sw-103.pa1991
Cooperative Extension
College of Agricultural Sciences
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
University Of Pennsylvania
Whether your water causes illness, stains on plumbing, scaly deposits, or a bad taste, a water analysis identifies the problem and enables you to make knowledceable decisions about water treatment. What is the significance of the parameters listed in the water.test report? This fact sheet outlines some of the major parameters you may see on the analysis and assists you in understanding the report.
Once the lab has completed testing your water, you will receive a report that looks similar to Figure 1. It will contain a list of contaminants tested, the concentrations, and, in some cases, highlight any problem contaminants. An important feature of the report is the units used to measure the contaminant level in your water. Milligrams per liter (mg/1) of water are used for substances like metals and nitrates. A milligram per liter is also equal to one part per million (ppm)-that is one part contaminant to one million parts water. About 0.03 of a teaspoon of sugar dissolved in a bathtub of water is an approximation of one ppm. For toxic substances or other concentrations, the units used are even smaller. In these cases, parts per billion (ppb) are used. Another unit found on some test reports is that used to measure radon-picocurries per liter. Some values like pH, hardness, conductance, and turbidity are reported in units specific to the test.
ANALYTICAL LABORATORY REPORT
Client: Client's name Collected by: KM
Project: Analytical Laboratory Services Project Number: CLOO0001
Date Collected: 08/28/90 Time Collected: 7:35 am
Sample Identification: Kitchen Tap Lab Number: 0 1 000
Analysis Results Units
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Total Coliform Bacteria 50 #/looml
Nitrate-Nitrogen 4.55 mg/1
pH 7.50 units
Iron 0.55 mg/1
Hardness as CaCo3 280 mg/1
Sulfate Sulfur 32.0 mg/l
Chloride 25.4 mg/l
Specific Conductance 344 umhos/cc
On the basis of the above test result(s), this water sample DOES NOT
MEET PADER drinking water standards
The following notes apply to this sample:
The Total Coliform Bacteria exceeded the max. lev. of 1 colony/100mi.
The Iron level exceeded the limit of 0.3 mg/1.
Submitted by:------------------
Laboratory Manager
Figure 1. A sample water analysis report
In addition to the test results, a lab may make notes on any contaminants that exceeded the PADER drinking water standards. For example, in Figure I the lab noted that total coliform bacteria and iron both exceeded the standards. Sometimes the lab will send additional information about the problem contaminants.
Retain your copy of the report as a record of the quality of your water supply.If polluting activities such as mining occur in your area, you may need a record of past water quality to prove that your supply has been damaged.
Generally, you will know beforehand which parameters are being tested. Perhaps, you had a one-time contamination incident or someone became ill after ingesting the water. Or maybe is simply a routine test to monitor any changes in your supply. Whatever the case, it is important to know what action to take if the test reveals a problem. Are the highlighted contaminants at levels where health is at risk? Is the contaminan an indicator that other water quality contaminan may be in the supply? Or is the contaminant simply a nuisance that stains your plumbing or causes odors?
The following tables provide a general guideline to water ualit arameters that may appear on your water analysis report. The parameters are divided into three categories: health risk parameters, general indicators, and nuisance parameters. These guidelines are by no means exhaustive. However, they will provide you with acceptable limits and some information about symptoms, sources of the problem and effects. To find out more about how to treat the water or eliminate the contaminant at the source, see related fact sheets listed on the Soil and Water Fact Sheet Listing. See the end of this publication for more details
Health Risk Parameters. The parameters in Table I are some commons ones that have known health effects. The table lists acceptable limits, potential health effects, and possible uses and sources of the contaminant.
Table 1: Standards, symptoms, and potential health effects of regulated contaminants
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Contaminant Acceptable Sources/Uses Potential Health
Limit Effects at
High Concentrations
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Atrazine 3 ppb Used as a herbicide; Heart and liver damage
surface or groundwater
contamination from
agricultural runoff
or leaching.
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Benzene 5 ppb Gasoline additive; Blood disorders like
usually from aplasticaremia;
accidental oil spills, immune system
industrial depression; acute
uses, or landfills. exposure affects
central nervous system
causing dizziness,
headaches;
long term exposure
increases
cancer risks.
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Fluorides (F4.0 mg/l Additive in treatment Mottling of teeth and
process also used bones.
in manufacturing
processes and
insecticides.
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Lead*
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at tap 0.01 mg/1 Used in batteries; Nervous disorders
lead gasolines and mental
and pipe solder; may be impairment, especially
leached in fetuses
from brass and infants; kidney
faucets, lead damage;
caulking, lead blood disorders and
pipes, and lead hypertension;
soldered joints.
low birth weights.
