16 essential water safety
checks.

Sixteen drinking water parameters from one strip: lead, mercury, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, free chlorine, sulfate, sodium chloride, hydrogen sulfide, total hardness, total alkalinity and pH.

It's a quick screen, not a final answer. You compare your results with EPA-referenced guidelines in the kit. If everything reads at or below the listed limits, your water generally meets those standards for the parameters tested. If anything reads above, don't drink the water until you've confirmed the result with a certified lab or your local water authority.

Yes, lead is one of the 16 parameters. The EPA's health-based goal for lead is zero, and there's no known safe level for children. If your strip shows any lead, confirm it with a certified lab — especially if children or anyone pregnant drinks the water.

Yes. It works for municipal water, private wells, filtered water and bottled water. Well owners are responsible for their own water quality, so regular screening is a sensible habit.

No. Aquanox-16 doesn't test for bacteria such as E. coli, or for PFAS. For those, contact a certified lab or your local health department.

Tear open a pouch and take out a strip without touching the pads. Collect water in a clean container or the test tube provided. Dip the strip fully for 1–2 seconds, drag it along the rim to remove excess water, then hold it flat for 30 seconds. Match each pad to the color chart in good light.

Read them within 1 minute of the 30-second wait. Ignore any color changes after 2 minutes.

The EPA sets national drinking water standards. Primary standards are enforceable limits that protect health — lead, copper, nitrate and nitrite fall here. Secondary standards are non-enforceable guidelines for taste, smell and appearance, like iron and sulfate. Hardness and alkalinity have no federal limit, but the kit includes recommended ranges for healthy plumbing.

Don't drink the water until you know more. Test again with a fresh strip to rule out a handling error. Then confirm with a certified lab or your local water authority, and speak to a certified water professional about treatment options.

The most common cause is hydrogen sulfide, a gas that can come from natural underground deposits or decaying organic matter. It's usually not harmful at low levels, but it's unpleasant and can corrode plumbing over time. Aquanox-16 screens for it.

Hard water isn't considered a health risk. It can cause scale in pipes and appliances, make soap less effective, and leave skin feeling dry. The kit's recommended range is under 150 ppm.

However helps you compare. Test different taps, check water before and after a filter, or retest the same tap over time. Each strip is individually packed, so the last one reads as fresh as the first.

Between 36–86°F (2–30°C), dry and out of direct sunlight, heat and humidity. Use each strip soon after opening its pouch, and don't use strips past the expiry date. Keep the kit away from children and pets, and never put a strip in your mouth.