Free Testing for Well Water and City Water :

We would be happy to test your water for free if you would like to send us a sample. Simply give us a call and we will tell you what we need you to do. In some cases, depending on what is in your water we may need to send you a container to put the water in for testing. Just call 800-701-9914.

On most applications, to determine the proper equipment, the only testing required is: iron, pH, TDS, hardness and nitrates. You also need to know your flow rate for proper system sizing.

For other types of testing such as test kits you can use “On site” at your location; or for the types of testing that you need to send in such as Arsenic, Lead etc. Please click here: Lab Services

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The importance of a water test  is to know what contaminants are in your water so that you can treat it properly. If it needs treated, the flow rate is very important so that we can properly size any water filtration equipment that would be needed. Poor water quality has an effect on not only your drinking water, but on water used in a variety of household functions. Contaminated water used for cooking may affect your health, while an excess of certain minerals can hamper cleaning activities in your laundry or bathroom. So whether you are on a private well or city water supply, you should always have your water tested if any of the following occur:

• If you are buying a home and wish to test the safety and quality of the existing water supply - test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, lead, iron, hardness, pH, sulfate and total dissolved solids (TDS).

• If someone in your household is pregnant or nursing - test for nitrates, sodium, iron, pH, TDS and bacteria.

• If water stains plumbing fixtures and laundry - test for iron.

• If water has an objectionable taste or smell - test for pH, iron and TDS.

• If water appears cloudy, frothy or colored - test for iron and hardness.

• If water leaves scaly residue and soap scum, and cuts the cleaning action of soaps and detergents - test for hardness.

• If there are unexplained illnesses in the family - test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, lead, iron, hardness, pH, sulfate, TDS and other tests depending on potential sources of contamination.

• If household plumbing contains lead pipes, fittings or solder joints or shows signs of corrosion - test for pH.

• If you wish to monitor the efficiency and performance of home water treatment equipment - test for the specific water problem being treated upon installation, at regular intervals after installation, and if the water quality changes.

What to test for in your well? Where you live, or what you are living next to, can sometimes affect the quality of your water.

Iron - Levels as low as 0.2 to 0.3 ppm will usually cause brown or reddish staining of laundry and plumbing fixtures. The presence of iron bacteria in water supplies will often cause these symptoms at even lower levels. MCL = 0.3 ppm.

pH - Intensity of the acid or alkaline condition of a solution. A pH of 7.5 - 8.5 is recommended.

Manganese - is seldom found alone in water, it is usually found in iron bearing water. The color black is often seen in some regard when manganese is present. MCL = 0.05 ppm.

Sulfur - The most obvious sign of a sulfur problem is the  distinctive "rotten egg" odor of hydrogen sulfide gas. As with odors caused by iron bacteria, the sulfur smell may only be noticeable when the water hasn't been run for several hours.

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) - Solids refer to minerals, salts and metals dissolved in water. This includes anything present in the water other than pure water and suspended solids. MCL = 500 ppm.

Nitrate - are naturally found in many types of food. However, high levels of nitrates in drinking water can make you sick. Nitrates in your well water can come from animal waste, septic systems, wastewater, flooded sewers, water runoff, fertilizers and decaying plants. MCL = 10 ppm.

Hardness - can cause too much soap / detergent usage and scaling. Hardness is caused primarily by calcium and magnesium.

Sodium - The average intake of sodium from water is only a small fraction of that consumed in a normal diet. People suffering from certain medical conditions such as hypertension may require a sodium restricted diet, in which case the intake of sodium from drinking water could become significant. MCL = 150 ppm.

Chlorination - is the most common solution used for disinfection of water. Not all types of bacteria are harmful. Biological contamination has two forms, pathogenic (disease causing) and non-pathonegenic (non-disease causing). All water supplies should be tested for biological content prior to use and consumption.

Turbidity - refers to how clear the water is. The higher the amount of total suspended solids (TSS) in the water, the cloudier it appears and the turbidity levels are higher. It may be clay and silt from shoreline erosion, bottom sediments and organic debris from stream and wastewater discharge.

