Is Your Water Safe? A Simple Guide to At-Home Water Testing

Family drinking filtered water at dinner table

Ever wonder what’s really in your drinking water? You might be surprised! Testing your water at home is easier than you think, and it’s a smart way to protect your family’s health. Whether you get your water from the city or a private well, knowing what’s in it helps you choose the right water filtration system.

This guide explains different ways to test your water quality at home and what to do if you find unwanted stuff.

Why Should You Test Your Water? It’s About More Than Just Taste

Testing your water is important for several reasons:

Identify Contaminants: You can find out if harmful things like lead, bacteria, nitrates, and chlorine are in your water.
Meet Safety Standards: Testing helps make sure your water is safe to drink according to health guidelines.
Improve Taste and Odor: Nobody likes funny-tasting water! Testing can help you figure out why your water tastes or smells bad.
Protect Your Health: Clean water is essential for everyone, but especially for kids, pregnant women, and older adults.

Water Testing Kit | What's in your water

How to Test Your Water: Three Easy Options

woman using a home water testing kit and comparing test results

There are three main ways to test water quality at home:

1. Home Water Testing Kits: Quick and Easy Results

These kits are inexpensive and simple to use. They give you fast results for common problems like pH, chlorine, nitrates, water hardness, and lead.

How to Use:
Fill the container with water.
Dip the test strip in the water for the time the instructions say.
Compare the strip’s color to the chart in the box.
Pros: Fast results, affordable.
Cons: Might not find all contaminants.

2. Laboratory Testing: The Detailed Approach

For a really thorough check, you can send a water sample to a certified lab. This is more precise and can test for many different contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, and bacteria.

Best For:
Private wells.
Homes with known water problems.
When you need a complete water analysis.

A water professional explaining water testing results

A person carefully packaging a water sample for laboratory testing

3. Professional Water Testing Services: Expert Help

If you want an expert to handle everything, you can hire a professional water testing service. They’ll come to your home, test the water, and explain the results clearly.

Best For:
When buying or selling a house.
Keeping track of water quality over time.
Homes with complicated water filtration systems.

Understanding Your Water Test Results: What Do the Numbers Mean?

Here’s a simple guide to understanding common water test results:

Contaminant	Acceptable Level (MCL)	Potential Health Problems
Microbial
Coliform Bacteria	0 total coliform/100 mL	Gastrointestinal illness, infections
E. coli	0 E. coli/100 mL	Severe gastrointestinal illness, kidney damage, death
Cryptosporidium	(see note below)	Gastrointestinal illness (diarrhea, vomiting, etc.)
Giardia lamblia	(see note below)	Gastrointestinal illness (diarrhea, cramps, etc.)
Inorganic
Arsenic	10 µg/L (ppb)	Cancer (bladder, lung, skin), skin changes, circulatory problems
Lead	Action Level: 15 µg/L (ppb)	Developmental problems in children, kidney damage, high blood pressure
Nitrate	10 mg/L (ppm)	“Blue baby syndrome” (methemoglobinemia) in infants
Fluoride	4 mg/L (ppm)	Skeletal fluorosis (in excessive amounts), tooth discoloration
Organic
Trihalomethanes (THMs)	80 µg/L (ppb)	Potential link to cancer
Haloacetic Acids (HAAs)	60 µg/L (ppb)	Potential link to cancer
PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)
PFOA	4 ng/L (ppt)	Cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disorders, immune system effects, other health issues
PFOS	4 ng/L (ppt)	Cancer (liver), thyroid disorders, immune system effects, other health issues
PFNA	10 ng/L (ppt)	Similar to PFOA and PFOS, but with less extensive study
PFHxS	10 ng/L (ppt)	Similar to PFOA and PFOS, but with less extensive study
HFPO-DA (GenX Chemicals)	10 ng/L (ppt)	Similar to PFOA and PFOS, but with less extensive study
PFBS	(part of a mixture)	Similar to PFOA and PFOS, but with less extensive study
Radionuclides
Radon	4 pCi/L	Increased risk of lung cancer

Contaminant	Acceptable Level	Potential Problems
pH	6.5–8.5	Can cause corrosion, metallic taste.
Chlorine	Less than 4.0 ppm	Eye/skin irritation, bad taste and odor.
Lead	Zero	Can cause developmental problems, especially in children.
Nitrates	Less than 10 mg/L (ppm)	Health risk for babies.
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)	300–600 ppm	Bad taste, scale buildup in appliances.

