The Importance of Water Quality Testing This Summer

Water quality testing on an annual basis or when purchasing a new home prevents unnecessary health risks to you and your family. While the United States has one of the safest and healthiest water supplies in the world, there’s still a chance of contamination. The only way to be sure of the water being delivered to your home is through water quality testing by professionals. Even if you have a water test kit, it’s not something you can figure out on your own. There are contaminants that may escape the detection of anyone who isn’t trained in what to look for and where.

Is water quality testing regulated?

Yes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates your tap water so that it is safe to drink and use. They create rules for proper water treatment and the maximum contaminant levels of different elements that can safely exist in a public water supply without posing a risk.

Companies like Inspect-It 1st utilize the rules and regulations set up by the EPA to ensure public safety. Through a combination of specialized equipment and experience, inspectors test your home’s water directly and determine if anything needs to be fixed in order to maintain a safe and sanitary water supply.

What contaminants can water quality testing detect?

There are standards and regulations for over 90 different types of water contaminants, including Salmonella, E. Coli, and disinfectant by-products. In some cases, the presence of a contaminant may make the water unsafe to drink. In other cases, only a very high level of a contaminant will cause concern.

The contaminants come from a variety of places or land conditions. Here are a few common sources for the contaminants detected by water quality testing:

• Manufacturing processes nearby can pollute the groundwater with heavy metals or cyanide.
• Sewage systems may malfunction or seep into the incoming water supply.
• Local land use practices (fertilization, pesticides, livestock) can contaminate local water sources.

Why is water quality testing so important?

While the presence of certain naturally occurring chemicals or minerals may not pose an imminent threat, other contaminants can be seriously hazardous to your family’s health. Health issues from unclean water include reproductive problems, neurological conditions, and gastrointestinal illness. Infants, pregnant women, and the elderly may have a particularly high risk for these health conditions.

If you suspect your home water to be compromised or want to ensure that the water in a new house is safe, Inspect-It 1st. Water quality testing keeps your family safe and allows your mind to be at ease in your new home! Find an inspector near you today.