Water Sampling a Critical Step in Residential Water Equipment Selection

For our wholesale equipment customers who treat well water, we offer a very basic water analysis. Ultimately, the success of the water treatment starts with proper sampling methods. We aren't talking rocket surgery here. Most residential water treatment systems can be prescribed by testing for 3-5 parameters, including hardness, pH, iron and Total Dissolved solids (TDS). However, what I find are samples collected in old pickle jars with little documentation. Most treatment companies will provide you with a clean sample bottle and a questionnaire, not pickle jar the home owner gave you.  If your customer wants an independent analysis, your customer can also find a certified laboratory in your State.

Critical questions for a questionnaire:

• Is there an existing treatment system?
• How powerful is the water pump?
• How many bathrooms?
• Any mega showers and Jacuzzi tubs? Irrigation?
• Taste, odor, color?

Make as many observations as possible, listen to the homeowner. Part of your sample tool kit are your eyes, ears and nose. One of the best water observation tools are is a simple white Styrofoam cup. Fill it with water and see if there is any color or sediment. Always carry a washing machine hose and 5 gallon bucket. They make great sampling tools, especially if you are sampling from the well tank. Run off at least one five gallon bucket to clear the line.



LaMotte Color Q DW model 2059

 Of course you can forgo future brow beating and lectures from me if you purchase your own test kit and test the water yourself. You'll still need to ask the same questions above. Test kits range from mild to wild. We use the LaMotte Color Q DW model 2059. Now don't get excited. We don't sell test kits we sell the equipment after the test. If you get it right, every one's happy.

For additional information:
Certified water testing laboratories in your State
LaMotte Drinking Water Testing Products

Water Analysis Could Have Saved $57,000

In the white paper, "A $150 Water Analysis Could Have Saved $57,000 in Capital and RO Cleaning Costs" by Joseph Urbans-Sales Engineer at Res-Kem Corp., he details how a water analysis is extremely important in the design phase of a water treatment plant design.

Summary:
The paper shows after spending $52,000 in capital and installation for water treatment equipment, technical and service personnel from Res-Kem Corp were called in to diagnose a major problem with a three week old reverse osmosis (RO) system specified, built, and installed by others. Upon investigation, an inlet water analysis may never have been done, or at least no one could produce the analysis used to originally size the plant. It appears the engineering firm sized and designed this project without one.

The Costs:
If the system had been designed correctly from the start, Res-Kem conservatively estimates the savings to be $57,000:

Total capital and installation costs of original system $52,000

Membrane cleaning costs of $5,000

In addition, if the RO membranes cannot be cleaned, the cost will be $15,000 for new membranes plus installation service.

Water Testing Services Offered

Before purchasing any water treatment equipment, the first piece of information a person should obtain is a water analysis. The challenge is you want a quick, independent test at an affordable price. While we can not vouch for it at this point, an employee may have found a reliable third party testing service for Pennsylvania residents. He found an article in the Town Talk Newspaper of Delaware County about a service offered by Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. The College has an Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory which offers water testing to the general public.

The laboratory has a list of standard analytical packages that range in price from $50 - $130 per sample. Also, the laboratory has a list of individual analyses for drinking water.

To submit a drinking water sample to Penn State’s laboratory, you must first obtain a Drinking Water Test Kit. Kits are available at many county cooperative extension offices or may be obtained directly from the laboratory. The kit consists of a shipping box, sample bottles, instructions on how to take a sample, and a submission form. After taking your water sample, you must send the kit to the laboratory by overnight mail along with your payment for the test(s) requested. For the bacteria test, included in all test packages, the laboratory must receive the sample within 30 hours after sampling.

How soon will you get your results? According to the Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory's website, tests are complete within two weeks after sample receipt by the laboratory. With mailing time, you should receive your report within two to three weeks after sending your sample.