WATER TESTING KITS FOR FIELD USE
Water is tested in laboratories to find out the minerals
present in it along with parameters like pH, conductivity, colour and
turbidity. The tests help establish the presence of any parameter and the
extent to which it is present in a particular water. Most of the tests are done
using the time tested method of titration, using laboratory glassware like
burettes, pipettes, conical flasks and beakers. This method still prevails
although modern instruments like spectrophotometers, chromatographs, etc have
started making their presence felt for testing parameters where the titration
method cannot be used.
Since it is not possible to carry delicate glassware out
into the field for field tests, several companies/agencies/NGOs/Government
laboratories have done a lot of work to bring out kits which use the titration
principles but are light, can stand up to rough 'travel' and still give fairly
accurate results. These are field test kits which can be used anywhere and by anyone
who can read the instructions. Titration involves using a chemical solution of
a known strength in a burette to be added to a sample of water to be tested in
a beaker/conical flask. A chemical indicator solution is also added to the
water before titration. The solution from the burette is added to the sample in
carefully controlled drops with the sample being continuously stirred. This
addition is stopped when the colour of the sample changes. The burette reading
taken after colour change is multiplied by a specific numerical factor. This
gives the quantity of the parameter tested for in the water in terms of
mg/litre or parts per million (pm). All titration tests are colorimetric tests
where a change in colour is an indication that the presence/absence of the
parameter being tested had been ascertained.
Most of the field test kits operate on the same principle.
The kit consists of a sample bottle with a marking on it to indicate that the
sample to be tested must be filled up to that mark. Another bottle contains the
required chemical solution (which in a lab would be in the burette). This
bottle would have a dropper fitted on it. Depending on the parameter to be
tested, there would be a small dropper bottle containing the indicator solution
(tests for certain parameters may not need such an indicator).To use this kind
of a kit, the sample bottle is first rinsed with the water to be tested and
then filled up to the mark. The solution from the dropper bottle is added to
this sample after adding the recommended drops of indicator solution, a drop at
a time, counting each drop. When the colour of the sample changes, the addition
of the solution is stopped, number of drops added is multiplied by a factor
given in the instruction manual to arrive at the quantity of the parameter in
mg/litre of water or ppm.
Test kits used for testing the bacteriological content in
water are slightly different. Some have a bottle in which the sample of water
to be tested is put and into which another solution is added. It is then shut
and kept for a period of several hours or overnight. If, at the end of this
period, the sample has acquired a colour as given in the instructions, it
indicates that the sample is bacteriologically contaminated, otherwise not.
Another kit used for such tests is called a 'dip slide'. It consists of a slide
made of an inert plastic material coated with a nutrient which is kept inside a
sealed container. This slide is taken out of the container by breaking the seal
of the container, dipped into the sample of water to be tested and then kept
aside for several hours or overnight. If, at the end of this period, the slide
has acquired or changed colour it is an indication that the sample is
contaminated. Tests for bacteriological contamination using such kits only
indicate the presence or absence of contamination (also called a GO/NO GO
result) and not its extent.
It is important to remember that all such kits have a
shelf life. Once this has expired, the kits must not be used as results will be
wrong or inconsistent. Given below is a table of the kits available in the
market indicating the parameter, name and manufacturer/supplier from whom they
can be procured. The accuracy of the results may not be as accurate as those
done in a laboratory. It may be in the range of +/- 5. In the table below,
where a multiparameter kit is indicated but not the parameters, it is usually
for the parameters which determine the potability of water.