Notes:

µg/L: micrograms per liter (parts per billion – ppb)
mg/L: milligrams per liter (parts per million – ppm)
ng/L: nanograms per liter (parts per trillion – ppt)
pCi/L: picocuries per liter
Cryptosporidium and Giardia: These are protozoa. The treatment technique requirements are more important than a specific MCL. Water systems are required to filter and disinfect water to remove/inactivate these.
Lead: The EPA uses an “Action Level” for lead. If lead levels exceed 15 µg/L in 10% or more of tested tap water samples, the water system must take action to reduce lead levels.
PFAS: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of man-made chemicals that have been used in many industries and consumer products since the 1940s. They are called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body.

Key Points about PFAS:

EPA Regulations: In 2024, the EPA finalized drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals, including PFOA and PFOS. These are the first national standards for PFAS in drinking water.
Health Concerns: PFAS exposure has been linked to a variety of health problems, including certain cancers, thyroid disorders, liver damage, immune system effects, and developmental issues.
Testing and Treatment: Many water utilities are now required to test for PFAS. Effective treatment technologies are available to remove PFAS from drinking water.

Where to find more information:

EPA Website: The EPA’s website (epa.gov) is the best source for detailed information on drinking water regulations and contaminants, including PFAS. Search for “PFAS drinking water.”
Your Local Water Utility: Your local water utility is required to provide you with a Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) annually. This report will tell you what contaminants, including PFAS, were detected in your drinking water and at what levels.

What to Do If You Find Contaminants: Taking Action for Clean Water

If your tests show high levels of contaminants, don’t worry! There are water filtration systems that can help. Here are some common options:

Carbon Block Filters: Great for removing chlorine, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and improving taste and odor.
Reverse Osmosis Systems: These remove heavy metals, nitrates, and TDS (total dissolved solids).
UV Purifiers: These are effective against bacteria and viruses.

Conclusion: Clean Water is Within Reach

Testing your water is an important step in making sure your family has clean, safe drinking water. Regular testing and the right water filtration system can give you peace of mind and protect your health. Don’t wait – test your water today!

FAQs for In-Home Water Testing

Additional information you need to know about testing your tap water for contactaminations

In-home water testing is the process of analyzing the quality of your tap or well water from the comfort of your home. It helps identify contaminants like bacteria, heavy metals, and chemicals

In-home water testing ensures your drinking water is safe by detecting harmful substances that may affect your health and plumbing system.

You can test your home water quality using DIY test kits or by hiring a professional service that provides laboratory analysis for accurate results.

In-home water testing can detect bacteria, lead, chlorine, fluoride, nitrates, pH levels, hardness, and other potential pollutants.

It is recommended to test your home water at least once a year, or more frequently if you have a private well or notice changes in taste, color, or odor

While DIY test kits provide a general idea of water quality, professional lab testing offers more accurate and comprehensive results.

Yes, in-home water testing can measure water hardness by detecting calcium and magnesium levels, helping determine if a water softener is needed.

If contamination is detected, consult a water treatment professional to explore filtration, purification, or other corrective solutions.

Costs vary depending on the type of test. DIY test kits range from $15 to $50, while professional testing services can cost $100 or more.

In-home water testing kits are available online, at home improvement stores, or from water treatment professionals.

Healthy Water, HEALTHY LIVING

Is Your Water Safe? A Simple Guide to At-Home Water Testing

Why Should You Test Your Water? It’s About More Than Just Taste

How to Test Your Water: Three Easy Options

1. Home Water Testing Kits: Quick and Easy Results

2. Laboratory Testing: The Detailed Approach

3. Professional Water Testing Services: Expert Help

Understanding Your Water Test Results: What Do the Numbers Mean?

Contaminant

Acceptable Level (MCL)

Potential Health Problems

Microbial

Inorganic

Organic

PFAS (“Forever Chemicals”)

Radionuclides

Contaminant

Acceptable Level

Potential Problems