Test For Things 'A to Z' » Bacteria

Summary of NSF Water Filter Standards

Water Testing Blog — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:03:20 +0000

If we had a nickel for every single time someone asked us what NSF 42, 44, 53, 55, 58, 62 and 177 meant… we’d have a huge pile of nickels and STILL not have enough money for that diamond-plated, gold-encrusted, platinum embossed drinking fountain w/ the GIANT water purification FACTORY attached to it from the other side of the wall.

NSF/ANSI Standard 42: Drinking water filtration systems that are certified to this standard remove chlorine and sediment/particles from water for the purpose of improving its look, smell and taste. The design of these filter do NOT lend themselves to the removal or reduction of health-related contaminants.

NSF/ANSI Standard 44: Water treatment systems certified to this standard typically function as cation exchange water softeners designed to reduce or eliminate water hardness (i.e. calcium and/or magnesium). Water filters designed to remove barium and radium may also certify to this standard.

NSF/ANSI Standard 53: Water purifiers certifying to this standard have designs that remove health-related contaminants such as waterborne organisms and industrial chemicals. Cryptosporidium, giardia, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) and trihalomethane compounds (THMs) fit into one of those categories or the other.

NSF/ANSI Standard 55: Devices rated to this standard function as point of use (POU) or point of entry (POE) ultraviolet microbiological water treatment systems. These water treatment systems feature designs which disinfect microorganisms (such as bacteria and viruses) potentially present in water.

NSF/ANSI Standard 58: Typically one will find reverse osmosis water systems (RO) certified to this standard. Devices in this category will normally have the ability to fully remove organic contaminants, but may only partially remove inorganic compounds and heavy metals.

NSF/ANSI Standard 62: Certified to this standard one will typically find water distillers. The process of distillation removes a wider range of drinking water contaminants than all other methods of drinking water purification. Arsenic, mercury and bacteria all get eliminated through the use of water distillation systems.

NSF/ANSI Standard 177: Water filtration units certified to this standard function as shower head filters designed to remove chlorine from water.

Crystal Quest Replacement Pitcher Filter (CQE-RC)

Water Testing Blog — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:15:27 +0000

Crystal Quest pitcher replacement filter

Manufacturer: Crystal Quest
Model Number: CQE-RC

4 stages of convenient filtration with a 2,000 gallon capacity.

In stages 1 and 2 KDF55 and KDF85 media reduce iron, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, other dissolved metals, and harmful bacteria.

Stage 3 features an ion exchange resin that reduces heavy metals (such as lead, copper, aluminum) and lowers water hardness.

The fourth and final stage, a bed of granulated activated carbon (GAC) reduces chlorine by 99.9%, gets rid of bad tastes and odors, reduces pesticides and chemicals that are linked to cancer risks (i.e. benzene, THM’s, toxaphene).

How do you know if you need a water filter?

The answer, quite simply, involves testing your water. You can either test it yourself using a home water testing kit like the Water Quality Test Kit from SenSafe… or you can have a certified water testing laboratory such as National Testing Labs analyze your water.

In cases where homeowners suspect contamination, we always suggest using a certified water testing lab. Better to play it safe than sorry because… It’s your water, your health… and your LIFE!

Bacteria in the Water Cooler?

Water Testing Blog — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:03:53 +0000

Ewwwww…… Yuck!

Could bacteria really live in the trusty water coolers at work or in your home? Unfortunately we have to say… “YES.”

Think of it this way: When you swap out the large, cumbersome jugs when the current jug runs out of water, the feeder tube that will stick into the new jug gets exposed to the air… and whatever bacteria, viruses and or airborne biologicals happen to blow around in the room that day.

Over time any of those nasty little buggers that land on the feeder tube and wind up in the fresh jug of water could multiply to dangerously high numbers in the water cooler. Zero disinfectants in the water creates an excellent place for bacteria to start a family!

To make matters worse, the area AFTER the feeder tube down inside the water cooler can also become a nice place for bacteria and other nasties to raise a family… which could one day wind up in your supposedly safe glass of drinking water.

