Water is something we all need no matter where we live and what our lifestyle is. Without a good water supply, people can succumb to all kinds of diseases, most of which can take lives. This is why water testing, especially drinking water, is so important. This is also true if you have suspicions about your company’s water systems.
People who live in rural areas can often believe that the well water they use is 100% free of all types of bacteria and viruses. This is absolutely false, as there is no way to determine exactly how safe the water is until you test and analyze it. You should test the water you are using to make sure it is 100% safe for all pathogens before your family or business uses it. If there are contaminants, a proper filtration method must be incorporated to make the water safe for use.
One of the tests you should put your water system through is a comprehensive Legionella test. Legionella is a bacterium found in both air and water. Unlike other bacteria, it can survive at lower dissolved oxygen levels and is somewhat resistant to chlorine disinfection. Certain plastics and organics can provide nutrients for growth. These attributes make our modern plumbing systems a good habitat for the organism.
Legionella is known to multiply quite rapidly in cooling towers, humidifiers, and water heaters. Water tests that have been done have shown that Legionella bacteria can multiply from 10 per milliliter to over 10,000 per milliliter in just one month. This means that if your water is not tested for Legionella, you risk spreading the disease.
To prevent all Legionella-related diseases, it is important to regularly monitor your water systems. This is especially important in industrial settings where Legionella can be found in abundance. What makes Legionella so resistant to treatments is its intercellular development, which can be found in similar microorganisms, such as amoebas and protozoa.
water tests Kits can be purchased, which will allow people to test drinking water in their home and office quite easily. While these water test kits can be accurate, to some extent they are not up to par with laboratory level equipment. They will not be able to provide you with information about the containment in your water the way a laboratory will. If you want to test your water, make sure you contact a fully competent water testing company or laboratory, ideally ISO accredited.
Taking the time to learn more about your drinking water is a great way to avoid a potential disaster. The more you know, the more beneficial it will be to you or your company.