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H ome Testing

Should I Have My Water Tested? Public Water Systems

The answer to this question depends on several factors. It When you turn on the tap, where does the water come concerns your health and the health of your family, so you from? If you pay a water bill, you are purchasing water need to know some basic facts. from a , where your water is monitored, In addition to illness, a variety tested and the results reported to the of less serious problems federal, state or tribal drinking water such as taste, color, odor and agencies responsible for making sure it staining of clothes or fi xtures meets the National Primary Drinking are signs of possible water Water Standards. Your water company quality problems. Other must notify you when contaminants things to think about include are in the water they provide that may the nearness of your water cause illness or other problems. to septic systems and the composition of your home’s Most people in the materials. receive water from a community water This fact sheet provides system that provides its customers with information to help you decide whether or not to have your an annual report, also known as a Consumer water tested, and if so, suggested tests for your situation. Confi dence Report. Normally, you will receive it with your water bill once a year in July. The report contains information on contaminants found, possible health effects, Regardless of your water source, here are two and the water’s source. If you do not receive a report, situations that may require testing: contact your water company for this information. Do you suspect lead may be in some of your household plumbing materials and water service lines? Private Water Supplies

Most water systems test for lead as a regular part of If your drinking water does not come from a public water water monitoring. These tests give a system-wide picture, but do not refl ect conditions at a specifi c system, or you get your drinking water from a household household faucet. well, you alone If you want to know if your home’s drinking water contains unsafe levels of lead, have your water tested. are responsible Testing is the only way to confi rm if lead is present or for assuring absent. that it is safe. Some faucet and pitcher fi lters can remove lead from drinking water. If you use a fi lter to remove lead, be sure you get one that is certifi ed to remove lead by NSF For this reason, International. routine testing For more information, visit www.epa.gov/safewater/ lead, or call the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at for a few of the 1-800-426-4791. most common Are you considering a home unit? contaminants is highly recommended. Even if you currently have a safe, Find out what is in your water and what you might want to remove before contacting potential dealers. Be informed pure , regular testing can be valuable because so you can make the right decisions. To help you, please it establishes a record of water quality. This record is visit: www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/faq.html#hwtu and www.epa.gov/safewater/wot. helpful in solving any future problems and in obtaining compensation if someone damages your water supply. The following items will help you determine when to test Collecting Samples your private drinking water supply. Most testing laboratories or services supply their own How frequently should I test? sample containers. Use the containers provided and Test water every year for total coliform , carefully follow the instructions given for collecting, nitrates, and pH levels, preserving and handling water samples. Samples for especially if you have a new well, or have replaced testing must be collected using sterile or repaired pipes, pumps or the well casing. containers and under sterile conditions. Some procedures require that water runs from an outside tap for several Do you expect to have a new baby in the minutes before fi lling the sample containers. Laboratories household? may sometimes send a trained technician to collect the Test for nitrate in the early months of a pregnancy, sample or to analyze the sample directly in your home. before bringing an infant home, and again during Ask if this service is available, since you may obtain better the fi rst six months of the baby’s . It is best samples and more reliable test results. to test for nitrate during the or summer following a rainy period. WHEN TO TEST YOUR WATER Conditions or nearby activities Recommended Test Do you have taste, odor and staining issues? Recurrent gastro-intestinal illness Coliform bacteria Test for sulfate, chloride, iron, , hardness and corrosion, and every three years. If Household plumbing pH, lead, copper contains lead you suspect other contaminants, test for these also. Radon in indoor air or region is Radon Have you had a chemical or fuel spill or leak radon rich near your water supply? Scaly residues, soaps don’t lather Hardness

Test your well for chemical contaminants, such Water softener needed to treat Manganese, iron as volatile organic compounds. Tests can be hardness

expensive; limit them to possible problems specifi c Stained plumbing fi xtures, iron, copper, manganese to your situation. Local laundry

experts can tell you about Objectionable taste or smell Hydrogen sulfi de, possible impurities in your corrosion, metals

area. Water appears cloudy, frothy or Color, detergents colored Is someone in your Corrosion of pipes, plumbing Corrosion, pH, lead household pregnant or nursing an infant? Rapid wear of water treatment pH, corrosion equipment Are there unexplained illnesses in your family? Nearby areas of intensive Nitrate, pesticides, coliform agriculture bacteria Do you notice a change in water taste, odor, color or Coal or other operation Metals, pH, corrosion nearby clarity? You may need to test more than once a year. Gas drilling operation nearby Chloride, , barium, strontium

Do you know who can test your water? Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and Volatile organic near gas station or buried fuel compounds (VOC) Often county health departments will help you tanks test for bacteria or nitrates. If not, you can have Dump, junkyard, landfi ll, factory VOC, Total disolved solids your water tested by a state certifi ed laboratory. or dry-cleaning operation nearby (TDS), pH, sulfate, chloride, You can fi nd one in your area by calling the metals

Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791 or Salty taste and , or a Chloride, TDS, sodium visiting www.epa.gov/safewater/labs. heavily salted roadway nearby

Offi ce of Water (4606) www.epa.gov/safewater EPA 816-F-05-013 May 2005