home watertest kits_may2010 tested

8/10/2019 Home WaterTest Kits_May2010 tested

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BackgroundAs part of the collective project on small drinking water systecoordinated by the National Collaborating Centres for Public His intended to contribute evidence to inform policy and practic

improving these systems.

QuestionParticipants in several small drinking water system consultatio2009 requested information about home water test kits (pleasemore information). Specically, they wanted to know:

1) Do commercially available water test kits accurately test wmeasure?

2) Do these kits reliably give the same result on a second sampsame time from the same source?

SearchOnly home water test kits were included in the search. Tests thsamples to a lab were not included. Kits were identied throu

1. Phone calls to head offices of major retailers in Canada (ATire, Costco, Home Depot, Home Hardware, Lowes, Ronadetermine which water test kits were sold.

2. Search of online databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE) using tbacteria, contaminants, E. coli, parasites, herbicide, pesticitest AND water.

3. Google search using the same terms, limited to products av

Home Water Test KitsBuyer Beware!

Stro stronger pu

D. Ciliska, M. Kerssies, J. KimFor the National CollaboratingCentre for Methods and Tools

Small DrinkingWater SystemsProject


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FindingsTwelve water test kits were reviewed (see next page). Informaproperties was not available on any of the product-specic wecalls to the companies. The only data were from an independentwo water test kits (for nitrate and atrazine/simazine) done by Protection Agency (EPA) (Batelle, 2001; Batelle, 2004). For ththe time the test indicated that no nitrate was in the water when(false negative). Up to 14% of the time, the test showed nitratenot actually there (false positive). The atrazine/simazine test kof 14%. In addition, Consumer Reports tested Watersafe All-InKits and found that of 14 kits, all detected low levels of most ccorrect readings for hardness. However, four of the kits failed bacteria (Anonymous, 2006).

Conclusion

Home water test kits may indicate a problem with drinking waindependent evaluations have been conducted. In addition, theEPA were subject to false positive and false negative results, lthese kits are accurate and dependable screening tools.

RecommendationSince home water test kits have a limited ability to test accuratconcerned homeowners should only use the kits for a quick or

sure, homeowners should take their water samples to a local laservice is free in most jurisdictions in Canada. Information foravailable through local health authorities or public health depa

ReferencesAnonymous (2006). Test tap water for a drop in the bucket.Consumer Report

Batelle (2001). Environmental Technology Verication Report.NECiF-NTK N

http://www.battelle.org/environment/pdfs/verications/water/verications/0

Batelle (2004). Environmental Technology Verication Report.Watersafe Pesthttp://www.battelle.org/environment/pdfs/verications/water/verications/0


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N O T E S : S o m e k i t s a r e a v a i l a b l e o n m a n y w e b s i t e s ; o n l y o n e i s p r o v i d e d a s a n e x a m p l e .

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d a t a n o t a v a i l a b l e

3

home watertest kits_may2010 tested

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