Home Water Analysis

Safe drinking water is essential for good health whether you receive water from the municipal water supply or from a private well. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.4 million preventable child deaths occur each year because of unsanitary water conditions. Harmful contaminants can enter water supplies, causing minor discomfort to an increased risk of cancer. Monitoring your home water is one way you can maintain healthful drinking water.

Drinking Water Standards

The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate drinking water in the United States. Part of the agency's duties mandated by the act includes a six-year review of drinking water standards. The review is based on current research. If you are on a municipal water system, your city should test its drinking water according to EPA standards.

Considerations

Factors such as nearby land use can influence water quality, especially if you are on a well system or your municipal water system draws from surface water such as lakes and rivers. If you use a well, the Water Systems Council recommends that you test your home water annually for bacteria. Bacteria can enter your private well system from agricultural runoff. The geology of your area might also influence water quality. Contaminants such as radon can occur naturally in the soil and bedrock.

Benefits

Home water analysis can identify issues with your water even if signs of contamination are not present. Arsenic, for example, is undetectable in drinking water. Yet, a 2009 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, found that arsenic exposure increased heart disease and cancer mortality. Testing can help reveal issues so that actions can be taken to reduce the threat of health issues.

When to Test

You should test your home drinking water if you detect changes in odor, taste or appearance, suggests the website EXTOXNET. If you make changes to or add a water treatment system, you might also consider testing your home water. Private well owners should testing their water more frequently if the site of your well has been affected by a chemical spill or other land use. As an added precaution, you should test your water if you become pregnant or are nursing.

Testing

You can buy water test kits at your home improvement center or hardware store. For more accurate testing, consider having your sample tested by your state health department or state-certified laboratory. The latter is the preferred method if your household is experiencing frequent bouts of gastrointestinal issues.