Water testing helps identify potential contaminants, such as bacteria, lead, arsenic, radon and other harmful substances that could affect your family’s health.

If you are a someone purchasing a property with a private well, or a homeowner who is noticing unusual tastes, odors, or discoloration in their water supply, testing is recommend.

If you choose to have a water test performed, whether as a part of a home inspection or as a stand alone service, one of our inspectors will perform the following steps.

One of our inspectors will first start by flushing the system and running water for generally 15 to 20 minutes or potentially longer depending on the conditions present at the home.

The fixture where the test is performed will be cleaned in order to reduce the risk of local contamination of the water.

Using gloves, the inspector will fill several vials full of water, reseal the kit and transport it to the lab following the lab’s specific handling instructions based on the type of testing being performed.

Once dropped off at the lab, the water will be processed and testing will begin, with full results ready in 2 to 3 business days.

Water quality should be tested regularly to ensure its safety and identify any potential contaminants.

Here are general guidelines for how often testing should occur:

• Private Wells: Homeowners with private wells should test their water at least once a year for bacteria, nitrates, and other common contaminants. Testing should also be done after heavy flooding, construction near the well, or noticeable changes in taste, color, or odor.

• Municipal Water: While public water is regulated and tested frequently by water utilities, homeowners may still choose to test their water every 2-3 years, especially for contaminants like lead that can enter through municipal plumbing systems.

• When Buying or Selling a Home: Testing water quality during a real estate transaction is a common request of the buyer, especially for homes with private wells or properties under FHA or VA loans. If you are selling your home, getting the water tested ahead of time can be a smart choice to reduce the number of things a buyer may use to negotiate with.

• If Health Issues Arise: If household members experience unexplained illnesses, testing for contaminants like bacteria, heavy metals, or other chemicals is advisable.

• After Plumbing Changes: If you’ve had significant plumbing work or replaced fixtures, testing can confirm that no contaminants have been introduced during the process.

To be honest, it really depends on our specific situation and the location of your home. Most of our clients tend to not test the water when they are connected to a public utility, but just so you have the knowledge to make an informed decision, let’s go over the basics.

Public water is maintained and regulated by a local municipality, private company or water district at a centralized location usually in the same town or surrounding area from where the home is located. The water must meet local, state or national quality standards before it leaves the processing plant. It then travels through a network of underground piping until it makes it to your street and then into your home.

From our experience, these are the specific reasons we see our clients testing a public water supply:

• Lead Service Piping: If the home was built prior to 1986 (which is when the US banned the use of lead or lead lined service piping) you may want to consider testing. The ban did NOT require that current lead service piping be removed / replaced, therefore one of the few ways to know if your home is affected is by testing the water specifically in your home.

• Aging Infrastructure: Water can pick up contaminants like lead, copper, or rust as it travels through aging pipes in the municipal system. In New England, we have some public water districts that date back to the 1850’s and without regular maintenance and replacements of pipes, there is an increase for water quality issues overtime as the pipes deteriorate.

• Taste, Odor, or Color: Unusual tastes, odors, or discoloration in water, even if not harmful, may indicate impurities that can be identified through testing allowing you to make a plan for localized filtration within the home to meet your desired water quality needs.

The cost for water testing depends on the number of items that are being tested within the water. We offer several different testing options that are packaged up into discounts for the most common items that our clients are looking to test for. We also offer custom testing packages if you are in need of a specific water test or are concerned about only a limited number of items in your water supply.