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How to test water for contaminants/problems?
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by herperadam on June 4, 2006
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I'm wondering if anybody here knows how I can test water for contaminants, poisons, bacteria, etc to see if it may be affecting the herps in the area. Let me try to first explain what's going on here. I have went herping at least one or two times a week in the same general area for about 8 years now and noticed some problems in one spot that I want to figure out. The area consists of one main bayou with about 9 oxbow lakes up on the banks that are about 1/4 mile apart over a span of maybe 2000 acres or so. Four of the oxbow lakes are now inside of a "master planned community" which about 6 years ago built a sidewalked nature trail bordering them. In these four oxbow lakes they pump water in so that year round they stay at the same water level, whereas the other five, which are in a federal nature preserve dry out occassionally during droughts.
Now here is the problem. In three of the oxbows in the master planned community the herp population is very healthy and frogs, snakes, alligators, etc. are very abundant but in one oxbow lake there really isn't much going on. Up until about two years ago this oxbow had a extremely healthy amphibian population but then last year and this year there is virtually none to be seen or heard of. All of the oxbows are about the same depth and size wise and none of them have had any structural changes since the sidewalk was installed but for some reason the frogs have vanished from the one.
So, what i'm thinking is that there might be something going on with the water in this one oxbow and want to know if there is a way to test it and compare to the other ones. Most things that I see are for testing swimming pools but i'm wondering if there is a way I can test the water here or send a sample somewhere to see if there is a problem?
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RE: How to test water for contaminants/problems?
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by agkistrodude on June 5, 2006
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Hey Adam, I read an article not long ago on testing well water. It stated that alot of the companies that install and service wells are able to test water.Or if you have a local Extention Service they might be able to help or point you in the right direction. Hope this helps, Marty
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RE: How to test water for contaminants/problems?
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by Cro on June 5, 2006
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Adam: As Marty suggested, the Cooperative Extension Service would be a good place to start. Go to
http://texasextension.tamu.edu/
and follow the links to your county office.
Best Regards
JohnZ
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RE: How to test water for contaminants/problems?
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by tj on June 5, 2006
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Hi Adam, I did water sampling and testing for a number of years, the best advice I can give is to have a sample sent out to be analyzed. There are way too many things to look for, and without the proper lab equipment, chemicals, and whatnot, it'll almost be a waste of time, and more expensive for you to do it yourself. Not to mention, you won't be able to find any accurate home tests that will satisfy your needs.
Also, you may want to bring a sammple to a local University or College. They have students that may want to do it for kicks, or a professor that could do it for you. They would have the essential supplies, as well as the proper instruments that would be able to quickly analyze the water. Hope this helps.
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RE: How to test water for contaminants/problems?
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by plainblain on June 5, 2006
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I have sold water softeners, reverse osmosis units and whole house water purification systems in Austin, Tx. for 5 years. All the people I sell to are already dealing with safe "potable" water from a municipal water utilty district that is providing chlorinated water. My mission is to eliminate the "hardness" which is calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate (limestone) in their water using appliances so they last as long as the manufactures says they should, or provide carbon filtration to remove the chlorine or clorammine to improve bad taste and odor. From time to time I become involved with wells and well water that is not chlorinated. If the wells that I am recommending equipment for have not had a water test recently, I draw a sample and send it to Texas A&M University, Extension Testing Laboratory, College Station, Texas, 777843. Phone # 409-845-4816.
These guys are the real deal, with the chemistry knowledge and lab equipment to tell you exactly what is in the water. And they charge $12-$15 for the service.
Although I am a total capitalist and pro-business, if someone in screwing-up the ponds, I hope you nail him.
Blain Abbott
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RE: How to test water for contaminants/problems?
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by herperadam on June 9, 2006
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Sorry here for taking a while to reply it's been a busy week but thanks for the info. I figured there were probably too many things to test for in water by myself at home. I'm going to call that number for A&M and see what the procedure is for sending a sample over and hopefully get something going.
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