How to test your water at home

Testing your water is simpler than most people expect. There are two ways to do it, and they answer different questions.

Strips or a laboratory test?

Test strips give you an instant snapshot at home. Dip a strip, wait a few seconds, and compare the colours against the chart. They are ideal for quick, regular checks — pH, hardness, chlorine and similar — and for spotting sudden changes. They estimate rather than measure.

A laboratory test is the accurate option. You post a small sample to an accredited lab, and the analysis puts precise numbers against each parameter, including things strips cannot see, such as bacteria and metals. Use a lab test when the answer matters: a new supply, a suspected problem, or a routine annual check.

Taking a good sample

Every kit comes with bottles and step-by-step instructions, but three habits make any sample better:

• Sample from the tap you actually drink from.
• Run the cold tap for a minute first, unless your kit says otherwise — some tests deliberately capture the first draw.
• Fill, seal and post the same day. Fresh samples give reliable results.

Reading your results

Your report compares each result against the relevant standard, so you can see at a glance what passed and what needs attention. If something is raised, the fix is usually straightforward — often a matter of choosing the right filter — and the report tells you what kind of problem you are dealing with before you spend anything on treatment.

Test first, then treat. It is the cheapest way to get water you can trust.