Contamination can come from several sources, including from naturally-occurring elements in your groundwater, sudden events like flooding or hurricanes, or structural damage from your plumbing or well. No matter the source, our water experts will uncover what is in your water.
Now we’re getting into the details.
Periscope will help you make sense of this.
We measure the concentration of different chemicals and minerals present in the water.
We assess factors like turbidity, color, and odor.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Alkalinity is the water's "acid-neutralizing power," mostly from dissolved minerals like calcium carbonate, and it enters your drinking water mainly through the natural dissolution of carbonate-rich rocks and soils, sometimes enhanced by human activities.
Why should I care?
Low alkalinity can cause corrosion, leading it to eat away metal pipes and appliances, which could result in leaks, damages and costly repairs. High alkalinity water can contribute to scale buildup in pipes, fixtures, and appliances, reducing efficiency and lifespan. High alkalinity can give water a soapy or bitter taste.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Arsenic is a naturally occurring element that enters water when it comes in contact with certain rocks and soils.
Why should I care?
According to the World Health Organization, arsenic is a known carcinogen and toxic to humans. Only a lab analysis can determine its presence.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Copper is a naturally occurring metal that is commonly used in household plumbing. Copper can enter your drinking water as copper plumbing corrodes.
Why should I care?
High levels of copper in your water could cause a metallic or bitter taste.
What is It? Where does it come from?
According to the CDC, fluoride is a natural element found in soil, water, and rocks. It strengthens tooth enamel to prevent cavities and decay. Because natural water supplies rarely contain enough fluoride to protect teeth, many communities add a small amount to public water to promote oral health.
Why should I care?
Too much fluoride can lead to dental fluorosis, causing cosmetic staining and enamel defects.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Hardness is the sum of all dissolved minerals in your water. It's generally measured by levels of calcium and magnesium, but other metals such as iron and copper can also contribute to total hardness. Hardness naturally occurs when minerals dissolve into groundwater when passing through soil and rocks or via agricultural and industrial runoff.
Why should I care?
High hardness levels tend to dry out the skin and hair which often causes itchiness and irritation. It can also lead to damaging scale buildup on plumbing and water-using appliances resulting in costly repairs.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Iron is a naturally occurring metal that enters groundwater from soil and rock, or corroded plumbing.
Why should I care?
Iron can cause a metallic taste and orange-brown staining in plumbing and appliances.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Lead is a naturally occurring metal that enters groundwater from industry or mining sources, or can leach into water as lead pipes used in municipal service lines or older homes corrode.
Why should I care?
According to the CDC, lead can potentially cause developmental delays in children and could contribute to elevated blood pressure in adults. Lead is both tasteless and odorless meaning testing is the only way to identify its presence.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral that enters groundwater from natural sources or mining and industrial activities.
Why should I care?
Excess manganese in water can manifest as brown-black stains on fixtures, appliances and laundry, and can cause a metallic taste.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Nitrate is a naturally occurring chemical compound comprised of nitrogen and oxygen that typically enters groundwater from nearby nitrogen-based fertilizer use and animal waste. Higher concentrations of nitrate are typically found in agricultural areas.
Why should I care?
According to the National Institute of Health, various studies have shown that exposure to nitrates during pregnancy may increase the risk of complications.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Sulfate is a common mineral found in drinking water. It occurs naturally in many water sources and can also come from industrial processes.
Why should I care?
While sulfate generally doesn't pose major health risks, it can affect how water tastes and smells.
What is It? Where does it come from?
pH is the measure of how acidic or basic water is. Water that tests lower than a pH of 7.0 is considered acidic and water that tests higher than 7.0 is considered alkaline, or basic. Various natural and industrial processes can cause a change in pH.
Why should I care?
High pH (basic) can cause a bitter taste and could leave deposits in pipes and water-using appliances. Low pH (acidic) can cause plumbing corrosion.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Total dissolved solids (TDS) is the sum of dissolved ions in water, which can enter groundwater by natural sources, sewage, urban/agricultural run-off and industrial wastewater. Different water sources contain different particles that present as TDS, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, sulfate and magnesium.
Why should I care?
