The Importance of Water Quality Testing

Water is essential to the survival of all living things. But to find out whether the water you drink and use for household activities is reliable and safe and whether fish in public waterways are adversely affected by human activity, water quality is tested regularly at the tap, well or stream. Knowing the water's physical, chemical and biological characteristics allows experts to determine whether it is suitable for drinking, agricultural irrigation, protection of aquatic life or other uses.

Significance of Testing

• In the United States, agricultural runoff and urban and wastewater discharges contribute to the contamination of our water resources. Nearly 40 percent of our rivers fail to meet clean water standards, and an estimated 7 million Americans become sick each year from contaminated tap water, according to Clean Water Action. Routine testing of public drinking water supplies helps to ensure they meet public health and environmental standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state agencies.

Should I Test?

• Public, also known as municipal, drinking water systems regulated by the EPA provide 90 percent of Americans with their drinking water. These supplies are tested routinely for pathogens, radioactive materials, toxic chemicals and dozens of other contaminants, and suppliers are required by law to provide annual test results to customers. Responsibility for testing private water supplies generally lies with property owners. The Cornell University Cooperative Extension recommends testing your private water supply before buying a home and when a new water supply is developed and suggests annual testing for certain contaminants.

Public Water Systems

• Public water system's draw water comes from rivers, springs and reservoirs connected to the same system. The water generally is of better quality because they have the resources to comply with testing requirements. Consumers concerned about water quality or compliance violations can request their supplier to provide copies of water treatment reports. You generally do not need to test water from a public water system unless you experience gastrointestional illness, are concerned about the presence of lead in pipes or otherwise suspect contamination, according to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service.

Private Water Systems

• Most private drinking water is drawn from wells, though it also can come from ponds and springs. Consumers are responsible for maintaining the quality of their private water supply by conducting their own testing and reducing potential pollution sources, ranging from household chemicals that contaminate groundwater after improper disposal to residential septic systems that have not been separated from wells. Regular water quality testing can help you determine whether levels of tested substances exceed federal and state standards and help you identify steps to be taken to correct any problems.

Well Water Tests

• Understand that many water quality tests provide only basic information on a well's water quality, and nearby land uses should be considered when deciding whether additional tests are needed, according to the Massachussetts Department of Environmental Testing. If you believe your water supply is contaminated, or if you observe rust, hard water, foul odors or other nuisance problems, you can have the water tested for specific contaminants. Another option is to seek advice from professionals in cooperative extension, public health and water resource management departments and agencies, according to Cornell University.

Citizen Involvement

• Monitoring public waterways helps to identify changes in water quality, provide data for the design of pollution prevention or remediation programs, and respond to chemical spills and other emergencies. Various public and private agencies are responsible for monitoring, and many rely on help from volunteer monitors to build stewardship of local waters, including through the collection of water quality data and promotion of watershed protection. To learn how to become a volunteer monitor, including how to start a monitoring program in your community, visit the EPA online (see Resources).

Student Involvement

• There are many sources of information about volunteer water monitoring for students. The EPA's online National Directory of Volunteer Water Monitors is a good place to start, as is the U.S. Geological Survey's Water Science For Schools website. Another program, World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD), promotes international education and outreach through volunteer monitoring, which takes place annually from March 22 to December 31. WWMD is officially celebrated on September 18. The program provides test kits, student handouts and lesson plans.