There are many common mistakes that can introduce errors into water testing. Taylor Technologies discusses then in Avoiding Faulty Readings: Good Habits Of Highly Effective Water Analysts and Five Sources Of Error In Water Testing…and what to do about them.
They include:
- Taking the water sample from an area that is not representative of the whole pool or spa. The sample should not be taken at the surface or near a return line. For pools sample from elbow depth in the middle between the shallow and deep ends.
- Letting the sample sit around exposed to air before you test it. The chlorine level may change while waiting.
- Using the wrong sample volume. Even a little difference can affect the result.
- Holding the dropper bottle at an angle affects the drop size. The bottles should be held vertically to maintain a uniform drop size.
- Buildup of static electricity at the bottles tip will cause a decrease in drop size. Wiping the dropper tip with a clean damp cloth or towel will eliminate the static charge.
- Not mixing reagents thoroughly between drops. Swirling or using a Speedstir Magnetic Stirrer ensures the test water and reagent is mixed during testing.
- Failing to calibrate any instruments such as a pH meter before testing.
- Using a dirty test vial and not properly cleaning test vials between uses.
- Doing color matching in artificial light or wearing sunglasses
- Testing water too soon after chemicals were added
- Water Test Interferences from high chlorine or metals
- Extrapolating test results outside the testers range - pH less then 7 or greater then 8.2; CYA greater then 100
- Interpolating values between the lines of the CYA test
- Using reagents beyond their useful life.
Note how many of these error you observe when you watch a pool store do titration testing.
