Drinking water
Safe drinking water should be a paramount priority for any homeowner. In addition to health concerns, water quality can impact the taste, smell and color of your water and cause staining of clothes and corrosion of pipes and fixtures.
If the property you are considering relies on well water, mortgage lenders usually require at least basic water testing (coliformbacteria, pH and chloride). The FHA requires additional testing for nitrates, nitrites, turbidity and lead. There are several other tests that can be done, depending upon your concerns and circumstances, such as for levels of copper, iron, aluminum, zinc, etc.
Even though municipal utilities test city water for safety, it is a good idea to have the water coming from your tap tested for lead, as it could leach into your water from pipes and fittings on its way to your home.
test the water for the presence of bacteria to determine whether it is safe for human consumption.
This package includes our bacteriological testing as well as an informative content profile, including: pH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Chloride, Sulfate, Fluoride, Turbidity, Hardness and Iron.
Well & Water Testing
Considering that the human body is made up of about 60% water, and the average person can’t survive more than 3 days without water, it’s safe to say that water is a critical element of life. So it should be no surprise then that the quality of the water you drink is important. Protect the health of your family with our Professional Well and Water Testing Services. Our team will come out to your location and perform detailed testing of the water in your home, whether it comes from a well or the city.
Well Water Testing for Homeowners
If you have private well water, testing it is your responsibility. Yearly testing reports won’t be mailed to you or available on the web because there aren’t any. Well water is an additional responsibility of homeownership. And although wells constructed correctly will provide a homeowner with clean water for many years, in time the functions can deteriorate and contaminants can make their way into the water table.
Certified Well Testing
Professional Home Inspectors are able to test for all the above and more. Our professional well water testing services can ensure the water that your family uses for everything from showering to cleaning dishes, drinking to brushing your teeth, is safe. Well water testing is important for maintaining your well water system.
City Water Testing for Homeowners
Why would anyone have their city water tested? The city tests it every year, so isn’t that redundant? Well, the answer is no. The city tests the water straight from the water treatment facility. And the water still has a long journey to travel through miles and miles of pipelines to get to your home. Along the way it can pick up contaminants, which aren’t detected by the city’s tests. These contaminants can be picked up a mile from your home, or right inside your home, and can cause harm to you, your family, and your plumbing.
A Few Common Water Contaminants:
Coliform Bacteria
Nitrate
Copper
Lead
Fluoride
Arsenic
Iron
Mercury
Uranium
Well Water Testing
Having your well water supply inspected is crucial. While some contamination issues are obvious to determine either through tastes, scents or discoloration, there are those that are difficult to detect without a professional water inspection. We offer high-quality well water inspections and testing, ensuring to deliver accurate and timely results every time.
Whether you’re buying a new home or think that your own home’s water quality may not be up to par, water testing is a good way to check for dangerous contaminants and bacteria which could be harmful to your health. Water testing is particularly important in older homes, which may use copper pipes and solder that contain high amounts of lead.
What Is Water Testing, And How Does It Work?
The process of water testing is quite simple. First, a qualified inspector will come to your home to take samples of your water. These may be taken from different taps and areas of your home, to ensure that a large sample size is taken.
Then, these water samples will be sent to a certified laboratory. At this laboratory, your water will be tested for certain contaminants like lead and other minerals, as well as bacteria and any other dangerous contaminants. Once the testing is complete, you will receive a full report about your water quality, including any notable dangerous substances that were found.
What Issues Can Water Testing Detect?
Primarily, your water will be tested for two types of contaminants: minerals and bacteria. While trace amounts of minerals in your water are not harmful, The EPA has identified about 80 different contaminants that can impact water quality. Heavy metals and minerals, such as lead, are dangerous. Lead, in particular, can cause long-term damage to the brains and nervous systems of children, and also contributes to issues like low birth weight. In adults, lead can cause kidney dysfunction, heart disease, and infertility.
WATER TESTING
Having your home’s water tested is important for reducing exposures to contaminants such as lead. Lead can be found in metal water taps, interior water pipes, or even the pipes that connect your home to the main pipe in the street. Make sure your home’s water is safe from contaminants and toxins and have it tested by one
WATER TESTING INCLUDES:
IN | MO | NC-CHL
Water nitrate/nitrite sample
Lab test for nitrate and nitrite (fertilizer contamination)
(5-7 day result)
Water lead sample
Lab test for lead in water (required for FHA loans)
(5-7 day result)
Water bacteria
Lab test for lead in water (required for FHA loans)
(48-hour result)
PA
Water test – potability Water test potability + chemical Water test lead/chemical/potability
Lab test for lead in water
Water must have been run recently, but not within the previous 6 hours prior to the test
Water test FHA/VA
Lab test (required for FHA loans)
Water must have been run recently, but not within the previous 6 hours prior to the test
inspectors are passionate about helping you understand your current or prospective home. Over 98% of our customers said we added real value to the process and exceeded their expectations. We stand behind every one of our inspections with a Superior Service Guarantee. We’re confident our inspections provide real value. If we don’t meet your expectations, we’ll refund your home inspection fee — it’s that simple.
committed substantial resources to the development of its state-of-the-art electronic Inspection Management System. The system features an enhanced comment library, and walks the inspector through the home, checking every system and structure. Reports are also available on our Web site within 24 hours or less. Most importantly, the system ensures that reports provide the home buyer/seller with the most accurate and detailed description of the condition of the property.
Water Testing
Why Should Your Water Be Tested?
If you’ve never had anything but water from a municipal tap system, a private water supply can seem like virtually the same thing: turn on the faucet, water comes out, very simple right? Many falsely assume that if the water looks good, doesn’t smell bad, and the current owners aren’t sick, that the water must be fine. But that’s a big mistake
Water that is coming from a private well don’t fall under the same EPA regulations that ensure what’s coming out of your test is safe for consumption. That job falls on you, the private water supply owner. It is essential that before purchasing a property, you have to know what the quality and composition of your water is.
Discovering that the water is unfit to drink is something important to discover during the buying process, not after. Drinking contaminated water can cause health problems for yourself, your family, and your pets. Some contaminants cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, so the best way to ensure your water does not contain these harmful components is through having the water tested.
What Are We Testing For?
There are dozens and dozens of different tests for water. Most public and private water recommendations are for, at a minimum nitrate and total coliform. Both of which are suggested by the EPA, to be tested for at least once per year. Concentrations of lead in drinking water is also a safety hazard, so testing for that is recommended if your property meets certain characteristics.
Bacteria (E. Coli, total coliforms)
Coliform bacteria in well water can be an indicator of worsening water quality. Some bacteria come from fecal matters, and others naturally occur in soils, vegetation, insects, etc.
Nitrate
Common sources are fertilizers, septic systems, animal manure. and leaking sewer lines. High levels of nitrate in well water present a health concern. Drinking large amounts of water with nitrates is particularly threatening to infants.
Lead
Properties built before 1986 could have plumbing systems that consist of ” lead contributors” like lead piping, copper pipes with lead solder, and brass fixtures. These “contributors” can potentially cause lead to leak into water. Lead is harmful entity which can cause major health problems.
