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Because of Flint, Michigan I’m now really interested in water filtration
Question
In light of the recent Flint, Michigan water crisis, I’ve been really interested in water filtration. The list you shared from the EPA in a recent article was really helpful, but I was curious: is there a way I can measure these contaminants myself? Or will I need to hire an expert to come in and diagnose my tap water?
Answer
As I say in my lectures about water (I did a 1 hour one at a Mensa conference and a 2 hour one at a CHECK conference)
The problem with testing will always be that
You can’t get a result unless you test for the particular substance you are looking for
You can’t ever know what you might be looking for since you may be surprised to find just what contaminant are in you water
So, I always recommend, for those who care enough to want to know, that you have the best lab for this type of testing.
That is National Testing Labs Water Check.
Their main web site is www.NtlLabs.com and the page you really want to go to is this:
http://www.ntllabs.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=NTL&Category_Code=Homeowner
For chlorinated municipal (city) tap water you want either City Check Basic, Standard or Deluxe depending on your pocketbook and how much you wish to know.
If you are on Well Water, you want either Well check, Water Check or Water check with pesticide option. Again, depending on how much you wish to pay and how much you wish to know. The reason the city water testing is different is that because it gets either chlorine or chloramines added to it, they don’t check for bacteria since those would have been killed.
Personally I always get the most comprehensive test for the type of water I am testing. The things which can be fairly accurately tested at home are basically Hardness, pH, and TDS (total dissolved solids), and Chlorine and chloramines if you have the right kit. Most of TDS is minerals which are good for you.
People with higher TDS (total dissolved solids) generally have lower heart disease which is why I do not like to remove all those healthy minerals with either reverse osmosis or distillation.
HACH test kit model CN-70 can test for chlorine and chloramines if you know how to use it properly. Fluoride takes a more costly electronic meter which HACH also makes (I have both).
-David Getoff