Testing for lead, free chlorine, total alkalinity, MPS, iron, nitrite, pH, bromine, fluoride, total chlorine, hardness, cyanuric acid, copper, nitrate, QUAT/QAC, carbonate and coliform/e. Coli bacteria, the Liberty Gold Standard Complete Water Test Kit gives a pretty good overview of the quality of a water source using a simple testing process.
Costing $27.99 at the time of this writing at the Liberty Gold Standard website, the kit contains 140 test strips and three bacteria culture kits.
For a quick, easy, and inexpensive preliminary assessment of a drinking water source, the kit seems to provide a good solution. (Note: I am not a water quality engineer. I invite any SurvivalBlog readers with greater experience in this area to share their expertise on water testing in the weekly Snippets column or in a full-length article for the writing contest.)
Background
My wife, “Kari” and I get our water from a well. A dozen years ago or so when we moved into our home, we had the water tested.
Not too long ago, a thought crossed my mind: “I wonder if our well water is still pure after all these years?” Then, one day while I was surfing the web, I ran across the Liberty Gold Standard Complete Water Test Kit. It looked like an easy and inexpensive way to get at least a preliminary answer to my question. So I contacted Liberty Gold Standard and asked if they could provide me with a sample of their kit for testing and evaluation. They were kind enough to agree. Shortly afterward, a 7.38 x 7.13 x 6.38 inch shipping box arrived via UPS Parcel Select from Shipcalm.com, 7860 Paramount Blvd., Pico Rivera, CA 90660.
First Impressions
The shipping box contained a packing list and a 6.25 x 4 x 2.38 inch package box.
The back of the package box declares that the contents are “Medical and Scientific Quality.” The bottom of the box states, “For informational purposes only. We cannot guarantee your water quality based on these results. If your results are abnormal, consider further testing or call your local municipality.” I felt like the two messages were at least somewhat at odds. The reservations communicated on the box may reflect the realities of doing business in a litigious society.
I was also surprised to find the words “Made in PRC” on the right side of the package box. I don’t generally associate the word “Liberty” with the People’s Republic of China. Once again, I had demonstrated my gullibility in relation to a product’s country of origin. I am very gradually becoming less gullible, but I am still learning more slowly than I ought to be learning.
Using the Test Strips
There were directions for using the test strips printed on the outside of the box as well as in a small instruction booklet contained inside the box. Both sets of directions were similar enough that I felt confident about beginning the testing process.
The 140 test strips were contained in seven different sealed foil pouches. Each pouch contained 20 strips. This seems to be a good strategy for limiting the exposure of the strips in the unopened pouches to humidity, UV radiation, and other influences that will shorten their shelf life.
I ripped open one of the foil pouches and removed a test strip. Then I filled the plastic test tube supplied with the kit with water from the tap in the kitchen. I then dipped the test strip into the tube and removed it after two seconds. Next I waited an additional 15 seconds before comparing the test strip with the color chart on the side of the test strip storage bottle.
For best results, Liberty Gold Standard recommends storing the test kit in a cool place, avoiding touching test areas of the strip, keeping wet fingers out of the bottle, closing the cap tightly after use, and comparing results with the color chart in natural light.
I repeated the test with three different test strips just to see if I received consistent results. I did indeed find my results to be very similar in all three tests.
I found that there was no trace of hardness, free chlorine, iron, copper, lead, nitrate, nitrite, MPS, total chlorine, cyanuric acid, or bromine in our water. Two of the tests revealed no trace of fluoride, while one suggested that there might be just a hint of fluoride in the water. Total alkalinity was 120, carbonate 80 ppm, and pH about 7.2-7.6 . All of these results were within normal ranges.
The only anomaly in the testing was that I seemed to consistently get a slight hint of QUAT/QAC in the water. How a disinfectant should show up in our well water in detectable quantities is beyond me. I am not sure if our water softener somehow introduces some of these substances into the water, if there are trace amounts of the material by the tap from cleaning the sink, if the test tube or test strips are somehow contaminated, if I am reading the strip wrong, or if this is due to some other factor. If any SurvivalBlog readers have any insight into this mystery, please send me a message at ThomasKChristianson at gmail dot com.
The Coliform Bacteria Test
Next, I carefully followed the directions for performing the coliform bacteria test. I began by washing my hands thoroughly. Then I ran the water in the tap for two minutes. Next, I adjusted the flow from the tap to a slow trickle. I then opened one of the test bags, added water to the recommended level, and then resealed the bag. Finally, I laid the bag on a flat surface at room temperature and waited 48 hours. At the end of the test period, the kit was negative for the presence of coliform bacteria.
Interpreting Results
Lead can enter drinking water through corrosion of plumbing or from natural deposits. Overexposure can result in loss of learning ability in children, kidney problems, high blood pressure, damage to the nervous system, and infertility. The EPA recommends levels of less than 0.015 mg/L.
Copper can also enter drinking water through corrosion of plumbing or from natural deposits. Overexposure can result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and liver and kidney damage. The EPA recommends levels of less than 1.3 mg/L.
Cyanuric acid is used to disinfect water supplies. Overexposure can result in gastrointestinal illness. The EPA recommends levels in the 10-100 mg/L range.
Fluoride is added to drinking water in many areas to help prevent tooth decay. It can also come from natural deposits, fertilizer, or aluminum factories. Overexposure can result in bone diseases, mottled teeth, and thyroid problems. The EPA recommends levels of less than 4 mg/L.
Chlorine is used to disinfect water supplies. Overexposure can result in skin irritation and stomach discomfort, nausea, and diarrhea. The EPA recommends total chlorine levels of less than 4 mg/L.
Nitrite can come from runoff from fertilizer and animal waste. It can restrict the flow of oxygen to the brains of infants under six months of age, and can cause shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. It can also stimulate the growth of harmful bacteria. The EPA recommends levels of less than 1 mg/L.
Nitrate can also come from runoff from fertilizer and animal waste. It causes the same problems as nitrite. The EPA recommends levels of less than 10 mg/L.
Iron can come from corrosion or from mineral deposits in the surrounding soil. It is not harmful to health, but is hard on appliances. The EPA recommends levels of less than 0.3 mg/L.
Carbonate can cause skin irritation. The EPA recommends levels of less than 240 ppm.
Bromine, MPS, and QUAT/QAC are water disinfectants. Overexposure can result in gastrointestinal illness, strange taste, and lung and skin irritation.
Water with a pH lower than 7 is considered acidic, and water with a pH above 8.5 is considered basic. A pH of between 6.5 and 8.5 is recommended.
Hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in water. Soft water can cause corrosion of plumbing and appliances while hard water can cause residue buildup and difficulties when using soap and detergents.
Conclusions
I found the kit to be simple, easy to use, and to give consistent results. Absent any red flags from more knowledgeable SurvivalBlog readers, I believe that the kit will give useful preliminary test results. If the kit detects contaminants or bacteria, I would be inclined to accept those results as accurate. If the kit does not detect any contaminants or bacteria, I am not yet sure if I would be fully reassured by that outcome. I look forward to input from more knowledgeable SurvivalBlog readers on that subject.
Disclaimer
Liberty Gold Standard was kind enough to provide me a sample of their Complete Water Test Kit for testing and evaluation. I tried not to allow their kindness to interfere with my objectivity in this review, and I believe that I have succeeded. I did not receive any other financial or other inducement to mention any vendor, product, or service in this article.
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