Farmer’s Weekly – 09 August 2019

attentiontothis,andhaveno

dataonthequalityofthewater,

plantgrowthcouldbeinhibited.

• Protectionof pipes
  and equipment
  Irrigationandhotwatersystems
  areexpensivetoreplace.You
  canensure,however,that
  theystayingoodcondition
  byregularlycheckingthe
  waterthatrunsthroughthem.
  Calciumsaltsinthewatercan
  forma whitecrustofcalcium
  carbonate, whichacceleratesthe
  formationofmilkstoneondairy
  equipment,andwilleventually
  blockirrigationequipment
  andaffecthotwatersystems.
  Conversely,somewateris
  corrosive,andstripsmetals
  suchasaluminiumandcopper,
  aswellasitsalloys,bronze
  andbrass.Dissolvedcopper
  canshowupasgreenstains
  onwashbasinsandbaths.


• Aesthetics
  Payattentiontotheappearance,
  smellandtasteofyourborehole
  ortankwater.Inparticular,
  lookoutforunexplained
  particulatesinthewater.


• Investingin the future
  SouthAfrica’swatersources
  areunderpressuredueto
  climatechange,increased
  demand,andpollution.
  Tooffsetdeclininginflowto
  dams,morerainwaterwill
  needtobeharvestedand
  waterdrawnfromdeeper
  aquifers.Aquiferswillalso
  needtobereplenished
  withrecycledwater,and
  desalinationofseawater
  willincrease.
  Monitoringwaterqualitywill
  enableustobetterunderstand
  andprotectaquaticecosystems.

PROMOTIONALARTICLE

NOSA Testing conducts water tests to the highest standards, helping to ensure human, livestock

and crop health. It also produces internationally accepted accreditationforcompletepeaceof mind.

World-class waste-water analysis

A

ccess to safe drinking

water is vital to human

health and is a basic

human right. The South African

National Standard (SANS) 241

Drinking Water Specification

stipulates the minimum

requirements for po table water

to be considered safe for human

consumption. This includes

effluent water generated in

numerous operations and

industries. Any water used,

treated and then tested following

any of these applications must

be clean enough that a person

could potentially consume

it without falling ill. These

requirements include the

microbiological, chemical and

physical properties of the water.

SEVEN BENEFITS OF WATER

QUALITY TESTING

• Protection of human health
  (safe drinking water)
  If you use your own water
  source for drinking, you
  need to have it tested fairly
  regularly. It should not contain
  any harmful concentrations
  of chemicals or pathogens.
  Ideally, its appearance, taste
  and odour should be pleasing.


• Protection of livestock health
  If your livestock appear in poor
  condition or malnourished,
  have their water checked to
  ensure its suitability. It may
  have an unacceptable chemical
  composition (for example, too
  acidic or alkaline, or containing
  high concentrations of certain
  elements), or be physically
  unsuitable (for example, contain
  a toxic blue-green algae species).


• Protection of plant
  and crop health
  Crop nutrition can be affected
  significantly by the quality of
  irrigation water. It is important to
  know this quality and whether
  the water can dissolve fertiliser
  effectively. If you fail to pay

9 AUGUST 2019 farmer’sweekly 27

• Avoiding outbreaks in pools
  Spas and pools should be
  tested for heterotrophic plate
  count, and the bacteria E. coli
  and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

NOSA TESTING’S SERVICES

NOSA Testing’s ISO 17025

accredited laboratory service

has increased its water analysis

capabilities and hence its

scope of accreditation.

NO SA Testing’s international

standing enables it to facilitate

co-operation between laboratories

and other bodies by generating

wider acceptance of results

between countries. Its test

reports and certificates are

accepted globally, without the

need for further testing.

NOSA Testing’s expertise

includes, but is not limited

to, the following:

• Heavy metals via ICP-MS
  and ICP-OES;


• Microbiological (pathogens
  and bacteria);


• To t a l or g a n ic
  compounds (TOCs);


• Chemical oxygen
  demand (COD);


• Testing for trihalomethanes
  (THM);


• Groundwater analysis;


• Borehole water analysis;


• Treated water analysis;


• Mining discharge water analysis;


• Waste-water analysis;


• SANS 241 chemistry,
  microbiology, somatic coliphages
  and protozoan parasites.
  Whether your company uses
  water in its process or provides
  water solutions, NOSA Testing
  can be of service to you.


• If you require technical information
  on our water analysis capabilities,
  contact Keshav Beachen, NOSA testing
  national sales manager, at keshav.
  [email protected], or 071 442 9418;
  or Collin Naidu, NOSA testing
  laboratory manager, at collin.naidu@
  nosa.co.za, or 071 370 8680.