Water Wells - Private

well water

Unlike municipal water, private well water is not regulated or routinely tested by government agencies. As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to ensure your water is safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Testing your well water helps identify potential contaminants that could pose health risks, damage plumbing, or affect the taste, smell, or appearance of your water.

Common concerns include bacteria (such as Coliform and E. coli), which can indicate the presence of harmful pathogens; nitrates, which are especially dangerous for infants and pregnant women; and heavy metals like lead, arsenic, and copper, which can lead to long-term health problems. Radon in water also poses a potential cancer risk, particularly when released into the air during showering or cooking. Minerals such as iron, manganese, and those affecting pH and hardness can reduce appliance lifespan and cause staining or unpleasant taste. Regular testing—at least once per year—is strongly recommended. If your prospective home has a private well, Massachusetts Home Inspections encourages testing the bacteriological quality of the water before purchase. Ideally, testing should be completed before the close of escrow and repeated annually thereafter. I offer Water Quality testing through a State-certified laboratory, with results typically available within two days via email or the lab’s website.

The results of your test may reveal contaminants that are aesthetic in nature but not necessarily health risks. The lab will help differentiate between harmless and potentially dangerous contaminants, as well as identify likely sources. In addition to annual testing, your well water should be tested immediately if there is any noticeable change in its clarity, color, taste, or odor—or if there has been a change in nearby land use. With regular monitoring and testing, you can help ensure the microbial and chemical safety of your water supply year-round.

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Hi Dave,

I just wanted to write and thank you very much for doing our inspection today. You really took an awful lot of extra time to explain things to us. It was a huge help and by far my favorite part of this whole home-buying process. In addition to drawing our attention to the major projects that need to be undertaken right away or in the near future, I was glad that you were also so thorough as to point out smaller things and provide suggestions for fixes that we'd be able to do ourselves. Thanks again for all your effort. I'm finding your "Know Your Home" book a great source of information along with your report. I'll no doubt have some questions for you at some point and really appreciate your willingness to answer them. Have a great rest of your weekend!

Take care,

Sean