in your home. Just follow a few steps to learn how to test the quality of your water.
Steps
Step 1. Understand what you are going to test
The quality of the water is essentially determined by the concentration of the following compounds: chlorine, nitrates, iron, calcium, magnesium and copper. Chlorine has a disinfectant function; nitrate, which infiltrates fertilizers, can be harmful to children; iron makes the taste more bitter and discolors the plants; calcium and magnesium can encrust pipes; copper can cause jaundice and anemia. The pH level of the water is also an important factor, since high acidity can corrode the systems.
Step 2. Get a water analysis kit
There are different manufacturers for these kits, but they all generally have the same features. They contain papers that, when immersed in water, change color depending on the minerals present; you must then compare the color you have obtained with a color chart supplied with the kit. Try to get a kit that contains papers suitable for the different minerals listed above. If a kit contains only one type of papers, they will likely be for pH testing only.
Step 3. Immerse the maps in the water, following the direction indicated
You can start by using a glass of water at room temperature; keep the map immersed for about 5 seconds, gently moving it back and forth. If the kit instructions differ from the procedure described in this article, then proceed as indicated.
Step 4. Remove the map from the water
Take out the paper and shake it gently to remove excess water. Wait until the strip changes color so that you can compare it with the table in the kit.
Step 5. Determine the mineral content of your water
Compare the color of the map with the color chart to determine the level of each mineral. The table should classify these levels as acceptable or dangerous. If you detect a content that is dangerous for a mineral, or for the pH, then do another test, in order to make sure that the detected level was not caused by an error during the test.
