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Some Frequently Asked Questions You May Find Interesting!
Why is the water milky when it comes out of the tap?
Fill a glass with water and observe which way the water clears. If it clears from the bottom up then this is usually caused by air which has dissolved in the water. Once the pressure is released by opening the tap the air in the water is released and the air comes out of the water as bubbles. This is not harmful and is perfectly safe to drink. If the water clears from the top down, contact your water supplier as this may be due to excess chemicals in the water.
Should I buy bottled water for drinking purposes?
It depends on the water supply in your area. If your municipal supply has been tested and conforms to international specifications for drinking water, it should be suitable for lifetime consumption without any ill effects.
What is the white precipitate in my kettle?
This is calcium carbonate which is present in low concentrations in the water. When the water is heated the calcium becomes insoluble and precipitates on the element. This is not harmful to your health in any way; the kettle should just be cleaned on a regular basis.
What do I do when I am not sure of the quality of the tap water (camping in a foreign country, borehole water etc)?
There are two easy ways to overcome this problem from a bacteriological point of view:
- Bring the water to a boil and keep it on a rolling boil for at last three minutes. This will kill most bacteria.
- Add 1 teaspoon of bleach to 25 litres of water and mix. It is important to let the water stand for at least three hours before using.
If the problem with the water is a chemical one, it will be necessary to have the water tested before any treatment can be advised.
Should I have my borehole water tested?
This is always advisable. Although the water may appear clear and clean it may contain things that are deleterious to your health. For example, it may contain bacteria, fluoride, nitrates and other elements. In addition the water may contain high levels of calcium and magnesium that will block pipes and irrigation lines.
How often should I have my water tested?
This depends on several things but generally the chemical analysis should be done at least annually and the microbiological at least every quarter. However, this should increase after heavy rainfall and if you are supplying water to others e.g. hotels, B+B’s, schools.
What is grey water?
Grey water is made up of bath, shower, hand basin and laundry water. Grey water contains low concentrations of soap, which is high in phosphates (normally sodium- or potassium-based), an ideal nutrient for most garden plants and the lawn. Dishwasher and kitchen sink water should not be recycled due to the presence of food particles, oil and grease causing bacteriological growth and turning grey water into black water. Dishwasher soap also contains elevated salt (sodium) levels, which is damaging to plant life and could affect soil structure in the long term.
How much does water testing cost?
Prices vary depending on the analyses undertaken. Please contact our laboratory for a current price list. Discounts can be negotiated for large numbers of samples or annual contracts.
Who takes the sample?
We can instruct on how to take a representative sample or we can send a sampling officer to take the sample for you. However, additional costs will be incurred for us to sample on your behalf.
What is your normal turnaround time?
For routine water and wastewater samples, Talbot Laboratories guarantee a turnaround time of five (5) working days. For more specialised analysis this increases depending of the types of tests being performed. Bacteriological results are available between 24 and 48 hours.
How much sample is needed?
Again this depends on the tests being performed but generally for bacteria, 500ml is required and for general chemistry, 2 litres are needed.
Do we need to sample in special containers?
Yes. The laboratory can provide the necessary sample bottles. Otherwise please contact the laboratory directly for instructions on how to sterilize bottles.
If the water does not meet the drinking water standards, does that mean it's not safe to drink?
Not necessarily. Some of the standards are based on aesthetics, while some are based on long-term health effects. The fact that water tests exceed the standard would not necessarily mean that the water is unsafe to drink. For example, high levels of iron in the water are generally not dangerous but do give the water an unpleasant taste. On the other hand, the presence of nitrates above the limit may cause a condition called blue baby syndrome in infants.
How do you know that the laboratory produces accurate and precise results?
In South Africa the government has recognised the SA National Accreditation System (SANAS) as the single National Accreditation Body that gives formal recognition that laboratories are competent to carry out specific tasks. Use a laboratory that has been accredited by SANAS in terms of ISO/IEC 17025.
What services do the Talbot Laboratories offer?
- Basic sanitary analysis
- Monitoring of sewage works
- Environmental sampling
- Waste Classification
- Potable water analyses
- Effluent analyses
For more detailed information please contact the laboratory managers.
How many glasses of water should be drunk a day?
It is generally accepted that you should drink one glass of water for every 10kg of body weight. For example, a 60kg person needs approximately six glasses of pure water per day to avoid dehydration and reap the benefits of improved health, beauty and vitality. Six to eight glasses of pure water are recommended for most people.
What is the global water availability?
Saltwater
The oceans cover 71% of the Earth and contain 96.5% of its water. Saline or brackish groundwater and saltwater lakes make up another 1%.
If you smooth out the crust and fill the ocean floor with the dry land of the continents, the Earth's entire surface would be covered by 2680 m of seawater.
If all that water evaporated, Earth would be covered with more than 12.2m of salts.
Fresh Water
Nearly 70 percent of world's fresh water is frozen in glaciers, permanent snow cover, ice and permafrost. The Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets have the bulk of it.
Groundwater
Thirty percent of all fresh water is underground, most of it in deep, hard-to-reach aquifers.
Lakes and Rivers
Together, lakes and rivers contain just a little more than one-fourth of one percent of all fresh water. Lakes have most of it.
Soils, wetlands and biota
All the dirt, mud, swamps, plants and animals of the Earth contain just another one-tenth of one percent of fresh water.
Atmospheric Water Vapour
Though clouds and water vapour hold just four one-hundredths of one percent of all fresh water, they still have six times more water that all the world's rivers.
How can we save water?
- Close the tap when cleaning your teeth (saves up to 20 litres)
- A bath uses an average of 160 litres; a five-minute shower uses 60 litres.
- Ensure your washing machine or dishwasher has a full load before running.
- Check if your toilet is leaking by adding a few drops of food dye to your cistern - if the colour seeps into the bowl, you have a leak. A toilet leak can waste up to 30 litres an hour.
- Water your garden either early in the morning or the evening
- Consider using your bath water on your garden.
- Watering your garden less frequently, but for longer, actually encourages a deeper root system, which results in stronger plants.
What types of Water are there?
Artesian Water
This is water from a well in a confined aquifer. The water level in the well must stand at some height above the top of the aquifer.
Distilled water
This is water that has been turned into steam to leave impurities behind. The steam is condensed into pure water.
Mineral water
This water must contain no less than 250mg/l total dissolved solids with the solids being the minerals in the water. The water must come from a geologically and physically protected underground water source. It is distinguished from other types of water by regular mineral and trace elements present.
Purified water
This is produced by distillation, deionization, reverse osmosis or other suitable processes. It may also be known as demineralised water.
Sparkling water
This contains, after treatment and possible replacement of carbon dioxide, the same amount of carbon dioxide that it had at its emergence from the source. Soda water is not considered sparkling water but is sold as a soft drink.
Spring water
This is water that must come from an underground formation and flow naturally to the surface of the earth. It emanates from beneath the earth.
Borehole water
This comes from a hole that is bored, drilled or otherwise constructed in the ground, tapping the water of an aquifer
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