How to Determine Arsenic Levels in Drinking Water

Arsenic is a colorless, odorless element represented on the periodic table as As. Arsenic is a naturally occurring substance in volcanic material, and it is also produced by rock erosion and forest fires. In addition, some manufacturing processes produce arsenic. Arsenic enters the water supply chiefly through groundwater and, if regularly consumed, causes urinary, prostate and kidney problems. Municipal water providers are required by the Environmental Protection Agency to test water for arsenic. If you have a private water supply such as a well, you are responsible for water testing and treatment.

Instructions

• 1

  Understand your water source. If you get water through the city you live in, evident by a monthly bill, your water is already being tested for arsenic. If you wish to learn more about the policies and procedures your city adheres to or the level of arsenic represented in the last test, contact your local health department. If you have a well, move to step two.

• 2

  Call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 to find a water-testing lab in your area. Be sure to specify that you wish to test drinking water as not all labs are certified to test drinking water.

• 3

  Contact the laboratory in your area to set up an appointment, learn about policies and procedures and pertinent costs. A certified professional will come to your home to collect a water sample. The lab will produce a report that explains how much arsenic, among other things, is in your water. You may wish to get two tests done just to be on the safe side.

• 4

  Avoid drinking, cooking or bathing in water that you are unsure of. If it is being tested for arsenic, use bottled water in the interim. If the arsenic test comes back at an unsafe level, you will have to consult a geologist that understands the nature of your area to see if the problem is likely to persist. The only surefire way to remove arsenic from drinking water is to install a water treatment system called a granular ferric absorption system.