How to Test Your City Water

October 23, 2024

The quality of your home water is important to your family's health. Even when you have city water, you may wonder how to determine the purity and safety of your water supply. When you don't have a water testing kit, there are a few methods you can use to test city water at home. S & L Water Solutions is here to give you some at-home testing solutions to try out for yourself.

Smell, Taste, and Color

The odor, flavor, and color of your water give insight into how clean your water is. While it can be difficult to pinpoint the precise causes of abnormalities, this is the first step in the mitigation process.

Evaluate your tap water against bottled and distilled water as a neutral comparison point. If your water sample has an off color, odor, or taste, there is the possibility that it is contaminated.

Visual Test with a Magnifying Glass

When you are testing the quality of your home water without the benefit of a water testing kit, take note of any issues as soon as the water leaves the tap. Because not all contaminants will be visible to the naked eye, a magnifying glass can help.

To perform a visual test with a magnifying glass:

1. Thoroughly wash and dry a clear glass bowl or drinking glass.
2. Fill the container with water and place it in bright light.
3. Using a magnifying glass, take a closer look at the water.

Foam that lasts more than a few minutes, cloudiness, or floating particles in the water could mean that it's contaminated. Keep in mind that all contaminants are not necessarily harmful.

Testing Your Water's Hardness

The total concentration of dissolved magnesium and calcium determines water hardness. Hard water can cause:

• a chalky, dry feeling when you wash your hands or body
• chalky stains on dishes, plumbing fixtures, or countertops
• low water pressure
• low soap sudsing
• soap scum residue in places where you use soap, such as sinks, showers, and tubs

To test the hardness of your city water, put tap water in a large spoon or ladle and let it evaporate for 24 to 48 hours. Look for white spots or sticky residue on the spoon once the water has completely evaporated. This may signify that the water is hard.

Testing for Dissolved Solids

Dissolved solids can be difficult to detect. Use the boiling method to test city water for impurities at home, even when you can't see contaminants.

1. Thoroughly wash and dry a small saucepan and fill it with one cup of water.
2. Heat the water without a lid until it comes to a boil.
3. When most of the water has evaporated, turn off the heat.
4. Let the saucepan cool completely.

When the saucepan is cool, run your fingers along its bottom. Sticky, gritty, or chalky residue points toward dissolved solids in your city water.

What to Do if You Don't Have a Water Testing Kit

If more in-depth testing is needed for your city water, S & L Solutions can help. We provide certified water testing for homes in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Some of our most common tests include:

• Total dissolved solids
• Basic water potability
• Sulfate
• Nitrate
• Ions
• Coliform bacteria
• Iron bacteria/Sulfate bacteria
• Additional tests based on need

Our state-certified water samplers know how to test and what to test for.

Water Testing and More

A family-owned and operated company specializing in water, S & L Solutions is committed to getting you the best quality water. In addition to certified lab water testing, we offer:

• Water treatment
• Water softening
• Iron filtration
• Acid neutralizing
• UV light/bacteria stabilizing
• Water heater replacement

Call us today at 240-313-9190. We pick up the phone no matter what.

 
Featured Image: Yuri A / Shutterstock