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Corrosive Water

Drinking Water Program

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Inorganic Water Analysis

We ask that you fill out the information sheet, accompanied with your bottle, to the best of your ability. Your county agents can use a summary of this information to assess any problem areas. Legal descriptions are used for this summary, no names are given.

Homeowner Package:

Total Coliform Bacteria
Test the bacteriological safety of a water supply.  Priority analysis is available.

Nitrate plus Nitrite-Nitrogen
These are the most common chemical contaminants in Wisconsin groundwater. They may also serve as an indicator of the potential presence of other contaminants, such as pesticides or trace organic chemicals from septic system effluent. Priority analysis is available.

pH
Measure of relative acidity of the water. Useful in assessing the corrosivity of water to plumbing.

Alkalinity
Amount of bicarbonate, the major anion in water, related to pH and corrosion.

Hardness
Measure of the amount of calcium and magnesium. Important if water softening is considered.

Chloride
An indicator ion that, if found in elevated concentration, points to potential contamination from septic systems, fertilizer, landfills, or road salt.

Conductivity
Measure of total dissolved minerals in water. Change in conductivity or unusual ratio of conductivity to hardness may signal presence of contaminants.

Corrosivity Index
A calculation of the corrosivity index is performed to determine the tendency for plumbing to corrode or for lime to deposit in your plumbing.

Metal Package:

Arsenic
Arsenic can come from natural mineral deposits, pesticide use, or improper disposal of arsenic chemicals.

Calcium
Naturally occurs in groundwater where soils or underground rock formations contain limestone or dolomite.  Essential to bone and tooth development, blood clotting, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and may reduce heart disease.  Along with magnesium,  causes hard water.

Copper
Not naturally found in significant amounts in Wisconsin groundwater.  Can be found in toxic amounts when corrosive water eats away copper plumbing.  Aid in iron utilization in the body.

Iron
Naturally occurring mineral which causes taste problems and discoloration of water.  Important component of blood hemoglobin.

Lead
Not naturally occurring in Wisconsin groundwater.  Found in water supplies with lead solder or pipes especially when water is corrosive or soft.

Magnesium
Naturally occurs in Wisconsin groundwater.  Along with calcium, causes hard water.

Manganese
Causes aesthetic problems from black precipitates (specks).  High concentrations of both manganese and iron can occur where water is low in oxygen.

Potassium
Levels greater than 10 mg/L may indicate contamination from animal waste or may come from water softeners that use potassium chloride.

Sodium
Often found at elevated levels in groundwater from road salt or septic system effluent.

Sulfate
Naturally occurring in some groundwater.  Concentrations over 300 mg/L give water an off taste.  Sulfate is not the same as hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg gas) although both contain the element sulfur.

Zinc
Concentrations greater than 1 mg/L usually occur only when corrosive water is distributed through galvanized pipes, or in zinc mining areas.

Elements:

Additional Analyses: