Water Quality Testing | Well and City Water

What We Test For as a Standard

Bacteria- Total Coliform
Bacteria- E-coli
Nitrates + Nitrites
pH
Turbidity
Lead Total
Iron

Water Sampling Options

Standard Package Approved by VA/FHA/USDA

Water Quality Testing Package

Well Water Testing Water can be tested for just about any mineral or impurity. However, the most common sample group is called Quality Water Sampling, also sometimes referred to as “Chemical and Bacteria Testing.” Should there be a problem, water conditioning units are available for any impurity found in the water. If you have a well, most lenders require quality water sampling. It’s also a good idea to have your city water tested because it comes from the same aquifers (underground rivers).

Arsenic in Maryland Well Water:

According to the American Geological Survey? According to the EPA and the American Geological Survey, two aquifers exist in Maryland with the possibility of Elevated Arsenic Levels.

(The Aquia and Piney Point Aquifers) where many Maryland Residents get our well water in the state and the Likelihood and Location of Elevated Arsenic Levels. These two Aquifers (Underground Rivers) run under the Chesapeake Bay and affect the Eastern portion of the Western Shore and the Western Portion of the Eastern Shore of Maryland.

These areas include:

Baltimore County,
Anne Arundel County, including (Annapolis)
Calvert County
Queen Anne County
Talbot County
Kent County

What are the symptoms arsenic poisoning of well water?

Short Term Exposure:

Short term exposure to very high levels of Arsenic may cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, weakness, nerve damage or even death.

Long Term Exposure:

Chronic Exposure of Elevated Levels of Arsenic over Long Periods of Time can lead to a variety of health problems, including skin, lung, bladder and kidney cancer and skin discoloration and thickening.

This is just one of the reasons you should trust Dynamic Home Inspections to test your water and ensure the health and safety of you and your family.

What can be done to make your drinking water safe?

Whole-house treatment for arsenic is not generally necessary because arsenic is not readily absorbed through the skin. However, POE. or Reverse Osmosis systems may be the desired option if other contaminants of concern are present. Recommended if your treated water interacts negatively with lead or copper plumbing.

How to treat Elevated Arsenic Levels in Water

All the Information Needed on the EPA Website Below:

https://www.epa.gov/dwreginfo/chemical-contaminant-rules

VA/FHA/USDA Package

This Package Tests for the Essentials that are Required for the Above Lenders:

We Always use a Trusted/Accredited Laboratory

Bacteria- Total Coliform
Bacteria- E-coli
Nitrates + Nitrites
pH
Turbidity
Lead Total
Iron

(Explanation of the above testing is below)

Turnaround Time: ‍2-3 Business Days

Other Impurities

Sampling Collection Fee*

Outside our core service areas: An Additional Sample Charge of $50 Applies. The Below Counties Apply – Calvert, Charles, Kent, Queen Anne’s & St. Mary’s Counties

*This fee is assessed in addition to the testing charges outlined below:

Lead

Required by most VA/FHA/ USDA underwriters. Caused by corrosion of household plumbing systems or hardware and erosion of natural deposits. This can lead to slowed mental development and kidney problems. Lead Instructions will need to be followed as described below.

Most homes in the United States have enough lead in the plumbing distribution system or plumbing fixtures to cause health problems under certain conditions. It is recommended to test your home every three years for lead. The home should be tested more frequently if there is a history of lead problems in the water. Depending on where your home is located, the source may be from the public water main lines, the supply line from the street to your home or if you have copper piping lead was used until recently in water distribution lines. Your chance of having elevated levels of lead in your home increases if the pH is below 6.0-neutral. Below 6.0 pH is considered acidic and can extract the lead from the solder used in the homes pipe fittings.

Lead Instructions

If the house is vacant, we suggest running the cold water from the kitchen faucet for one hour the day before the sampling. If the home is occupied, this is not necessary. However, the homeowners should put a towel over their kitchen sink the evening before sampling and should not run any water from the sink until the sampling is taken. We must be the first to run water from the kitchen sink on the day of our sampling.

PLEASE NOTE: If the lead instructions are not followed, a collection fee of $150. will be assessed if a return trip is needed to collect the lead sample accurately.

Please Call and Ask for Pricing on the Special Tests Below*

Turnaround Time:
2-3 Business Days

Iron

Iron is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in groundwater anywhere. It can cause a reddish-orange stain (rusty), as well as an off taste and odor.

Turnaround Time:
2 Business Days

Gross Alpha (Measures Radon In The Water)

Gross Alpha measures radioactive activity caused by alpha-emitting radionuclides such as Radium and Uranium. Radionuclides are typically naturally occurring. Groundwater studies conducted in some areas have identified areas that have increased the risk of Radium in the groundwater. Based on the results of a gross alpha test, it may be necessary to conduct an additional test to identify specific radionuclides. Radionuclides are known to cause certain types of cancer.

Turnaround Time:
‍6 Business Days

Radium 226/228 (Measures Radioactivity In Water)

(Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Increased risk of cancer. Recommended if Gross Alpha results are 5-15 pCi/l

Turnaround Time:
‍6 Business Days‍

Arsenic (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Arsenic is a naturally occurring element sometimes found in groundwater. It can also get into groundwater through some form of agricultural pollution. Groundwater studies conducted in some areas have identified areas that have increased the risk of Arsenic in the groundwater. Arsenic is a cancer-causing substance. According to the EPA, it is also known to cause skin and circulatory damage.

Turnaround Time:
‍3 Business Days

Cadmium (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Resulting from pipes and industrial waste. When consumed can lead to possible kidney damage. Cadmium testing is required to obtain a Certificate of Potability (Quality) in certain areas of Anne Arundel County when the pH is below 6.0.

Turnaround Time:
‍7 Business Days

Chlorides (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Chlorides can enter the groundwater on properties near bodies of brackish or saltwater. They have also been found at high levels when roads are over-salted in winter. Chlorides are corrosive and can cause damage to the plumbing distribution system and fixtures.

Turnaround Time:
‍2-3 Business Days

Hardness

Hard water is caused by high mineral content, primarily calcium and magnesium. Water with elevated hardness can cause soap scum building, form deposits that cause plumbing problems, and scale on glassware and appliances.

Turnaround Time:
‍3 Business Days

VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

This is a group of volatile, carbon-based compounds found in various types of commercial and fuel-based waste. This test is recommended when there is a concern about any industrial, commercial, fuel-based, or any other man-made chemical waste. It is strongly recommended to have this sample collected by an experienced sampler.

Turnaround Time:
‍7 Business Days

Radon in the Water (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Radon is a naturally occurring element that is commonly found in groundwater. It differs from other radionuclides in that it is typically gaseous in its natural state. It becomes a concern when aerosolized through steam in home (cooking, bathing, etc.) It can contribute to overall radon air levels caused by radon gas seeping through the foundation. The EPA has determined that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.

Turnaround Time:
‍7 Business Days

Fluoride (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Fluoride can be found naturally occurring in the groundwater. Often fluoride is added to public water supplies to help strengthen teeth. At elevated levels, fluoride can cause bone disease. It is strongly recommended to have your well water tested for fluoride before taking fluoride supplements. There may be adequate fluoride in your water supply, and too much can be harmful.

Turnaround Time:
‍10 Business Days

Copper (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Copper is typically introduced into the water through copper piping and components in the plumbing system. Bluish stains are indicators of elevated copper levels. Corrosivity in the water contributes to copper leaching from the plumbing. The EPA has determined that high levels of copper consumption can lead to gastrointestinal distress, liver damage, kidney damage, and other health problems.

Turnaround Time:
‍4 Business Days

Nitrates

Homes that are serviced by private wells are typically located close to land that is farmed or serviced by septic systems. Nitrates are a byproduct of farm fertilizers and sewage from septic tanks. Test if your well has never been tested for nitrates or if previous tests yielded a result close to 10 mg/L (ppm). Nitrates are a serious health concern for young children and pregnant women.

Turnaround Time:
‍2 Business Days

Nitrites

Turnaround Time:
‍2 Business Days

Turbidity

Turbidity is the measurement of the relative clarity of the water. Well water with high turbidity indicates that the well is prone to surface water contamination or high levels of minerals.

Turnaround Time:
‍1 Business Day

PFO/PFOA (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

PFOS and PFOAs are a group of man-made chemicals that do not break down easily and can accumulate in the environment and the human body over time. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the potential for health effects from PFAS in humans is not well understood. However, animal studies have found that exposure to PFAS at high levels resulted in changes in hormone levels and the function of the liver, thyroid, and pancreas.

Turnaround Time:
‍15 Business Day

In many areas, groundwater tends to be acidic or has a low pH. Acidic water can shorten the lifetime of plumbing components such as hot water heaters and fixtures. Low pH can be corrected with proper water conditioning.

Manganese (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in groundwater anywhere. It can cause brown stains, as well as an off taste and odor.

Sulfate (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Sulfate is a naturally occurring element that can cause a bitter taste when found in water. At high levels, it can cause corrosion in the plumbing system.

Phase 2 & 5 Contaminant Metals (Specialty Testing Upon Request)

Cadmium, Chromium, Mercury, Selenium, Barium, Antimony, Beryllium, Nickel, and Thallium are listed as primary health concerns under the EPA’s Chemical Contaminant Rule. These metals can be found naturally in the ground or introduced by industrial processes. The EPA requires public water systems with groundwater sources to test for these contaminants at least once every three years.

Please call us to learn about additional impurities we can test for.

Call Us At 410-989-8377!

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