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at source 0.005 mg/l
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Nitrates(NO3) 10 mg/1 Soil by-product of Methemoglobinemia
(nitrate-N) 45 agricultural (blue baby
mg/l (nitrate) fertilization; disease) in infants
human and animal (birth-6
waste leaching months); Low health
to groundwater. threat to
children and adults.
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Radon 300 pCi/l** Naturally occurring Breathing gas
gas formed increases chances
from uranium decay; of lung cancer;
can seep may increase risk
intowell water from of stomach, colon
surrounding and bladder
rocks and be released cancers.
in the air
as it leaves the
faucet.
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* Since lead may be dissolved in plumbing fixtures, standards have been set for both the tap and source.
* Recommended level in water at which remedial action should be taken. No standards have been set yet.
General Water Quality Indicators are parameters used to indicate the presence of harmful contaminants. Testing for indicators can eliminate costly tests for specific contaminants. Generally, if the indicator is present, the supply may contain the contaminant as well. For example, you are probably most familiar with total coliform bacteria. These bacteria are present in all warrn blooded animals. Therefore, if they are present in the water supply, it is possible that sewage or animal manure may be contaminating the water. A total bacteria count includes all other types of bacteria. This.may indicate contamination from livestock. The pH value is also considered a general water quality indicator. High or low pHs can indicate how corrosive water is. Corrosive water may further indicate that metals like lead or copper are being dissolved in the water as it passes through distribution pipes. Table 2 shows some of the common general indicators.
Table 2. General water quality indicators
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Indicator Acceble Limit Indicaton
pH Value 6.5 to 8.5 An important overall measure of water
quality, pH can alter corrosivity and
solubility of contaminants. Low pH will
cause pitting of pipes and fixtures or a
metallic taste. This may indicate that metal
are being dissolved. At high pH, the water
will have a slippery feel or soda taste.
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Total <1 coliform Possible bacterial or viral contamination
Coliform /100 ml from human sewage or animal manure.
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Total 500 mg/1 Dissolved minerals like iron or manganese.
Dissolved High TDS also can indicate hardness (scaly
Solids deposits) or cause staining, or a salty,
(TDS) bitter taste.
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Nuisance contaminants are a third category of contaminants that are often tested for. While these have no adverse health effects, they may make water unpallatable or reduce the effectiveness of soaps and detergents. Some nuisance contaminants also cause staining. Nuisance contaminants may include iron bacteria, hydrogen sulfide, and hardness. Table 3 shows some typical nuisance contaminants you may see on your water analysis report.
Hardness is one contaminant you will also commonly see on the report. Hard water causes soap and scaly deposits in plumbing and.decreased cleaning action of soaps and detergents. Hard water can also cause buildup on hot water heaters and reduce their effective lifetime. Table 4 will help you interpret the hardness parameters cited on your analysis.
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contaminant Acceptable Limit Effects
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Chlorides 250 mg/l Salty or brackish taste;
corrosive; blackens & pits
stanless steel.
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Copper (Cu) 1.3 mg/l Blue-green stains on
plumbing fixtures; bitter
metalic taste.
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Iron (Fe) 0.3 mg/l Metallic taste; discolored
beverages; yellowish stains,
stains laundry.
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Manganese (Mn) 0.05 mg/l Black specks on fixtures;
bitter taste.
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Sulfates (sO4) 250 mg/l Bitter, medicinal taste;
corrosive.
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Iron Bacteria ---------- Orangeish to brownish slime
in water.
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-------------------------------------------------------------------- Con,centration of hardness minerals in Hardness Level grains per gallon (GPG) -------------------------------------------------------------------- below 1.0 soft -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.0 to 3.5 slightly hard -------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.5 to 7.5 moderately hard -------------------------------------------------------------------- 7.5 to 10.5 hard -------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.5 and above very hard --------------------------------------------------------------------
Note that the units used in this table differ from those indicated in Figure 1. Hardness can be expressed by either of these units mg/i or a grain per gallon (gpg). A gpg is used exclusively as a hardness unit and equals approximately 17 mg/l or ppm. Those water supplies fallinc, in the hard to very hard categories may need to softened. However, as with all water treatment, you should careftilly consider the advantages and disadvantages to softening before making a purchase.
Agricultural and Biolo-ical Engineering Department 246 A-ricultural Engineering Buildina University Park, PA 16802 Telephone: 814-865-7685 FAX Number: 814-863-1031
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