Table 1.
Well water parameters tested, methods used and reporting limits. For the Lab’s EPA and other certifications, as well as their quality control manual, see their website [120].
| Water Quality Parameter | Method a | Reporting Limit | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metals | |||
| Aluminum | E200.8 b | 0.1 | mg/L |
| Arsenic | E200.8 | 0.001 | mg/L |
| Cadmium | E200.8 | 0.0001 | mg/L |
| Calcium | E200.7 c | 1 | mg/L |
| Chromium | E200.8 | 0.001 | mg/L |
| Iron | E200.7 | 0.03 | mg/L |
| Lead | E200.8 | 0.001 | mg/L |
| Magnesium | E200.7 | 1 | mg/L |
| Manganese | E200.7/E200.8 d | 0.01 | mg/L |
| Potassium | E200.7 | 1 | mg/L |
| Sodium | E200.7 | 1 | mg/L |
| Uranium | E200.8 | 0.001 | mg/L |
| Zinc | E200.7/E200.8 | 0.01 | mg/L |
| Inorganics | |||
| Alkalinity | A2320 B | 4 | mg/L |
| Bicarbonate | A2320 B | 4 | mg/L |
| Carbonate | A2320 B | 4 | mg/L |
| Chloride | E300.0 | 1 | mg/L |
| Sulfate | E300.0 | 1 | mg/L |
| Fluoride | E300.0 | 0.1 | mg/L |
| Nitrate + Nitrite as N | E300.0 | 0.05 | mg/L |
| Hardness as CaCO3 | A2340 B | 1 | mg/L |
| Sodium Absorption Ratio | Calculation | 0.01 | |
| Physical Properties | |||
| Conductivity | A2510 B | 1 | µmhos/cm |
| Corrosivity (Langelier Index) | A203 | ||
| pH | A4500 H B | 0.1 | s.u. |
| Total Dissolved Solids @ 180 C | A2540 C | 10 | mg/L |
| Coliform/E. coli presence/absence | A9223 | presence/absence | per 100 mL |
a Energy Laboratories (Billings, MT, USA) follows the standardized methods established by the US EPA Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Society for Testing and Materials [118]. b Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP—analytical method). c Inductively Coupled Plasma—Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). d These samples were analyzed by both methods, ICP and ICPMS, to ensure the best quantitated value. Both methods are approved for the analysis of Mn. Data between these methods are very reproducible [122].