Velora Water System's: Comprehensive On-Site Water Testing Guide & Checklist for Filtration System Designs. - (Municipal, Well, or Lake Water – / Technician Field Manual)

This guide expands every parameter with how to test on-site, typical methods/tools (e.g., strips, kits, photometers), units, how to read/interpret results, typical concern levels (aesthetic/operational + health where relevant; reference EPA/Health Canada guidelines), and system recommendations. Use for sales demos, system sizing, and client reports. Always note source type and retest post-install. For regulatory compliance or health-critical items (bacteria, heavy metals), send to a certified lab. Basic Physical & Aesthetic Parameters (Always test first – quick visual/qualitative assessment)

• pH Test: pH meter, test strips, or photometer (Hanna/Hach). Units: pH scale (0-14). How to read: Calibrate meter; dip or add reagent. Concern levels: Ideal 6.5–8.5. Below 6.5 = corrosive (leaches metals); above 8.5 = scaling, reduced disinfection. Recommendations: Adjust with acid/base feeders or neutralizing filters if extreme.

  
  

• Turbidity / Clarity Test: Turbidity meter or visual (Secchi disk for lakes); portable meters like Hanna. Units: NTU (Nephelometric Turbidity Units). How to read: Measure light scattering by particles. Concern levels: <0.5–1 NTU ideal for treated water; >5 NTU visible cloudiness. Recommendations: Sediment filters, coagulation, or multimedia filters.

  
  

• Color / Staining Test: Visual comparison or colorimeter (Hach). Units: Color Units (CU) or descriptive (yellow/brown/black). How to read: Observe staining on fixtures/clothes. Concern levels: Any noticeable color = tannins/iron/manganese. Recommendations: Activated carbon, iron filters, or tannin/silicate removers.

  
  

• Odor / Taste Test: Sensory (Threshold Odor Number – TON). Units: TON or descriptive. How to read: Dilution test or client description. Concern levels: >3 TON objectionable. Recommendations: Carbon filters, aeration, or oxidizers.

  
  

• Temperature Test: Thermometer or multi-probe. Units: °C. How to read: Direct measurement. Concern levels: >20°C promotes bacteria growth. Recommendations: Insulate lines; consider UV/chlorination for warmer sources.

  
  

Minerals & Hardness (Critical for softeners)

• Total Hardness (Ca + Mg as CaCO₃) Test: Titration kit, test strips, or photometer. Units: mg/L or gpg (grains per gallon; 1 gpg ≈ 17.1 mg/L). How to read: Color change endpoint. Concern levels: Soft <60 mg/L; Hard >180 mg/L (scaling, soap scum). Recommendations: Water softener (size by grains capacity & flow rate).

  
  

• Calcium Hardness / [ ] Magnesium Hardness (calculated or separate) Test: Specific kits or total minus magnesium. Units: mg/L as CaCO₃. How to read: Similar to total hardness. Concern levels: High calcium = scaling. Recommendations: Softener or scale inhibitors.

  
  

• Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Test: Handheld TDS/conductivity meter. Units: mg/L or ppm. How to read: Digital readout. Concern levels: <500 mg/L good; >1000 mg/L poor taste/scaling. Recommendations: RO for very high; softener for moderate.

  
  

• Conductivity / Salinity Test: Conductivity meter (correlates with TDS). Units: µS/cm. How to read: Direct. Concern levels: >1000–1500 µS/cm indicates high minerals. Recommendations: Correlates to softening/RO needs.

  
  

• Alkalinity (buffering capacity) Test: Titration kit. Units: mg/L as CaCO₃. How to read: Acid titration to endpoint. Concern levels: <50 mg/L low buffering (pH swings); high with hardness = scaling. Recommendations: Acid injection or paired with softener.

  
  

Metals & Iron-Related (Iron filters, staining)

• Total Iron (ferrous + ferric) Test: Colorimetric kit/photometer (Hach DR1900 or Hanna). Units: mg/L. How to read: Color development (red/orange). Concern levels: >0.1–0.3 mg/L staining/taste (aesthetic). Recommendations: Oxidizing iron filter (greensand, birm, etc.).

  
  

• Ferrous Iron (dissolved) Test: Same as total, without oxidation step. Units: mg/L. How to read: Immediate color. Concern levels: Dissolved form more treatable by oxidation. Recommendations: Aeration + filtration.

  
  

• Manganese Test: Colorimetric kit/photometer. Units: mg/L. How to read: Color match. Concern levels: >0.05 mg/L black staining/taste. Recommendations: Manganese-specific media or combined iron/manganese filter.

  
  

• Other heavy metals (Lead, Arsenic, Copper, etc.) Test: On-site kits limited; lab preferred. Units: µg/L or mg/L. How to read: Lab report. Concern levels: Varies (e.g., Lead action level 0.015 mg/L). Recommendations: Specific media or RO; lab confirm.

