How do you test for corrosivity in water supply?

Many characteristics of water determine its corrosivity including pH, calcium concentration, hardness, dissolved solids content and temperature. Water that is soft and acidic (pH < 7.0) tends to be more corrosive but the generally accepted measures of water corrosivity are the stability or saturation indices.

How is corrosivity measured?

Corrosivity describes how aggressive water is at corroding pipes and fixtures. The potential for water to be corrosive is measured by three different indexes: the Langelier Saturation Index (LSI), the Potential to Promote Galvanic Corrosion (PPGC), and the Larson Ratio (LR).

What should water test results be?

A pH of less than 6.5 can cause health problems. Municipal water supplies are usually adjusted to values between 8.0 and 10.0. Highly acidic water can be corrosive and may dissolve metals from pipes, pumps, and other fixtures. SDWR standards suggest a pH range between 6.5 to 8.5 for drinking water.

Can old water pipes have arsenic?

Pipes and Storage Tanks Arsenic has been shown to attach to iron in distribution system pipes. Because iron is so effective at binding with arsenic, corrosion deposits can have high concentrations of arsenic solids.

Do you have to test your well water for arsenic?

“If your drinking water comes from a private well, we recommend you test your water to be sure it is safe to drink. You can’t see, taste or smell arsenic in drinking water, so the only way to know if your well has arsenic or other common contaminants is to test it.

What kind of reaction vessel do you need to test for arsenic?

A volume-specific reaction vessel, usually a plastic bottle supplied in the test kit, is used for this reaction. Different kits typically require different sample sizes and usually employ additional reagents to control interferences from other common elements found in groundwater such as hydrogen sulfide and iron.

What are the results of a low range arsenic test?

Yet, the individual running these tests was still able to estimate results of 3 ppb. In another instance, with the Low Range Arsenic Check, there was no 50 ppb level but an accurate result was estimated. In summary, a strong point of this type of arsenic test kit is test result resolution.

How long does it take to test for arsenic?

This chemical reaction varies in time between test kits from 10 to 30 minutes. Once the reaction is completed, the test strip is removed and matched to a color comparator chart to obtain a quantitative measure for arsenic in the tested sample. These test kits are convenient in that they include all needed materials and reagents.