Water Testing

water testing

To protect the public, Congress enacted the Clean Water Drinking Act in 1974 and strengthened it in 1986, establishing minimum water quality standards for most homeowners. However, there is no guarantee that all utilities fully comply with these regulations.

Enforcement of water quality standards is challenging at the national, state, and local levels, and not all known contaminants are included on the list. Additionally, not all water testing is entirely accurate. Having your water tested can reveal if it contains lead or other harmful contaminants. If lead levels exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb), it is strongly recommended to take action. Testing is the only reliable way to determine if harmful levels of lead or other contaminants are present in your drinking water.

YOU SHOULD CONSIDER TESTING YOUR WATER IF:

- You use water from a private well, it’s important to be aware that germs and chemicals can contaminate your water in various ways. Some contaminants, like heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, and cadmium, naturally occur in rocks and soil and can seep into groundwater, ultimately affecting your well water. Other contaminants may come from human and animal waste, often due to polluted stormwater runoff, agricultural runoff, flooded sewers, or malfunctioning septic systems, which can all seep into your well. To ensure the safety of your drinking water, regular testing is crucial. Testing your well water annually will help protect you and your family from potential health risks associated with contaminated water.

- Your home has lead pipes (which are typically dull gray in color and soft enough to be scratched with a knife or key), it’s important to be aware of the potential risks. Your home inspection report (on page 15 #3) will always specify the type of pipes supplying your water, helping you identify if lead pipes are present.

- Your home has older copper plumbing or chrome-plated or brass fixtures, it's important to be aware that these materials may pose potential risks over time.

- You notice signs of corrosion in your water, such as frequent leaks, rust-colored water, or stains on sinks, dishes, or laundry, it may indicate an issue with your plumbing or water quality.

If you're concerned about the quality of your home’s water, you may want to have your well water tested. Massachusetts Home Inspections can collect a sample of your tap water and send it to our independent certified lab for analysis of any harmful contaminants. The lab will email you the test results within two days. (Pricing may vary. To view testing levels and pricing, simply click on "Optional Services" and scroll down to "Water Quality Analysis").

If testing reveals that the levels of any contaminants are high, it's important to take action immediately. The steps you need to take will depend on the specific pollutants involved. You may need to install a water treatment device, such as a reverse osmosis system, distillation system, aeration system, or activated carbon filter, to address the contamination.

water treatment water filter

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Here is what my clients have to say about my home inspection services:

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Hi Dave,

I want to thank you for the home inspection you did for us at 144 Avis Ave. in Dracut MA. We did not get the house because the home owners did not want to split the cost of fixing that wall. I had gotten two estimates, one from a landscaper and one from a Mason. Both gave an estimate of $15,000.00, for which I am grateful for your inspection and pointing out the wall problem. It would of been an undue burden on us, not to mention I am also grateful about the radon testing also. I just got the results today and they came back at 7.5 and 8.4, so that would of been another expense. I do hope that when we find a new house that you will be able to do our home inspection. Your fee was a drop in the hat, to what it would of cost us to fix the wall and then the cost of venting the basement. My husband was also very impressed with your report and how well it was written. Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know what happened, and hopefully will be doing business with you again very soon.

Have a Good Day
Jackie Sliney