Most of us don’t know where to begin searching to find out if our water is safe to drink. To help with your information gathering, we’ve put together these answers to some important questions.
Is my water safe?
Do I need to test my water?
In general, it is a good idea to test well water before you buy a house with a private well, after any repairs or upgrades are made to your well, if you notice any changes to your well water taste, smell, or appearance, or if you previously had testing that indicated the water had contaminants above government standard levels.
In addition, well water should be tested on a yearly basis for bacteria and nitrate/nitrite at a minimum. Testing for the following contaminants is recommended at least once every ten years:
- Arsenic
- Chloride
- Copper
- Fluoride
- Hardness
- Iron
- Lead
- Manganese
- pH
- Sodium
- VOCs
What should I test my water for?
- Giardia lamblia
- Legionella
- Total Coliforms
- Turbidity
- Viruses
- Bromate
- Chlorite
- Chlorine dioxide
- Antimony
- Barium
- Cadmium
- Mercury
- Nitrite
- And many more
For a complete list and information of all the drinking water contaminants that the federal government regulates, visit the EPA website here.