Appalachian Water and Soil Analysis, Inc.
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How to Know When to Test Your Water The following (with some revisions) is a joint release from experts at Cornell University and the University of Maryland. If you obtain drinking water from your own well, you alone are responsible, for assuring that the water 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 Should You Test Your Water? Whether you have a public or private water supply you should have your water tested if the following situations arise: 1. If family members or houseguests have recurrent incidents of gastrointestinal illness:
2. If household plumbing contains lead pipes, fittings, solder joints or is more than 30 years old:
3. If you are buying a home and wish to assess the safety and quality of the existing water supply:
4. If your are told a water softener is needed to treat hard water:
5. If you wish to monitor the efficiency and performance of home water treatment equipment:
5. If water stains plumbing fixtures and laundry:
6. If water has an objectionable taste or smell:
7. If water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored:
8. If pipes or plumbing show signs of corrosion:
9. If water leaves scaly residues and soap scum, and decreases the cleaning action of soaps and detergents:
10. If water supply equipment (pump, chlorinators, etc.) wear rapidly:
11. If water filters are clogged, colored or smell bad or water pressure drops in the home:
Private Water Supplies 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.
Special Situations. 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. 1. If your well is in an area of intensive agricultural use:
2. If you live near a coal or other mining operation:
3. If your well is near a gas drilling operation:
4. 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:
5. If your well is near a dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, or dry cleaning operation:
6. 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:
7. If your well is near an abandoned well, dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, mining operation, gas drilling operation, buried fuel storage tanks, or industrial complex:
Please keep in mind that most toxic substances have no smell, taste, or color and are therefore UNDETECTABLE without testing. This is one reason why poisoning animals and insects has been such an effective method of pest eradication over the centuries. So please don’t make the mistake of relying upon your nose, the taste, or skeletons around the watering hole to warn you. Get some expert help.
If you have not had a water test within 3 years, then your first water test should include ALL of the following:
Because of the geology of the region, if you live in North Georgia you should also have your drinking water tested for:
The results of this series of tests may indicate that there is NO need for any treatment of your water. In that case the EPA recommends annual retesting for a more limited group of parameters, which are less expensive. Annual retesting is a must, because groundwater flow is constantly changing, especially with all the new building, well drilling, old wells being closed etc. So your water this year may be fine, but in a few weeks you may be getting very different water from your well. Annual testing gives you some assurance that your water is still safe. And testing is affordable!!! We recommend and currently offer an annual test for $98.00. (a $310.00 value for less than the cost of a tank of gasoline or an evening's entertainment). The test includes ALL of the following parameters:
However, any certified laboratory can perform some of this testing, so choose the one you prefer. But make sure you get all of these parameters at the same time and that you consult a qualified water treatment specialist to review them to let you know what those results mean. Review, Analyze, and Recommend - only $45.00. What if you knew which tests you needed to have done and already have the lab results. We will be happy to review and analyze your results and make recommendations for a nominal fee of $45.00. This is very inexpensive to get a professional opinion from an unbiased water treatment specialist. We can also give you information on what purification devices, if any, are needed so you will know exactly what to shop for and why.
What HUD / FHA requires: http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/ref/sfh1-21b.cfm B: HUD testing requirements, as stated in Mortgagee Letter 95-34, are the minimum standards acceptable for FHA insured mortgages. This includes at a minimum lead, (first flush) nitrate, nitrite, total nitrate/nitrite, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms or E.coli. If state and local agencies impose additional standards, they too must be met. What the EPA recommends: Annual Testing |
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