InspectAPedia ^®

Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors WaterAPedia © When and why to test private water supplies What are common water test fees, 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." -- 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] 5/22/2009 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?

• 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. (Photo at left courtesy of reader B.H.)
• 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 Water 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.

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, we recommend ordering one of the more extensive test packages, typically costing $200. to $300.

If that test detects no problems, we 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.

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.

...

Technical Reviewers & References

Search InspectAPedia

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia^® Website
• InspectAPedia Bookstore lists recommended books, organized by topic & available for purchase. Most of our articles also include a list of recommended books for the specific article topic as well as other references, and information sources.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest corrections or additions to articles at this website, and if you wish, to receive online listing and credit as a contributor. Particular thanks are due to the many experts and also consumers who read and critique technical articles at InspectAPedia.com.
• Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

PLUMBING TOPICS
WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT
WATER TESTING ADVICE
  SHOULD YOU TEST YOUR WATER?
  PUBLIC vs PRIVATE WATER
  WHEN TO TEST
  WATER TEST COSTS
  SPECIAL SITUATION TESTS
CHEATING on WATER TESTS
CORRECTING BAD WATER
EPA GUIDE to WATER QUALITY
SEWAGE CONTAMINATION
WATER CONTAMINANT LEVELS
WATER ODORS, CAUSE CURE
WATER PUMPS & WELLS
WATER QUANTITY GUIDE
WATER SOFTENERS
WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES
  Cost of Water Tests - Lab Fees
  General Classes of Water Contaminants
  ARSENIC in WATER
  BACTERIA TEST GUIDE
  FHA WATER TESTS REQUIRED
  General- water test parameters
  Standard VA FHA, Pesticides
  Title 5- water test parameters
  Comprehensive Water Test
  Water testing Comprehensive + Pesticides
  Individual water contaminant tests
  Herbicide Contamination
  LEAD CONTAMINATION
  Pesticides Contamination
  TOTAL COLIFORM TESTING
  Municipal Water Test Parameters
WATER TEST FEES
WATER TEST INTERPRETATION
  Common Water Tests for Bacteria
    PA - Coliform Bacteria Test
    M.F.T. - Coliform Bacteria Test
    MPN - Coliform Bacteria Test
  Interpreting Other Water Test Results
  FAILED WATER TESTS - WHAT TO DO
  FAILED WATER TESTS - WHEN to RE-TEST
WATER TREATMENT EQUIPMENT CHOICES
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS

Choices of Water Tests & Fees: A Summary of Types of Water Tests, Degrees of Comprehensive Water Testing, Details of Water Test Parameters

• Clearances Required for Wells Distance Between Well & Septic System and other water pollution sources, Online Table of Well Distances
• Correcting Unsatisfactory Water what to do, when to do it, treatment alternatives, equipment, filters,
• 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
• Lead Test Result Variation Caused by Test Methods and Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains: Advice re: Testing With Lead Pipe & Lead Solder on Plumbing
• Reasons to Test Your Water and What Water Tests to Order for Various Situations
• 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

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

• Our recommended books about building design, inspection, and repair, and about indoor environment testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore.
• ...

More Information on 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

InspectAPedia® Home & Site Map - Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, Repair, & Problem Prevention Advice: In-depth research & advice on diagnosing, testing, correcting, & preventing building defects & indoor environmental hazards. Unbiased information, no conflicts of interest.

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

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.

Building Inspection, Problem Diagnosis, Forensic Investigation & Testing, Repair Consulting

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