Water Bacteria Testing

What is Water Bacteria Testing?

Tests for water bacteria assess a home’s water supply for contaminants and pollutants, such as chlorine, lead and coliform bacteria. Testing can also reveal an imbalance of the pH level and other factors to ensure that a home’s water is drinkable and safe for everyday use.

often require water quality testing for properties with private wells and most will accept a home inspector as an independent tester. General results are usually available within 48 hours, although tests for certain minerals and other contaminants may require lab analysis and take longer.

Impurities are present in any water source and public and private water supplies may be affected by:

Elevated levels of nitrates, including fertilizers that leach into groundwater

Heavy metal contamination, including lead

Dangerous levels of bacteria

Mineral contaminants, such as iron and arsenic

Fluoride levels

Home inspectors can provide water bacteria testing services during standard home inspections with little additional time and without the need for heavy or complex equipment. Subsequent lab testing ensures comprehensive and accurate results.

Identifying the Problem

Odors, flavors, colors or stains on clothes or fixtures all can be warning signs of possible water issues. See the EPA website for a list of conditions that necessitate a water quality test.

Water Quality Testing

provide water testing services distinctively geared in helping homeowners assess the quality of their drinking water. If the water comes from a private well, our water testing will aid you in deciding the quality of your drinking water.

provide water testing services that tackle the concerns of property owners. Regardless if your water is well water or city water, we have water testing that will tell you the quality of your drinking water.  For useful resources about water contamination, we have homeowner product information telling you what to expect when you decide to test your water.

FHA water testing requirements = bacteria, nitrate, nitrate, lead (please check with your lender to verify which tests are being required for the loan)

USDA water testing requirements= bacteria and nitrite or nitrate or total nitrates  (please check with your lender to verify which tests are being required for the loan)

VA loan water testing requirements= bacteria  (please check with your lender to verify which tests are being required for the loan)

Water Quality Testing Kits

In many applications, continuous or periodic monitoring of water quality parameters is an important part of water management. Here are some applications where these water quality test kits are often utilized: ​

Healthcare facilities to meet CMS-mandated water management plans

Commercial or industrial facilities to meet compliance

Hospitality organizations to test pools/spas and other water features

When continuous or periodic monitoring of water quality parameters is important, it can be impractical and expensive to regularly send samples out for analysis or contract a 3rd party for testing.  The more frequently you test your water, the more it makes sense to do it yourself with an on-site test kit.  There are many benefits of on-site “DIY” water quality testing

Immediate feedback with real-time results allows faster reaction to problems

Data stays “in-house” reducing concerns over confidentiality and privacy

Allows troubleshooting or retesting of questionable measurements

Lower cost per test allows more data to be gathered when budgets are tight

Staff becomes more knowledgeable about water quality when they do testing

Trusted Water specializes in assembling water quality testing kits using commercially available analyzers and instruments.  This allows us to create standard or customized kits designed for specific client applications with the most accurate, easy-to-use, and cost-effective components.

continually evaluate new products, selecting only those that meet our strict criteria for performance, reliability, and cost.  Enclosed in a rugged hard-side case, kits contain hand-held and/or portable analyzers with the necessary consumables and reagents included.

Inspections And Well Water Quality Tests

Septic systems are not exactly an exciting topic, I know. But if you or your buyer is planning on purchasing a home that has a septic system, inspecting that system is a must. And typically, if a home is on a septic system, it is also on a well.

One of the biggest challenges we face as a full-service home inspection company is trying to get septic inspections and well water quality tests done quickly enough to meet the buyers deadline.

Home purchases are up, and so are septic and well water inspection requests. Water quality testing can take time, especially if you are having your water tested for more than just coliform, which is the basic bacteria test.

What does all of this mean for buyers or their agents? It is always a good bet to ask for some extra time when you are purchasing a home where these tests will be required and to schedule your inspection as soon as possible once the agreement of sale is signed. We recommend asking for a 15 day inspection period, instead of the more common 10 days. This way you will be sure to get all of your results in time.

Home Buyer Inspections, Certified Move In Ready (also known as Pre-listing), Commercial Property Inspections, Radon Testing, Termite Inspections, Well Flow Testing, Well Water Sampling, Air Quality Testing/Inspections, Septic Inspections, Intrusive Stucco Testing and 203K Loan Consulting.

Well Water Testing FAQ’s

Whether you’re washing dishes with it, taking a shower with it, cooking dinner with it, or making coffee with it, we all need clean water for a myriad of daily activities. How can you be sure your source is untainted, especially when your home is serviced by a well, rather than a municipal water supply? Through a simple and inexpensive well water test.

Q: When should I test my well water?

A: We recommend testing your well water when you are purchasing a new home and when you are drilling a new well, at the minimum.

Q: What do I need to test for?

A: Our inspectors recommend that you test for six things— 1) Potability, 2) Lead, 3) Radon, 4) Arsenic, 5) Uranium, and 6) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s, however, whether or not you need to test for VOC’s depends on where you live.)

Q: What does potability mean?

A: Potability tells you whether or not your water is suitable for drinking. If your home has a well, this is the minimum test you need to perform and provides general information on the overall water quality. The potability test will check for the presence of bacteria, such as E.coli and coliform. The potability test will also determine if common chemicals, such as sodium, iron, chloride, sulfate, manganese, copper, and Nitrate-Nitrogen are present in excessive amounts.

Q: How does lead end up in my water?

A: Lead in water comes from two main sources: pipes or soldering within your home or it can occur naturally from the water source. Many government home loans require you to test for lead if the home was built before 1978.

Q: How dangerous is lead?

A: Elevated levels of lead in water can cause brain, kidney and nervous system damage. Lead toxicity poisoning in infants and young children can impact mental and physical development.