Water Safety Archives -

Why Does My Water Have a Sulfur Smell?

Julie Ann — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 13:52:51 +0000

Every once in a while, you may turn on your tap and notice that your water has a strange, off-putting sulfur smell. This is one of the most common odors that water can have. If you don’t know what sulfur smells like, it is usually described as similar to the smell of rotten eggs.

The reason your water sometimes smells like sulfur is due to a concentration of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). Sulfur is one of over 300 chemicals that are commonly found in drinking water. Sulfates are found in minerals, soil, and rocks and can easily leach in water sources.

Is Sulfur Harmful?

Sulfate and hydrogen sulfide are the two types of sulfur that are can be found in tap water. While the presence of sulfur in your water will give it a foul odor and can sometimes affect the taste, it is safe to drink. Sulfur and sulfur compounds are not considered harmful at low levels. At the levels where they would be harmful, the taste and smell would be so unpleasant that most people would find it unpalatable.

Water containing sulfur is considered a nuisance. It is on the EPA’s list of secondary standards. This means that it affects the water’s color, taste, odor, corrosivity, and staining, but not its safety. Although low levels of sulfur do not pose a health risk, they can cause water to become corrosive. Fixtures can become tarnished and stained by the sulfur.

Sulfur Levels

0.5 parts per million	The minimum amount of hydrogen sulfide concentration that is detectable by humans
1 part per million	Sulfur concentrations at this level have a musty or swampy odor
1-2 parts per million	Sulfur concentrations at this level have a rotten egg smell and will cause the water to become corrosive
250 parts per million	This is the recommended maximum level for sulfates from the EPA secondary standards

Sulfates

Sulfates have a bitter taste, but they do not produce any odor. They are a combination of sulfur and oxygen that is naturally found in the soil. They can also come from industrial waste, landfills, and old septic systems. As the minerals dissolve over time, they are absorbed into water sources.

High levels of sulfates in your water can make cleaning difficult as the water is prone to leaving behind stains. This can make it a challenge to clean clothes as well as sinks, showers, and tubs. It can also attract certain bacteria which can cause the formation of a slimy film inside your toilet tank and bowl. Sulfates do not cause health issues, but they can have a laxative effect.

Hydrogen Sulfide

The presence of hydrogen sulfide in your water is easily noticeable because of the strong sulfur or rotten egg smell. The smell may only be present when the water is first turned on. It may be more noticeable when using the hot water.

Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that forms as organic matter is being decomposed by bacteria. These bacteria thrive in landfills, wells, and water processing equipment like water softeners and water heaters.

Water that has a high concentration of hydrogen sulfide can be corrosive. It may damage pipes and plumbing fixtures over time. Similar to sulfates, it generally does not cause any serious health issues. At higher levels, it can cause nausea.

Getting Rid of the Sulfur Smell

There are a number of treatments available if you are concerned about the sulfur smell coming from your water.

Chlorination can be used to bind to sulfur, leaving behind yellow particles that can be trapped with a filter
Aeration causes the sulfur to dissolve
Activated Carbon Filters work to absorb sulfur molecules
Distillation and Reverse Osmosis are common treatments for small quantities of water
Ion Exchange is the typical treatment for large quantities of water

Make Sure Your Water Is Safe

A change in the smell or taste of your water could simply be the result of an increased level of sulfur. It could also be an indication that something else in your water has changed. TestAssured makes a number of testing kits that you can use to quickly and easily test your water. With just a few water samples, you can test your water for bacteria and other common contaminants. Any time you notice a change in your water, the best way to make sure it is safe to drink is to test it.

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Is Cloudy Water Safe to Drink?

Julie Ann — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:29:24 +0000

Have you ever gone to the sink to fill a glass with water, but what comes out of the tap is something milky and cloudy, far from the clear water you were expecting? With all of the current concerns about water quality, cloudy water may cause you to dump out that glass and grab some bottled water instead. But what causes cloudy water and is it safe to drink? We’ll look at some of the probable culprits and tell you how you can test your water for common contaminants.