List of Kits
(Contact details of the manufacturers are provided in the end):
|
Type / Name of Kit |
Parameter |
Cost (Rs.) |
|
Kits made / sold by Development
Alternatives |
||
|
Jal |
14
parameters |
7913.00* |
|
Jal |
11
parameters |
7238.00* |
|
Jal
TARA Mini Kit-I |
Fluoride |
1220.00* |
|
Jal
TARA Mini Kit-II |
Nitrate |
1474.00* |
|
Jal
TARA Mini Kit-III |
Iron |
1475.00* |
|
Jal
TARA Mini Kit-IV |
Free
chlorine |
1138.00* |
|
Jal
TARA Mini Kit-V |
Arsenic |
3073.00* |
|
Jal
TARA - Set of 10 tests |
Coliform
bacteria |
290.00*
per set |
|
* The
cost is inclusive of Basic price, Applicable tax (VAT/CST) and Freight
charges. |
||
|
Kits made / sold by Rakiro
Biotech Systems Pvt Ltd. |
||
|
Aquasol
test Kits (drop titration kit) |
Fluoride |
625.00 |
|
Aquasol
test Kits (drop titration kit) |
Free
Chlorine |
240.00 |
|
Aquasol
test Kits (color comparison) |
Nitrate |
700.00 |
|
Aquasol
test Kits (color comparison) |
Iron up
to 1.0ppm |
825.00 |
|
Aquasol
test Kits (color comparison) |
Iron up
to 10.0ppm |
800.00 |
|
Bactaslyde
test kit ( bacterial slide) |
Total
Bact.count & e coli |
810.00 |
|
Kits made / sold by Ion Exchange
(I) Ltd. |
||
|
Easy
Test Kit |
Iron |
2840.00 |
|
Easy
Test Kit |
Free
Chlorine |
1120.00 |
|
Easy
Test Kit |
Fluoride |
1120.00 |
|
Easy
Test Kit |
Nitrate |
1245.00 |
|
Easy
Test Kit for potability of Water |
8
parameters |
13000.00 |
|
Easy
Test Kit |
E coli |
500.00 |
|
Kits made / sold by Sumeet
Instruments & Chemicals |
||
|
Arsenic
Test Kit |
Arsenic |
2500.00 |
|
Nitrate
Test Kit |
Nitrate |
3000.00 |
|
Fluoride
Test Kit |
Fluoride |
3200.00 |
|
Iron
Test Kit |
Iron |
3200.00 |
|
Multi
Parameter Test Kit |
10
parameters |
11500.00 |
|
Kits made / sold by M/s
Innoventure, L-Tek Systems |
||
|
Fluoride
Test Kit (devpd.by NEERI) |
Fluoride |
Not
Available |
|
Fluoride
Test Kit (devpd.by BARC) |
Fluoride |
Not
Available |
|
Fluoride
Test Kit (devpd.by NCL) |
Fluoride |
Not
Available |
|
Residual
Chlorine Test Kit |
Residual
Chlorine |
Not
Available |
|
Iron
Test Kit |
Iron |
Not
Available |
|
Nitrate
Test Kit (devpd.by NCL) |
Nitrate |
Not
Available |
|
Kits
made / sold by IIT, Mumbai & Media Lab Asia |
||
|
Polysensor
(electronic Instrument) |
Multiparameter-pH,
conductivity, chloride, nitrate |
Prototype
Stage |
|
Kits made / sold by Merck |
||
|
Merckoquant
- |
Arsenic
(low range) |
Not
Available |
|
Merckoquant
- |
Arsenic
(high range) |
Not
Available |
|
Merckoquant |
Nitrate |
Not
Available |
|
Aquaquant |
Iron |
Not
Available |
|
Aquaquant |
Residual
Chlorine |
Not
Available |
|
Aquaquant |
Aluminium |
Not
Available |
|
Kits made / sold by CPCB, Min.
