Know what’s in your H2O.

Although drinking water provided by public water utilities is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cases of contamination exist nationwide. The most common culprit: nitrate.

Nitrate in drinking water is associated with concerns over infant health and cancer risk. Because synthetic fertilizer use has risen steadily over the past 75 years, so has the potential for increased nitrate contamination. Well water is also at risk for contamination by human-derived contaminants.

Torrent Laboratory offers superior water testing that employs EPA-approved methods and services that meet all quality control analytical and documentation requirements demanded by California regulating authorities. We have decades of experience and a team of chemists with a combined 150 years of analytical experience. Our final reports contain federal guidelines so that you can compare your water quality data. We also offer pre-analysis consultations to determine your specific concerns and needs.

Test with the best. Learn more about our testing capabilities and fill out Water Quality Testing Form.

Do not take your drinking water for granted. Safeguard your most basic necessity. Please read below to understand why.

Since industrialization, we are continuously producing, using and releasing man-made chemicals in our environment. These chemicals leach through the surface, through contaminated rain water, or through contaminated water sources and may end up in our kitchen faucet! Most of these man-made chemicals are dangerous to our health and can cause a variety of health issues. They can upset the stomach, attack the nerve system, damage the skin, or cause cancer, among other things.

Even though drinking water provided by water utilities is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we hear of cases of drinking water contaminations all over the country.

A new study by scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has found an increase in nitrate, the most common chemical contaminant in the world’s ground water, including in aquifers used for drinking water.

Nitrate in U.S. drinking water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency because of concerns related to infant health and possible cancer risks. Use of man-made synthetic fertilizers has steadily increased since World War II, raising the potential for increased nitrate contamination of the nation’s ground water, despite efforts in recent decades to improve land-management practices. Monitoring nitrate trends in ground water through time is important in determining how quickly ground water systems respond to changes in chemical use and best management practices.

The prolonged intake of these contaminants, even in small quantities, can cause health issues.

So, by testing your drinking water periodically, you are ensuring the availability of safe drinking water for you and your family. Moreover, now you know that your own tap or well water is as safe and equally as good (or better) as bottled water. You may reduce the use of costly bottled water unless it is absolutely necessary to use it for convenience.

Do not take the quality of your drinking water for granted.

Be aware of the external changes that may impact or might have impacted the quality of your drinking water.

Let commercial Laboratory perform the tests on your drinking water periodically to ensure the quality.

Invest in your and your family’s well being. Pay attention to the taste, color and smell of your drinking water. Investigate if anything changes with your drinking water quality.

Generally, most bottled water is safe to drink. To confirm the safety of your bottled water, you may ask the manufacturer for their FDA (Food and Drug Administration) drinking water standard compliance data. Bottled water providers are obliged to provide this data to consumers.

According to EPA publications, bottled water is not necessarily safer than your tap water. EPA sets standards for tap water provided by public water systems; the Food and Drug Administration sets bottled water standards based on the EPA’s tap water standards. Bottled water and tap water are both safe to drink if they meet these standards, although people with severely compromised immune systems and children may have special needs. Some bottled water is treated more than tap water, while some is treated less or not treated at all.

Bottled water costs much more than tap water on a per gallon basis. Bottled water is valuable in emergency situations (such as floods and earthquakes), and high quality bottled water may be a desirable option for people with weakened immune systems. Consumers who choose to purchase bottled water should carefully read the label to understand what they are buying. Does it have a better taste than available tap water? Is it treated by a method that is preferable to the consumer? Does it contain added nutrients or flavors?

More information on bottled water is available from the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), which represents most US bottlers.

According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, in 2006, the equivalent of 2 billion half-liter bottles of water were shipped to U.S. ports, creating thousands of tons of pollution which contributes to global warming.  In New York City alone, the transportation of bottled water from Western Europe released an estimated 3,800 tons of pollution into the atmosphere. In California, 18 million gallons of bottled water were shipped in from Fiji in 2006, producing about 2,500 tons of pollution.

And while the bottles come from far away, most of them end up close to home—in a landfill. Most bottled water comes in recyclable PET plastic bottles, but consumers only recycle about 13 percent of the bottles we use. In 2005, 2 million tons of plastic water bottles ended up clogging landfills instead of being recycled.

Torrent Laboratory, Inc., is state of California certified (CAL ELAP) Laboratory. Torrent Laboratory employs EPA approved testing procedures (Test Methods) and services that meet all quality control analytical and documentation requirements demanded by California regulating authorities.

Torrent has decades of experience and our chemists have a combined 150 years of analytical expertise. We  know exactly how to serve you! Our final reports contain an additional attachment that includes the Federal Guidelines so that you can compare your water quality data. And, our relationship doesn’t necessarily end once you receive your data–Torrent is always available if you have additional questions or concerns. Send us an email at customerservice@torrentlaboratory.com and we’ll be happy to discuss your report with you.

We know that there are some cheap pre-packaged test kits available for water testing; however, they usually cannot detect in the part per billion and part per trillion range. Also, prepackaged test kits are useless when it comes to comprehensive water quality testing! Municipality-delivered tap water, bottled water, home-filtered water, and well water all have unique characteristics that pre-packaged kits do not necessarily address or check. Torrent understands all of our client’s situations are unique, which is why we spend time with you up-front to find out exactly what you are interested in determining. Pre-packaged kits cannot take into consideration information that we may learn from you during our pre-analysis consultation services. This information may very make all the difference when determining the health impact on your family.

To order your water testing kit, simply fill out our Water Quality Testing Form, and we’ll be in touch to have a conservation regarding the next steps.

The information provided here is for the general understanding of the referenced subject only and by no means is the final and authoritative conclusion of the subject matter. Torrent Laboratory, Inc., does not guarantee or take responsibility for the completeness, timeliness, accuracy or relevance of the presented matter here.