Mit diesen Teststreifen kann man die Qualität des Trinkwassers testen und auf Schadstoffe prüfen.Unser Wasser hat keinerlei Blei, Eisen, Kupfer, Mangan oder andere Schadstoffe. Lediglich der Salz- und der Kalkgehalt sind etwas erhöht, so dass wir hartes Wasser haben. Das wusste ich zwar schon ohne diese Teststreifen, aber ich wollte vor allem auf Blei testen.Erfreulich: das Wasser hat genau die Qualität und die Inhaltsstoffe, die unser Versorger auch angegeben hat. Die Teststreifen funktionieren also korrekt.

Das Trinkwasser-Testkit kam sicher in einem kleinen Umschlag verpackt bei mir an. Die Handhabung der Teststreifen ist einfach und auch für Laien problemlos möglich. Innerhalb weniger Sekunden erhält man zuverlässige Ergebnisse zu zahlreichen wichtigen Wasserparametern.Ich habe die Teststreifen für unser Leitungswasser verwendet. Die Ergebnisse wirken plausibel und konsistent. Besonders hilfreich finde ich die gut lesbare Farbskala, die eine schnelle und unkomplizierte Einschätzung ermöglicht.Auch die Menge der enthaltenen Teststreifen (50 Stück) ist großzügig und reicht für viele Anwendungen. Der Preis für dieses umfassende Set ist meiner Meinung nach sehr fair und absolut angemessen im Verhältnis zur gebotenen Leistung.Insgesamt bin ich sehr zufrieden und kann dieses Testkit auf jeden Fall weiterempfehlen.Ich gebe diesem Produkt aus meiner Sicht 5 Sterne.Vielen Dank für das Lesen meiner Rezension, ich hoffe, sie war hilfreich für Sie.

