All About Water Testing

Are you curious to know what’s in your Oklahoma City water? A free basic water analysis can provide a lot of insight into common water problems. This guide to water testing provides information on our basic water analysis, what the results mean and when more comprehensive testing may be recommended.

A basic water analysis is a complimentary service our company provides to help you identify the most common water concerns. One of our water experts will coordinate a time that’s convenient for your schedule to take a sample of water from your home or business. The analysis will be performed onsite, or you can bring a sample to our office in either Oklahoma City or El Reno. The test takes approximately 10 minutes and will provide you with some insights into what’s in your water.

Our basic water analysis will test for TDS (total dissolved solids), hardness, PH, and chlorine.

Total dissolved solids: TDS will tell us how many cumulative salts, metals and minerals are in your water. With high TDS, your water may have an odor and/or taste salty, bitter or metallic.

Hardness: Our hardness test measures the level of calcium and magnesium minerals in your water which cause build up and scale. If you notice a chalky white coating on your dishes and faucets and/or experience dry skin, hard water is likely the culprit.

PH: pH measures how acidic or alkaline your water is on a scale of 0 to 14. In areas with high levels of acidity such as Choctaw for example, we may recommend an acid neutralizer. Water with a pH below 6.5 is considered acidic and may contain elevated levels of copper and lead. Water with a pH above 7.5 is considered alkaline and generally associated with an abundance of calcium and/or magnesium.

Chlorine: Chlorine and/or chloramine are used by water treatment plants in the disinfection process and are commonly seen in municipal water supplies. High levels of chlorine/chloramine in drinking water can be hazardous to health.

In some cases, you may wish to have a more in-depth understanding of what’s in your water. Culligan’s IL EPA-certified lab analyzes more than 15,000 water samples every year and can test for things such as heavy metals, bacteria, copper, radium and more. We can collect this sample and mail it off for you or you can bring your water sample to one of our locations. Results may take 3-7 business days on average.

There are some instances when we would recommend water testing beyond our basic analysis. For instance, if you know of a neighbor that’s had issues with heavy metals such as lead, you may want to check your water for that too. Or if you live near a farm, military base or other area where nitrates, PFAS or radium may be present, it could be good to check your water. If you’re on well water, it’s advisable to test for bacteria yearly. However, water quality can change, and a lab analysis is only a snapshot in time. We always advise having water treatment in place to address common contaminants – regardless of what’s in your water at the time of testing.

There are many reasons why you may want to test your water. Here are a few of the most common reasons we see in Oklahoma:

Moving to a new home: If you’re purchasing or building a new home, you may want to know what’s in your water to avoid potential contaminants and/or hard water build up.

Moving to an area with well water: Private well water is not regulated under federal drinking water standards and therefore it is the responsibility of the homeowner to test and maintain water quality.

Your water seems “different”: If your water quality changed in smell, taste, or appearance it’s a good idea to get your water checked. Water quality can change over time.

Stains or limescale build up in sinks, tubs and toilets: Hard water minerals can leave fixtures looking dirty and even short appliance lifespan.

Spotty dishes, dry skin or dull hair: If your skin and fair aren’t as silky and smooth, it could be due to hard water.

Local environmental disasters, including floods and fires: Natural disasters such as tornadoes in Oklahoma can affect water quality and firefighting foam is known to contain PFAS.

We will recommend different water treatment equipment based on your water treatment results. While some water problems in Oklahoma City are common, such as hard water, there can be some specific suggestions we will recommend based on your unique water needs. Your results coupled with questions about your home’s size, water usage and other local area concerns will help us recommend the right water filtration equipment for your home. Examples of some of the most common water treatment options include:

With Culligan, you don’t have to be afraid to find out what’s in your water. We have affordable water treatment equipment along with leasing and financing options available.

Take the first step in knowing what’s in your water and learn what you can do to improve it. Afterall, water is essential to life. Let Culligan help you make the most of it!