How to test water quality
It is easy to learn how to test water quality with strips that detect nitrates and other things that are associated with pollution.
The test is simply done. Get a sample of the water in a clean jar, dip a stick in, shake it, wait a specified number of seconds, and compare the colour of each section of the strip with a colour chart.
We buy our test strips from Simplex Health (don’t worry, they are not paying us), and we went for their 5-in-one water test kits, which tests for pH, Total Alkalinity, Total Hardness, Nitrite and Nitrate. They cost £25 for 50 strips (early 2025 prices). Get them here.
Simplex also sell Phosphate test strips.
Learn more about phosphate here.
If you find raised nitrate and phosphorus levels in your local waterway, you can call Wessex Water and discuss your results.
High levels of nitrite usually signify agricultural pollution.
Here is a great website on citizen science testing for phosphorus on the River Parrett.