Drinking water is defined as water that does not pose health concerns to users. A huge percentage of people drink contaminated water resulting in many illnesses some of which are rapidly fatal. These diseases can be rapidly spread especially among communities that live close together. Eradicating related diseases is one of the major public health goals in the developing world. Drinking water testing is one of the many ways towards attaining this aim.

It is important to ensure that tests are done regularly on various samples before the water is declared fit for use. When carrying out tests, various impurities, both visible and invisible, are likely to be found in the samples. Commonly encountered impurities include lead, manganese, iron, sulphate and radon. Microorganisms are the contaminants that are most likely to cause disease. Unfortunately, they are usually invisible to the naked eye and are often overlooked. Testing for the organisms should be done at least once a year.

A number of changes and occurrences may call for testing of samples more than once a year. One should suspect extremely high levels of manganese, sulphate and iron in the event of changes in clarity, taste, color and smell. The tests are also crucial when unexplained illness occur within the immediate environment. Pregnancy is another critical indicator for home testing.

There are a number of other observations that can be used to decide whether there is a need to take samples. For instance, if there is an increase in the occurrence of unwanted environmental events such as increased incidence of diarrheal diseases, destruction of sewage drainage systems within the vicinity, increased levels of wear and tear and increased hardness among others. If soap starts to lose its ability to lather easily, testing should also be considered.

Babies are highly susceptible to nitrate poisoning. Exposure to high concentrations of nitrates may result in blue baby syndrome (methemoglobinemia) where oxygen levels in the body are insufficient to meet the body demands. Immediate medical attention is crucial for the survival of affected babies.

The samples used for this process are taken in different ways. The first sample is what comes out of the tap first once it is turned on in the morning. Another sample should be taken after the stream runs for some time. Samples can be collected at different points in the piping system when contamination has occurred in more than one section. Suggested points include inlet and outlet of a filtering device or before and after entry in storage tank. An allowance of 12 hours should be given when collecting the sample from a system suspected of corrosion.

Once the samples have been adequately tested and the contaminants identified, one of the steps that can be undertaken is the installation of filter systems to remove impurities. The main downside is that important components such as fluoride may be filtered out. Fluoride is an element that helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevents decay.

Drinking water testing should become a routine if some of the most fatal diseases affecting the world today are to be prevented. Apart from testing, there is a need to have proper storage mechanisms to prevent contamination. If the water is being stored for a long time, regular sampling for tests should be done.