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WATER TESTING GUIDE
  WATER TESTING ADVICE
    SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR WATER?
    PUBLIC vs PRIVATE WATER
    WHEN TO TEST
    WATER TEST COSTS
    SPECIAL SITUATION TESTS
  WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES
  ARSENIC in WATER
  BACTERIA TEST GUIDE
  CHEATING on WATER TESTS
  CHOICES of WATER TESTS
  CORRECTING BAD WATER
  EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY
  FHA WATER TESTS REQUIRED
  LEAD in WATER, ACTION GUIDE
  LEAD POISONING SYMPTOMS
  LEAD TEST VARIATION CAUSES
  ODORS IN WATER
  SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
  TOTAL COLIFORM TESTING
  WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS
  WATER TEST RESULTS, ACTION GUIDE
  WATER TESTING GUIDE
  WATER TREATMENT GUIDE
  WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE
  WATER PUMPS & WELLS
  WATER QUANTITY GUIDE
  WATER SOFTENERS
  WELL SHOCKING GUIDE
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS
  WATER PRESSURE LOSS
  WATER TANK TYPES
  WELL CLEARANCE DISTANCES
  WELL TYPES
  WELL, PUMP, TANK LIFE
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Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
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This document explains when and why to test private water supplies, outlines water test fees, and discusses the problem of cheating on water bacteria testing in real estate transactions.

"The question of whether or not to have your water tested is a serious one that concerns the health of you and your family. Your water should be safe to drink and acceptable for all other household uses." B Based on Water Quality Fact Sheet #4, Cooperative Extension System, Cornell University, University of Maryland - advice about deciding when to test water and what sorts of testing should be used to check home water supply for contaminants. Also see Choices of Water Tests & Fees: A Summary of Types of Water Tests, Degrees of Comprehensive Water Testing, Details of Water Test Parameters. and also check out Cheating on water tests in this document below. Water testing advice based on information from Cornell University of Maryland with extensive edits, text additions, and additional references by DJF New York State License #16000005303

SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR WATER? - Should You Have Your Water Tested?

Judith C. Stawan Extension support aide, Ann T. Lemisy associate professor, College of Human Ecology Cornell University, Sharon 1. Hogan communications consultant, Richard A. WeIsmiller soil end water resource specialist Department of Agronomy, The University of Maryland. [Edits and comments added by Daniel Friedman, [researcher/author] 4/25/2007, 11/2006, 4/2006]

The question of whether or not to have your water tested is a serious one that concerns the health of you and your family. Your water should be safe to drink and acceptable for all other household uses. in addition to illness, a variety of less serious problems such as taste, color, odor and staining of clothes or fixtures are symptoms of water quality problems. Even water that appears problem-free may not necessarily be safe or acceptable.

Not everyone needs to test their water and it is impractical and unnecessary to test for all possible contaminants. This fact sheet provides a few guidelines for deciding whether or not to have your water tested, and if so, what tests would be appropriate for your situation. Your Cooperative Extension agent can offer you further assistance and information.

PUBLIC vs PRIVATE WATER - Supplies, Should You Test Your Municipal Water Supply?

Many homeowners get water simply by turning on the faucet and making a monthly payment to a municipal water system. others provide their own water. Your water supply is either public (you and others are connected to the same water system) or private (you supply your own water). Public water systems draw water from rivers, reservoirs, springs or ground water wells. Most private drinking water comes from wells, though springs and ponds are sometimes used.

If your water comes from a pubic or municipal water system your water is regularly tested for contaminants regulated by Federal and state standards, such as pathogens, radioactive elements and certain toxic chemicals. However, some public water supplies may have water quality problems caused by inadequate municipal water treatment facilities or distribution systems. Some rural water supply districts do not have enough money to hire trained specialists or to immediately comply with expanding government requirements. In addition, corrosive water or deteriorating pipes in the house may add contaminants to municipal drinking water after it enters your home.

[DF-note: excluding the cases cited above by the authors, if your home is served by municipal water, regular tests by the municipality or its agent are required by federal, and possibly state and local law such as the Federal Clean Drinking Water Act (available at the US EPA). Barring cases of concern for inadequate or under-funded municipality testing, or reports that testing is being performed improperly, my opinion is that additional, and more limited in scope, testing by individual home owners is generally not warranted.]

If you obtain drinking water from your own well, you alone are responsible, for assuring that it is safe. For this reason, routine testing for a few of the most common contaminants is highly recommended. Even if you currently have a safe, pure water supply. regular testing can be valuable because it establishes a record of water quality. This record can be helpful in solving any future problems and in obtaining compensation if someone damages your water supply.

WHEN TO TEST - When Should You Test Your Water?

