Water Purity Testers

[cabinetman]

We have gone from the faucet filters to reverse osmosis, and back to faucet filters. We live in a high water table area, and are concerned about the quality of our drinking water.

I saw that HF has two digital testers. The first stick in kind is listed under $15.

Then they have a cheaper one for under $10. Does anyone have or use one of these, and I'm wondering how good can they be for that price? Are there any recommendations for something else?
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[scorrpio]

Looks like a simple conductivity tester - will detect 'something' in the water, and its concentration, but probably won't tell you what that something is.

When I was replacing my boiler, instruction manual recommended a water test. I figured I was fine as we are on city water, but decided to test anyway. I ordered one of those several-use testing kits which include various indicator strips and color charts to compare to. There were separate strips for Rh, chlorine, copper, hardness and a few others. I really cannot see how a single conductivity tester can account for all these.

[Hellrazor]

My guess is that works on the turbidity in the water. I would not consider using those testers a statement of clean water by any chance.

The biggest things to test for are chlorine, hardness, fecal caliform, nitrogen, PH, lead, copper, etc.

Lead and copper testing can be important in older homes with lead solder.

Just my experience from holding a NTNC waterworks license... I would consider paying for a full test from an accedited lab.

[cabinetman]

My guess is that works on the turbidity in the water. I would not consider using those testers a statement of clean water by any chance.

The biggest things to test for are chlorine, hardness, fecal caliform, nitrogen, PH, lead, copper, etc.

Lead and copper testing can be important in older homes with lead solder.

Just my experience from holding a NTNC waterworks license... I would consider paying for a full test from an accedited lab.

I read the description again and it sounds like it will tell you what's in the water, but in reality maybe it will just indicate a "high" "medium" or "low" sensitivity to foreign matter.

Can you recommend a more predictable instrument other than a lab?
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[Hellrazor]

There isn't anything I am aware of. You can test for PH, chlorine and hardness in various manners. My PH meter at work is about $150, my chlorine setup is about $300 and I don't test for hardness. My equipment is about mid grade on the price scale and complies with DEP requirements. On top of my PH & Chlorine residual testing, we have regular lab testing done to monitor for fecal contamination on the quarterly basis. Lead and Copper testing is done every few years since we are clean.

[Black wallnut]

It might be worth checking with your local health department. They may offer actual lab testing for a reasonable fee. In my County they do but I think only for domestic wells.