The Green Valley Group provides Water Quality Testing. There are three main reasons for testing your water; to ensure safety, document water quality, and reduce the cost of water treatment. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as an individual water system owner, it is up to you to make sure that your water is safe to drink.
Water Quality Testing
Water Quality Testing Services
The Green Valley Group will collect a sample from your home in accordance with proper testing procedures, and deliver them to our preferred lab for interpretation. Results are provided in report format and usually available within 2-5 business days depending on the type of tests ordered.
What are the Potential Safety Factors?
A change in the taste, odor, or clarity of your water may indicate that your water is no longer safe to drink. According to the EPA, when replacing your pump or drilling a new well, it is advisable to test for water quality. If an infant or elderly person will be joining your household, testing to ensure their safety may be in order. The EPA’s rules that protect public drinking water systems do not apply to individual water systems, such as privately owned wells.
Why is Documentation Important?
According to Brandywine Science Center, many homeowners have had their water supply suddenly become unusable. Reasons could include the following: spilling or misapplication of chemicals or fuels; leaking underground tanks; farm runoff; overloaded septic systems; or nearby well drilling, to name a few. Without proof of water quality prior to the incident, homeowners may be unable to receive reimbursement for the cost of restoring safe water. Periodic analyses of the water supply may provide the evidence needed.
What Should I Test for?
There are several water quality indicators (WQIs) and contaminants that should be tested for in your well water. A WQI test is a test that measures the presence and amount of certain germs in water. In most cases, the presence of WQIs is not the cause of sickness; however, they are easy to test for and their presence may indicate the presence of sewage and other disease-causing germs from human and/or animal feces. Other recommended tests include: total coliform bacteria, lead, nitrates, VOCs, Langelier saturation index, sodium and the presence of iron and/or manganese. The presence of each of these germs and/or chemicals has varying health/environmental effects related to long term exposure.
The EPA recommends considering testing your well for pesticides, organic chemicals, and heavy metals before you use it for the first time and testing private water supplies annually for nitrate and coliform bacteria to detect contamination problems early.