High levels of TDS in ground water can have an unpleasant salty, bitter or brackish taste, depending on the water's composition. It can also cause excessive scaling in pipes.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Turbidity measures the relative clarity of a liquid, which then describes the clarity or cloudiness of water. Materials that cause water to be turbid include clay, silt, particles, sediment, very tiny inorganic and organic matter, algae, plankton and other microscopic organisms.
Why should I care?
According to the EPA, high turbidity makes water cloudy or opaque and is often associated with ineffective water treatment. For that reason, high turbidity is commonly used as an indicator for potential health risks (e.g., presence of harmful bacteria).
What is It? Where does it come from?
Total chlorine encompasses both "free chlorine," the active disinfectant, and "combined chlorine" (chloramines). Combined chlorine forms when free chlorine reacts with ammonia or other organic matter in the water.
Why should I care?
While it has some disinfecting ability, it's weaker and can cause unpleasant taste and odor.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Chlorine is a chemical element that is a potent oxidizing agent. Chlorine is also highly concentrated in our oceans and is a vital element with many practical applications, including table salt and manufacturing.
Why should I care?
Chlorine could introduce other types of toxins, such as trihalomethanes (THMs). THMs result when chlorine is introduced into the water supply and reacts with other naturally occurring elements.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Chloramines are sometimes used to treat drinking water and they provide longer-lasting disinfection as water moves through pipes. They kill microorganisms that can cause infectious disease.
Why should I care?
Once your treated water arrives in your home, there are not tangible benefits to consuming chloramine. They can affect your water's taste and quality.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Magnesium (Mg) is an alkaline earth metal and one of the most essential minerals for human health. It enters drinking water mainly through natural dissolution from magnesium-rich rocks and soils, and sometimes from water treatment additives. Its presence and concentration depend on your local geology and the water treatment process.
Why should I care?
Very high levels can cause scale buildup in plumbing and affect taste.
What is It? Where does it come from?
Tannins are a form of decayed organic matter that dissolve into water and shallow wells.
Why should I care?
Tannins do not pose a health issue, but can cause discoloration, a plant-like odor and an unpleasant after taste.
What is It? Where does it come from?
PFOA or perfluorooctanoic acid is the most well-known and heavily researched "forever chemical." It was famously used to create Teflon. It is found in water supplies across the entire globe and will remain for centuries.
Why should I care?
PFOA is labeled by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 1 carcinogen which is the highest warning level possible putting it in the same category as smoking and asbestos.
What is It? Where does it come from?
PFOS or perfluorooctane sulfonic acid is famous for its use in heavy-duty waterproofing and firefighting. Decades of using PFOS-laden foam during routine firefighting training exercises allowed the chemical to sink directly into local soils and groundwater networks.
Why should I care?
PFOS is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 2B carcinogen with a strong link to prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
What is It? Where does it come from?
PFHxS or perfluorohexane sulfonic acid is mainly used in firefighting foam and textile fabric protectants. Because of its massive use in firefighting foams, groundwater near military bases and airports is often heavily contaminated with PFHxS.
Why should I care?
PFHxS is extremely biologically persistent and builds up in human tissues aggressively. It is found by the American Industrial Hygiene Association to suppress immune system response (most notably in children) and interfere with thyroid hormones.
What is It? Where does it come from?
PFHpA or perfluoroheptanoic acid is entirely synthetic and used in stain resistant coatings for carpets and textiles, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and even firefighting foam. It is highly mobile in water due to its short chain makeup which means it travels faster and further through soil and into groundwater than other PFAS.
Why should I care?
PFHpA can be toxic to the human body and cause adverse health effects including developmental toxicity, immune system interference, and liver damage.
What is It? Where does it come from?
PFNA or perfluorononanoic acid is lesser known to the public because of its heavy use in high-tech and industrial manufacturing industries. It is used to make plastic, electrical wires, and in textile manufacturing. Much of the PFNA in the environment comes from old fast-food wrappers and takeout containers.
Why should I care?
PFNA has one of the longest life spans in the human body of all PFAS. Studies show it can cause liver toxicity and reproductive complications.
What is It? Where does it come from?
PFDA or perfluorodecanoic acid is a man-made substance used in consumer products and industrial applications. It is highly resistant to heat and grease and can repel oil and water. It does not break down and ends up in water supplies and agricultural soil.
Why should I care?
PFDA has a high toxicity and can cause tumor growth and may suppress the immune system. Once it enters the body it remains there for a long time.
