|
Complaint
or Observation
|
Common
Signs / Situations
|
Causes
|
Test
Recommended
|
| "Hard"
water |
Large
amount off soap requirred to form suds. Insoluble soap curd on dishes
and fabrics. Hard scaly deposit in pipes and water heaters. |
Calcium,
magnesium, manganese, and iron (may be in the form of bicarbonates,
carbonates, sulfates orr chlorides) |
Hardness
Test |
| Rusty
colored water |
Rust stains
on clothing and porcelain plumbing fixtures. Metallic taste to water.
Rust coating in toilet tank. Faucet water turns rust colored after
exposure to air. |
Iron or manganese,
or iron bacteria. |
Iron Test
Buy
Now!
Manganese Test Buy
Now!
Bacteriological Tests:
• Standard Plate Count (SPC) Buy
Now!
• Iron Bacteria |
| "Rotten
egg" odor |
Iron,
steel, or copper parts of pumps, pipes and fixtures corroded. Fine
black particles in water (commonly called black water) Silverware
turns black. |
Hydrogen
sulfide gas, sulfate-reducing bacteria, or sulfur bacteria. |
Hydrogen
Sulfide Test
pH Buy
Now!
Bacteriological Tests:
• Standard Plate Count (SPC) Buy
Now!
• Sulfur Reducing Bacteria |
| "Acid"
water |
Metal parts
on pump, piping, tank, and fixtures corroded. Red stains from corrosion
of galvanized pipe; blue-green stains from corrosion of copper or
brass. |
Carbon dioxide.
In rare instances, mineral acid, sulfuric, nitric, or hydrochloric. |
pH Buy
Now!
Langelier Index |
| Cloudy
turbid water |
Dirty
or muddy appearance. |
Silt,
sediment, microorganisms. |
•
Turbidity Buy
Now!
• Total Dissolved Solids
• Total Coliform (TDS)
Bacteria Buy
Now!
Ecoli Buy
Now!
Check well construction with local well driller. |
| Chemical
odor of gasoline, fuel oil |
Well near
abandoned fuel oil tank; gas station. |
Leaking underground
storage tank. |
Volatile
Organic Chemical Scan, Hydro Carbon or B Tex Scan or specific fuel
component analysis. |
| Unusual
chemical odor |
Well
near dump, junkyard, landfill, industry or drycleaner. |
Groundwater
contamination, underground injection |
Organic
chemical scan, heavy metals analysis. |
| No
obvious problem |
Well located
in area of intensive agricultural use. |
Long term
use of pesticides and fertilizers. |
Test for
pesticides used in area, nitrate test. |
| Recurrent
Gastro-intestinal illness |
Recurrent
gastro-intestinal illness in guests drinking the water. |
Cracked
well casing, cross connection with septic system. |
Bacteria
(Coliform Test), nitrate test. Buy
Now! |
| Sodium
restricted Diet, salty brackish, or bitter taste |
Well near
seawater, road salt storage site or heavily salted roadway. |
Saltwater
intrusion, groundwater contamination. |
Chloride,
Sodium, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Buy
Now! |