Air Bubbles

One of the most likely causes of “white water” is the formation of air bubbles. Whether your water comes from a well or a municipal source, water bubbles are created during the pumping process. As the bubbles float to the top, they are eventually released into the air, and the water clears.

Pressure Differences

During cold weather, cloudiness can be caused by increased pressure in the water system or the well pump. Cold water holds more air. As the water moves from the pipes to your glass, it warms up. The pressure changes and the warmer water releases excess air that is no longer soluble. The change in pressure creates a slightly carbonated effect that makes the water look cloudy. Again, this can be remedied by allowing the water to briefly settle. As the air dissipates, the water will clear.

Particles

Sometimes cloudy water is caused by sediment that gets into the water system. Small particles of sand and grit can make their way through filtration systems, giving your water an unpleasant look. This is particularly common with water from poorly maintained wells. While air bubbles will dissipate after a few minutes, particulate matter will generally sink to the bottom. Sediment filters are helpful for removing these particles, but this could be an indication that there are bacteria present.

Methane Gas

One of the least common causes of cloudy water is methane gas. Wells that are found in areas where there are gas and oil wells run the risk of methane contamination. Methane is a concern because of its flammability and difficulty to detect. It does not have an odor and will dissipate in a similar way as air bubbles. If you are concerned about methane in your water, you can use an aerator that helps release the gas into the atmosphere.

What Should You Do?

The most common solution to fix cloudy water is to let the water settle. After a few minutes, the air bubbles will float to the top, and the pressure will have equalized. However, if your water doesn’t clear up, this could indicate some type of contamination or damage to the water system.

Watching how the bubbles clear can help you identify if there is a problem with your pipes. If the bubbles clear from the bottom first, it means there could be trapped air in the pipes that needs to be flushed out. If the air bubbles start to clear from the top, the pipes could be contaminated with sediment. A plumber can help to resolve either of these issues.

Another simple test can be performed by running each cold-water source in your home for a few seconds and then filling a glass with water from each tap. When the water from every tap is cloudy, the cause is most likely air in the municipal supply. Cloudiness that is not happening at all taps could indicate that some of your aerators need to be cleaned. If the water remains cloudy after 24 hours, you should call your water company.

Testing Cloudy Water

If you are concerned about the quality of your water, you can easily test for common contaminants using an at-home water testing kit. TestAssured makes a complete water testing kit that will give you most test results in under ten minutes. The kit includes a bacteria test which takes 48 hours for the test to develop.

In most cases, the common causes of cloudy, or white water pose no health threats. It is safe to cook with, bath in, and to drink. If the cloudiness bothers you, simply let the water sit for a few minutes before drinking.

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How Often Should You Perform a Well Water Test?

Julie Ann — Mon, 17 Sep 2018 10:13:15 +0000

People who get their water from a public water source have groups like the EPA helping to ensure their water quality. Unfortunately, those who use well water do not have anyone monitoring what is in their water. If your drinking water comes from a well, you need to take measures like performing a regular well water test to make sure that the water is safe to drink.

What Causes Contaminated Well Water?

Well water is naturally filtered as it makes its way through the ground into the aquifer. One of the benefits of well water is that it does not contain fluoride, chlorine, or other chemicals that can be found in public water. This lack of treatment also means that as a well owner, you need to be aware of what is in your water.

Well water can easily become contaminated. If your well was drilled too close to the surface it can become susceptible to microorganisms. Depending on the condition of the local soil, groundwater can pick up nitrates, nitrites, copper, and other impurities. The use of chemicals and fertilizers in areas surrounding a well can also easily pollute the water.

What Contaminants Can Get Into a Well?

Contaminated well water often doesn’t have easily noticeable signs to alert you of the potential hazard. You may not be able to easily detect many of the contaminants that can be picked up by well water. This is because they are colorless, odorless, and tasteless. For this reason, the best way to detect these contaminants is with a well water test.

In addition to chemicals, and heavy metals, there are three types of microbial contaminants that you need to be aware of including bacteria, viruses, and cysts.

