Water Quality Testing

Well Water Quality Testing by Fort Washington Licensed Home Inspector

 

What’s in Your Water?

When you’re in the process of buying a new home, having your water tested is essential. While public water systems are mandated to test and treat their water, these tests only cover the water that has yet to leave the treatment plant. Once it leaves the plant, your water must pass through miles of piping, some of which may be in disrepair or contain lead, before it enters your home’s plumbing system.

The Dangers of Low-Quality Water

Not only does low-quality water have an unpleasant taste and smell, but it can also have a number of long-term effects on the body.

According to the EPA Safe Drinking Water Act, there are two categories of contaminants. Primary contamination encompasses contaminants that have health-related effects. Secondary contamination includes contaminants with aesthetic effects. It’s possible for your water to have no traces of Primary contaminants above the recognized limits but still contain Secondary contamination that yields a bad odor, color, and taste. Fortunately, we have the tools and expertise necessary to identify any contamination in your water so you can ensure your family’s safety, health, and peace of mind.

Well Water Customers

If you get your water from a private well, you are responsible for scheduling water testing services. Most homeowners who use well water don’t request these services until they decide to sell their property. The EPA highly recommends that well owners schedule water testing services every year and whenever they suspect an issue. You should test your well for any traces of pH, total dissolved solids, nitrates, coliform bacteria, chemicals, and any other suspected contaminants.

Contamination can also occur as a result of dissolved chemicals that are naturally present in the groundwater, such as iron, chloride, sulfur, or calcium. When we conduct a water test on your property, you can count on us to fully disclose anything we find in your water with you. We perform all of our water testing through certified laboratories. 

Samples are sent via next day shipping and lab results will be available five business days after lab receives samples.

We offer the following water quality tests…

  • WELL WATER TESTING
  • PUBLIC WATER QUALITY TESTING
  • LEAD AND COPPER WATER TESTING
  • Radon Water Testing

Recommended  for water testing related to a new home purchase or other requirement related to a mortgage (such as a VA or FHA loan). This test is ideal for buyers and sellers evaluating the costs and important long term health and maintenance considerations for a home transaction. Reported results will include detailed analysis of the testing parameters required by VA, FHA and USDA Minimum Property Requirements.

Lab results will be available TWO business days after lab receives samples. 

7 Parameters Analyzed:

Heavy Metals (2)

Iron, Lead

Fertilizers (2)

Nitrate (as N), Nitrite (as N)

Bacteria (2)

E. coli, Total Coliform

Turbidity (1)

With Inspection: $300
Without Inspection: $325

Recommended for basic water quality testing in any home, building, or facility served by a water utility. This test analyzes for a limited array of key metals, minerals, and other basic parameters common in aging pipes and infrastructure.

10 Parameters Analyzed:

Heavy Metals (7)
Arsenic, Copper, Iron, Lead, Nickel, Uranium, Zinc
Non-Metal Inorganic (1)
Fluoride
Properties (2)
Total Dissolved Solids, pH

With Inspection: $225
Without Inspection: $250

Recommended for targeted, high-precision testing of lead and copper in drinking water for home built before 1978. Lead and copper are commonly found in drinking water in homes, business, or other facilities with aging pipes and fixtures. These metals may leach from distribution lines or other plumbing into the water supply even after it leaves a utility or from on-premise lead and copper pipes. Even in "safe" cities, changes in water chemistry can dissolve these metals from old pipes and deposit them in drinking water supplies.

This package also includes an on-site DIY test strip for pH measurement, as water pH can impact plumbing. Subsequently, pH serves as a crucial indicator of overall water quality and is particularly valuable to know when configuring water filtration and treatment solutions. Reported results will include detailed, analysis of lead and copper by EPA method 200.8 (or equivalent).

2 Parameters Analyzed:

Heavy Metals (2)

Copper, Lead

With Inspection: $150
 

Recommended for targeted, high-precision testing of radon in drinking water. Various US states suggest safe levels for radon in drinking water range from 300 to 10,000 pCi/L and testing for radon is frequently suggested for clients on private well water.

1 Parameter Analyzed:

Radionuclide (1)
Radon

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