EPA has no jurisdiction over privately owned wells, so each and every homeowner should have their well tested annually for problem indicators such as nitrates and coliform bacteria. It’s your water and your responsibility to protect it. Listed below are just some of our available services:
• FHA Series — Total Coliform, E-coli, Nitrates, Nitrites, Lead
• VA Series — Total Coliform, Nitrates, Nitrites, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Hardness, Iron, Lead
• Homeowners’ Package (VA Series 2) — Total Coliform, Nitrates, Nitrites, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, Hardness, Iron, Lead
•Customized packages and individual tests are also available
Listed below are some activities and indicators that may signal water quality issues according to the U.S. EPA:
Conditions or Nearby Activities: |
Test for: |
| Recurring gastro-intestinal illness | Coliform bacteria |
| Household plumbing contains lead | pH, lead, copper |
| Radon in indoor air or region is radon rich | Radon |
| Corrosion of pipes, plumbing | Corrosion, pH, lead |
| Nearby areas of intensive agriculture | Nitrate, pesticides, coliform bacteria |
| Coal or other mining operations nearby | Metals, pH, corrosion |
| Gas drilling operations nearby | Chloride, sodium, barium, strontium |
| Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station, or dry-cleaning operation nearby | Volatile organic compounds, total dissolved solids, pH, sulfate, chloride, metals |
| Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near gas station or buried fuel tanks | Volatile organic compounds |
| Objectionable taste or smell | Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals |
| Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry | Iron, copper, manganese |
While not necessarily health issues, these conditions may cause long-term damage to a home’s plumbing system |
|
| Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted roadway nearby | Chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium |
| Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather | Hardness |
| Rapid wear of water treatment equipment | pH, corrosion |
| Water softener needed to treat hardness | Manganese, iron |
| Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored | Color, detergents |
For more information on radon gas and well water radon testing please check out our radon page.
Interested in reading more about how to test and maintain a healthy water supply? Check out these great resources:
Penn State University – Guide to Private Water Systems (.pdf) U.S. EPA – Water on Tap: What you need to know (.pdf) U.S. EPA – Drinking Water from Household Wells (.pdf)