Bacteria	These single-celled organisms reproduce by cell division or through spores. They may be free-living organisms or parasites. Bacteria are decomposers that break down waste and bodies of dead organisms. Their cells range from 1 to 10 microns in size. Found almost everywhere, there are some helpful bacteria, while others can be quite dangerous if ingested.
Viruses	Composed almost entirely of protein and nucleic acids, viruses are infectious microbes that can cause disease in humans. Because they are parasites, they can only reproduce when inside other living cells. Viruses are very small, ranging from .004 to .1 microns in size which is almost 100 times smaller than bacteria.
Cysts	Certain protozoans and bacteria produce protein sacs called cysts. These cysts are made in preparation for entering the reproductive stage. Like spores, cysts are difficult to destroy. However, because of their large size, they are easily removed through filtration. They range in size from 2 to 50 microns.

Contaminated water can cause serious health issues including gastrointestinal distress, nausea, fever, and long-term illness. High levels of minerals and alkaline can also be harmful to pipes, fixtures, and water-using appliances, causing scaling and damage.

Performing a Well Water Test

Understanding and knowing which contaminants to test for is the first step to keeping your well water safe. TestAssured offers a Well Water Test Kit that you can use as a screening test to determine the safety of your well water. This testing kit includes tests for a complete water analysis. You’ll be able to identify the presence of metals, chemicals, and even bacteria like E. coli.

The kit contains eight tests. Each test is calibrated to EPA standards. Although the bacteria test takes two days to develop, you will have the rest of the test results within ten minutes.

Once you collect your results, you can compare them to the EPA recommendations and guidelines for water quality limits. If your water tests positive for contamination, you may wish to do more intensive testing. You should contact your local health department for more information.

How Often Should You Test Well Water?

The minimum recommended standard for testing well water is at least once every year. For shallow wells that are less than 100 feet deep, the CDC recommends testing twice per year. If your area has experienced land disturbances or flooding or if you know that there are problems with local wells, it may be necessary to test more frequently. You should perform additional tests any time a neighboring well has tested positive for contamination.

You may also wish to test more often if you begin having unexplained gastrointestinal issues or notice a change in the odor, taste, or appearance of your water. Indications of a change in water quality include cloudiness, odor, and unusual taste.

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Is it Safe to Drink Pool Water? – A Science Experiment for Kids

Julie Ann — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 20:23:07 +0000

It’s not uncommon to accidentally swallow some water when you are swimming in a pool. Public pools are carefully monitored and treated with chlorine to prevent bacteria and other contaminants. While we wouldn’t recommend drinking pool water on a regular basis, we were curious about what’s in our pool water.

In an emergency situation, would it be safe to drink pool water? We decided to compare pool water, spa water, and tap water using TestAssured’s 4 Test Kit Set for Schools and Science Fairs. This set includes 4 test kits and can be used by school students in third grade and above to complete a variety of science projects like this one.

Supplies

The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies:

Test Assured 4 Test Kit Set with TD Meter
Zipper sandwich bags
Paper towels

Test Assure 4 Test Kit with TDS Meter

Preparation

To prepare for the tests, you’ll need to gather your water samples. We tested water from our local pool, a hot tub, and tap water for the control. We found that one of the easiest ways to collect outside water samples is to use zipper sandwich bags. You can easily label the bags, and they are large enough to allow for the TDS test. For more stability (and less chance of spills) you can put the baggies inside mugs or cups.

Using zipper bags is an easy way to collect outdoor water samples.

Now is a good time to label your vials and write your water sources in the results notebook.

Testing

The first test you want to start with is for total dissolved solids, using the TDS meter. The meter will not fit in the test vials, so it is easier to complete this part of the experiment while your samples are still in the baggies. To perform the TDS test, simply turn on the meter and submerge the prongs in the samples. Rinse the meter with clean water between each test. Record your results in the results notebook.

Dip the TDS meter into the plastic bag to test for total dissolved solids.

