Water Testing Guide

Should I Test my Water?
Yes - It is important to know your water's composition because certain contaminants are harmful to your health or can damage your home. For example, naturally occurring arsenic, uranium, and radon are toxic to humans. Runoff from farmland or industrial areas can contaminate aquifers with harmful nitrates and chemicals. Naturally occurring hard water will form scale on your pipes and the heating element of your hot water heater causing it to operate less efficiently and increase your heating costs. Other nuisance contaminants can discolor fixtures, glass - even skin and hair.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has rules that protect public drinking water systems, but they do not apply to privately owned wells. While most states have rules which do apply to private wells, they may not completely protect your private well, and these rules vary from state to state. In other words, if you own private property with a well, then it is up to you to make sure that your well water is safe to drink.

How do I determine if my well water is contaminated?
The only way to find out if your well water is contaminated is to perform a water test and have it analyzed.

How often do I need Well Water Testing?
Some states require well drillers to test a new well after it is constructed. Thereafter the property owner is then responsible for ongoing testing and maintenance. The EPA recommends you test well water once per year for microorganisms and once every two to three years for harmful chemicals and elemental contaminants. Also, be sure to test your well water if there has been flooding, earthquakes or other land disturbances in your area, if there are known problems with well water in your area, or if you have replaced or repaired any part of your well water system.

Do I need to have my Municipal (City) Water Tested?
Municipal drinking water suppliers are required by federal law to test the water regularly and to publish the test results. A visit to the EPA website will list your specific municipal water provider's drinking water test results. However if you suspect your water has fallen below federal guidelines, or if you have a good reason to believe that something on your property or in your pipes is fouling the water, then it is a good idea to test your water.

Drinking Water Testing – What do I do?
There are many home water quality tests available, but the most reliable, thorough and safe way to test your water is to have a certified laboratory analyze a sample of your water. Please see our Water Testing page to view our selection of home water sampling test kits. Within 10 business days, you can have a thorough understanding of exactly what is in your water.

Conclusion
Testing your drinking water is the smart course of action to protect both your health and your property value, as certain contaminants can harm one or both. You can find accurate, fast and reliable water test kits here at Advanced Water Filters. Please feel free to call with any questions, or click here for more information on Well Water Testing.

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