United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
WH-550A
EPA 570/9-91-500
June 1991
EPA Home Water Testing
For More Information
Safe Drinking Water
Hotline:
1-800-426-4791
Should You Have Your Water Tested?
The question of whether or not to have your water tested is a serious one that
concerns the health of you and your family. In addition to illness, a variety of less
serious problems such as taste, color, odor and staining of clothes or fixtures are
symptoms of water quality problems.
Not everyone needs to test their water and it is impractical and unnecessary to
test for all possible contaminants. This fact sheet provides a few guidelines for
deciding whether or not to have your water tested, and if so, what tests would be
appropriate for your situation.
Public Versus Individual Water Supplies
If you obtain drinking water from your own well, you alone are responsible for
assuring that it is safe. For this reason, routine testing for a few of the most
common contaminants is highly recommended. Even if you currently have a safe,
pure water supply, regular testing can be valuable because it establishes a record
of water quality. This record can be helpful in solving any future problems and in
obtaining compensation if someone damages your water supply.
If your water comes from a public or municipal water system, your water is
regularly tested for contaminants regulated by Federal and state standards, such
as pathogens, radioactive elements and certain toxic chemicals. However, some
municipal or rural water supply districts do not have enough money to hire
trained specialists or to immediately comply with expanding government require-
ments. In addition, bacteria may grow in your plumbing, or corrosive water or
deteriorating pipes in the house may add contaminants to municipal drinking
water after it enters your home.
Individual Water Supplies
Routine Tests. The testing frequencies in this fact sheet are general guide-
lines. Test more often if you suspect there is a problem with the quality of your
drinking water. If any tests give positive results, contact either the state health
department or call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline for more information.
• Once each year test for coliform bacteria, nitrate, pH and total dissolved solids
(TDS). It is best to test for these contaminants during the spring or summer
following a rainy period. These tests should also be conducted after repairing
or replacing an old well or pipes, and after installing a new well or pump.
• Every 3 years test for sulfate, chloride, iron, manganese, hardness and corro-
sion index.
• If your home plumbing contains lead materials, brass fittings or lead solder,
test your water as soon as possible. Congress has banned the use of lead in
new or replacement plumbing materials.
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If a new baby is expected in the household it is a good idea to test for nitrate in
the early months of a pregnancy, before bringing an infant home, and again
during the first 6 months of the baby's life.
Special Situations. Where you live, or what you are living next to, can
sometimes affect the quality of your well water. If someone in your family
becomes ill, or the taste, odor or color of your water changes, your water
supply may be contaminated. Table 1 lists other situations that deserve
attention.
When Should You Test Your Water?
Municipal water supply systems perform regular tests and will provide
water quality reports upon request. If these reports do not meet your need, or
if you have an individual supply, you should have your water tested if any of
the situations in Table 1 arise.
If you are considering buying a home treatment device for protection
against any of these contaminants, first have your water tested by an inde-
pendent certified laboratory. Also, if you are buying a home and wish to
assess the safety and quality of the existing water supply, test for coliform
bacteria, nitrate, lead, radon, iron, hardness, pH, sulfate, total dissolved
solids (TDS), corrosion index and other parameters depending on proximity
to potential sources of contamination.
How Should You Collect Test Samples?
Most testing laboratories or services supply their own sample containers.
Use the containers provided and carefully follow the instructions given for
collecting, preserving and handling water samples. Samples for coliform
bacteria testing must be collected usiag sterile containers and under sterile
conditions. Some procedures require that water runs from an inside tap for
several minutes before filling the sample containers. Laboratories may
sometimes send a trained technician to collect the sample or to analyze the
sample directly in your home. Ask if this service is available since you may
obtain better samples and therefore more reliable test results.
Keep a record of all your water test results as a reference for future test-
ing. By comparing recent test results with original results, you may discover
that a change in treatment is needed or that a treatment device is not work-
ing as it should.
Where Can You Have Your Water Tested?
• Private testing laboratories are listed in the telephone book; call the
state lab certification officer to make sure they are certified by the state
health department. The Safe Drinking Water Hotline can help you
contact the certification officer.
• County and state health laboratories, departments of health, and local
hospital and university laboratories.
• Water treatment companies and plumbing supply stores may offer certain
tests in your home for free.
• Local engineering firms.
Table 1.
When To Test Your Water
Conditions or
nearby activities
Recommended
Test
Recurrent gastro-
intestinal illness:
Household plumbing
contains lead:
Radon in indoor air or
region is radon rich
Scaly residues,
soaps don't lather
Water softener needed
to treat hardness:
Stained plumbing
fixtures, laundry:
Objectionable taste
or smell:
Water appears cloudy,
frothy or colored:
Corrosion of pipes,
plumbing
Rapid wear of water
treatment equipment
Nearby areas of
intensive agriculture:
Coal or other mining
operation nearby:
Gas drilling operation
nearby:
Odor of gasoline or fuel
oil, and near gas station
or buried fuel tanks:
Dump, junkyard,
landfill, factory or
dry-cleaning operation
nearby:
Salty taste and sea water,
or a heavily salted
roadway nearby:
coliform bacteria
pH, lead, copper.
Radon
hardness
manganese, iron
(before purchase)
iron, copper,
manganese.
hydrogen sulfide,
corrosion, metals
color, detergents
corrosion, pH, lead
pH, corrosion
nitrate, pesticides,
coliform bacteria
metals, pH,
chloride, sodium,
barium, strontium.
volatile organic
compounds
(VOC's).
VOCs, TDS,
pH, sulfate,
chloride, metals.
chloride, TDS,
sodium.
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