safewater.ie Test Kit Instructions

All Test Kits come with printed instructions. These are provided for your information or if you need to print them out.
During the test, please use the Instructions & Survey tab above, so you can record your results.

All tests can only be done once.

The Watersafe Lead Test can detect dissolved lead at levels below the EPA Action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb).

Lead_Testing

1. Open Lead packet and take out all contents. The foil packet contains a test vial, a dropper pipette, one test strip, and a desiccant (to be discarded).

2. Using dropper, place water sample into test vial. To pick up the sample, tightly squeeze the bulb at the end of the dropper and place the open end into the water sample. Release the bulb to pick up the sample, then squeeze again to expel the sample into the vial. Use only one pipette-full of water.

3. Swirl vial gently for several seconds. Place on a flat surface.

4. Place test strip into the test vial, with arrows pointing DOWN.

5. Wait 10 minutes. Do not disturb strips or vial during this time. Lines will appear on the strip.

6. Take the strip out of the vial and read result.

Negative: Bottom line (next to number 1) is darker than the top line (next to number 2).

Note: If you only see one line next to number 1, the test is negative.

Positive: Top line (next to number 2) is darker than the bottom line (next to number 1), or lines are equally dark.

7. Note: If no lines appear, or both lines are very light, the test did not run properly and the result is not valid.

If a test strip shows a positive result, your water sample may contain lead at a toxic level. Take appropriate action.

Before you begin…

1. Contents:

– One Bacteria Test Vial
– One Lead / Pesticide Test Packet
– One Nitrate / Nitrite Test Packet
– One pH / Hardness / Chlorine Test Packet

2. Keep tests out of the reach of children or pets. Do not ingest anything from this test kit. Do not drink water sample used for testing.

Store and use at room temperature (15 – 30 C).
Do not use on hot water or water containing bleach detergents. Do not re-use any part of the test kit.

3. Do not open packets or vial until you are ready to perform the tests.

4. Read and follow all instructions carefully.

Bacteria-Icon

Bacteria Test Instructions

1. Take out the Bacteria Test vial and set it upright on a flat surface.
2. Collect water sample or turn on tap to a very slow stream.
3. Carefully twist off cap and fill vial to 1/2 inch below the top (to 5 ml line). DO NOT OVERFILL and DO NOT SPILL the bacterial growth powder in the vial.
4. Replace cap and twist on tightly. Shake the vial vigorously for 20 seconds.
5. Place the capped vial upright in a warm area (20 – 30 C) where it cannot be disturbed for 48 hrs.
6. After 48 hours, observe the color of the liquid without opening the vial:

Purple Color: Negative Result (No bacteria were detected).

purple_result

Yellow Color: Positive Result (It is highly likely that potentially harmful bacteria were detected).

yellow_result

7. For positive results, add bleach to the sample before pouring down the toilet, then wash hands carefully. Negative samples may be poured directly into the toilet. Discard vial in the trash.

 

Lead-Icon Pesticide-Icon

Lead / Pesticide Test Instructions

The Lead Test can detect dissolved lead at levels below the EPA Action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). The Pesticide Test detects two of the most common pesticides used in the US at or below the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (atrazine – 3 ppb, and simazine – 4 ppb).

1. Open Lead / Pesticide packet and take out all contents. The packet contains a test vial, a dropper pipette, two test strips, and a desiccant (to be discarded).
2. Using dropper, place exactly TWO dropper-fuls of water sample into test vial. To pick up the sample, tightly squeeze the bulb at the end of the dropper and place the open end into the water sample. Release the bulb to pick up the sample, then squeeze again to expel the sample into the vial.
3. Swirl vial gently for several seconds. Place on a flat surface.
4. Place both test strips into the test vial, with arrows pointing DOWN.
5. Wait 10 minutes. Do not disturb strips or vial during this time. Blue lines will appear on the strips.
6. Take the strips out of the vial and lay them on a flat surface with the arrows pointing to the LEFT.
Read Results.