The Pawfly 16-in-1 Drinking Water Test Kit has quickly become an essential tool in my household for understanding water quality, particularly when there’s uncertainty about the condition of tap water, stored water, or even gym wear soaking solutions. At a glance, it may appear to be a basic testing product like so many other strip-based kits on the market, but after months of hands-on use and side-by-side comparison with competing brands—including cheaper generics and more expensive lab-aligned kits—this particular kit has shown a better balance of affordability, speed, and practical accuracy when used with a careful routine. It's worth noting, however, that the performance is very sensitive to proper technique and strip condition, which I'll explore at length.To begin with, it's crucial to understand what these strips are and how they work. Each test strip is made from a porous, fibre-based paper, often cellulose or polyester-blend coated with reactive chemical pads—each pad dedicated to detecting a specific contaminant or water quality parameter. In this case, the strip includes 16 pads which change colour when exposed to various ions, metals, or chemical properties in water. This is the basis of colorimetric analysis: the more intense or altered the colour after reaction, the higher the concentration of the specific substance in question. These pads are sensitive to parameters such as pH, total hardness, free chlorine, total chlorine, nitrate, nitrite, carbonate, lead, iron, copper, fluoride, cyanuric acid, ammonia, and more. Some are tested within 15 seconds; others—like nitrate or nitrite—require a full 60 seconds of reaction time before the result can be interpreted.Unlike lab-based solutions that use titration, spectroscopy, or electrode-based readings, these test strips depend heavily on visual judgement, and therefore, strip freshness and environmental conditions make a noticeable difference in the result. I tested this kit against multiple batches of water: aged tap water from a corroding mixer tap, well water with known heavy metal presence, filtered drinking water, gym wear soak water with Dettol Antibacterial Laundry Cleanser added, and even aquarium water post-fertiliser dose. In each case, results varied slightly depending on how fresh the strips were and how carefully I handled exposure time and lighting conditions.One crucial strength of the Pawfly kit is its relatively fresh stock. Unlike some kits that are years old and arrive from obscure suppliers with faded packaging or loose foil seals, the Pawfly strips came fully sealed in an air-tight, moisture-resistant ziplock. The internal foil wrapper had a clear use-by date and was well within freshness. Freshness is vital because these chemical pads degrade over time, especially when exposed to air or humidity, and this results in muted or false readings. In old strips, colours fade even before use—particularly the chlorine and nitrite pads. I now store all test strips in a dry, cool area with desiccant packs to preserve longevity, and I strongly suggest others do the same if they want repeatable results over time.The paper base of these strips holds up well compared to lower-end test kits that tend to warp or tear when submerged. This allows for a smooth submersion and extraction process without the chemical pads dislodging or bleeding colour between pads. Bleed-through is a major issue in budget kits, particularly when the test is left too long in water or improperly dried before being read. With Pawfly, as long as the strip is briefly dipped (2 seconds max) and laid flat on a non-absorbent surface, I observed very little inter-pad contamination. The colour development remained clear and isolated, which is a sign of a decently manufactured chemical layout and quality control in production.That said, it's important to temper expectations. These are semi-quantitative strips, not diagnostic-grade instruments. While they can help detect trends and identify problem water, they cannot deliver lab-grade precision. Their strength lies in routine checks—for example, I use them weekly to verify the baseline water profile of my gym wear soak bucket, where I mix tap water with a capful of Dettol Antibacterial Laundry Cleanser. After 30 to 60 minutes of soak, I use a test strip to observe changes in pH, chlorine levels, and hardness. The test gives me insight into whether the disinfectant is working optimally, whether the tap water is becoming too mineral-rich, or whether a filter change is needed. For this use case, they are almost perfect.On several occasions, I used two strips at once in the same sample to cross-check consistency, and the results were acceptably close. The total hardness pad is especially useful when adjusting for fabric longevity; overly hard water is known to degrade elastics and performance textiles in gym clothing. Chlorine presence also gives me feedback on how long the Dettol remains active in soak solution. One strip alone doesn’t offer enough confidence for medical or health-critical decisions, but when used in groups or batches—testing the same sample three times in a row—patterns emerge that allow me to make rational decisions about water use, cleaning frequency, and safety precautions.The chemicals used in these pads include well-known reactive indicators like N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPD) for chlorine, methyl orange and bromothymol blue blends for pH, and other metal-reactive reagents that complex with ions to produce colour changes. Some strips also use azo dyes that bind with metals such as copper or iron. It’s essential to keep in mind that these compounds are themselves chemically sensitive—moisture, light, and cross-contamination with oils from fingers can ruin a strip before use. I always wear nitrile gloves and use tweezers when handling strips to avoid skin oil interference.In terms of strip age, you’ll want to avoid anything with more than 6–12 months of shelf time post-manufacture unless it has been vacuum-sealed with a desiccant. Older strips develop uneven reactivity or go inert entirely—particularly the nitrate and nitrite pads, which are notoriously sensitive to oxidation. One trick I use is checking whether the pads show clean, neutral colours straight out of the pack. If they look slightly discoloured or yellowed, the pack may be compromised. Another test I run on a “control” strip is dipping it in freshly distilled water (should show no contaminants except neutral pH and soft hardness). Any positive reading in distilled water is a red flag.Now, how do these compare with others? Against ultra-budget Amazon bundles—often priced £3–£5 for 100 strips—the Pawfly performs better in clarity, construction, and batch consistency. Many cheaper strips show muddled pads or have such poor ink contrast on the colour chart that interpreting results becomes guesswork. Against mid-tier strips like JNW or Watersafe, Pawfly holds its own but lacks certain parameters like bacteria/E. coli detection, which more expensive kits include with chemical drop-based testing. That’s a limitation of strip-based systems: they don't test for microbiological contamination, which in many cases is more dangerous than lead or nitrates.This is why I use professional water lab kits in tandem with these strips when I need proper data—typically every three months. I send off samples for heavy metal paneling, pesticide residues, and microbiological culture testing. Those kits cost £30–£80 per test but offer lab-certification level assurance. Pawfly strips, meanwhile, act as a frontline tool, enabling me to catch sudden changes that would justify professional confirmation. If I see sudden increases in nitrates or abnormal chlorine levels, I can escalate accordingly. For most households, especially renters, spa users, gym goers, and aquarium keepers, strip testing bridges the gap between full inaction and full-scale lab work.There are still limitations to acknowledge. Firstly, colour vision and lighting can heavily skew interpretation. I use a daylight bulb over a white countertop and check the strip colour against the chart both at 30 and 60 seconds precisely using a timer. Second, there’s no digital scanning capability in this kit—a downside when you want more objectivity. Some competing brands now offer smartphone apps that scan strips and interpret colours based on AI algorithms. Pawfly doesn’t, though this keeps the cost low. Lastly, the test cannot tell you cumulative exposure or bioaccumulation risk, which matters with substances like lead or mercury—where even “low” readings over time can be dangerous.Despite those caveats, I have yet to find a more versatile, cost-effective kit that gives 16 readings in under a minute. It’s especially helpful when troubleshooting sudden odour in water, post-filter water quality, or when verifying claims from tap filter products. In one case, I found that my shower filter cartridge—marketed to remove chlorine—was actually leaching trace iron into the water, which this kit picked up with a mild brown reading on the iron pad. Replacing the cartridge resolved the issue. Without this test, I’d have never known.More recently, I’ve extended the use to soak tests on fabric disinfection processes. For example, I test the soak water after leaving gym shorts, socks, or base layers in Dettol Antibacterial Laundry Cleanser for 30 to 60 minutes. The strips show how long the chlorine stabilises in the water and whether total hardness changes as sweat salts and detergent residues dissolve into solution. It’s an unconventional application, but it allows me to tailor water chemistry for better odour removal and fabric care. When chlorine starts dropping too fast, I know the solution is exhausted and it’s time to refresh. This alone makes the test kit a value multiplier for people who care about hygiene beyond just drinking safety.

You get plenty of stripes but they come colour coded. When you submerge the stripes they just get brighter no noticeable changes occur so I'm unsure as to the accuracy.

Great product , I had no idea how bad the water on my tap was