After completing the TDS test, you will need to pour your samples into the vials you labeled. To transfer your samples to the vials, simply snip off a small corner of the baggie to create a spout. Fill each vial to within a ¼” of the top. Be sure to wipe up any spills, so you don’t contaminate the test strips.

Cut off a corner of the baggie to create a spout to easily transfer your samples to the vials.

Before you get started with the tests, now is a good time to make some visual observations. Take notes about how clear or cloudy your samples look. Are there any visible particles floating in any of the samples? These observations can be written in the “Notes” on the last page of the results notebook.

Now you’re ready to get started with the rest of the tests. It’s easiest to work with one sample at a time. Follow these instructions to complete the remaining tests.

Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “ALK/pH/Hard”
Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
Dip the strip in the sample for one second and remove
Hold the test strip level and wait 10 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for alkalinity, pH, and hardness
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

Total Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “CL/CO/NA/NI”
Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
Dip the strip in the sample three times and remove – DO NOT SHAKE OFF EXCESS WATER
Hold the test strip level for 2 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for chlorine and copper
Wait 45 seconds before reading the results for nitrate and nitrite
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

Iron Test (Complete this test last)

Remove one iron reagent tablet from the foil packet and place in test vial (the reagent could alter the results of other tests which is why the iron test is completed last)
Place the cap on the test vial and shake for approximately one minute, until the tablet is completely dissolved
Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “Iron Test”
Dip the strip in the sample for 2 seconds
Shake the strip once and wait 60 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for iron
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Iron Test

Repeat all three tests for each of your samples.

Results

Now that you have completed each of the tests on your four samples, it’s time to look at your results. Ask yourself these questions:

Did the pool water or the spa water contain less contamination?
Which sample contained the most chlorine?
Would it be ok to drink pool water or spa water in an emergency?
What results did you find the most surprising?

Record your answers on the “Notes” page. You can use clear tape to fix the test sticks to the color charts to display your results for your science fair project. You may even want to create some graphs or charts from your results.

We created this graph in Excel to show how the pH levels varied in our samples.

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Are All Bottled Waters Created Equal? – A Simple Science Project

Julie Ann — Sat, 27 Jan 2018 19:44:02 +0000

As we’ve seen from recent news headlines, you cannot take safe drinking water for granted. When people are worried about the quality of their tap water, they often turn to bottled waters. Today, bottled water is a growing industry and there are dozens of brands to choose from, but are all brands created equal?

Testing different brands of bottled water is a simple science project that can be completed using TestAssured’s 4 Test Kit Set for Schools and Science Fairs. This set includes 4 test kits and can be used by school students in third grade and above to complete a variety of science projects like this one.

Supplies

The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies:

Test Assured 4 Test Kit Set with TD Meter
Four cups
Tap water
3 different brands of bottled water
Paper towels

Test Assure 4 Test Kit with TDS Meter

Preparation

To prepare for the tests, you’ll need to gather your water samples. We used three popular brands of bottled water and tap water for the control. You’ll need to pour your water samples into cups for the first test. Now is a good time to label your vials and write your water sources in the results notebook.

Testing

The first test you want to start with is for total dissolved solids, using the TDS meter. The meter will not fit in the test vials, so it is easier to complete this part of the experiment while your samples are still in cups. To perform the TDS test, simply turn on the meter and submerge the prongs in the samples. Rinse the meter with clean water between each test. Record your results in the results notebook.

Perform the TDS test first.

After completing the TDS test, you will need to pour your samples into the vials you labeled. Do this over a sink and be sure to wipe up any spills, so you don’t contaminate the test strips.

Now you’re ready to get started with the rest of the tests. It’s easiest to work with one sample at a time. Follow these instructions to complete the remaining tests.

Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “ALK/pH/Hard”
Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
Dip the strip in the sample for one second and remove
Hold the test strip level and wait 10 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for alkalinity, pH, and hardness
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

Total Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “CL/CO/NA/NI”
Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
Dip the strip in the sample three times and remove – DO NOT SHAKE OFF EXCESS WATER
Hold the test strip level for 2 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for chlorine and copper
Wait 45 seconds before reading the results for nitrate and nitrite
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

Iron Test (Complete this test last)

Remove one iron reagent tablet from the foil packet and place in test vial (the reagent could alter the results of other tests which is why the iron test is completed last)
Place the cap on the test vial and shake for approximately one minute, until the tablet is completely dissolved
Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “Iron Test”
Dip the strip in the sample for 2 seconds
Shake the strip once and wait 60 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for iron
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Iron Test

Repeat all three tests for each of your samples.

Results

Now that you have completed each of the tests on your four samples, it’s time to look at your results. Ask yourself these questions:

Did the tap water contain more contaminants than the bottled water?
Was there a difference in the results among the assorted brands of bottled water?
Is it worth paying more for bottled water than tap water?
What results did you find the most surprising?

Record your answers on the “Notes” page. You can use clear tape to fix the test sticks to the color charts to display your results for your science fair project.

Use the test strips to create a display for your science project.

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Water Experiment: What Is the Best Source of Water Outdoors?

Julie Ann — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 23:18:57 +0000

If you were stranded outside with no drinking water, what would you do? Depending on where you are, you may have many different sources of water, but which one would be the safest to drink? In this experiment, we’ll be testing a variety of natural water sources to determine which one, if any, would be safe to drink in an emergency.

Test Assured’s 4 Test Kit Set for Schools and Science Fairs is the perfect kit to complete these tests and compare water sources. This set includes 4 test kits and is appropriate for children in grades three through twelve.

Supplies

The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies:

Test Assured 4 Test Kit Set with TD Meter
4 different outdoor water sources
Zipper sandwich bags
Paper towels

Test Assure 4 Test Kit with TDS Meter

Preparation

To prepare for the tests, you’ll need to gather your water samples. For this experiment, you need to find four outdoor water sources. We used water from:

A rain barrel
A freshwater lagoon
A puddle
The Atlantic Ocean

Our rain barrel

Freshwater lagoon

A puddle from a morning shower

The Atlantic Ocean

We found that one of the easiest ways to handle water samples is to use zipper sandwich bags. You can easily label the bags, and they are large enough to allow for the TDS test. For more stability (and less chance of spills) you can put the baggies inside mugs or cups.

Now is a good time to label your vials and write your water sources in the results notebook.

Our samples are labeled and ready for testing.

Testing

Read the TDS meter carefully. Because some outdoor water samples can contain sediment, it is not unusual to get a high TDS reading. Readings above 999 will be indicated with “x10” in the right corner. The arrow in the picture is pointing to where you will see the “x10” if you have a high reading like ours. If you have an extremely high number of dissolved solids in your sample, the meter will read “ERR.” This means there were more solids than the meter could read. We got an “ERR” message when we tested the TDS level of the ocean water.

Cut off a corner of the baggie to create a spout to easily transfer your samples to the vials.

Before you get started with the tests, now is a good time to make some visual observations. Take notes about how clear or cloudy your samples look. Some of your samples may be cloudier than the others. Or, you may find that there is dirt and debris in your samples. These observations can be written in the “Notes” on the last page of the results notebook.

Now you’re ready to get started with the rest of the tests. It’s best to work with one sample at a time. Follow these instructions to complete the remaining tests.

Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “ALK/pH/Hard”
Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
Dip the strip in the sample for one second and remove
Hold the test strip level and wait 10 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for alkalinity, pH, and hardness
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

Total Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “CL/CO/NA/NI”
Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
Dip the strip in the sample three times and remove – DO NOT SHAKE OFF EXCESS WATER
Hold the test strip level for 2 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for chlorine and copper
Wait 45 seconds before reading the results for nitrate and nitrite
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

Iron Test (Complete this test last)

Remove one iron reagent tablet from the foil packet and place in test vial (the reagent could alter the results of other tests which is why the iron test is completed last)
Place the cap on the test vial and shake for approximately one minute, until the tablet is completely dissolved
Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “Iron Test”
Dip the strip in the sample for 2 seconds
Shake the strip once and wait 60 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for iron
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Iron Test

Repeat all three tests for each of your samples.

