We have well water which we had tested by a local lab a year or two ago. I like to have the water tested regularly, mainly for bacteria, but the local lab charges $100 (if we want lead testing included, it’s $200). I ordered this test kit thinking that I’d compare it to the results we got from the lab when we last had our water tested. If anything looked weird or came back abnormal, we’d pay the local lab to test the water.

The tests that I’ve done so far have given results that are in line with what we were expecting. The local lab gives some directions that I followed when pulling my water samples. They include the following:

1) Use cold water only.
2) For the bacteria test: let your water run for 5 minutes before you take a sample. Don’t take a sample from a swivel faucet (commonly found in kitchens). They told me that it’s best to take the water sample from the bathroom faucet or tub.
3) For the lead test: Take your sample at a point where the water has been sitting in the pipes for at least 6 hours. They recommended first thing in the morning, before flushing the toilets, etc.

The instructions included with the test kit were fine, but I would have appreciated something a bit more in depth, like those provided by our local lab. Still, this test is a fraction of what the local lab charges, and at least from what I can see, it appears to be fairly accurate.

The directions on this kit were very easy to follow and understand. This set of testing took mere minutes (with the exception of the bacteria test – 48hrs) to get results. We are wanting to buy a water filter, and as such wanted to test the water to figure out which would be best for our use. We had good results, all within the exceptable limits. However, if they had appeared off, we would have opted for the more expensive lab testing.

Some of my family lives out in the countryside and they have potable water wells. Every 5 years or so I pick up one of these packages and test the water just to make sure that everything’s in order. I know that I can always take the water to the county or to the department of agriculture to test but I find that doing this keeps me from having to go pick up bottles and pills from them.

I ordered this from Amazon, comes in the mail, follow the simple instructions and you get your water tested.

PROS
- convenient
- easy to use
- good screen test before spending $300 to get your water tested

CONS
- doesn’t test for sulfur
- bacteria test doesn’t tell you if it’s bad or innocuous bacteria

Overall, it’s something good to do every once in a while to make sure everything’s ok with your water if you own a well or if you’re concerned about your water in any way. If you live in a municipality, it might be overkill but if you live in a very old building, it might make sense to get the kit and test for lead in your water.

It’s cheap, simple, peace of mind.

I already had my well water tested professionally twice but it had been a couple of years and I wasn’t sure how accurate the results were.

I was pleased at how easy these tests were to run and feel confident (based on other tests) that the results are accurate.

We purchased this test kit just to get an idea of how good our well water was to drink. It was very easy to do, just read the instructions, very easy! If it’s an accurate test kit, it was certainly worth the money vs. what you would pay for testing by a professional. I guess the only way to know for sure is to have a professional test the water also and compare the results. We’re fairly comfortable with the results we got as the only problem we seem to have is acidity and that is accurate with another acidity test we did. We would recommend this test kit.

The test kit was easy to use and the legends were clear. I called the 800 number when my ph was higher than the parameters shown and the company rep answered the phone and explained everything. Great product, great service

The instructions were clear. The tests were quick, except for one which took 24 hours, with unambiguous results. It covered a wide spectrum of tests. I was very happy with this product.

I bought this kit after moving into a house with well water and not knowing a lot about the water quality. The tests were easy to complete, the instructions gave good information, and it was easy to analyze the results. I will buy this again periodically because it’s fairly comprehensive in scope and can alert you to a problem that might require more extensive testing.

Contrary to the other reviewer, I found the instructions OK and the tests reliable. I was led to these tests as the cheapest tests available that pass EPA certification.

I found out that our city water in Columbia, SC had measurable, but not over limit, levels of pesticide contamination.

I bought and used these tests repeatedly, and will probably do so again.

You need to carefully read the instructions before starting any of the tests. Once familiar with the procedure you are off and running. I am a professional real estate inspector and I test water wells with this kit and have found the test results accurate by comparing to other test results using different test methods.