Even Your Pets Need Safe Drinking Water

Most of us really never think about the water we give to our dogs and cats. But, what you may not know is that your pets may be even more sensitive to the quality of their drinking water than you are. healthy water for dogs and cats

Our lab director and I were talking about this recently and it was an eye opener for me. He said that he’s had customers come to him over the years because their vets cannot pinpoint why their pet is not feeling well. As a near last resort, they ask the owners to have their drinking water get a comprehensive test. It’s amazing how often there is some parameter that is at a higher level than normal. Once the appropriate treatment is put into place, usually a water filter, their pet no longer has a problem.

I went searching for an article that talks about this important topic. I found on that focuses on why cats need the ‘right’ drinking water. If you have a pet, I encourage you to read this brief article. I think it will prompt you to have your drinking water tested for your pet’s sake–it may even be good for you.

Water Water Everywhere, but What’s a Cat to Drink?

Our Bang-for-the-Buck Essential Indicators Water Test is perfect for finding out just how safe your drinking water is for you and for you pet(s). You can learn more about it here.

Informational Clinic and Private Well Water Testing Offered in Smyth County, VA

Virginia Household Water Quality Program

I saw this article in SWVA.com today. Any well owner in the Smyth County should attend the free clinic being offered. We find that most well owners do not really understand how to properly maintain their wells, especially when it comes to the health and safety of the water that their family drinks and uses.

As part of these clinics, the county is offering water testing for 14 parameters at a cost of $60. We think that’s a pretty good deal.

But, if you want to have your well water tested for over 100 parameters, you may want to consider a test we offer that is targeted especially at well owners called the ‘Bang-for-the-Buck’ Essential Indicators Water Test. We test for 23 toxic metals, heavy metals & inorganic chemicals, 89 Volatile Organic Compounds. We include a self-test for the presence/absence of 8 pathogenic bacteria. This test is normally $149 but we are offering now for $129 (see below for a time-sensitive special discount coupon).

We want well owners to take control and manage the quality of their drinking water. We think testing your well water is the best first step. Once you get the results, you will then know if you need to take steps to correct any problems. For instance, if you see that you have an elevated level of pathogenic bacteria, you need to sanitize your well immediately. We have a product to help you there called the Well Water Wellness Kit. It contains everything you need to chlorinate your well including a link to a video that shows you step-by-step how to chlorinate your well the ‘right’ way.

We urge well owners in Smyth County to take advantage of the free clinic—this is important stuff. And have your well water tested either by the Virginia Tech lab or by a professional lab like ours. This is a ‘must’!

You can read more about our water test by going to this web site: www.dwspros.com/bfb  If you use this coupon code, smythspeical, you will save an additional 15% off the already special price. This discount is only available until May 31, 2015.

Read the original article from SWVA.com using this link: http://goo.gl/T1wLGV

Safe, Clean Drinking Water

Trying out a software tool for creating memes.

EPA Says Agriculture is Polluting 68% US Lakes, Reservoirs & Ponds

(AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

In this Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 photo, Barb Kalbach stands near a hog confinement facility, near Orient, Iowa. Kalbach has fought for more than a decade against the construction of huge hog operations, and has joined Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, a nonprofit that?s against such enterprises because members believe they are ruining Iowa?s waterways. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

According the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, agriculture is the main culprit endangering about 68% of the country’s lakes, reservoirs and pond and more than half of its rivers and streams.

This is leading to lawsuits around the country against large-scale livestock farmers. Studies are showing high levels of bacteria, nitrate, and phosphorus from fertilizer and a build up of manure in water supplies. These contaminants can show up in well water in the affected areas at levels that may be harmful to humans and their pets. They also cause air pollution, and can lead to respiratory health problems.

Some farmers pump treated liquefied manure and urine into large sprinkler systems which fling it into their fields as fertilizer. You can imagine the smell drifting into the air and out to their neighbors!

If I lived in one of these affected areas and had a well for my drinking water, I’d be testing that water at least annually and I’d be sanitizing my well on the same schedule.

You can read the article written by David Pitt of the Associated Press where I read about this by going here: http://goo.gl/wFkKmY

To learn more about water testing and sanitizing your well go here: Drinking Water Specialists

State agencies to pay for Vienna residents’ water testing after oil spill

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State agencies to pay for Vienna residents’ water testing after oil spill.

21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio –

If you live in Vienna Township, Ohio and believe your well water may be affected by the recent oil spill near Vienna and Mosquito Lake, make sure you contact the Ohio EPA about having them pay to have your well water tested. While they believe that the spill did not reach the aquifer, every well owner in the area should have their well water tested.

If the Ohio EPA turns down your request to pay for you to have your water tested, there is a cost-effective alternative. This test includes, among other things, dangerous contaminants that can affect your health in both near and long term.

This is a mail-order service from a professional laboratory located in New Jersey that uses EPA testing methods to test drinking water from wells, as well as from municipal water companies. The test, called the ‘Bang-for-the-Buck’ Essential Indicators Water Test, covers over 100 contaminants. The only contaminants that the well owner tests for are pathogenic bacteria—you can read ‘why’ here: Why test pathogenic bacteria yourself. All of the other contaminants are tested by lab professionals.

You can learn more about the ‘Bang-for-the-Buck’ Essential Indicators Water Test at their web site: DrinkingWaterSpecialists.com/bfb

To read the entire news article about the Vienna Township oil spill go to the wfmj.com web site.