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Last Updated: 11/6/06
This table shows the various types of water that are available for use for aquariums, ponds, and drinking (animals and people).
Visit my page on water for more information.
When I refer to water being tested, I am referring to knowing the pH, hardness, and alkalinity and finding that those values are fine for the animals that one is keeping. When I refer to complete testing, that also includes testing for various organic and inorganic contaminants/toxins as well as bacteria. Dechlorination refers to the removal of any chlorine or chloramines added by the water companies by the use of a dechlorinator (sodium thiosulfate is most common). Dechlorinators may also be called water conditioners.
Contact me if you have any additions or corrections for this table.
| Attribute | Tap/City Water | Well Water | Spring Water | Bottled (Unlabled Tap Source) Water | Distilled Water | Mineral Water | Reverse Osmosis Water | Carbonated/Seltzer Water | Rain Water |
| Useable for Aquariums | Yes, if tested and dechlorinated | Yes, if tested | Yes, if tested | Yes, if tested and possibly dechlorinated | Never by itself, may be mixed with other water | No | Not usually by itself, may be mixed with other water | No | Sometimes, if tested, usually mixed with other water |
| Useable for Ponds | Yes, if tested and dechlorinated | Yes, if tested | Not economically feasible | Not economically feasible | No | No | No | No | Nature will add some for you! |
| Potable (animals and people can drink it) | Yes, if tested, better to filter with carbon to remove chlorine | Yes, if tested | Yes | Yes | No | Humans only | No | Humans only | Not ideal but okay in most cases |
| Other Uses | Cleaning, many others | Cleaning, many others | N/A | N/A | Sterile cleaning, growing out certain crustaceans like triops | N/A | N/A | N/A | Watering plants |
| pH Tendencies | Varies, usually buffered to pH 7 to 8 | Varies, some wells are about pH 6 to 7, others are 8 to 9 | Usually 6 to 7 | Varies, usually buffered to pH 7 to 8 | Unstable, technically pH near 7 but a stable reading cannot be made | Perhaps 8-10 | May be unstable, perhaps pH 6 to 7 | Acidic, pH 2 to 5 depending on carbonation level | Varies, tends to run acidic, pH 5 to 7 |
| Hardness Tendencies (more hard = more minerals and ions) | Various on location, often moderate to high hardness | Various on location, some wells are very soft, others are very hard | Low | Various based on source | None | High | Low (nearly none) | Varies | Low |
| Alkalinity/pH Stability | Moderate | Varies from low to high based on the area | Low | Moderate | Very Low | High | Low | Low (once aerated to remove the carbon dioxide, it is more stable) | Low |
| Economical Cost | Low | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Moderate | Free |
| Chlorination Level | High | None | None | Moderate to High | None | Usually None | None | Usually None | None |
| Fluorination Level | High | None | None | Low to Moderate (it may dissipate, not stable) | None | Usually None | None | Usually None | None |
| Carbonation Level | Low | Low | None | None | None | Usually None | None | High | None |
| Oxygen Level (aerate water!) | Moderate | Low to Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Very Low | Low |
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