Every day we receive calls at the Butler County Conservation District about testing drinking water.

If you get your water from your own well or spring, you're responsible for ensuring its quality.

Unlike public water supplies, government agencies are not required to monitor private water systems for contamination. Periodic water testing is important for providing a supply that's safe and appealing to use.

There are many places to take your water to be tested. The water testing laboratories are listed in the Yellow Pages under water analysis.

The Conservation District sells water testing kits for $11.50. Water samples are tested for bacteria only.

Although many substances can degrade drinking water quality, testing for the presence of every possible contaminant would be very expensive. It is best to run tests that are broad in scope for those contaminants that are most likely to be present.

It may be necessary for you to have additional tests for other contaminants that may be present in your particular area.

• Total coliform bacteria: Although most coliform bacteria doesn't cause illness, it is easy to test for and may be used to indicate the possibility of pathogenic or disease causing microorganisms in a water supply. If coliform bacteria is in your water, then bacteria and viruses that can make you sick — such as salmonella and hepatitis — may also be contaminating your supply.

• Nitrate:Excessive levels of nitrate in drinking water may cause a potentially fatal disease — methemoglobinemia, otherwise known as blue baby syndrome — in infants less than 6 months old.

• Pesticides:A pesticide scan will tell you if any of a number of pesticides are in your water. Birth defects, an increased risk of cancer and damage to body organs are possible chronic health effects associated with exposure to pesticides above recommended levels.

•

PH:The PH test measures how acidic or basic water is. The scale for PH ranges from 0 to 14. A PH of less than 7 is acidic, while a PH of 7 is neutral, and a PH greater than 7 is basic.Water that is too basic may corrode household plumbing. In addition to damaging pipes, metals, such as copper, lead and cadmium that dissolve from the plumbing system may contaminate your water and pose health problems.• Total dissolved solids: This test tells you the concentration of dissolved materials in your water. Water with TDS concentrations above the recommended limit may have an objectionable taste and deposit scale in pipes.People unaccustomed to water with a high TDS concentration may temporarily suffer gastrointestinal upsets, such as diarrhea, when they drink the water.Also, if the total dissolved solids are at a high level, it would be wise to have further tests to determine specific contaminants.And keep in mind that water from springs along roads may not be safe to drink.Ron Fodor is district manager of the Butler County Conservation District.