If you only see the LEFT line (next to number 1), the test is negative)

Negative: The LEFT line (next to number 1) is darker than the RIGHT line (next to number 2)

nagative_strip

Positive: The RIGHT line (next to number 2) is darker than the LEFT line (next to number 1), or lines are equally dark (Both LEFT and RIGHT lines are equally dark)

positive_strip

7. Note: If no lines appear, or both lines are very light, the test did not run properly and the result is not valid.
If a test strip shows a positive result, your water sample may contain lead or pesticides at a toxic level.

 

Nitrate-Icon  Nitrite-Icon

Nitrate / Nitrite Test Instructions

1.Carefully open Nitrate / Nitrite Test packet and take out test strip.
2. Immerse the reagent pads into water sample for 2 seconds, remove, after 1 minute match colors with the chart below.
3. Colors are stable for 1 minute.

NitrateNitriteColors

pH-Icon  Hardness-Icon  Chlorine-Icon

pH | Hardness | Chlorine Test Instructions

1. Carefully open pH/ Hardness/ Chlorine Test packet and take out strip.
2. Immerse the reagent pads into water sample and remove immediately. Hold the strip level for 15 seconds.
3. Match pH, Total Hardness and Total Chlorine pads (in that order) to the color chart.

pHchlorineHardness

 

Water Test Desired Values

EPA maximum contaminant levels or guildline standards
Bacteria None
Lead Below 15 ppb
Pesticides Below 3ppb (atrazine), Below 4ppb (simazine)
Nitrite Below 1.0 ppm
Total Nitrate/Nitrite Below 10.0 ppm
Total Chlorine Below 4 ppm
Total Hardness 50 ppm or less
pH 6.5 to 8.5

 

*EPA = US Environmental Protection Agency

Please note that Watersafe® is a screening test and can not be used to certify water as safe or unsafe for drinking. Watersafe® provides approximate results ONLY when used in strict accordance with instructions. safewater.ie expressly disclaims any liability resulting from the use of this product, failure to follow instructions, or reliance on test results.

Before you begin…

1. Contents:

– One Bacteria Test Vial
– One Lead / Pesticide Test Packet
– One Nitrate / Nitrite Test Packet
– One pH / Hardness / Chlorine Test Packet
– One Copper Test Packet
– One Iron Test Packet

2. Keep tests out of the reach of children or pets. Do not ingest anything from this test kit. Do not drink water sample used for testing.

Store and use at room temperature (15 – 30 C).
Do not use on hot water or water containing bleach detergents.
Do not re-use any part of the test kit.

3. Do not open packets or vial until you are ready to perform the tests.

4. Read and follow all instructions carefully.

Bacteria-Icon

Bacteria Test Instructions

1. Take out the Bacteria Test vial and set it upright on a flat surface.
2. Collect water sample or turn on tap to a very slow stream.
3. Carefully twist off cap and fill vial to 1/2 inch below the top (to 5 ml line). DO NOT OVERFILL and DO NOT SPILL the bacterial growth powder in the vial.
4. Replace cap and twist on tightly. Shake the vial vigorously for 20 seconds.
5. Place the capped vial upright in a warm area (20 – 30 C) where it cannot be disturbed for 48 hrs.
6. After 48 hours, observe the color of the liquid without opening the vial:

Purple Color: Negative Result (No bacteria were detected).

purple_result

Yellow Color: Positive Result (It is highly likely that potentially harmful bacteria were detected).

yellow_result

7. For positive results, add bleach to the sample before pouring down the toilet, then wash hands carefully. Negative samples may be poured directly into the toilet. Discard vial in the trash.

 

Lead-Icon Pesticide-Icon

Lead / Pesticide Test Instructions

The Lead Test can detect dissolved lead at levels below the EPA Action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). The Pesticide Test detects two of the most common pesticides used in the US at or below the EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (atrazine – 3 ppb, and simazine – 4 ppb).

