Harmony Home Inspection of Massachusetts
P.O.Box 478, Stow, MA 01775
Paul Rogoshewski - MA Home Inspectors License #243 - ASHI Member #205601

 

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Choosing a water test that's right for you!

If you are thinking of buying a house with a private water supply system, i.e., a well, water quality testing is an important component to the home inspection. It is important to choose the right test given the construction of the well itself and any known environmental influences or pre-sale conditions that could affect the quality of your water. I've presented a table below that will help you decipher the complexities of choosing an appropriate water testing program. The table below is intended to give you an approximate idea of what you should consider. It is recommended that you also consult with the local health department or a qualified environmental scientist on what test is right for you. Please note that the test descriptions are specific to the water testing laboratory that I use. They are not general standardized testing names used by every testing laboratory.

Type of Water Quality Test

Is it right for you?

Standard Scan- Test includes total coliform bacteria, fecal/e. coli, lead, sodium, potassium, copper, iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium, arsenic, ph, turbidity, color, odor, conductivity, total dissolved solids (tds), sediment, alkalinity, chlorine, chloride, hardness, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, sulfate. The standard test was sufficient in the old days when there was very little problems with ground water pollution. Nowadays it should only be used in very remote areas where there are no documented problems with industrial pollutants and radon gas. In Massachusetts and surrounding states, my professional opinion as an environmental scientist is that it should only be used to check specific parameters with respect to water treatment efficiency and not as a comprehensive indication of water quality.
Comprehensive scan- Test includes total coliform bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radon, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, chloride, chlorine, color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate, ammonia plus: fecal/e. coli, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity, arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds. Tests for 61 volatile organic compounds (including MTBE) as well as the common causes of unhealthy and low quality water. For deep wells, this is the minimum and most common testing scheme I recommend for determining general water quality in today's world.
Health Scan- Test includes total coliform bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radon, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, chloride, chlorine, color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate, ammonia plus: fecal/e. coli, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity, arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds. Identification of microorganisms to the genus and species level. This test is the above comprehensive scan plus additional analyses for microorganisms other than coliform bacteria. Choose this test of you have an inland shallow or dug well, which are more susceptible to surface contamination than deep wells. Shallow wells are more susceptible to microorganisms such a giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium, which are protozoal parasites that can cause health problems. Also choose this test if there are known problems with respect to bacterial contamination or with a sulfur smell in a deep well.
Comprehensive plus Pesticides- Test includes : total coliform, fecal/e. coli, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, alkalinity, chloride, chlorine, color, conductivity, hardness, nitrate, nitrite, odor, ph, sediment, total dissolved solids, sulfate, turbidity, arsenic, lead, ammonia, radon, 61 volatile organics compounds (including mtbe) plus the following pesticides: aldrin, a-bhc, b-bhc, d-bhc, g-bhc, chlordane, 4,4'-ddd, 4,4'-dde, 4,4'-ddt, dieldrin, endosulfan i, endosulfan sulfate, endrin, endrin aldehyde, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, methoxychlor, toxaphene. Includes everything in the Comprehensive Scan and adds 17 pesticides to the analysis. I recommend this test if you have a house with an inland deep well that is located near a farm or was built on an old farm or fruit orchard. Also recommended if inappropriate use of pesticides in the surrounding neighborhood is suspected.
Health Scan plus Pesticides- Test includes total coliform bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radon, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, chloride, chlorine, color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate, ammonia plus: fecal/e. coli, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity, arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds compounds (including mtbe) plus the following pesticides: aldrin, a-bhc, b-bhc, d-bhc, g-bhc, chlordane, 4,4'-ddd, 4,4'-dde, 4,4'-ddt, dieldrin, endosulfan i, endosulfan sulfate, endrin, endrin aldehyde, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, methoxychlor, toxaphene. Identification of microorganisms to the genus and species level. Includes everything in the Health Scan and adds 17 pesticides to the analysis. I recommend this test if you have a house with a shallow or dug well that is located near a farm or was built on an old farm or orchard, or is nearby a recreational lake, and may be drawing water from the lake via underground formations.
Total Environmental Scan- Test includes: total coliform, fecal/e. coli bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radon, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, chloride, chlorine, color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate, ammonia, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity, arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds (including mtbe) as well as a standard plate count (spc), fluoride, tannins, 3 herbicides and 19 pesticides including pcb's, the heavy metals antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc, as well as total petroleum hydrocarbons (tph), methylene blue active substances (mbas), hydrogen sulfide, o-phosphorus and t-phosphorus. A very inclusive test. Consider this test if you're concerned about industrial /agricultural pollution from either a nearby industry or a landfill or dump. Unauthorized dumping anytime in the past can pollute your water.
Advanced Environmental Health Scan- Test includes: total coliform, fecal/e. coli bacteria, lead, nitrate, nitrite, radon, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, chloride, chlorine, color, hardness, ph, total dissolved solids, sulfate, ammonia, alkalinity, odor, conductivity, sediment, turbidity, arsenic and 61 volatile organic compounds (including mtbe) as well as a standard plate count (spc), fluoride, tannins, 3 herbicides and 19 pesticides including pcb's, the heavy metals antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium and zinc, as well as total petroleum hydrocarbons (tph), methylene blue active substances (mbas), hydrogen sulfide, o-phosphorus and t-phosphorus. This is one of the most thorough water quality scans available today. The scan includes a microanalysis and analysis for semi-volatile organic compounds. Consider this test if you're concerned about industrial / agricultural pollution from either a nearby industry or a landfill or dump. Unauthorized dumping anytime in the past can pollute your water.

 

 


Service Area

We perform home inspections in the following cities and towns in Middlesex, Norfolk, and Worcester Counties of Massachusetts:

Acton, Allston, Andover, Arlington, Ashland, Ashburnham, Auburn, Ayer, Bedford, Belmont, Berlin, Billerica, Bolton, Boston suburbs, Boylston, Boxboro,Boxborough, Brighton, Brookline, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Dedham, Dunstable, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Gardner, Grafton, Groton, Harvard, Holden, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Jamaica Plain, Lancaster, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Marlboro, Marlborough, Maynard, Medway, Mendon, MetroWest, Milford, Millis, Natick, Needham, Newton, Northboro, Northborough, Norwood, Pepperell, Shrewsbury, Somerville, Southboro, Stoneham, Southborough, Stow, Sudbury, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Upton, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Westboro, Westborough, Westford, West Roxbury, Weston, Westwood, Winchester, Woburn, Worcester, Leicester, Leominster, Lunenburg, Millbury, Princeton, Shirley, Sterling, West Boylston.


 

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