  
  

Disinfectants & Byproducts (Municipal focus)

• Free Chlorine / [ ] Total Chlorine Test: DPD colorimetric (strips, photometer – Hanna HI97745 excellent). Units: mg/L. How to read: Pink color intensity. Concern levels: 0.2–4 mg/L residual (high = taste/odor). Recommendations: Carbon or catalytic carbon filter.

  
  

• Chloramines (monochloramine) Test: Specific DPD method or photometer. Units: mg/L. How to read: Difference or dedicated test. Concern levels: Similar to chlorine; harder to remove. Recommendations: Catalytic carbon.

  
  

• Chlorine Demand Test: Measure drop after time. Units: mg/L. How to read: Initial minus residual. Concern levels: High demand = organics present. Recommendations: Pre-filtration.

  
  

Organics & Tannins (Anti-tannin removers)

• Tannins / Humic Acids Test: Tannin/lignin colorimetric kit (Hach). Units: mg/L as tannic acid. How to read: Color comparison. Concern levels: >0.5–5 mg/L yellow/brown tint, fouling. Recommendations: Anion exchange or specialty tannin resin.

  
  

• Total Organic Carbon (TOC) / [ ] UV Absorbance (proxy) Test: Lab or advanced on-site UV meter. Units: mg/L. How to read: Lab or absorbance at 254 nm. Concern levels: >2–5 mg/L indicates organics. Recommendations: Carbon or advanced oxidation.

  
  

Silica / Sodium Silicate (Dedicated silicate removers)

• Silica / Sodium Silicate Test: Colorimetric kit (Hach SI-5/SI-7 or Hanna HI38067) – add reagents, develop blue color, compare chart or photometer. Units: mg/L (ppm) as SiO₂. How to read: Reactive silica; portable photometers for digital. Concern levels: >10–20 mg/L scaling, membrane fouling, staining. Recommendations: Specialty silicate/tannin remover, anion resin, or RO.

  
  

Biological (Safety – especially wells/lakes)

• Total Coliform Bacteria / [ ] E. coli Test: Colilert or membrane filtration (lab/on-site incubator kits). Units: CFU/100mL. How to read: Color change or colony count (absent = 0). Concern levels: Any detectable = risk. Recommendations: UV, chlorination + filtration.

  
  

• Iron Bacteria / Sulfur Bacteria Test: Visual (slime, odor) or lab BART tests. Units: Qualitative/presence. How to read: Slime or rotten egg smell. Concern levels: Presence. Recommendations: Shock chlorination, specialized filters.

  
  

Other Common Contaminants (Source-dependent)

• Nitrates / Nitrites Test: Cadmium reduction or strips/kit. Units: mg/L as N. How to read: Color. Concern levels: Nitrate >10 mg/L (health, esp. infants). Recommendations: Anion exchange or RO.

  
  

• Sulfates / Hydrogen Sulfide Test: Kit or smell. Units: mg/L. How to read: Rotten egg odor. Concern levels: >250 mg/L sulfate; any H₂S. Recommendations: Aeration, carbon, or oxidizing filters.

  
  

• Fluoride Test: Ion-specific kit or lab. Units: mg/L. How to read: Color/electrode. Concern levels: >1.5–2 mg/L (dental fluorosis). Recommendations: Activated alumina or RO.

  
  

• Radon / Radium (wells) Test: Lab (radon kits available). Units: pCi/L. How to read: Lab. Concern levels: Varies (radon >4,000 pCi/L action). Recommendations: Aeration or carbon.

  
  

• Pesticides / VOCs / PFAS (lakes, ag areas) Test: Lab primarily. Units: Varies (µg/L). How to read: Lab report. Concern levels: Trace detection. Recommendations: Advanced carbon, RO.

  
  

• Phosphates Test: Colorimetric kit. Units: mg/L. How to read: Blue color. Concern levels: >0.1 mg/L algae promotion. Recommendations: Phosphate removers if needed.

Post-Test System Design Notes

• Source Type: ☐ Municipal ☐ Well ☐ Lake

• Flow Rate / Peak Demand (GPM):

• Daily Usage (gallons):

• Issues Identified & Recommended Solutions: (List per parameter above)

• Pre- & Post-Treatment Testing Plan: Yes/No

• Client Signature / Date:

Field Tips for Technicians:

• Prioritize on-site: TDS/pH/hardness/chlorine/iron/silica for immediate demos.

• Use photometers (Hanna HI97745, Hach DR1900) for accuracy + printouts.

• Document photos of staining/odor.

• Ontario-specific: Check local guidelines; labs for full panels.

• Safety: Gloves, proper disposal of reagents.

This serves as your complete technician guide. Print as a multi-page form or import into a Word/PDF template for professional use.