Complete Water Analysis Test Kit review

Recently I was contacted by WaterTestKits.com asking if I would like to review their ‘Complete Water Analysis Test Kit’. A couple of days later the compact lightweight kit promptly arrived.

The single kit includes the following water tests:

• Lead Test
• Bacteria Test
• Pesticide Test
• Iron
• Copper
• Nirtrates & Nirtrites
• Chlorine Level
• pH Levels Check
• Alkalinity
• Hardness

The majority of the above information is useful for homebrewers and professional brewers alike from both a safety and recipe formulation perspective. Having a spare 10 minutes, which is quoted as the time needed to complete all of the above tests, I began working my way through them.

Lead & Pesticide tests

Each set of tests includes clear instructions together with everything needed. These two tests include a small vial, a dropper pippette, and two test strips for Lead and Pesticides respectively.

After placing two dropper-fuls of tap water into the vial I inserted the two strips and waited 10 minutes. The result showed both as Negative, which is a relief but expected, with the darker lines being next to the ‘1’ rather than the ‘2’.

Alkalinity/pH/Hardness & Iron tests

The first of these tests involved taking a strip that had three pads on it and dipping it into a sample of water taken from the tap and placed in the vial. The results came out as follows (ppm = Parts Per Million):

• Alkalinity = 180 ppm
• pH = 8
• Hardness = 12 grains, 220 ppm

This test helps with working out water adjustments for brewing in order to optimize mash efficiency and show casing hops or malt in the finished beer.

The second of these tests involved dissolving an Iron Reagent tablet in a fresh vial of tap water and then dipping in a single tab strip then waiting 60 seconds. The result was 0 ppm which is what I would have expected with borough water but might show other results for those using well water.

 

Total Chlorine/Copper/Nitrate/Nitrite tests

This test involved taking a strip that had four pads on it and dipping it into a sample of water taken from the tap and placed in the vial. The results after waiting for 45 seconds were as follows:

• Total Chlorine = 0 ppm
• Copper = 1.3 ppm
• Nitrate Nitrogen = 5 ppm
• Nitrite Nitrogen = 0 ppm

The main surprise for me here was no chlorine detected which must mean that my borough water is treated with an alternative and also means that leaving my brewing water overnight to off-gas chlorine is pointless!

Bacteria test

This final test involved taking a sealed vial containing a powder and adding water then shaking before leaving it for 48 hours in a warm area of 70-90 deg F which is easy in summer but could be more of a challenge at other times of the year.

After the 48 hours was up the vial was purple in color which meant the result was negative i.e. no bacteria detected which is reassuring.

Summary

This is a simple and affordable testing kit for your water which can provide information that otherwise would only be available from your utility company and may not be 100% accurate as water makeup and quality can vary depending on the time of year.

To order your Complete Water Testing Kit ($29.99) you can visit:

Complete Water Testing Kit

Many thanks to WaterTestingKits.com for providing the product for review.

If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below.