It is the ability of water to neutralize acid. Drinking water should have a pH of 7 meaning that it's neutral. The Alkalinity of the water can maintain a neutral Ph even in the event of pollution. Alkalinity is usually only a problem at very high levels and is only a problem in heated water, for example your hot water tank or your radiators. Highly alkaline water can cause corrosion of hot water pipes, tanks and fittings. The recommended level of Alkalinity in drinking water is 20-200 mg/L.

Your result: Your water’s Alkalinity level is below the Advisory recommended value so you should not be experiencing any problems.

Ammonia is toxic to some fish and other aquatic organisms at concentrations below 1 mg/l (ppm) in water. Long-term ingestion of water containing more than 1 mg/l (ppm) ammonia may be damaging to internal organ systems. Solutions having concentrations greater than 1000 mg/l (ppm) can cause severe burns and scarring of sensitive skin and mucous membranes.

Your result: Your water’s Ammonia (As NH4) level is 0.849 times the Advisory recommended value, so you may be experiencing some or all of these problems.

Water should be clear so an abnormal change will indicate a problem. Colour change examples include red/brown for iron and manganese, green/blue for copper and white for turbidity. All these indicators usually lead to staining and poor tasting or smelling water. Iron, manganese and copper are all referenced on drinking water regulations and have allowable limits. Turbidity should not be subject to change over time. .

Your result: Your water’s Colour level is below the Advisory recommended value so you should not be experiencing any problems.

Dissolved solids are the minerals, salts, metals, cations or anions dissolved in water. Total dissolved solids (TDS) are inorganic salts such as calcium and magnesium. A low TDS may result when treating water for hardness. This can cause the water to lose it's mineral content which is not ideal. Low TDS can make water taste bad and prevent a person from drinking it thereby preventing someone from getting a daily dose of natural essential minerals. A TDS of less than 500 mg/l is advisable.

Your result: Your water’s Dissolved Solids level is below the Advisory recommended value so you should not be experiencing any problems.

High nitrate levels in water can cause methemoglobinemia or blue baby syndrome, a condition found especially in infants under six months. The stomach acid of an infant is not as strong as in older children and adults. This causes an increase in bacteria that can readily convert nitrate to nitrite (NO2). Do not let infants drink water that exceeds 10 mg/l NO3-N. This includes formula preparation.

Your result: Your water’s Nitrates level is below the Advisory recommended value so you should not be experiencing any problems.

This test measures the acidity of your water. Acidity has no direct health effects as such, but acid water generally contains high levels of metals leached from underground deposits. In addition, if your piping is copper your water will have elevated copper levels, leading to indirect health effects, as well as potential problems with corrosion of copper hot water tanks and piping. A very low pH can also have an aggravating effect on some peoples skin.

Your result: Your water’s pH level is above the Advisory recommended value, so you may be experiencing some or all of these problems.

The temperature of a body of water influences its overall quality. Water temperatures outside the “normal” range for a stream or river can cause harm to the aquatic organisms that live there. If the water temperature changes by even a few degrees, it could indicate a source of unnatural warming of the water or thermal pollution. Thermal pollution caused by human activities is one factor that can affect water temperature. Many industries use river water in their processes.

Your result: w

The element Phosphorus can affect water quality by causing excessive growth of algae through the introduction of Phosphates. Algae can grow out of control in water ecosystems if the Phosphate level is at increased levels. The affected ecosystems can suffer major imbalances resulting in loss of aqua life and the production of environmental toxins. A common source of Phosphate in Surface water is Water Treatment and fertilizer spreading.

This test measures the clearness of your water. Turbidity is a very good indicator of water quality, as it is caused by a variety of factors such as clay particles, silt, sand, sewage solids, bacteria, and organic or biological sludge. The exact health effects of high turbidity depend on the particular material(s) causing it.

Your result: Your water’s Turbidity level is below the Advisory recommended value so you should not be experiencing any problems.