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. The maximum allowable limit for Ammonium in drinking water is 0.3 mg/l.

Your result: Your water’s Ammonia (As NH4) level is 3.61 times the Advisory recommended value, so you may be experiencing some or all of these problems.

Dissolved Oxygen allows for the the survival of fish, invertebrates, bacteria, and underwater plants. It is the amount of gaseous oxygen (O2) dissolved in the water. DO is also needed for the decomposition of organic matter. Dissolved oxygen concentrations are constantly affected by decomposition. Dissolved oxygen levels will also change with changing temperature, salinity and pressure. A high DO level in drinking water should be sought. However, high DO levels speed up corrosion in water pipes.

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

Chlorine well in excess of the maximum level can irritate the eyes and nose. Ingestion of drinking water containing chlorine above the maximum chlorine level could experience stomach discomfort. Exposure over a prolonged period can increase the chances of cancer development. The guideline for chlorine in drinking water is 4 mg/l.

Your result: Your water’s Free Chlorine level is 0.174 times the Advisory recommended value, so you may be experiencing some or all of these problems.

Hardness is the level of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts. Hardness in water is in fact beneficial to health, reducing mortality rates from heart diseases and also improving the taste of the water. However, at levels above 150 mg/L CaCO3 it can cause limescale buildup in kettles, on washing machine and dishwasher elements, and in hot water tanks and piping. Water hardness below 60 mg/l is soft, 60–120 mg/l is moderately hard, 120–180 mg/l is hard and more than 180 mg/l is very hard.

Your result: Your water’s Hardness 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.

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

Too much phosphate can cause health problems, such as kidney damage and osteoporosis. Phosphate shortages can also occur. These are caused by extensive use of medicine. Too little phosphate can cause health problems.

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.