Moral of the story?

If you cannot determine the last time anyone cleaned the inside of the water cooler, you may want to test the water it dispenses for potentially harmful bacteria with a kit like the WaterSafe Water Cooler Test Kit.

Cryptosporidium Fears Shut Down Water Features Park

Test For Admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 17:12:34 +0000

Some folks have written in recently to tell us that they seriously doubt the ‘hype’ about waterborne illnesses from contaminated swimming pools, hot tubs, etc. In response to their doubts, we now present you with an actual case where health officials shut down a water feature park in Columbia, SC because a person who had visited the park recently tested positive for an intestinal parasite known as Cryptosporidium.

Columbia, SC (WLTX) – The Drew Splash Pad is closed while health officials test to see if the water there has an intestinal parasite in it.

The Splash Pad, which opened last year, is located behind the Drew Wellness Center in Columbia.

City park officials closed the pad Thursday after they were told by health officials that there was a possible link between the splash pad and one confirmed case of cryptosporidium.

Cryptosporidium is a parasite spread through feces. It’s normally found in fresh waters. It can cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and a low-grade fever.

Symptoms can last up to two weeks.

City pools remain open to the public. ( source )

Moral of the Story? Proper hygiene and diligent water testing DO matter when it comes to keeping the general public safe. Hopefully the folks in the Health Department down in Columbia, SC will find the source of that Cryptosporidium quickly and wipe it out before more people get sick.

Water Filter System for People w/ Compromised Immune Systems

Water Testing Blog — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:03:45 +0000

We recently received an email inquiry from Lisa containing a question about water treatment systems for people with compromised immune systems.

My son has just been diagnoses with an immune deficiency, and I should be sterilizing his drinking water -which I am doing by boiling for him. I am wondering if distilled or reverse osmosis, bottled water would effectively remove bacteria from the water, and be a safe alternative. Would one be better then the other.

Thank you for your time,

Lisa

Thank you, Lisa, for your question and it pains us to learn of your son’s condition. We hope that modern medicine can find a way to help your son live a long and healthy life.

Regarding your question about the best way to sterilize water for people with compromised immune systems, the EPA and CDC co-released a document back in 1995 that gives a lot of useful information on the topic entitled Guidance for People with Severely Weakened Immune Systems.

Below you will find excerpts from that document relating directly to the questions you asked:

Cryptosporidium has caused several large waterborne disease outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness, with symptoms that include diarrhea, nausea, and/or stomach cramps. People with severely weakened immune systems (that is, severely immunocompromised) are likely to have more severe and more persistent symptoms than healthy individuals. Moreover, Cryptosporidium has been a contributing cause of death in some immunocompromised people.
Although data are not sufficient for EPA/CDC to recommend that all severely immunocompromised persons take extra caution with regards to their drinking water, individuals who wish to take extra measures to avoid waterborne Cryptosporidiosis can bring their drinking water to a full boil for one minute. Boiling water is the most effective way of killing Cryptosporidium.
Only point-of-use filters that remove particles one micrometer or less in diameter should be considered. Filters in this category that provide the greatest assurance of Cryptosporidium removal include those that use reverse osmosis, those labeled as “Absolute” one micrometer filters, or those labeled as certified by NSF International under standard 53 for “Cyst Removal.” …. Water treated with a point-of-use filter that meets the above criteria may not necessarily be free of organisms smaller than Cryptosporidium that could pose a health hazard for severely immunocompromised individuals.
Many, but not all, brands of bottled water may provide a reasonable alternative to boiling tap water. …. Any bottled water treated by distillation or reverse osmosis before bottling assures Cryptosporidium removal.
Neither EPA nor CDC maintains a list of point-of-use filters or bottled water brands that meet the above criteria. NSF International can provide a list of filters that meet the NSF criteria.

We suggest you take a look at the NSF Web Site to see what systems meet their requirements. In a situation like yours, you will want to make certain the product you purchase will accomplish all your objectives — and then some.

One system we came across recently, the Pentek RO-3500 Monitored Reverse Osmosis System,

NSF Tested & Certified Standard 58 for reduction of TDS, Fluoride, Turbidity, Lead, Nitrates, Selenium, Arsenic, Copper, Cadmium, Barium, Cyst, and Radium.

The Pentek R0-3500 features the 3 stage system, one ROM-230TN membrane, a D15 sediment filter, a D20 carbon filter, and one long-reach lead-free faucet. Unit comes with a standard installation kit and instructions.

Another feature of the the Pentek RO3500 which makes it quite nice… an electronic monitoring system that keeps track of the water filters cartridges’ lifespans and informs the owner when they need replacing.

What elements does the RO-3500 Reverse Osmosis System reduce and/or eliminate? The unit has the ability to filter out the following elements as well as many other chemical compounds:

90.2% TDS ( test for TDS )
98.9% Arsenic ( test for arsenic )
90.5% Fluoride
98% Phosphates ( test for arsenic )
99.99% Cysts
99.7% Turbidity
98.7% Lead ( test for lead )
87.4% Nitrate ( test for nitrates )
80.7% Nitrite ( test for nitrites )
97.5% Selenium
99.9% Copper ( test for copper )
97.3% Cadmium
86.6% Hexavalent Chromium ( test for chromium )
92.8% Trivalent Chromium
80% Radium 226/228
90.7% Barium
Chlorine ( test for chlorine )
Sediment & Particulates

For more information on the Pentek Reverse Osmosis System mentioned above, please read its detailed specifications on FiltersFast.Com.

One final word

Use of a reverse osmosis systems does NOT guarantee the elimination of ALL possible biological contaminants since some biological contaminants have sizes smaller than the membranes in RO units can filter out.

For that reason you may want to consider adding a UV Sterilizer to your filtration setup. These devices render biological contaminants incapable of reproducing by altering their genetic structure with specific wavelengths of light.

Water Pitcher Filter to Remove Chlorine and Heavy Metals

Water Testing Blog — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:03:16 +0000

Crystal Quest Pitcher Water Filter
Manufacturer: Crystal Quest
Model Number: Pitcher-Ultimate

Large capacity water pitcher w/ built-in filter provides clean, great-tasting water conveniently chilled and stored in your refrigerator.

Capable of removing more than 99% chlorine from more than 2,000 gallons of water, this large 10-cup (2.5 quarts) pitcher features a slim, space-saving shape that fits neatly in pretty much any refrigerator. Filters have a life expectancy of between 6 and 12 months depending upon water usage rate.

The Crystal Quest Pitcher Water Filter makes use of a high quality 4 filter technology to produce drinking water of superior quality:

Stages 1 & 2 — Two types of specialized filtration media (KDF55 and KDF85) greatly reduce and/or eliminate dissolved metals such as iron, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium. Bacteria also gets filtered out at this stage.
Stage 3 — Ion exchange resin reduces heavy metals such as lead, copper, and aluminum. Water hardness levels get drastically reduced in this stage as well.
Stage 4 — Granulated activated carbon (GAC) reduces chlorine (99.9%), removes bad taste(s) and odor(s), and reduces pesticides and chemicals linked to increased cancer risks (i.e. benzene, TTHMs and toxaphene).

Need another great reason to consider the Crystal Quest Pitcher Water Filter? Consumer Digest rated it as a best buy for 2 years in a row (2006, 2007).

Your Cost at FilterWater.Com: Around $25

Bottleless Water Cooler w/ 4 Stages of Filtration

Water Testing Blog — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:03:40 +0000

Looking for a way to supply your office or home with safe, clean drinking water… but don’t want the hassle of changing bulky, heavy and otherwise cumbersome 5 gallon tanks all the time?

If so, then the Sharp Ultrafiltration Bottleless Water Cooler may solve your dilemma. It contains four replaceable filters that have an average lifespan of approximately 2 years and hooks up directly to the cold water line in your home or office.

