When is water testing worth doing and how good is drinking water in the UK?
Drinking water in the UK is generally of a very high standard and is regularly tested before making its way into consumers' homes. What most people don't know however is that the water companies' responsibility ends at the boundary of the user's property. From this point on, water quality is the owner's responsibility. Old pipes and plumbing systems can affect the quality of the tap water. However, contamination is most likely to come from taps and fittings. For this reason, the readings given by the water companies don't mean much for the consumer. If you want to know what the quality of your tap water is really like, you should have your water professionally tested in a laboratory!
How is the water analysis carried out?
After you have completed your order, your test kit will be dispatched within 24 hours. The test kit contains everything you need to take the sample. No prior knowledge is needed.
After you have filled the sample bottle, simply use the return kit which we have prepared for you and send your sample straight to the accredited water testing laboratory. Here it will be analysed by specialists, directly and efficiently.
Which contaminants are analysed in the Water Analysis BASIC?
The Water Analysis BASIC includes a detailed analysis of the following substances and values:
Heavy metals:
Lead
Copper
Nickel
Minerals and substances causing hardness:
Magnesium
Calcium
Water hardness
Other values tested:
pH value
electrical conductivity
Would you like to test your water for other contaminants?
If you want to drink your tap water, we recommend the Water Analysis PLUS which tests for 31 potential contaminants in your water.
What effect does drinking contaminated water have on your health?
The water you drink has an enormous impact on your health. Even if you don't drink tap water yourself, you most probably use it to cook with. Unlike most bacteria and germs, heavy metals are not removed through cooking processes such as boiling. Contamination with heavy metals like lead or copper is a health risk, and the effects are gradual and commonly misdiagnosed. Possible indications of this are persistant tiredness, fatigue and frequent headaches. You can find more information on the health effects with the results of your water analysis.
If the drinking water flows through lead pipes, it is very unlikely that the concentration of heavy metals in the water is below the limits prescribed in the Water Supply Regulations. If this is the case, the consumer's health is at risk and further measures should be taken, such as updating the plumbing system.
Who is the Water Analysis BASIC aimed at?
The Water Analysis BASIC is for anyone who wants to check the condition of their pipes and the materials used for their taps and fittings in order to spot potential problems early on.
Other popular tests are our Water Analysis PLUS and Water Analysis PREMIUM.
As a supplement to the Water Analysis BASIC, we recommend further tests such as the Pharmaceutical Test or the Pesticide Test.