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Water test in Brussels

brusselli
Jul 9, 2019
11
Question

Hello, has anyone tested water quality in Brussels. We have old pipes and I would like to be sure if water sourced to kitchen is free of lead, other particles. We already installed a water softener and I am currently asking them but before they provided only a test kit for water hardness.

shortof

https://www.vivaqua.be/fr/espace-clients/diagnostic-de-leau

Jul 9, 2019 19:36
shortof

https://www.vivaqua.be/fr/espace-clients/demandes-danalyses-payantes

Jul 9, 2019 19:37
brusselli

Thanks. I wonder their prices.

Jul 10, 2019 11:46
shortof

Ask vivaqua that's what the links are for

Jul 10, 2019 15:15
brusselli

Already did yesterday but I am afraid it might take ages for them to reply. My contractor for water softener recommended me to ask local pharmacies, who may guide me to a lab.

Jul 10, 2019 17:03
anon

How old is your house and why would you think you have a lead problem?

A water softener will have no impact whatsoever on the level of lead in your water.

You can buy a simple lead teat from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Watersafe-Drinking-Water-Test-Single/dp/B000Q6QWZA

Jul 11, 2019 09:30
brusselli

@Anon house from early 1900s, last owner from 70s. We renovated the kitchen but main pipe from the watersoftener to ground floor are rather old. I found some particles while cleaning the faucet. I was planning to switch to tap water from bottled water so want to be sure if we have clean water.

Jul 11, 2019 11:41
anon

"I found some particles"?
What sort of particles? Lead from pipes doesn't come in particles.

In any case, there is nothing wrong with drinking fresh water in Belgium even if small sections of your household pipes are lead. Millions of people drink tap water in Belgium, many that have passed through lead pipes and there is nothing wrong with them. The amount of lead that would get into your water supply from a meter or two of lead piping is so tiny that it's not relevant.

However, if it is something that irrationally worries you, then just get the test from Amazon as a quick / fast test to check.

Jul 11, 2019 13:44
brusselli

Thanks for the insights. The particles are large indeed, looked like sand or rust. I believe nothing to worry.

Jul 11, 2019 14:01
anon

Incidentally - I'm not sure if they do it every year, but they certainly do it regularly. Test Achats do comparisons between tap water and bottled water.

Consistently the tap water is better quality, with lower amounts of trace chemicals than the bottled water. And its less than 1% of the cost.

Bottled water is more expensive, less safe and contributes massively to pollution and environmental damage.

Why anyone pays for and drinks bottled water in Belgium (or most of Western Europe) is beyond me. Personally I would make the sale of bottled water illegal.

Jul 12, 2019 10:39

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