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City tap water in Europe and North America is regularly tested for common parameters and yearly, more or less, for most other constituents(pollutants, minerals,
by pomian 5y ago
City tap water in Europe and North America is regularly tested for common parameters and yearly, more or less, for most other constituents(pollutants, minerals, chemicals etc.) It is very very unlikely you got sick from the tap water.
If you want to test your own water, find an "environmental laboratory". Communicate with them, they will help you decide which range of tests. They will also provide you with the appropriate sample bottles. (There are organic and inorganic parameters with different protocols for sampling.)
It won't be cheap however. Especially one time testing. You can spend anywhere from ($CAD) 50-150 for inorganic tests (arsenic, lead, etc.) And 150 - 500+ for organic tests ( DDT, PCB, etc etc.) Cheap and easy - but all cities do it all the time, is hardness, pH, etc.
If you are suddenly sick it is likely organic, and most likely biological (bacteria, virus.)
Also most likely from food.
But, it is fun to test your water, and interesting. (Same with the soil around you.) The world around us complex and the interweaving of systems is fascinating; as is our infrastructure to allow city living.
(Source for my diatribe: 20+years Environmental Engineer)
- tomjakubowski 5y agoThe city may well test tap water and find it to be safe, but this testing wouldn't account for contamination that happens downstream from their systems, e.g. caused by poor building plumbing.
- Xylakant 5y agoI’m on the equivalent of a HOA in Berlin, and we are required by law to have periodic checks of the tap water, mostly for Legionella bacteria but afaik also general water quality.
- rrrrrrrrrrrryan 5y agoProper testing includes samples from the faucets of random households. California cities do it every year, and the results are public: just look up "water quality report" or "consumer confidence report" + your city.