Our latest water quality mini brochure has been updated. It features our new photometer, the eXact Micro 7+ and
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Carolina Koi Show
Raleigh, NC / Oct. 10-12, 2008
Excellence in Leadership
Greensboro NC / Oct.16-17, 2008
World Aquatic Health
Colorado Springs, CO / Oct.17, 2008
President Ivars Jaunakais speaking
New Methodology for Poolside Compliance Testing”
WEFTEC
Chicago , IL / Oct. 19-22, 2008 / Booth #20046
24th Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water
University of Massachusetts at Amherst / Oct. 20 - 23, 2008
World Waterpark Expo
Las Vegas , NV / Oct. 28 – 29, 2008 / Booth #702
International Pool & Spa Expo
Las Vegas , NV / Nov. 18 – 20, 2008 / Booth #E-1304
National Groundwater Association (NGWA)
Las Vegas , NV / Dec. 3 – 5, 2008 / Booth #1406

We just released a new, EPA compliant method for presence/absence determination of Total Coliforms and E. coli in water. The EZ Coliform Cult – MUG Test (part number 487197) consists of a sterilized, ready-to-use 120mL bottle containing a premeasured amount of growth media. To run the test simply add the water sample, cap the bottle and then incubate at 35°C for 24 hours (or 25°C for 48 hours).

Our test works by detecting an enzyme produced by coliform bacteria and a specific enzyme produced by E. coli. If coliforms are present, the liquid sample will change from yellow to blue-green in color. If E. coli is present, the sample will glow a bright blue, fluorescent color when illuminated with a UV light (365nm) (sold seperately). Alternatively, the presence of E. coli can be confirmed with the addition of Kovac’s reagent, which produces a red ring as a biochemical confirmation.

Lead exposure can cause serious health problems, especially in young children. When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs. The greatest concern is even “low level” lead exposure reduces children’s ability to learn. Lead-based paint becomes a hazard when it starts to wear, chip, or peel, or while it is being removed by sanding or stripping. In 1978 lead-based paint was banned in the United States but more than 80 percent of homes built before 1978 still contain lead. In most states a home seller must disclose their home was tested for lead.

Now it is easier to screen your home for leaded paint. Industrial Test Systems, Inc. is proud to announce the revolutionary new LeadQUICK™ Home Paint Kit (487924-V). It’s an accurate, affordable, fast (results in 4 minutes) and easy to use visual home test kit for testing the EPA recommended maximum level of lead in paint (1 mg Lead per cm²). Unlike the popular swab method that only tests for lead only on the surface, the new LeadQUICK™ Home Paint Kit uses a wedged paint chip that measures all paint layers for lead. The kit involves chemical reactions that produce a visible color change in the presence of lead compounds. LEADQuick™ Paint Lead Kit has the following low levels of detection: 0.05, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2, mg/cm² and the kit includes 25 tests for $59.99.

Ken Christensen, the author of the new book I love my pool  mentions our Pool Check test strips in an interview with the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentintal. Ken has great tips on pool testing and maintenance for homeowners wanting to save time and money.

Here’s an easy, safe and economical way to test for the most common contaminants found in drinking water from Industrial Test Systems, Inc.The Water Quality Test Kit uses test strips from recognized test methods. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) recommends testing home drinking water at least once a year. Regular testing is important especially with an untreated well since the water quality is the owners’ responsibility.

This Water Quality Test Kit includes test for iron (2), copper (2), chloride (2), nitrate/nitrite nitrogen (2), total chlorine (2), total hardness (2), free chlorine (2), sulfate (2), pH (2), total alkalinity (2), hydrogen sulfide (2), pesticide (1), lead (1) and bacteria (1). The instructions are clear, no harsh chemicals are used and no expensive equipment is required. The included table lets you record and compares your results to the USEPA recommended levels.

For more information contact Industrial Test Systems, Inc. at 1-800-861-9712, 1-803-329-9712, on the web - http://www.sensafe.com/487986.php, or by email at its@sensafe.com.

Industrial Test Systems, Inc. (ITS), located in Rock Hill, SC, announces the release of WaterWorks™ Total Iron visual test which detects ferric (Fe+3) as well as ferrous (Fe+2) forms of iron. This test was developed to make accurate total iron testing easier and requires no meter. Test results are available in 3 minutes. Follow this simple method:

TEST PROCEDURE:

1.  Add contents of one iron powder pillow to the supplied vial.

2.  Fill the vial with water sample to top line.

3.  Close the vial with the screw cap and shake for 20 seconds.

4.  Wait 3 minutes for the color to develop.

5.  Remove the cap.

6.  Place vial in white circles and look down into the vial to match to the nearest color block, on the reverse side, to determine the iron concentration.

 National Secondary Drinking Water Regulations set forth by the USEPA recommend an iron level of no more than 0.3 ppm. Detection levels for this visual test are 0, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 3, 5 mg/L (ppm). The test kit contains 50 individually wrapped foil powder pillows with a color chart card for $25.99 each. WaterWorks™ Total Iron (Fe+2 / Fe+3) is the quick solution for testing total iron concentrations in drinking water. For more information visit our web site at www.sensafe.com/totaliron.php. You may contact ITS at 1-800-861-9712, 1-803-329-9712,  or by email at its@sensafe.com.

The majority of farms draw the water used to irrigate their fields from wells so WHY would they ever need to test for the presence of chlorine?

Simple: Every once in a while those wells might get ’shocked’ with an oxidizer such as chlorine in response to unforeseen events such as regional flooding or the contamination of nearby soil by a ruptured septic line.  Events such as those may have resulted in the wells getting contaminated with harmful bacteria.

Strong oxidizers such as chlorine harm plant, animal and aquatic life so the farmer wants to make certain the water going to his herds and getting sprayed over his fields contains as low a disinfectant concentration as possible.

While several methods for testing chlorine levels in farm water exist, and all have merit, the simplest chlorine level testing method for farmers comes in the form of dip-n-read test strips. They require no formal training, cost very little, and give fast, accurate results typically in under a minute. See below for examples of test strips well suited for testing chlorine levels in farm water:

• SenSafe^TM Total Chlorine Test Strips

Many microorganisms and forms of bacteria, including coliform bacteria, occur naturally in our environment and not all forms of bacteria or types of microorganisms cause harm to humans. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Primary Drinking Water Standards states that most harmful types of bacteria and microorganisms such as Legionella, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, E. Coli, fecal coliform, and enteric viruses come primarily from human and animal waste.