Water monitoring and testing are both important to ensure that your private water sources are potable. Water monitoring is geared toward watching for changes in your water quality. Water testing is looking for specific contaminates.

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Do not rely on one-time water tests to tell you if your water is safe to drink and use.  

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• One-time water tests conducted by labs can be expensive and will only give you a snapshot of your water quality at a specific moment. Remember that accidents and contamination can happen at any time.  
   

Monitor and record your water for conductivity in between targeted testing. For residents who live near certain types of shale development, such as well pads, impoundments, or landfills, EHP recommends testing conductivity weekly. 
 

• Weekly use of a water quality monitor to track conductivity provides an inexpensive way of knowing if there are changes in your water and when it may be a good idea to perform additional testing.

  • Conductivity testing measures the ability of water to conduct electrical current. This testing can provide insight into the number of salts and minerals (total dissolved solids or TDS) in your water. Drastic changes in the level of conductivity could indicate that groundwater has been contaminated by highly saline water, such as produced water from fracking. 

• Observe and record readings in a journal with the date and time the measurements were taken. By doing so, you will be able to see when changes occur. 

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It is important to establish a baseline by monitoring and recording regularly for a couple of months so that you know what your conductivity and pH readings usually are.

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Conductivity and pH meters can be found online by searching "water quality test kit pH conductivity." Some of these meters are inexpensive, and some perform both tests. Consult reviews before purchasing one.

 

Note that there are many similar products on the market. EHP does not endorse specific water test manufacturers or their products. Before purchasing any water testing device or kit, review the contaminants the kits test for to determine usefulness.

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Tip: Measure and record the conductivity of the water in your toilet tank when the tank has refilled after flushing. Note that a water softener or other water treatment will cause periodic spikes in conductivity. This will be part of your baseline. Be aware of when your water treatment systems are operating and note how it affects your recorded measurements. 

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Once a baseline is established, if a conductivity reading is 200 units (us/cm) above this baseline, then further testing should be performed.  

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In addition to conductivity, you can also monitor your water for pH. Testing for pH measures the acidity level in water. The acidity of your groundwater should be relatively stable. Changes to the acidity level may indicate that contamination is occurring. 

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Please note that conductivity and pH monitoring may not reflect all possible contamination and cannot identify which chemicals caused a change in readings. Therefore, EHP recommends performing the targeted tests listed in the Well Water Testing section of our website every six months. 

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The following signs may also point to contamination: 

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• Changes in the taste, smell, or appearance of your water 

• Foaming, bubbling, or spurting faucets 

• Gritty, sandy material in your water 

• Salty or metallic-tasting water 

• Skin burns or rashes after bathing 

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EHP recommends that you keep a record of monitoring results and keep copies of all tests performed. Any notes on perceived changes in water quality (e.g., taste, smell, clarity) and any health issues should also be recorded. 

Remember: If you see significant change in conductivity above your baseline or notice other distinct changes in your water, you should drink bottled water until you get your water tested for the chemicals noted in the Well Water Testing section below.