Results

Now that you have completed each of the four tests on your four samples, it’s time to look at your results. Ask yourself these questions:

Which tests showed similar levels across all samples?
Which tests showed the most variation across all samples?
What sample would be the safest to drink in an emergency?
Which sample best meets the EPA recommended levels for drinking water? (These are listed in the Guide & Results Notebook.)
Were there results that you found surprising?

Record your answers on the “Notes” page. If you are using this as a science fair project, you can use clear tape to fix the test sticks to the color charts to display your results.

You may even want to create some graphs or charts from your results.

We created this graph in Excel to show how the pH levels varied in our samples.

The post Water Experiment: What Is the Best Source of Water Outdoors? appeared first on .

How Well Does Your Water Filter Work? Experiment For Kids At Home.

Julie Ann — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 22:51:38 +0000

Whether you have well water or municipal water, you can never be too certain about what is in your water. Many people choose to use a water filter to ensure that their water is safe to drink, but how do you know if your water filter is working? The best way to know what is in your water is to test it using Test Assured’s 4 Test Kit Set for Schools and Science Fairs. This set includes 4 test kits and is appropriate for children in grades three through twelve.

In this experiment, we will be testing unfiltered water, water purified with an old filter, and water purified with a new filter. Our results were not what we had expected. Gather your supplies and let’s see how your water filter is working compared to ours.

Supplies

The first thing you need to do is gather your supplies:

Test Assured 4 Test Kit Set with TD Meter
Tap water
Water filtration system that is currently in use
Replacement water filter
Zipper sandwich bags
Paper towels

Test Assure 4 Test Kit with TDS Meter

We used a PUR water filtration system. We took water samples before and after changing the filter.

Preparation

To prepare for the tests, you’ll need to gather your water samples. For this experiment, you need three samples:

Tap water for your control
Tap water passed through a used filter
Tap water passed through a new filter

We started with our water samples in zippered sandwich bags.

Now is a good time to label your vials and write your water sources in the results notebook.

Testing

We placed the meter directly in the baggie to get a reading for total dissolved solids.

Cut off a corner of the baggie to create a spout to easily transfer your samples to the vials.

Now you’re ready to get started with the rest of the tests. It’s best to work with one sample at a time. Follow these instructions to complete the remaining tests.

Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “ALK/pH/Hard”
Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
Dip the strip in the sample for one second and remove
Hold the test strip level and wait 10 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for alkalinity, pH, and hardness
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Alkalinity/pH/Hardness Test

Total Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “CL/CO/NA/NI”
Pick up the strip on the end with no pads
Dip the strip in the sample three times and remove – DO NOT SHAKE OFF EXCESS WATER
Hold the test strip level for 2 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for chlorine and copper
Wait 45 seconds before reading the results for nitrate and nitrite
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite Test

Iron Test (Complete this test last)

Remove one iron reagent tablet from the foil packet and place in test vial (the reagent could alter the results of other tests which is why the iron test is completed last)
Place the cap on the test vial and shake for approximately one minute, until the tablet is completely dissolved
Remove the test strip from the packet labeled, “Iron Test”
Dip the strip in the sample for 2 seconds
Shake the strip once and wait 60 seconds
Place the strip as shown in the picture and compare to the color chart for iron
Record your results in the results notebook

Place the strip as shown for the Iron Test

Repeat all three tests for each of your samples.

Results

Now that you have completed each of the four tests on your three samples, it’s time to look at your results. Ask yourself these questions:

How does the water filter alter the composition of the tap water?
What was the difference between the old filter and the new filter?
Does your tap water meet the EPA recommended levels for drinking water? (These are listed in the Guide & Results Notebook.)
What results did you find the most surprising?

Record your answers on the “Notes” page. If you are using this as a science fair project, you can use clear tape to fix the test sticks to the color charts to display your results.

We were surprised to find that our used water filter performed better than our new water filter. Some companies recommend that you run a few gallons of water through a new filter before using. The filter we tested did not include that in the instructions, but we’ll be testing the water again to see if that makes a difference.

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