1. Open Lead / Pesticide packet and take out all contents. The packet contains a test vial, a dropper pipette, two test strips, and a desiccant (to be discarded).
2. Using dropper, place exactly TWO droppers of water sample into test vial. To pick up the sample, tightly squeeze the bulb at the end of the dropper and place the open end into the water sample. Release the bulb to pick up the sample, then squeeze again to expel the sample into the vial.
3. Swirl the vial gently for several seconds. Place on a flat surface.
4. Place both test strips into the test vial, with arrows pointing DOWN.
5. Wait 10 minutes. Do not disturb strips or vial during this time. Blue lines will appear on the strips.
6. Take the strips out of the vial and lay them on a flat surface with the arrows pointing to the LEFT.
Read Results.

If you only see the LEFT line (next to number 1), the test is negative)

Negative: The LEFT line (next to number 1) is darker than the RIGHT line (next to number 2)

nagative_strip

Positive: The RIGHT line (next to number 2) is darker than the LEFT line (next to number 1), or lines are equally dark (Both LEFT and RIGHT lines are equally dark)

positive_strip

7. Note: If no lines appear, or both lines are very light, the test did not run properly and the result is not valid.
If a test strip shows a positive result, your water sample may contain lead or pesticides at a toxic level.

 

Nitrate-Icon  Nitrite-Icon

Nitrate / Nitrite Test Instructions

1.Carefully open Nitrate / Nitrite Test packet and take out test strip.
2. Immerse the reagent pads into water sample for 2 seconds, remove, after 1 minute match colors with the chart below.
3. Colors are stable for 1 minute.

NitrateNitriteColors

pH-Icon  Hardness-Icon  Chlorine-Icon

pH | Hardness | Chlorine Test Instructions

1. Carefully open pH/ Hardness/ Chlorine Test packet and take out strip.
2. Immerse the reagent pads into water sample and remove immediately. Hold the strip level for 15 seconds.
3. Match pH, Total Hardness and Total Chlorine pads (in that order) to the color chart.

pHchlorineHardness

 

Copper Test Instructions

1. Collect a fresh water sample.
2. Open the Copper Test packet and take out the strip.
3. Immerse the reagent pad into the water sample for 30 seconds, waving in a gentle back and forth motion.
4. Remove the strip and shake once to remove excess water.
5. Wait 2 minutes.
6. Match result to the colour chart below.

Total Copper

Total-Copper

 

 

Iron Test Instructions

1. Collect a fresh water sample.
2. Open the Copper Test packet and take out the strip.
3. Immerse the reagent pad into the water sample for 5 seconds, waving in a gentle back and forth motion.
4. Remove the strip and shake once to remove excess water.
5. Wait 2 minutes.
6. Match result to the colour chart below.

Total Iron

Total-Iron

Water Test Desired Values

EPA maximum contaminant levels or guildline standards
Bacteria None
Lead Below 15 ppb
Pesticides Below 3ppb (atrazine), Below 4ppb (simazine)
Nitrite Below 1.0 ppm
Total Nitrate/Nitrite Below 10.0 ppm
Total Chlorine Below 4 ppm
Total Hardness 50 ppm or less
pH 6.5 to 8.5

 

*EPA = US Environmental Protection Agency

Please note that Watersafe® is a screening test and can not be used to certify water as safe or unsafe for drinking. Watersafe® provides approximate results ONLY when used in strict accordance with instructions. safewater.ie expressly disclaims any liability resulting from the use of this product, failure to follow instructions, or reliance on test results.

Important

• Keep tests out of reach of children and pets. Do not ingest anything from this test kit. Do not drink water sample used for testing. Store and use at room temperature (15 – 30 C).
• Do not open packets or a vial until you are ready to perform the tests.
• Do not touch test pads.
• Do not use on hot water or water containing bleach detergents.
• Do not re-use any part of the test kit.
• Read and follow all instructions carefully.

