Home Inspector. Water Quality Inspections

No natural water source is completely free of impurities; contaminants and pathogens must be monitored and mitigated. With the passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set standards that determined the level for the safe consumption of 80 contaminants. 

Water system plants test and treat water. However, these protections can and do fail. As a home inspector, it is our job to look for material defects in the home to ensure that it is safe for the occupants. 

Adding water quality testing using a reliable certified laboratory can reduce the risk to you and your family. Contact us today to schedule and appointment!

The quality of your drinking water can have a significant impact on both you and the people in your household. That's why it is important to have our home inspector perform a water quality inspection before purchasing property in St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Jacksonville or surrounding areas with private plumbing systems.

Some lenders may require this regardless if they're located within city limits while others only perform exams for areas outside such boundaries so make sure not get caught off guard! 

There are a number of things that can go wrong with your home, and it's important to know what they might be before making such an investment. 

Water quality testing is practical for both urban and rural areas, where the possibility of contamination is increased by outdated municipal plumbing systems.   Other possible contamination areas are nearby fracking and other mining activities, livestock farming, and even natural disasters, such as flooding, which can affect the local water table or aquifer. 

Water testing is most useful for homeowners who rely on private wells or cisterns for their water supply. Depending on how often you use water from your well or cistern, you might want to test more frequently. 

Some private well owners test their water more often, particularly if they notice a change in taste, odor, or color. Water testing can also be useful if you are experiencing any type of plumbing problems. Feel free to contact our home inspector today to schedule a water quality inspection.

 The EPA recommends that a residential water supply be tested annually for bacteria, nitrates, solids, pH levels, and other factors. The frequency of these tests may be increased based on the age of the home's occupants (infants are particularly susceptible to the effects of lead exposure).  If there are known risks of contamination, or whether any repair or construction work was recently conducted on or around the well or plumbing system a water quality inspection is highly recommended. 

WHO guidelines recommend that water samples be taken from locations representative of access points to ensure an accurate representation. Samples should also include high-risk zones, which will provide more insight into the opinion and quality assurance efforts needed for this project going forward

Water quality testing is a specialized but simple test that checks a home's water supply for contaminants and pollutants, such as chlorine, lead, and coliform bacteria.  We partner with leading  certified laboratories in Florida to analyze the findings and return easy to read reports.

Water quality testing can also reveal chemical imbalances of the pH, and other attributes, such as hardness. Testing ensures that the home's water is potable and safe for everyday use.  

 Public and private water supplies should be tested because they may be affected by the following:

• Dangerous levels of bacteria, including E. coli and coliform;
• Elevated levels of nitrates and nitrites from fertilizers that leach into the groundwater;
• Fluoride levels;
• Mineral contaminants, such as iron and arsenic;
• Heavy metal contamination, including lead; and
• Water hardness.