Able to provide an office of thirty people with a continuous supply of safe, clean and thoroughly filter hot and cold water, this unit works well, looks good, and will NOT require you to sign any monthly or yearly service contracts with water delivery companies. Also keep in mind that monthly service contracts will run upwards of $50 per month and you will have change the heavy 5 gallon jugs each time one runs dry. Each jug weighs approximately 50 pounds. Not fun!

The Sharp Ultrafiltration Bottleless Water Cooler can provide freshly purified hot water for teas and other warm drinks on command… something many water coolers using bottles simply cannot do!

4 Stages of Water Filtration

In this unit drinking water travels through 4 separate water filters, each designed to remove specific contaminants. This intense amount of filtration produces crystal clear, fresh and tasty water on a continuous basis – with no bottles to buy!

Stage 1 – A sediment filter which removes 99.99% of microbiological cysts, cryptosporidium, giardia, and ‘particles’ from the water.
Stage 2 – A granulated activated carbon (GAC) cartridge effectively absorbs a wide variety of organic contaminants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals linked to cancer (such as THMs and benzene), pesticides (like atrazine and simazine), herbicides, PCBs, and chlorine (removes 99.9%).

The activated carbon cartridge also reduces MTBEs and removes bad taste and odor from drinking water.
Stage 3 – An UltraFiltration (UF) membrane removes synthetic organic compounds ranging in size from 0.0001 to 0.005 microns in size, bacteria, viruses, colloids, and waterborne parasites. This stage also removes and/or greatly reduces salts and water hardness.
Stage 4 – A multi-stage filter which removes hundreds of other potentially harmful or aesthetically displeasing contaminants (if present in the water) and puts a final ‘polishing’ on the water.

Additional Details About This Water Cooler

Before shipping to a customer, each unit gets tested for a period of 72 hours, the unit as a whole carries a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty (excluding replaceable filter cartridges), the unit’s compressor carries a 3-year warranty, and the unit comes with a set of filter cartridges.

With regard to replacement costs for the filter cartridges, as of the date we posted this blog entry a full set of replacement cartridges, which ought to last 2 or more years, cost approximately $160 for a complete set of 4.

Sediment Cartridge

GAC Cartridge

UF Membrane

Multi-Stage Cartridge

Swimmers Disobeying Signs Run Risk of Serious Illness

Water Testing Blog — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:03:52 +0000

Despite efforts by public health officials to keep the general population safe, scofflaws make their jobs very difficult sometimes. For some reason members of the general public believe signs warning of dangerous water conditions (including water quality issues) always choose to believe those signs apply to OTHER people, but not them.

Note to the Public: A ‘Beach Closed’ sign and closed in fencing around the swimming area means… YOU CAN GET SICK IF YOU SWIM IN THE WATER! Also, if the staff on-hand suggest avoiding going in the water and/or wading into the water deeper than just a few inches, FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE!

LITTLETON, Colo. — The swimming beach at Chatfield State Park was temporarily closed Sunday when routine water testing found high levels of E. coli bacteria, authorities said.

But 7NEWS Reporter Jaclyn Allen found dozens of people playing on the beach and swimming in the water right next to the closed swimming area Sunday afternoon.

Several families said they had no idea why the beach was closed because it’s not posted on the signs, which simply said: “Swim Beach Closed Today.” The swim beach was also fenced off.

Visitors were surprised to learn from 7NEWS that the closure was triggered by bacterial contamination that could make them seriously ill.

“I had no idea about the E. coli,” said Monique Garcia, whose toddler son had been playing in the water all day. “The woman who took our money told us the beach was closed because the water quality was not good.”

Signs warning “Swimming Prohibited” were posted in the neighboring area where people were swimming and splashing in the water. Park rangers said people are only allowed to wade knee-deep in the water outside the designated swimming beach area.