 

pH, Total Alkalinity, Total Chlorine and Total Hardness Instructions

1. Dip one test strip into water sample with constant, gentle back-and-forth motion for 5 seconds.
2. Remove, shake once briskly, wait 20 seconds.
3. Match color for pH, Total Alkalinity, Total Chlorine and Total Hardness in this order with provided color chart in kit.
4. Complete color matching within 10 seconds.

 

Nitrate/Nitrite Nitrogen Instructions

1. Dip one test strip into water sample for 2 seconds
2. Remove, wait 1 minute (2 minutes if water temperature is below 12 C), then match colors for Nitrate/Nitrite Nitrogen with provided color chart in kit.
3. Colors are stable for 2 minutes.

 

Free Chlorine Instructions

1. Dip one test strip into 2 oz. water sample with constant, gentle back-and-forth motion for 20 seconds.
2. Remove, shake once briskly, wait 20 seconds.
3. Match color for Free Chlorine with provided color chart in kit.

 

Iron Instructions

1. Dip one test strip into a 8oz. water sample for 5 seconds with a constant, gentle back-and-forth motion.
2. Remove the strip and shake once, briskly, to remove excess water.
3. Wait 15 seconds then view through the aperture to match with closest color.
4. Complete color matching within 15 seconds with provided color chart in kit.

 

Sulfate Instructions

1. Dip one test strip into water sample with constant, gentle back-and-forth motion for 10 seconds.
2. Remove, shake once briskly to remove excess water, wait 20 seconds.
3. Match color for Sulfate.
4. Complete color matching within 30 seconds with provided color chart in kit.

 

Copper Instructions

1. Dip one test strip into a 8oz. water sample for 15 seconds with a constant, gentle back-and-forth motion.
2. Remove the strip and shake once, briskly, to remove excess water.
3. Wait 30 seconds then view through the aperture to match with closest color.
4. Complete color matching within 15 seconds with provided color chart in kit.

 

Chloride Instructions

1. Dip one test strip into water sample with constant, gentle back-and-forth motion for 5 seconds.
2. Remove, shake once briskly to remove excess water, wait 25 seconds.
3. Match color for Chloride.
4. Complete color matching within 10 seconds with provided color chart in kit.

 

Hydrogen Sulfide Instructions

1. Fill two supplied vials up to the line with water sample to be tested.
2. Set one vial aside to be used as reference vial.
3. Dip one Hydrogen Sulphide test strip into one vial for 20 seconds with a constant, gentle back and forth motion.
4. Remove the strip from the vial.

 

Hydrogen Sulfide Results

1. Set the vials on a white surface.
2. Look down into the vials and compare the colors.
3. If the ample vial is beige or light tan when compared to the reference vial, then a minimum of approximately 0.2 ppm of Hydrogen Sulfide is present.
4. If the sample vial is brown, Hydrogen Sulphide is present at a concentration of approximately 2.0 ppm or greater.
Complete the comparison within one minute.

 

Bacteria Instructions

1. Turn on on water at the tap to a slow steady stream.
2. Carefully remove the cap from the supplied Bacteria Check bottle
3. Fill bottle to 1/2 inch below the top (to 5 ml line). DO NOT OVERFILL and DO NOT SPILL the bacterial growth powder in the vial.
4. Replace cap and twist on tightly. Shake the bottle vigorously for 20 seconds.
5. Place the capped bottle upright in a warm area (20 – 30 C) away from sunlight, where it cannot be disturbed for 48 hrs.

 

Bacteria Results

1. After 48 hrs, observe the colour of the liquid in the bottle without opening the bottle.
2. If the color stays Purple, then no harmful bacteria growth was detected and the test was negative.
3. If the colour turns from Purple to Yellow, then it is highly likely bacteria growth caused the colour change and the tested water should be considered unsafe.