Testing Local Water Supply

[stevegray]

I have a few sources of surface water near my home that might be usable in a post SHTF scenario. But I'm concerned about the possibility of contamination from nearby arable farming, light industry and (slightly further away) landfill.
Is it possible / practical / useful to have some samples tested? I'm worried that without knowing what is in it, I don’t know how to make it safe to drink.

[broke prepper]

Yes if you send a small sample from various locations of the same river to a lab for a small fee they will test it and send you the results,the yellow pages or goole will tell you where the closes lab is in your area

Quite a recommendable step for a any prepper it will be interesting if you could post you results

[Moony]

Part of my report into the new home i'm (hopefully) buying included a water quality report. It proudly stated that 99.9% of water samples pass all relavant regulations, then went on to say that the water at my 'home' has failed 2/76 tests, which to my mind isn't exactly 99.9% It failed those tests on Iron content, anyone have any idea what might cause this sort of contamination ? I'm assuming it isn't the pipes (or maybe it could be ?) There's old quarries in the area and lots of agriculture but minimal industrial activities.
It's not going to put me off buying though !

DWI (government body) approved testing centres are: http://dwi.defra.gov.uk/consumers/lab-list.pdf

[ForgeCorvus]

Moony, Is it a new borehole or an old well?

Some wells can have old cast iron pipes in them, or sometimes even scrap thats been dropped in accidently

[hawkafr]

I have a holiday home (pension / BOL) in the yorkshire dales we get the water from a bore hold that supplies a few homes when tested we had traces of iron but were told its because there is irom in the limestone rock in which the bore hole is set but it was well within limits

[Moony]

Moony, Is it a new borehole or an old well?

Some wells can have old cast iron pipes in them, or sometimes even scrap thats been dropped in accidently

This is mains water supply ! I'm not sure how many years worth of tests they include in the report, because I know all the mains pipes were replaced in 2004, so maybe it's old data from before the new, plastic pipes were installed.

[ForgeCorvus]

Sorry assumed and made an ass out of me at any road