Water Testing

Access Home Inspection believes that the safety of our drinking water is very important. To ensure the safety of you and your family, we recommend that a water sample be taken for analysis

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.

If you do rely on a private water well for your drinking water, it is recommended that it be tested regularly. The nature of aquifers makes them particularly vulnerable to contamination from a variety of land-uses including industry, manufacturing and agriculture. While you may follow some basic practices to prevent contamination such as (1) maintaining your septic system, (2) properly disposing household hazardous wastes, (3) judiciously applying fertilizers and pesticides and (4) reducing your use of household hazardous wastes, there is no guarantee that your neighbor or anyone else who can contaminate the same aquifer is doing likewise.

It is important to note that contaminated water does not necessarily taste, smell or look any different from safe drinking water. For example, you cannot taste or smell inorganic arsenic, nitrates, coliform bacteria and organic compounds such as PCB's and PBB's in your drinking water. The only way to detect these substances and others like them is by testing your well water.

What should I test for and how often?

As a homeowner, you can have your water tested for a wide range of substances. It is important to identify which substances you should test for if it cannot be detected using the more common water test kits. To safeguard against the most common and serious health concerns, environmental health professionals suggest that at a minimum you test your water well for coliform bacteria, nitrates and pH annually.

• Bacteriological Analysis detects different types of coliform bacteria in your well water. Aside from the annual test, this should be done whenever (1) there is a noticeable change in the odor, color or taste of your well water, (2) flooding has occurred near your well, (3) a household member or animal experiences unexplained gasto-intestinal illnesses, or (4) maintenance has been carried out on the water supply.

• Parital Chemical Analysis detects some commonly occurring inorganic compounds such as nitrates, iron, sodium and chlorine. Testing for nitrates should be carried out especially if (1) livestock facilities, fertilizer storage or handling sites, septic system or other nitrogen sources are in the area of the water supply, (2) manure or municipal sludge is spread in the area of the water supply or on land nearby, or (3) fertilizer is applied on or near the water supply. Because high levels of nitrates can cause methemoglobinemia ("blue baby syndrome"), you should test your well more often if someone in your household is pregnant or lactating or if there is an infant. When ingested, nitrates are transformed into nitrites. Nitrites convert hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying component of blood, into methemoglobin, a more inefficient oxygen carrier. Left untreated, methemoglobinemia can lead to brain damage or even death. Young infants are the most vulnerable.

• pH Test: Water with a pH of less than 6.5 or greater than 8.0 can corrode your plumbing and introduce dissolved metals into your drinking water. These metals may pose a serious health hazard.

Because nitrates enter groundwater through the same pathways as other contaminants, the detection of nitrates in your drinking water may indicate the presence of pesticides and other substances in your aquifer. If nitrates are detected, further tests are recommended to identify the contaminants that might be present. A specific chemical analysis detects one of a few specific chemicals. To determine which chemicals to test for, consult your local environmental health sanitarian or your county extension agent and consider present and past land-uses on and around your water supply area. Even if you find that your drinking water is safe, testing your water annually is a good way to establish a water quality record.

What do the test results mean?

Test results are given in terms of concentration (milligrams per liter). For contaminants that pose a health risk, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL). Prolonged exposure to substances exceeding their MCL may cause adverse health effects. The EPA has also set Secondary Maximum Contaminant Levels (SMCL) for substances that do not pose a health risk but that can affect the smell, taste, turbidity and color of your water. Your local health department can help you in interpreting the results of your water test. Below is a brief explanation of what the test results mean for the tests described above.

Bacteriological analysis: Counts of one or higher suggest that your well water is contaminated with either human or animal wastes and follow-up with your local sanitarian is warranted.

Partial Chemical Analysis: Results of a partial chemical analysis are reported in total milligrams detected per liter. The values given can be directly compared with the EPA established MCL's or SMCL's. Listed below are some commonly detected substances and their related problems.