The water you drink may LOOK clean, but do you know what’s in it?
Your water might originate from a clean source, but in some cases that water has to travel through many miles of pipes before reaching your home. Some of these pipes may be very old, corroded and leaky. Ground water can enter these pipes adding any number of contaminants. Any home built prior to 1990 probably has water pipes joined with lead based solder. In certain circumstances, the lead from that solder can get into your water supply. If you are on a municipal water supply, take a look at your last water bill. In several communities the following warning is printed on the water bill:
“SOME HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS IN THEIR DRINKING WATER. LEAD CAN POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO YOUR HEALTH. PLEASE READ THE ENCLOSED NOTICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.” More info about lead in drinking water
Why test water from a public water supply?
Which Water Test is Right for You?
Is your water source within 10 miles of any of the following: Dry cleaning business, metal processing companies, mining operations, industries, farming or landfills? Is your water source within 1 mile of any of the following? Gas stations, cemeteries more than 100 years old, salt water shoreline, highway salt storage. Let us know, and we will suggest the right test for you.
LEAD, TOTAL COLIFORM & FECAL / E COLI – price (with home inspection) $125. This is the bare minimum water test suggested for homes served by municipal water suppliers.
STANDARD SCAN – price (with home inspection) $175 – Meets FHA & VA Requirements.
Microbiological: Total coliform, fecal/E.coli.
Inorganics: Lead, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, alkalinity, chloride, chlorine, color, conductivity, hardness, nitrate, odor, pH, sediment, total dissolved solids, sulfate, turbidity, lead, arsenic, ammonia, nitrate.
A powerful test for surface water and well sources. This comprehensive check tests for 60 volatile organic compounds including, MTBE as well as all the items in the standard scan.
Microbiological: Total coliform bacteria, fecal/E.coli.
Inorganics: All of the above plus: Radiological: Radon
Organics: 60 volatile organic compounds.
| Benzene Bromobenzene Bromochlomethane Bromodichloromethane Bromoform Bromomethane n-Butybenzene sec-Butybenzene tert-Butylbenzene Carbon tetrachloride Chlorodibromomethane Chloroethane Chloroform Chloromethane o-Chlorotoluene p-Chlorotoluene 1,2-Dibromo-3- Chioropropane Dibromomethane 1,2-Dibromomethane m-Dichlorobenzene o-Dichlorobenzenepara Dichlorobenzene Dichloromethane Dichlorodifluoromethane 1,1-Dichloroethane 1,2-Dichloroethane 1,1-Dichloroethylene cis-1,2, Dichloroethylene trans-1,2,-Dichloroethylene 1,2-Dichloropropane | 1,3-Dichloropropane 2,2-Dichloropropane 1,1-DichloropropeneMethyl-t-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Monochlorobenzene Napthalene n-Propylbenzene Styrene 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane Tetrachloroethylene Toluene 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene1,3-Dichloropropene trans-1,3-Dichloropropene Ethylbenzene Fluorotrichloromethane Hexachlorobutadiene Isopropllbenzene
p-Isopropyltoluene |
| Primary Parameters | Health Effects | Maximum Contamination Limit | Source |
| Arsenic | Dermal and nervous system toxicity effects | 0.010mg/L | Geological, pesticide residues, industrial waste and smelter operations. |
| Total Coliform Bacteria | Bacteria that can cause diseases including gastroenteric infections, dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid fever, cholera and others. | Results must be negative |
Widely distributed in nature. Sources come from septic systems, human and animal fecal matter. |
| Lead | Central and peripheral nervous system damage, kidney, highly toxic to infants and pregnant woman. | 0.015mg/L | Corrosion of lead solder, brass faucets & fixtures, corrosion of lead service pipes. |
| Nitrate (Nitrogen) | Methemoglobinemia – blue baby syndrome |
10 mg/L | Nitrates can be found in fertilizers, feedlots & sewage. Occurs in soil & mineral deposits. |
| Turbidity | Interferes with disinfecting | Nephelometric Turbidity Units | Suspension of fine particles. Causes: bacterial contamination, organic matter, iron, manganese or silt from erosion & runoff. |
| Benzene | Carcinogen | 0.005 mg/L | Fuel (leaking tanks) solvent used in manufacture of industrial chemicals; pesticides, paints, pharmaceuticals & plastics. |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Carcinogen | 0.005 mg/L | Used in cleaning agents & found in industrial wastes from manufacture of coolants. |
| Dichlorobenzene | Carcinogen | 0.005 mg/L | Used in insecticides, moth balls and air deodorizers. |
| 1,2 Dichloroethane | Carcinogen | 0.005 mg/L | Used in manufacture of insecticides and gasoline. |
| 1,1 Dichloroethylene | Liver / Kidney | 0.007 mg/L | Used in manufacture of plastics, dyes, perfumes, paints & synthetic organic compounds (SOC’s). |
| 1,1,1 Trichloroethane | Nervous System | 0.2 mg/L | Used in manufacture of food wrappings and synthetic fibers. |
| Trichloroethylene | Carcinogen | 0.005 mg/L | Dry cleaning disposal waste. Used in manufacture of paints, waxes, varnishes, pesticides, paint striper & metal degreasers. |
| Vinyl Chloride | Carcinogen | 0.002 mg/L | (PVC) pipes & solvents used to join them. Waste from manufacture of plastics & synthetic rubber. |
Escherichia Coli or as it is best known, e. coli is a group of bacteria which are a subspecies of coliform bacteria. Most e. coli are essential to the healthy life of all warm blooded animals including humans.
EPA Standards:
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only addresses e. coli indirectly in that it has set standards that do not allow for the presence of any coliform bacteria in drinking water. Since all e. coli are part of coliform, e. coli are similarly restricted.
Health Issues:
Most e. coli are harmless. However, there are within the e. coli, bacteria that can be the source of some concern. Specifically, E. coli O157:H7 is known to have caused problems, some very serious including death, with those who are young, elderly or for other reasons have severely compromised immune systems. Therefore, most government agencies who have set drinking water standards recommend or require that drinking water be free of e. coli.