Review on 💧 Watersafe WS425W: Comprehensive Well Water Testing for a Safer, Purer Supply by Loren Jacobson

I am new to my own well. I started researching water testing kits because friends suggested I buy a whole house water softener. I loved the taste, smell and feel of our water (soap rinses off immediately in the shower). But did I get some rust? look for rings in our toilets. So I decided to test and see what happened and if I needed an emollient. This at-home test kit contains 6 separate tests - either strips or vials - that test for bacteria, copper, iron, nitrates and nitrites, pH, hardness, chlorine, lead and pesticides (atrazine and simazine). I thought these tests covered my concerns. I've also done a lot of research on the internet—mainly government websites like the CDC, environmental services, state health departments, and university websites. Some information was interesting, others just lulled. My tests showed I was at 50 ppm hardness level. I found out on a university website that 50 mg/L (same as ppm) is considered a soft range - at least according to plumbing engineers. The water treatment industry says this is about to get a bit complicated. Hm. I guess I'll stick with what she considers soft? I also found some useful tips - some of which are in the fairly detailed instructions that came with the kit, others I picked up from other websites during my research. - Use cold water. - For lead testing, it is best to do an "initial sampling" when testing a water sample after it has been in your lines for an extended period of time - at least 6 hours. So take it first thing in the morning before washing it off. Don't use the sink faucet to test for bacteria, use the faucet in the bathroom or bathtub. Let the water run for 5 minutes before taking a sample. If you need to use the sink faucet, clean it with chlorine first, and then run water for 5 minutes. Also, do not touch the inside of the collection tube. Also, it should be noted that this test suite is intended for ONE test. Some kits are reusable but not this one. I plan on retesting frequently as these values can change so I can look for kits that allow for multiple tests. Final Opinion - I think this test is great for pre-testing - the instructions are detailed and easy to follow. However, if you have serious concerns about the safety of your drinking water, I would recommend getting a State Department test done (in South Carolina this is done through DHEC) - I think you'll get slightly more accurate results. Of course, these fees may be slightly higher depending on the state you live in.