Why Getting Your Water Tested Is Important

3/2/2023

When is the last time you got your water tested? Whether you have public water or well water, testing is crucial to your health and the health of your plumbing system. Pilot Plumbing & Drain conducts water testing so you can feel safe and confident about your drinking water, utility water, and the well-being of your pipes.

What Does Water Testing Do?

Water testing does more than determine whether your water is safe – it also helps identify common problems that may be harmless, yet still affect the taste and quality of your water. It will test to check the levels of hardness, measure pH, Iron, and more – and if we see anything off, we’ll be sure to let you know and make recommendations on what you should do.

According to the CDC, “the presence of certain contaminants in our water can lead to health issues including gastrointestinal illness, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Infants, young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems may be especially at risk for illness.”

What Equipment Do We Use?

We use the LaMotte 4336-H Spin Disk Reagent Cartridge, which is a 50-pack that includes 8 tests. This tests treated water and is designed to be used with the WaterLink Spin Touch DW photometer.

The kit provides 8 simultaneous parameter measurements for the drinking water analysis and comes complete with free chlorine, total chlorine, combine chlorine, pH, total hardness, total iron, copper, and total alkalinity.

The other model we use is the LaMotte 4337-H, which tests well water including the following specifications:

pH – 4.5 to 8.6 pH
Total Hardness – 0 to 70 gpg, 0 to 1,200 ppm
Total Iron – 0 to 6 ppm
Ferric Iron – 0 to 6 ppm
Ferrous Iron – 0 to 6 ppm
Copper – 0 to 6 ppm
Nitrate (N03) – 0 to 50 ppm
Nitrite (N02) – 0 to 2 ppm
Total Alkalinity – 0 to 250 ppm

Types of Water Sources

There are two main water sources that people utilize. These sources are either public water systems (tap water) or private water systems (private well owners).

When it comes to public water – when you turn on the tap water, where does it come from? You pay a water bill, so you’re purchasing water from a system that belongs to your area. These companies monitor and performing water testing and are responsible for making sure it meets the National Primary Drinking Water Standards. If any contaminants find their way into your water source, they have to notify you immediately – and if this happens, they work to try to fix the issue while recommending you use bottled water for everything.

In addition, most people in the U.S. get an annual quality report – so be sure to read that through instead of tossing it with the rest of your junk mail.

If you’re drinking water comes from your own well system, it is your responsibility to ensure that it is safe to use. If you’re not sure how to properly conduct water testing, reaching out to a reputable plumbing company like Pilot Plumbing & Drain is going to be your best bet.

When to Get Your Water Tested

You should get your water tested annually for coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH levels – especially if you have a new well or have replaced or repaired pipes/pumps/well casing. However, there are other instances that may force you to reach out earlier and more frequent than normal. Be on the lookout for conditions or nearby activities that include:

Recurrent gastro-intestinal illness
Household plumbing containing lead
Radon in indoor air or region
Scaly residues
Water softener needed to treat hardness
Stained plumbing fixtures/laundry
Bad smell
Discolored water
Corrosion of pipes/plumbing
Nearby areas of intensive agricultural runoff
Coal or other mining operations nearby
Gas drilling nearby
Odor of gas or fuel oil
Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, or dry-cleaning operation nearby
Salty taste and seawater or a heavily salted roadway nearby

The Health of Your Plumbing System

Contaminated water or water that has chemicals in it can cause potential problems to your plumbing system as well. Assuming there is something wrong with the water, the first thought is and should be to get it tested and fixed asap so you and your family can be confident that you’re using safe water. However, if you’re not aware there are any issues, and haven’t gotten your water tested in a while – chances are there could be chemicals and other contaminants like alkaline, acidity, etc. that can disrupt your plumbing system.

If this happens, you’ll be spending more time, more money, and developing more headaches when you have to get your plumbing fixed as well.

Water Filtration Systems Keep Your Water Clean

Not only can we provide water testing, but we can also provide our customers with water filtration services. We want to do everything we can to help you feel safe and confident that the water you use for your drinking water, chores, and cleaning after meals remain free and clear from contaminants.

People are becoming more mindful of the potential contaminants that find their way into their water. While most of these deal primarily with hard water and the condition of your pipes, you still want your water to be as clean as possible.

Contaminants That Are Found in Your Water

Before investing in a water filtration system installation, you’ll want to know what contaminants you can find in your water supply. Some common substances can make their way into your plumbing system, whether your water comes from a municipal supply or well water.

Some of the most common contaminants include:

Nitrates
Arsenic
Microbial Contaminants (Microorganisms, Bacteria, Viruses, etc.)
Aluminum
Fluoride

A water filtration system can help significantly reduce how many contaminants get into your drinking water. However, since that same water supplies your appliances with what they need to operate, do you really want those contaminants while washing your clothes or as part of your shower?

Why Use Pilot Plumbing For Your Water Testing?

Well, number one – we genuinely care about our customers and want to be sure that they are safe and taken care of, especially when it comes to their drinking water.

Also, the difference between us and many of our competitors is the fact that we have a state-of-the-art LaMotte testing lab that we bring onsite during water testing. So, you’ll be able to see that we are testing your water right then and there – and we’ll be able to provide you with all of the information you need.

About Pilot Plumbing & Drain

After 15 years of experience and thousands of 5-star customers, we’ve learned what matters most – prompt and reliable plumbing services you can trust. Finding licensed and certified plumbers is easy, but finding ones who show up and deliver on their promise is another story. The best local plumbers have helped homeowners with our residential plumbing services in Vancouver, Wa and surrounding areas. These include:

We aim to provide our customers with the best plumbing contractors in the area and guarantee our work won’t break the bank. If you need your water tested, are interested in water filtration systems, or have any other plumbing questions or issues – please feel free to reach out.

When you need to find the best plumbing services in Vancouver, WA, you don’t need to look further than Pilot Plumbing and Drain. We help our customers diagnose the problems and fix what needs to be repaired or unclogged. Our expertly trained staff have helped homeowners throughout the area, including Amboy, Battle Ground, Brush Prairie, Camas, Kalama, Kelso, La Center, Longview, Ridgefield, Washougal, Woodland, Hazel Dell, and Yacolt, WA, as well as Portland, OR.

When you work with us, you’re ensuring that the service you get is backed by the trust and confidence of thousands of other satisfied customers. Contact us to schedule your next service call with our expert technicians today!