But clearly people weren’t getting the message. ( source )

Signs and staff warned people to avoid the water, but they went around the fencing and played in the water anyways. So far no one has reported any illnesses resulting from those dolts ignoring warnings, but next time they may not have the same luck.

People have DIED from illnesses they contracted by swimming in water that health officials had recently declared unsafe for swimming.

Can the average person test water at parks, pools, etc.?

In a word, yes… and to do so will NOT break the bank. WaterSafe manufactures a bacteria test kit for pools/spas and rivers/streams/ponds/lakes that gives pass/fail results for bacteria in water at a level which would make the water safe or unsafe for swimming.

Drinking Water Quality Test Kit on Sale

Water Testing Blog — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:03:50 +0000

Water Quality Test Kit for 15 Parameters
Regularly $40, Now Just $32.00

Everyone loves a bargain, right? Well if you have waited to purchase a test kit for drinking water because you could never find one on sale, well, you no longer have a reason to wait.

FilterWater.Com recently dropped the price of Sensafe’s most popular test kit for drinking water quality, an easy-to-use test kit that tests for 15 critical water quality contaminants and does not require users to mix powders, crush tablets, or have a degree in chemistry to figure out the directions.

Considered by some the most complete do-it-yourself Water Quality Test Kit on the market, this water test kit tests up to 2 water sources for 15 critical water quality parameters and allows you to quickly and easily test your drinking water and/or check to see if your water filter does a good job.

In this particular drinking water test kit you will find the only available USEPA Approved Free Chlorine Test Strip as well as color-coded, visual, on the spot tests for 13 other parameters. The bacteria test kit, however, requires 48 hours, just as it does in kits manufactured by all other companies.

Need to test more often?

If so, then should definitely look at contents of the Well Driller Standard and Master test kits which contain a minimum of 25 tests for most parameters and come packed in a convenient, hard plastic carrying cases

Well Driller Master

Well Driller Standard

In total, the Water Quality Test Kit contains the following:

Included with the kit you will receive a chart so that you can compare your results to USEPA recommended levels is included.

And remember…

Despite the great price on this home drinking water test kit, no at-home testing can ever take the place of having a certified water testing laboratory such as National Testing Labs analyze your drinking water if you have serious reason to suspect contamination.

Test Kits for Bacteria in Drinking Water

Water Testing Blog — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 13:03:25 +0000

Recently post we provided links to three different bacteria in water test kits in the same blog entry and since then we have received a number of emails asking us to please explain the differences between them.

We will begin by re-posting the links to the three kits:

Test Kit for Coliform Bacteria

Bacteria in Water Test Kit

The first bacteria test kit does the most complete testing for potentially harmful bacteria in drinking water. It can provide presence/absence test results in 24 hours for coliform bacteria down to 1 cfu per 100 milliliters, the current low detection limit enforced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Additionally, use of a light source with a wavelength of approximately 365nm on the sample after the passing of 24 to 48 hours will let you know if you have E. Coli present in your test sample. The ability to provides presence/absence results for E. Coli. results in this test kit having the highest cost.

Sold in cases of 12 and manufactured by SenSafe.
The second bacteria test kit provides presence/absence test results in 48 hours for coliform bacteria down to 1 cfu per 100 milliliters, the current low detection limit enforced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. It does not provide information on the presence or absence of E. Coli. in a water sample.

Sold as individual tests and manufactured by WaterSafe.
The third bacteria test kit performs the same task as the second test kit, providing presence/absence test results in 48 hours for coliform bacteria down to 1 cfu per 100 milliliters, and comes packaged in cases of twelve or as individual tests.

The kit’s manufacturer, SenSafe, claims that Bacteria Check “follows the APHA, Standard Methods, 20th Edition, 9221 D, screen test for total coliform in potable water”.

No matter which test kit you decide upon, always remember that only a water analysis performed by a certified water testing lab such as National Testing Laboratories can give you a definitive answer regarding the safety of your drinking water.

You should use At Home and Do It Yourself Water Test Kits from WaterSafe and SenSafe should serve as screening tools only.