Water Quality Tests

As any homeowner knows and all aspiring homeowners discover, there is more to a house purchase than first meets the eye. From mold growth to dry rot, the number of liabilities you assume as owner once you sign on the dotted line is staggering. Hiring a professional home inspector prior to purchasing eliminates the potential for costly surprises later. Beyond a building's structural integrity, every home has the potential for sewage, bacteria, and chemical contaminations due to faulty plumbing and polluted water sources. Hiring a water quality testing inspector provides security of safe, clean water without the associated cost of plumbing repair or the risk of potentially hazardous drinking water.

Water contamination comes from various sources. If the home is located within a municipal water and sewage district, the chance of sewage cross-contamination would be lower. Although treated water usually contains less bacteria contamination, the presence of chemical and mineral elements is notably present because while the water may be hazard free, how safe are your pipes? Lead is still a leading contaminate in the home. Now proven highly toxic, lead is commonly found in older plumbing systems. Other common minerals found in tap drinking water include sulfates, iron, manganese, arsenic, mercury lead, and radon. Monitoring trace elements in the water supply is especially important if the house's drinking water comes from a local well where bacteria such as e coli could be present.

Water quality testing inspectors will also be able to analyze gases released through the home's pipes. Radon, which is directly linked to lung cancer, is one example of such a toxin. Since there isn't a single automated device, annual water quality inspections ensure that the water running through your house is safe. After an initial home inspection, water quality should be tested annually.

Since the state of a building's plumbing system impacts the property value and sale price, a disinterested third party should conduct the water testing quality inspection. Furthermore, a qualified inspector would be versed in permit requirements, ordinances, and federal and state regulation compliance.

Before hiring a water quality testing inspector, here is a checklist of questions to ask: 

1.  Has the inspector received accreditation from local, regional, and/or national associations? While federal regulations do not extend to testing water quality inspectors, all 50 states have real estate associations that sanction reputable inspectors.

2. Is the inspector certified? Most community colleges and vocational institutes offer accredited certification programs. 

3. How long has the inspector been in business?

4.  Does the inspector have realtor references?

Taking the time to research and hire a qualified profession means trusting your tap water later. Can anyone afford not to have a water testing quality inspection?