Tap Water Testing

Tap water tests are designed to use any standard test kit to measure the following characteristics of your tap water:

    1.  pH

    2.  Hardness

    3.  Chlorine Content

    4.  Iron Content

    5.  Copper Content

pH - Acidity readings of 1 - 14 should be measured with any standard acidity test.

Hardness - Hardness should be measured in parts per million (ppm) CaCO₃ or in grains per gallon.  The formula for conversion from one unit to the other is gpg CaCO₃ = ppm CaCO₃ x 0.058.  Report results in ppm.

Chlorine Content - Chlorine content should be reported in ppm Combined Chlorine.
        Combined Chlorine, ppm = Total Residual Chlorine - Free Available Chlorine

Iron and Copper Content - Iron and Copper Content should be reported in ppm.
 

Note - Some test kits report results in mg/l, for water 1 mg/l = 1 ppm.

If you wish to order a test kit, you might check this link.
 

Collecting Your Sample:

Your water sample should be collected in the afternoon to insure that the pipes in your school have been flushed by usage throughout the day.  The sample need not be tested immediately, but should be stored in a labeled capped container .

Testing Your Sample:

Collect samples for three consecutive days.  Test each sample for as many of the five characteristics (pH, hardness, chlorine, iron, and copper) as you can using any standard test kit that will report the data as noted above.  The samples may be analyzed daily or in one run as best suits your class(es) organization.

Reporting Your Results:

The results you report should be the average reading of the three samples for each characteristic and reported as follows:

School  ________________________

Location _______________________

eMail Address ______________________________

pH _______

Hardness (ppm cacao) __________

Chlorine (ppm Combined Chlorine) __________

Iron ______

Copper _____

In addition the following additional information on your geographic area should be included with your results:

1. Classify your area as: Urban, Suburban or Rural.

2. Is your drinking water source surface water (reservoir, lake etc.) or ground water (wells) ?

3.  Is your drinking water chemically treated ?

Use the Test Results Form to report your results.