If news coverage regarding sewage in drinking water means you're looking at ways to test water quality at home, you could be wondering if it's a DIY job, or one for the professionals.
It's something I've thought about too, particularly when I've been looking at replacing kitchen taps, buying water filters or simply frustrated by the limescale on my shower screens. As a result, I decided to look into how you can test water quality at home, if it's complicated to do so, and if the results are reliable.
In this article I explain the two easily available methods I used to test my water quality at home, as well as outlining where you can find additional information on your water content, and your options if you want to call in the professionals.
Article continues belowWhy you might need to test your water quality
The main indicators you might need to test your water quality are generally fairly obvious and involve changes in taste, colour or smell. Any drastic changes should always be reported to your water company, although if you've received notification that there are works taking place in your area, it's not unusual to notice some temporary differences in its quality.
As your water supplier has to notify you of planned works, or emergencies, I always recommend signing up on their website to receive notifications. If you know work or repairs will be taking place, it can save you worrying that the problem is limited to your home. Seeing brown water run from your taps is common after major works or emergencies, and it usually runs clear once you've let it flow through your system. But, if you didn't know work was planned it would certainly be a cause for concern.
But what if the changes are only marginal and you're not sure if they need to be reported or not? Increased limescale, cloudy water, minor changes to the taste may also start alarm bells ringing in your mind, or you may want to check that the recent works haven't left any underlying problems.
If this all sounds familiar, I tried the following at-home testing methods and explain what other routes you can take to test the quality of drinking water in your home.
Testing strips
If you do have concerns about your water, the chances are you want an immediate answer. I initially used this Kedixiest water testing kit from Amazon prior to reviewing the efficacy of this Tappwater Eco Pro Compact Filter. I wanted to see if the quality of my water dramatically improved after fitting the filter.
At the time, I wasn't convinced if they were giving a truly accurate reading as there was only a discernible change in the quality of my water. I either had less to worry about than I initially thought, or the strips weren't that effective.
For this research, I decided the only way forward was to test a sample of really dirty water created using mud mixed with my tap water. I then ran the same tests on clean tap water to see how the results differed.
Test set up
I filled two clean containers with water and added mud to one. Testing using strips is relatively simple, you simply submerge the strip into the water then remove it immediately. You then hold it horizontally for 30 seconds and then compare the colours on the strip to the back of the packet. Each strip gives you an indicator of how good or bad your water quality is for a list of minerals and elements.
I ran the fresh water test first, and then repeated the process with the dirty water.
Results
Overall, the results, as per the first time I tested the strips were pretty inconclusive. As you can see from the test strips, the colours on the strips aren't as different as I'd have expected given the mud and dirt in the one sample of water. If anything, I feel it would make someone question the quality of their drinking water even more if they ran a similar test and had the same indiscernible results.
However, as I had already questioned the efficacy of these strips the first time round, it's confirmed in my mind that if I had genuine concerns, I wouldn't be relying on this kind of test to give me an answer.
Digital testing kit
To see if something slightly more advanced would give better results, I also purchased the 2026 NEW TDS Meter Digital Water Tester from Amazon. While it still only cost less than £8, it felt a little more advanced than paper strips. Offering results in five seconds, the testing kit also saves previous readings, giving you comparable measurements over time.
I ran the same test as with the paper strips, using a sample of dirty water and one taken directly from my kitchen tap.
Test set-up
As per the instructions, I submerged the tester into the clean water first and didn't exceed the maximum test line. Once the reading on the screen had stopped changing, I pressed hold to store it. You can then toggle between four different readings. The last two are temperature, while the first two – TDS and EC relate to the purity of the water. In both cases, the lower the number the better the water quality.
To check this, you compare the number on the LDC screen to the side of the box, or back of the unit.
Once the clean water test was complete, I repeated the same process with the sample of dirty water.
Results
As I'd hoped, using a slightly more expensive piece of kit gave me a slightly more conclusive result regarding my drinking water quality. A reading of 193 on the clean water fell into the general drinking water quality range meaning there is generally nothing to be concerned about.
The dirty water on the other hand showed a reading of 361. While this only placed it into the high hardness water range, rather than the taste is not good, I certainly wouldn't be sampling it in person to check this reading.
If your water is brown, common sense tells you to avoid it. Or, as I'll come onto explain, contact your water company or enlist professional help.
Alternative home-testing water kits
A more comprehensive 6-in-1 water quality tester with coloured digital scoring. Portable and suitable for use at home, or while on the move
A drinking water test kit designed to analyse for traces of lead
A lab-based testing kit for returning a sample of water obtained from a well
What testing can your water company provide?
But what can you find out about your water quality from your water company? According to the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), the independent body responsible for monitoring drinking water quality in England and Wales, water companies test drinking water daily and should be able provide you with the results if you request them.
If you aren't sure which water company is responsible for your drinking water, you can enter your postcode on the Water UK website and it will tell you. Any complaints or concerns can be raised directly with the company concerned and depending on the nature of the complaint they will potentially take a sample and run tests to establish the cause. You may also find information on the quality of your water included on your water bill – something you may not have noticed as we increasingly opt for digital copies of bills, rather than printed versions that arrive via mail.
For private water supplies, such as those obtained from a well or borehole, you'll need to involve your local authority who, according to the DWI have to follow strict guidelines regarding how frequently private supplies are tested.
Using a professional service
If you aren't satisfied with the results shown on any at-home tests, or you aren't happy with the responses from your water company, you may decide to look for professional help in testing your water quality.
In this instance, the most common route is to engage with a company that will analyse your water in a laboratory. A sealed lab-ready kit is normally sent to you with clear instructions for collecting a sample. Once returned to the laboratory, they will run a number of tests looking for issues with chemicals, microbiology and metals.
Costs for these can increase depending on the depth of analysis you require, but always make sure you choose an accredited laboratory to ensure the tests are being run by a registered company. The UKAS website can provide details of companies that can conduct the necessary tests.
In conclusion, if in the future I had major concerns about my water quality, I'd certainly consider opting for professional testing as I'm not sure that home testing gives the results or reliability I'd need.
As I don't have any major concerns right now, I'm instead considering an under counter water filter, or a boiling water tap in my next home – many of which have filtration systems built into them. As they offer hot, cold and filtered water it means I could also save money on additional small kitchen appliances.
For more advice on the topic, find out is a boiling water tap energy efficient and how much a Quooker tap costs, to see if purchasing one fits in with your new kitchen costs.