While it looks disgusting, the water in this photograph was colored from rust. We ran this fixture after water had been shut off in the building for months. Rust in water can be a problem, for example if it is at high levels it may stain laundry or even contain enough iron to be a health concern for some people. It might also indicate that the water supply is particularly corrosive or "aggressive." Whether you have a public or private water supply, you should have your water tested if the following situations arise:

• If family members or house guests have recurrent incidents of gastrointestinal illness: Test for coliform bacteria, nitrate and sulfate.
• If household plumbing contains lead pipes, fittings, or solder joints: Test for pH, \corrosion index, lead, copper, cadmium and zinc. [DF-note: see Lead Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains - Testing, Problems, Advice. Depending on exactly how a water sample is collected, you can under-state or over-state the level of lead exposure to occupants drinking the water. Also see Lead in Drinking Water - Advice for an overview of the health concerns and advice on reducing lead exposure.]
• If you are buying a home and wish to assess the safety and quality of the existing water supply: Test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, lead, iron, hardness, pH, sulfate, total dissolved solids (TDS), corrosion index and other parameters depending on proximity to potential sources of contamination.
• If a water softener is needed to treat hard water: Test for Iron and manganese, which decrease the efficiency of action exchange softeners, before purchase and installation.
• If you wish to monitor the efficiency and performance of home water treatment equipment: Test for the specific water problem being treated upon installation, at regular intervals after installation, and if water quality changes.
• If water stains plumbing fixtures and laundry: Test for iron, manganate and copper.
• If water has an objectionable taste or smell; Test for hydrogen sulfide, pH, corrosion index, copper, lead, iron, zinc, sodium, chloride and TDS.
• If water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored: Test for color, turbidity and detergents.
• If pipes or plumbing show signs of corrosion: Test for corrosion index, PS, lead, iron, manganese. copper and zinc.
• If water leaves scaly residues and soap scum, and decreases the cleaning action of soaps and detergents: Test for hardness.
• If water supply equipment (pump, chlorinators, etc.) wear: rapidly: Test for pH, corrosion index.

Routine Tests. The testing frequencies in this fact sheet are general guidelines. Test more often if you suspect there is a problem with the quality of your drinking water.

Once each year test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH and TDS. it is best to test for these contaminants during the spring or summer following a rainy period. These tests should also be conducted after repairing or replacing an old well or pipes, and after installing a new well or pump.

Every 3 years test for sulfate, chloride, iron, manganese, lead, hardness and corrosion index.

If a new baby is expected in the household it is a good idea to test for nitrate in the early months of a pregnancy, before bringing an infant home, and again during the first 6 months of the baby's life.

More Reading:
Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - New York State Maximum Allowed for examples of typical allowable limits.
Water Treatment for Contamination, Hardness, Odors, Sediment, Etc: choices of systems, recommendations

WATER TEST COSTS - Testing Private Water Supplies, Typical Tests, Costs, Suggestions for Test Packages

Most water testing labs, both those run by your local health department and private water testing labs offer packages of tests for clusters of common private water supply contaminants. If you want water tests not offered through your local health department don't hesitate to use a private water testing laboratory, provided the lab is licensed by your state. Beware - a few labs offer water tests in states where they have no license to do so, possibly using methods which are not approved by state authorities. Remember to ask.

If you are moving into a home and are testing water for the first time, I recommend ordering one of the more extensive test packages, typically costing $200. to $300.

If that test detects no problems, I recommend follow-up testing of the water supply annually, using a less costly minimum screen for bacteria or coliform bacteria, typically costing less than $50.

Another tip: if a home is new to you, ask the neighbors, the local health department, and local labs if they are aware of any special contamination issues on your street or near your home. On rare occasions I've learned about and thus could order tests for unusual contaminants which otherwise no newcomer would have thought to look for.

More Reading:
Choices of Water Tests & Fees: A Summary of Types of Water Tests, Degrees of Comprehensive Water Testing, Details of Water Test Parameters
Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum Allowed

Special Situations Deserving Water Testing

Where you live, or what you are living next to, can sometimes affect the quality of your well water. If someone in your family becomes ill, or the taste, odor or color of your water changes, your water supply may be contaminated.

If your well is in an area of intensive agricultural use: Test for pesticides commonly used in the area, coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH and TDS.

If you live near a coal or other mining operation: Test for iron, manganese, aluminum, pH and corrosion index.

If your well is near a gas drilling operation: Test for chloride, sodium, barium and strontium.

If your water, smells like gasoline or fuel oil, and your well is located near on operational or abandoned gas station or buried fuel storage tanks: Test for fuel components or volatile organic compounds ('OC's).

If your well is near a dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, or dry cleaning operation: Test for volatile organic chemicals (such as gasoline components and cleaning solvents) pH, TDS, chloride, sulfate and metals. -

If your well is near seawater, a road salt storage site, or a heavily salted roadway and you notice the water tastes salty or signs of corrosion appear on pipes: Test for chloride, TDS and sodium.

