Your Report is Ready: Now What?!

Posted on June 30, 2023

Let’s be honest, the average Joe doesn’t read scientific data alongside their cup of coffee in the morning. But as summer rolls around, the average Joe might still need to get their water tested. Whether it be for an upcoming cabin trip, your annual drinking water testing, or you just moved into a new home – testing your water may be on the top of your to-do list this summer.  Once you check that box, however, you then have to sit down and interpret your report.  Any procrastinators out there, who are already planning to skip that step?

Not to worry – CARO offers several resources to help you understand the data you are receiving and answer your most pressing questions and concerns.

Let’s use Joe as an example. Joe was on top of things this summer and ordered CARO’s ‘Essential Drinking Water Test Kit’ for his family’s vacation to their cabin in July.  Joe had it right: this kit is perfect for tap sources in homes. It covers the metals associated with pipe corrosion, and tests for many other common problems associated with water quality, especially after a long winter. Joe was able to submit his drinking water samples to CARO and received his results from the lab 5 days later.

Let’s dive into where Joe can go to find resources that will help him interpret his reports:

1. Client Resources Page

You can find helpful client resources on CARO’s website under the ‘Client Area.’ This page is full of useful information including a ‘How to Read your Report’ document. This document is your holy grail for report interpretation, providing you with a page-by-page explanation on how to interpret your reports.

I.e. Example of how your samples while be presented:

2. Check out the FAQs on the CARO Store

Sometimes to get the answers you need, someone else needs to ask the right questions first. The FAQ page on our CARO store can provide you with even more resources and answers to specific questions you might have around turn-around times, shipping samples, more information on reading your report, and what local Health Authorities you can contact to help with interpretation.

3. CARO’s News Page

CARO’s News Page is also a great place to find information on almost any topic related to testing of soil, water, food, and cannabis.  We have several posts (including this one) that can help you understand your reports, why testing is important, and more.

 ‘8 Things you Need to Know About your Bacteria in Water Analytical Results’, for example, has some great insider tips for newbies! Simply use the search bar in the top right of this page and see what you can learn.

4. Contact Us

If you find yourself struggling to interpret your reports with the resources above, team CARO is always here to help! You can contact a team member by email at [email protected] with a specific question or by calling 1-888-311-8846.  As an independent laboratory, we can help you understand how we test and what the results mean in general terms, but we may also refer you to your local health officer for more information.

With annual testing, you will hopefully find yourself going from an average Joe to a seasoned data interpretation pro in no time!  Plus, you can sink into some serious R&R worry-free, knowing your water is safe to drink.

To get you started on your next water sampling project, use code carowater2023 to receive 30% on your next water test kit purchased through the CARO store.

Happy Sampling!