We test for the following parameters:-

What effect will iron have if its in my water? Excessive levels of iron in water do not generally pose a health hazard but do cause problems with staining (clothes, food and sinks or baths) and taste (especially tea, coffee and some whiskies). What effect will Manganese have if its in my water? Excessive levels of manganese in water cause the problems of a bitter metallic taste from and a black to brown colour in the water, as well as severe black staining. Health risks are not generally a problem, as water containing manganese at toxic levels will be undrinkable due to the taste. Nevertheless drinking water with elevated manganese levels can, in the long term, cause a manganese build-up in your system. What effect will Nitrates have if its in my water? Nitrates represent a hazard to unborn babies and young infants at levels above the EU recommended level. Symptoms include shortness of breath and “blue-baby” syndrome – if present consult a doctor immediately. As nitrate levels increase in summertime, we recommend allowing a safety margin to ensure your levels never exceed the EU recommendation. What effect will PH have if its in my water? Acidity has no direct health effects as such, but acid water generally contains high levels of metals leached from underground deposits. In addition, if your piping is copper your water will have elevated copper levels, leading to indirect health effects, as well as potential problems with corrosion of copper hot water tanks and piping. A very low pH can also have an aggravating effect on some peoples skin and may cause blond high lights to go green. What effect will Conductivity have if its in my water? The ability of your water to conduct electricity is related to the amount of dissolved solids present in the water, and so while conductivity has no inherent health and safety significance, it is a good general indicator of water quality. What effect will TDS have if its in my water? This test is related to the conductivity of your water, and is simply the amount of dissolved material present in the water. As with conductivity, it has no direct health and safety significance, but it is a good general indicator of water quality. If elevated it may indicate the presence of undesirable material in the water. What effect will Hardness have if its in my water? Hardness is the level of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts. Hardness in water is in fact beneficial to health, reducing mortality rates from heart diseases and also improving the taste of the water. However, at levels above 200 mg/L, it can cause limescale buildup in kettles, on washing machine and dishwasher elements, and in hot water tanks and piping. What are the possible health effects of arsenic in drinking water? According to a 1999 study by the National Academy of Sciences, arsenic in drinking water causes bladder, lung and skin cancer, and may cause kidney and liver cancer. The study also found that arsenic harms the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as heart and blood vessels, and causes serious skin problems. It also may cause birth defects and reproductive problems. Drinking water provided by most water utility companies meets or falls below the current national standard for arsenic, which is 50 parts per billion (ppb). That standard, however, was established in 1942, before health officials knew that arsenic causes cancer. According to National Academy of Sciences estimates, one out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion will get cancer (based on drinking two liters of water per day over the course of a lifetime). That's an extremely high cancer risk. The EPA, which sets the arsenic standard, normally assigns standards for toxins and contaminants that represent no more than a one-in-10,000 risk factor for cancer. While arsenic levels may fluctuate over time, what is most significant from the standpoint of cancer risk is long-term exposure. For water systems in the 25 states that reported arsenic data to the EPA, we have calculated two estimates of average long-term levels: one is a very conservative estimate, the other our best estimate, based on what we believe to be the most reasonable analytical techniques (details on how we arrived at the estimates are included with the charts). The table below shows the lifetime risks of dying of cancer from arsenic in tap water, based on the National Academy of Sciences' 1999 risk estimates (see our report for details on how we calculated total cancer risk). Arsenic Level in Tap Water (in parts per billion, or ppb) Approximate Total Cancer Risk (assuming 2 liters consumed/day) 0.5 ppb 1 in 10,000 1 ppb 1 in 5,000 3 ppb 1 in 1,667 4 ppb 1 in 1,250 5 ppb 1 in 1,000 10 ppb 1 in 500 20 ppb 1 in 250 25 ppb 1 in 200 50 ppb 1 in 100 5. How does arsenic get into water supplies? Most arsenic enters water supplies either from natural deposits in the earth or from industrial and agricultural pollution. Arsenic is a natural element of the earth's crust. It is used in industry and agriculture, and for other purposes. It also is a byproduct of copper smelting, mining and coal burning. Industries release thousands of pounds of arsenic into the environment every year. 6. Can water systems reduce arsenic levels in drinking water? Yes water2buy can recommend a system based on your arsenic levels. 8. I drink bottled water -- do I have to worry about arsenic? Bottled water is not necessarily any safer than tap water. Often, it is nothing more than tap water that may or may not have been filtered. For more on bottled water, see the findings of NRDC's 1999 report Bottled Water: Pure Drink or Pure Hype?