of Environment |
||
|
CPCB-WTK |
Multi
parameter |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Fluoride |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Arsenic |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Nitrate |
Not
Available |
|
Kits made / sold by Techno-ad
Systems Inc. |
||
|
Test
Kit |
Fluoride(AIIH&PH)* |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Fluoride(ICS)* |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Fluoride(DRL)* |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Arsenic
(AIIH&PH) |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Arsenic
(DRDO) |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Nitrate
(AIIH &PH) |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Iron
(AIIH &PH) |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Iron
(DRL) |
Not
Available |
|
Test
Kit |
Iron
(ICS) |
Not
Available |
|
Kits made / sold by Mathbin
Scientific |
||
|
Aqua
Qual Test Kit |
Fluoride |
Not
Available |
|
Aqua
Qual Test Kit |
Chloride |
Not
Available |
|
Aqua
Qual Test Kit |
Hardness |
Not
Available |
|
Aqua
Qual Test Kit |
Nitrate |
Not
Available |
|
Aqua
Qual Test Kit |
Iron |
Not
Available |
|
Aqua
Qual Test Kit |
Residual
Chlorine |
Not
Available |
|
Aqua
Qual Test Kit |
Arsenic |
Not
Available |
|
Aqua
Qual Test Kit |
Alkalinity |
Not
Available |
|
Aqua
Gage Multi WTKit |
Multiple
parameters |
Not
Available |
|
CHLOROSCOPE
CS-10/20 |
Residual
Chlorine |
Not
Available |
|
Kits made / sold by IEHS-Chine
(UNICEF) |
||
|
Polysensor
(electronic Instrument) |
Arsenic |
Not
Available |
Important:
Except for the prices of Jaltara kits from Development
Alternatives, all Kit prices are basic prices where sale tax and freight will
be charged extra at actuals. All prices for Jal Tara Kits are inclusive of tax
and freight.
Manufacturer Details:
Development Alternatives,
Technology
and Action for Rural Advancement (
Tel:
+91-11-685-1158, 696-7938
Fax:
+91-11-686-6031;
Email: tara@sdalt.ernet.in
Website:
http://www.devalt.org
References:
http://www.cleanindia.org/jaltarakit.htm
M/s Innoventure L-Tek Systems
M/s
Innoventure L-Tek Systems,
2B,Raj
Kamal Complex,
Dhantoli,
Nagpur-440012
Sumeet Instruments & Chemicals
Sumeet
Instruments & Chemicals,
29-B,
Rabindra Sarani,
4th
Floor, Room No. 427,
(Near
Mayur Cinema),
Kolkata -
700 073,
West
Tel: +91-33-2235 0122
Fax +91-33-2235 0993
Email:
testkit@eth.net (Marketing)
testkit@vsnl.net (Support)
Ion Exchange
Ion
Exchange (
Tiecicon
House,
Mumbai-400011
Tel:
+91-22-2493520
+91-22-2493523
+91-22-2493525
Website: www.ionindia.com
Reference:
http://www.ionindia.com/rural.html
Rakiro Biotech Systems
Rakiro
Biotech Systems Pvt.Ltd,
R-466,
TTC Industrial Area, MIDC, Rabale,
Navi
Mumbai-400701
Tel:
+91-22-27642236,
+91-22-27642237
Techno-ad Systems Inc,
Tel:
+91-751-323765
Fax:
+91-751-323765
Merck
Merck
Limited,
Shiv
Sagar Estate 'A'
Worli,
Mumbai- 400018
Tel:
+91-22-66609000
Fax: +91-22-24954590
+91-22-24950354
+91-22-24950307
+91-22-24936046
Email:
maria.mendes@merck.co.in
Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB)
Dr. S.D.
Makhijani,
Director,
CPCB,Parivesh Bhawan,
CBD-cum-office-office Complex,
East Arjun Nagar,
Delhi-110032.
EPABX
Nos.- +91-11-22305792
+91-11-23303717
Email -
cpcb@nic.in
Reference:
http://www.cpcb.nic.in/sugg.htm
Chem-In Corporation
Head
Office:
1502 A
Sweet Home, Mhada Versova,
Mumbai
400 053,
Phone:
+91-22-26311436
Email:
chemincorp@yahoo.com
Technology
and Development Division:
C-10,
Chintamani Nagar,
Pune 411
007,
Phone:
+91-20-27292377
Email: chemincorp@yahoo.com
Reference:
http://www.chemincorp.com/Contact.htm
IIT -
Prof. A Q
Contractor
Department
of Chemistry
Indian
Institute of Technology –
Powai,
Mumbai – 400 076
Email: aqcontractor@iitb.ac.in
URL: http://www.dil.iitb.ac.in/poly/index.htm
Reference:
http://www.medialabasia.org/
Tel:
+91-22-25764193