Arsenic - can cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness in hands and feet, partial paralysis, and blindness. It can also cause damage to the skin, circulatory problems, and increase the risk of cancer. MCL = .01 or .05 (depending on local standards for your area).

How often some tests should be done? You should check your well every spring to make sure there are no mechanical problems; test it once each year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, pH levels and mineral content. If you suspect other contaminants, you should test for those as well. It is best to test for these contaminants during the spring or summer following a rainy period. These tests should also be conducted after repairing or replacing an old well or pipes, and after installing a new well or pump. Every three years, test for sulfate, chloride, iron, manganese, lead and hardness. If a new baby is expected in the home, it is a good idea to test for nitrate in the early months of pregnancy, before bringing an infant home, and again during the first six months of the baby's life.

Who should test your well? We recommend you never let a company that sell water treatment equipment test your water. You should get an independent test from a laboratory, health department, local university or your municipal water provider, or we would be happy to test your water for free for the more common tests if you would like to send us a sample. Simply give us a call and we will tell you what you need to do. In some cases, depending on what is in your water, we may need you to send a container to put the water in for testing. Just call 1-800-701-9914. The following are the common tests we perform: pH, iron, TDS, nitrates and hardness.

WARNING: When it comes to treatment equipment you should NEVER do business with ANY company who does not have the same certifications as we do. It is just plain crazy. There are so many "Fly by night" companies out there that it should be the very FIRST rule in your decision making process. It is your first, and some times ONLY, line of defense. Just look at our home page to see our many appropriate certifications. You will find them all in the top third of the page.

Budget Water® USA:  1.800.701.9914  email: budgetwater@budgetwater.com  

NOTE: Purchasing anything from this site means you have read, and agree to, all of the conditions of our: " terms- of- service" page.

Culligan® is a registered trademark of Culligan®, Inc., RainSoft® is a registered trademark of RainSoft Water Conditioning company, Kinetico® is a registered trademark of Kinetico Incorporated, Hague® is a registered trademark of Wm. R. Hague Inc., Cuno® is a registered trademark of Cuno Incorporated, Rayne® is a registered trademark of Rayne Corporation, Ionics® is a registered trademark of Ionics, Incorporated, Ecowater® is a registered trademark of Ecodyne Corporation.

Budget Water International, Inc. is not affiliated with Culligan®, Inc., RainSoft® Water Conditioning Co., Kinetico® Incorporated, Wm. R. Hague®, Inc., Cuno® Incorporated, Rayne® Corporation, or Ecodyne Corporation. Budgetwater® is a trademark of Budget Water International, Inc. This site is protected by copyright and trademark laws under U.S. law. All rights reserved.

We carry water treatment equipment and water filter sizes ranging to 1,200,000 grain water softeners and water conditioners, as well as virtually every other type of water treatment system or water filter available for city water or private well water systems. Larger commercial water treatment systems are available too. If it exists and it works, we have the finest water treatment technology. We build every unit we sell to order, from scratch. Unlike most other in-home and online companies who have them in a warehouse collecting dust and going out of date sometime for years at a time. Every unit we sell is made from the very latest, up to date, state of the art technology. We are the industry leaders for analyzing and recommending the following water filtration systems: Water softeners, iron filters, sulfur filter systems, acid neutralizers, manganese filtration filters, bacteria removal, tannin removal, smell and odor treatment systems, water conditioners, rust filters and virtually all types of well water treatment and purification systems. If it exists and it works we have it or can build it. Premium Quality Equipment at Budget Prices, 7 days a week Budget Water® USA.

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*We manufacture most of our equipment from scratch. We use only premium national name brand components on all equipment that we sell. The same people that make equipment for many other national PREMIUM brand companies make them for us as well. Three of the top control valve makers are Fleck, Autotrol and Clack; we carry all three types and many of the other top brands as well.

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