Below please find a very simplified table of potential symptoms and testing methods for several contaminants which sometimes wind up in drinking water. This list in no way, shape or form represents the total number of potential drinking water contaminants. For a ‘complete’ list of water contaminants and their potential effects on human health, plese refer to the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s SafeWater Web Site.
Symptom | Contaminant | Water Test |
Skin Damage, Circulatory System Problems, Increased Risk of Cancer | Arsenic | Arsenic Test Kit |
Cardiovascular Problems, Reproductive Difficulties, Mammory Gland Tumors | Atrazine | WaterSafe All-in-One Test Kit , Pesticides in Water |
Dry Skin, Increased Risk of Cancer if Ingested | Chlorine | Free Chlorine Check , Total Chlorine Check , WaterWorks 7-Way Test Kit |
Gastrointestinal Irritation | Copper | SenSafe Copper Check , Heavy Metals Check |
Thyroid Damage, Nervous System Damage | Cyanide | eXact Strip Cyanide |
Increased Risk of Cancer in Humans | MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) | Lab Testing Only |
Methemo-globulinemia | Nitrate/ Nitrite | WaterWorks Well Check , Complete Home Water Quality Test Kit |
Increased Risk of Cancer in Humans | Tetrachloroethylene | Lab Testing Only |
Gastrointestinal Disease | Cryptosporidium | Lab Testing Only |
Brain, Kidney, and Nervous System Damage, Lead Poisoning | Lead | WaterSafe All-in-One Test Kit , Lead in Water , LeadQUICK in Paint Home Visual Test Kit , Lead in Soil |
Kidney Damage | Mercury | Boris Mercury Check , High Range Mercury Check |
Severe Diarrhea, Cramps, Convulsions / Long Term Kidney, Liver, Bone and Blood Damage | Cadmium | Heavy Metals Check |
Metallic Taste | Iron | Iron Check , Total Iron Visual Test Kit , Heavy Metals Check |