Aluminium Water Test Results Guide

What this test measures

This test measures aluminium in your water. Small traces occur naturally and from water treatment; higher levels usually show up as discoloured or cloudy water and are worth investigating.

The UK standard

UK drinking water regulations set an indicator level of 200 µg/l (0.2 mg/l) for aluminium. Supplies are normally well below this — readings above it justify a closer look.

Reading your strip

Dip a strip into your sample for two seconds, hold it level and wait 30 seconds. Match the aluminium pad against the colour chart on your instructions card and read off the closest band. Strips give you a clear range rather than a lab-precise number — exactly what you need for spotting problems and tracking changes over time.

What to do next

• Confirm it first. One strip is a snapshot — re-test with a fresh strip and a fresh sample before acting on a result.
• If a reading on a mains supply stays above the standard after re-testing, contact your water supplier — they investigate quality concerns free of charge.
• On a private supply (well, borehole or spring), your local council’s environmental health team can arrange accredited lab testing.
• Thinking about a filter? Test before and after fitting it so you can see exactly what it changed.