What is measured in a water quality test? A lot of things.
Water quality tests are important in a number of ways. The Environmental Protection Agency has minimum standards for drinking water that must be met at every step of the process. That starts at the water source, extends through the water processing plant and delivery system to your home. State and local regulations also apply to water quality.
So what is measured when determining water quality? New homes and existing wells are tested for the presence of coliform bacteria, which is very important. The best known coliform to many people is e. coli, which can make you very sick. Your water should test negative for coliform.
There are a number of other properties to test when determining water quality.
What causes a rotten egg smell in my water?
That is a chemical called hydrogen sulfide. It's not harmful, but even a small amount can really stink.
Hydrogen sulfide occurs naturally and can build up in your appliances or pipes over time until you begin to smell it. There are three places that are usually the origin of the rotten egg smell. To find which one it is will require a little aquatic detective work. The first step is to run hot and cold water in all the faucets of your house at the same time. Quickly go from room to room and give each fixture a sniff. Smell them together, then turn off one at a time to get an individual whiff. Note whether the smell is coming from all faucets or just those in one particular room.