What Is Bacteriological Water Analysis?
Your water quality is important. After all, water is one of the building blocks of life—we drink it, cook with it, bathe with it and are made up of 70 percent water ourselves, so ensuring that the water we use is clean and safe is of paramount importance.
Bacteriological water analysis in Pisgah Forest, NC takes a sampling of water—often for drinking or bathing purposes—and tests it to see what the concentration of bacteria is. The analysis also considers whether the bacteria present are dangerous to humans, and for what purpose the water is being used. For example, the standards for swimming pools are less stringent than the ones for drinking water, because we assume you won’t be drinking or ingesting as much of the water directly.
What does bacteriological water analysis look for?
Instead of evaluating the water for pathogens (dangerous, disease-causing microorganisms), the analysis focuses on looking for specific kinds of coliforms, which are specific types of bacteria found in human and animal guts. If these certain coliforms are found, that might indicate the presence of sewage. The more coliforms present above a “normal” level, the more likely it is that there is sewage in the water, which renders it unsafe for human consumption or bathing.
Contaminated water can pose serious health risks, especially to infants, the elderly and the infirm. Certain pathogens could cause dysentery, cholera, intestinal infections and other nasty ailments. It’s important to get your water tested regularly, particularly if you own a private water supply. Since the bacteria doesn’t affect the appearance, smell or taste of the water, there’s no way to tell if it contains dangerous pathogens unless you have it analyzed.
How does waste get into the water?
So, where do all these pathogens come from to begin with? The biggest source is human and animal waste getting into the water supply. When waste sits on the land (think dog parks, farms and other places animals leave their droppings), it can get into the water supply through runoff or flood water. Sometimes animals or their droppings get into wells, while other times septic tanks leak into the ground and contaminate the groundwater.
Generally, if your well or water system is older and fails to have watertight trappings, you’re at risk for water contamination.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets strict standards for drinking water and requires all municipalities to regularly test their water supply for the presence of coliforms. Private water supplies are not subject to those same standards, but it is crucial to conduct bacteriological water analysis if you expect to use that water for drinking or bathing.
Bacteriological water analysis in Pisgah Forest, NC
Royal Water Works Inc. offers comprehensive water analysis, including bacteriological water analysis in Pisgah Forest, NC. Our lab is equipped for microbiology, enabling us to test your water and let you know what’s lurking within. Whether you need testing for your commercial pool or wastewater facility, we’re able to identify anomalies and recommend a course of action to solve it. Call us today to get started.
Categorised in: Water Testing