Not every home needs a water test before installing a filtration system such as Big F Pro — but some absolutely do. Moreover, knowing the difference can save you money and ensure you’re treating the right problem. For example, here is a simple breakdown by water source.
- Groundwater, Well Water, or Pond Water – Always Check Water Quality First.
Whether your home uses water from a well, pond, or other source, checking water quality isn’t optional; it’s essential. Groundwater quality in Thailand varies greatly from area to area, even within the same vicinity. Two houses just a few hundred meters apart can have drastically different water quality. Many common problems, such as dissolved iron, manganese, or high hardness, are often invisible to the naked eye. The water may appear clear, but it still contains minerals that can stain your fixtures, damage appliances, or clog water filtration systems in the long run. That’s why we recommend checking water quality as the first step. It’s not just good practice; it builds genuine trust with your customers. Proper testing ensures you invest only in necessary equipment and avoid unnecessary treatment costs.
- Municipal tap water — generally not necessary.
Municipal tap water generally has to meet safe drinking water standards before it reaches your tap. Even if the tap water looks clean, it may be contaminated with impurities along the way — through pipes and water tanks — before it reaches your home. That’s where the Big F Pro water filtration system comes in. Testing the water is helpful if you’re concerned about heavy metals, although these are rare in city tap water. Also, you may want to know the exact water hardness level before deciding whether or not to install a water filter. - Rainwater – Typically, no
further treatment is needed. Rainwater collected in Thailand is generally of excellent quality and in most cases does not require any special treatment. The standard BIG F PRO system incorporates filtration with a UV lamp, which is sufficiently effective in treating collected rainwater. The result is safe and suitable drinking water.
What parameters should be tested?
Not all water tests are created equal. If you are going to have water analyzed, don’t just ask for “water testing” – but request a package that covers the following important parameters relevant to your area :
Iron (Ferric vs. Ferrous): It’s important to differentiate between visible ferric iron (the red rust sediment you see) and dissolved ferrous iron, which appears clear when flowing from the tap but will oxidize and cause stains later.
Manganese : Often found with iron in groundwater, it tends to leave a yellowish-brown stain or oily film on surfaces.
Hardness (Calcium and Magnesium): This is the cause of the white limescale buildup on kettles, faucets, and shower mirrors.
pH : Our system cannot change pH, and the World Health Organization does not classify it as a direct health or safety hazard. However, knowing pH helps to better understand the overall chemical composition of the water.
How can you get water analyzed?
We don’t offer in-house water analysis services, but we have reputable and certified laboratories throughout Thailand that provide such services :
- ALS Laboratory Group
- Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) laboratories (available in each province nationwide).
Note : Each laboratory sets its own independent testing fees.
How do your test results help guide the selection of the right equipment?
Think of lab test reports as a technical blueprint for designing a reliable home water system. Here’s how those results lead to real-world equipment choices :
- Clear water, free from heavy minerals. The BIG F PRO can be used as a complete self-contained system. If there is a lot of sand or gravel in the water, an additional HYDRA self-cleaning pre-filter is required to protect the main filter cartridge.
- If high levels of manganese (>0.3 mg/L) or dissolved iron are present, these minerals will cause problems if left untreated. They will quickly clog physical filters, the UV quartz sleeve coating, and block bacteria from UV-C light, rendering filtration ineffective. In these cases, a fiberglass (FRP) pretreatment tank filled with manganese green sand and activated carbon is necessary before use. BIG F PRO would like to inform you in advance that we do not sell these FRP green sand tanks ourselves. We recommend customers purchase them from HomePro or a local filter supplier instead.
- High hardness: The BIG F PRO is a microbiological water filter, not a water softener – these address different problems. If your test results show high water hardness, you will need to install an ion-exchange water softener before our device.
Reference >> https://www.mwa.co.th/services/water-quality-analysis/