More Reading:
Choices of Water Tests & Fees: A Summary of Types of Water Tests, Degrees of Comprehensive Water Testing, Details of Water Test Parameters
Reasons to Test Your Water and What Water Tests to Order for Various Situations
Lead Test Result Variation Caused by Test Methods and Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains: Advice re: Testing With Lead Pipe & Lead Solder on Plumbing
Clearances Required for Wells Distance Between Well & Septic System and other water pollution sources, Online Table of Well Distances
Interpreting & Acting On Drinking Water Test Results what the results mean and what to do about them
Water Treatment for Contamination, Hardness, Odors, Sediment, Etc: choices of systems, recommendations

CHEATING ON WATER TESTS - Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - Water Test Cheating Warnings for Home Buyers and Home Inspectors

If you scrolled down to this section instead of using the links at page left, please see the current version of our article on how to detect cheating or fudging on water tests, especially bacteria or coliform testing, and what to do about it. Here is the link for CHEATING ON WATER TESTS.

Use links at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links at page left show where you are in our document or website. If you just "scroll down" you'll miss some important articles. See links at page left.

Cheating on water tests may come as a surprise to most folks - who would do such a thing, and why? Perhaps it's the pressure of the deal - a real estate transaction is an unusual even with lots of pressure on the participants. Or perhaps some people just don't take the health of new building occupants seriously. There are ways to fudge a water test other than the obvious one of collecting the test for building "A" from a known good "source B" at another location. I have encountered a distressing number of cases in which I arrived at a property to collect a water test sample only to discover (by means I discuss below) that someone had attempted to cheat by temporarily sterilizing (with bleach) a contaminated water supply. After encountering this problem a number of times I began testing for cheating before testing for bacteria.

In the article we've just referenced, we explain that there are legitimate reasons to sterilize or chlorinate a well such as following plumbing repairs to the well piping or pump or other well repairs. But the well supplying the building could also have been "shocked" with bleach (Clorox (TM)) either in a attempt (questionable) to correct a known bacterial contamination problem, or in a attempt to disguise a known contamination situation (highly dishonest and dangerous).

The details of when a well should be sterilized and the details of well shocking with bleach are located at that link.

How to avoid being duped by duplicitous well shockers is discussed in our well cheaters article. You can actually test water to see if it has been shocked, with a fair (but not 100%) chance of catching that act.

When to re-test a well that has been shocked: This question is explained at" When to re-test a well that has been shocked with chlorine bleach or some other disinfectant".

More Reading:
Drinking Water Contamination and Pollution How to Detect, Test, Correct, and Prevent Well Water Contamination - US EPA - Groundwater
Interpreting & Acting On Drinking Water Test Results what the results mean and what to do about them
Correcting Unsatisfactory Water what to do, when to do it, treatment alternatives, equipment, filters,
Water Treatment for Contamination, Hardness, Odors, Sediment, Etc: choices of systems, recommendations
When and How to Shock or Chlorinate a Well - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination

More Information on Water Testing

More Information on Testing and Correcting Unsanitary Drinking Water & Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

• Drinking Water testing, contamination, correction - all topics
• Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
• Choices of Water Tests & Fees: A Summary of Types of Water Tests, Degrees of Comprehensive Water Testing, Details of Water Test Parameters
• Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
• General water testing and corrective measure advice: contact your local health department.
• How to Interpret Drinking Water Test Results and How to Correct Unsatisfactory Water
• Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum Allowed
• Drinking Water Contamination and Pollution How to Detect, Test, Correct, and Prevent Well Water Contamination - US EPA - Groundwater
• How to Reduce Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: how to test & correction lead in drinking water
• Extreme Lead Poisoning Symptoms Suggested by Feb 2006 NY Times Article on Kosovo Roma Camps
• Odors in Drinking Water, causes of odors in water, health risks, treatment for odors
• Total Coliform Testing, what is Total Coliform, why do we test for it, what do test results mean
• When and How to Shock or Chlorinate a Well - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
• Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living
• Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment
• The Septic System Information Website - Extensive, Detailed Consumer and Industry Information on Septic System Inspection, Testing, Maintenance, Alternatives for on-site waste disposal
• Sewage or Septic contamination in buildings - Investigation, Testing and Remediation

Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Research & Advice

The Mold Information Center: What to Do About Mold in Buildings, When and How to Inspect for Mold, Clean Up Mold, or Avoid Mold Problems

Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

Use this simple, economical mold test kit by following our instructions on how to collect and mail mold samples to our lab

Environmental Inspection, Testing, & Diagnosis On-Site IAQ, Gas, Air Testing, Mold Investigation, Sick Building Diagnosis, Lab Services, & Remediation Plan Preparation - indoor air quality testing, problem source determination, supporting lab work, written remediation plan addressing removal of environmental and other hazards and prevention of their recurrence.

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

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