Okay, now we’re getting technical, but in a low-stakes way. You can grab a pack of drinking water test strips at any hardware store or online for like ten bucks. They look like pregnancy tests, which always makes me giggle. You dip one in a glass of water, wait a few seconds, and compare the color changes to a chart on the bottle.
These strips check for pH, hardness, chlorine, nitrates, and sometimes lead. It’s not super precise, but it’s perfect for a quick “should I be worried?” check. Pro tip: test cold water from the tap, not water that’s been sitting in a bottle all day. You want the real deal, not stale leftovers.
