Lead in Water
In 1986, Congress passed a law that banned the use of lead in making pipes or solder used in any plumbing materials. At that time, however, the definition of “lead-free” meant that pipes could still contain 8% lead. Two more laws passed in 1996 and 2011 refined the terms of this law to drop this limit from 8% to 0.2% for any plumbing materials providing water for human consumption.
Homes built before 1986 with original plumbing fixtures are likely to still have lead in their plumbing fixtures.
Standard Test
Bacteria:
Total Coliform, Fecal E. coli, and Total Bacteria Count
Metals and Minerals:
Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Boron, Cadmium, Calcium, Cerium, Chromium (Total), Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lead, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Phosphorous, Potassium, Selenium, Silver, Sodium, Strontium, Thallium, Tin, Titanium, Uranium, Vanadium, and Zinc
Anions:
Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate (as N), Nitrite and Sulfate
Attributes:
Alkalinity (as CaCO3), Ammonia, Color, Conductivity, Hardness, Odor, pH, Sediment, Silica, Tannins, Total Dissolved Solids and Turbidity
Radioactive Chemical Element:
Radon
Comprehensive Test
Bacteria:
Total Coliform, Fecal E. coli, and Total Bacteria Count
Metals and Minerals:
Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Boron, Cadmium, Calcium, Cerium, Chromium (Total), Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lead, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Phosphorous, Potassium, Selenium, Silver, Sodium, Strontium, Thallium, Tin, Titanium, Uranium, Vanadium, and Zinc
Anions:
Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate (as N), Nitrite, and Sulfate
Attributes:
Alkalinity (as CaCO3), Ammonia, Color, Conductivity, Hardness, Odor, pH, Sediment, Silica, Tannins, Total Dissolved Solids, and Turbidity
Radioactive Chemical Element:
Radon
Industrial & Cancer-causing Chemicals:
Benzene, Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Bromoform, Bromomethane, n-Butylbenzene, sec-Butylbenzene, tert-Butylbenzene, Carbon-Tetrachloride, Dibromochloromethane, Chloroethane, Chloroform, Chloromethane, 1,2-Chlorotoluene, 1,4-Chlorotoluene, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane, Dibromomethane, 1,2-Dibromoethane, 1,3-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichlorobenzene, 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, Dichlorodifluoromethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethene, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,3-Dichloropropene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Ethylbenzene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Hexachlorobutadiene, Isopropyl benzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, Methyl-t-Butyl Ether (MTBE), Methylene Chloride, Monochlorobenzene, Naphthalene, n-Propylbenzene, Styrene, 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, Tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Trichloroethylene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, Vinyl Chloride, o-Xylene, m+p Xylenes
Ultimate Test
Bacteria:
Total Coliform, Fecal E. coli, Total Bacteria Count, and Fungi Count
Metals and Minerals:
Aluminum, Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Boron, Cadmium, Calcium, Cerium, Chromium (Total), Cobalt, Copper, Iron, Lead, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Phosphorous, Potassium, Selenium, Silver, Sodium, Strontium, Thallium, Tin, Titanium, Uranium, Vanadium, and Zinc
Anions:
Chloride, Fluoride, Nitrate (as N), Nitrite, and Sulfate
Attributes:
Alkalinity (as CaCO3), Ammonia, Color, Conductivity, Hardness, Odor, pH, Sediment, Silica, Tannins, Total Dissolved Solids and Turbidity
Radioactive Chemical Element:
Radon
Industrial & Cancer-causing Chemicals:
Benzene, Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromodichloromethane, Bromoform, Bromomethane, n-Butylbenzene, sec-Butylbenzene, tert-Butylbenzene, Carbon-Tetrachloride, Dibromochloromethane, Chloroethane, Chloroform, Chloromethane, 1,2-Chlorotoluene, 1,4-Chlorotoluene, 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane, Dibromomethane, 1,2-Dibromoethane, 1,3-Dichlorobenzene, 1,2-Dichlorobenzene, 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, Dichlorodifluoromethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,2-Dichloroethene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethene, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,3-Dichloropropene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Ethylbenzene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Hexachlorobutadiene, Isopropyl benzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, Methyl-t-Butyl Ether (MTBE), Methylene Chloride, Monochlorobenzene, Naphthalene, n-Propylbenzene, Styrene, 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, Tetrachloroethylene, Toluene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, Trichloroethylene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, Vinyl Chloride, o-Xylene, m+p Xylenes
Semi-volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs):
Acenaphthylene, Acenapthene, Alachlor, Aldrin., Ametryn, Anthracene, Atraton, Atrazine, Benz (A) Anthracene, Benzo (B) Fluoranthene, Benzo (K) Fluoranthene, Benzo (A) Pyrene, Benzo (G,H,I,) Perylene, Bromacil, Butachlor, Butylate, Butyl Benzyl Phthalate, Carboxin, Alpha Chlordane, Gamma Chlordane, Trans Nonachlor, Chlorneb, Chlorobenzilate, Chlorpropam, Chlorothalonil, Chloropyrifos, 2-Chlorobiphenyl, Chrysene, Cyanazine, Cycloate, DCPA, DDD, 4,4'-, DDE, 4,4'-, DDT, 4,4'-, Diazinon, Dibenz (A,H) Anthracene, Di-N-Butyl Phthalate, 2,3-Dichlorobiphenyl, Dichlorvos, Dieldrin., Diethyl Phthalate, Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Adipate, Di (2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate, Dimethyl Phthalate, 2,4-Dinitrotoluene, 2,6-Dinitrotoluene, Diphenamid, Disulfoton, Endosulfan I, Endosulfan II, Endosulfan Sulfate, Endrin., Endrin Aldehyde, EPTC, Ethoprpo, Etridiazole, Fenamiphos, Fenarimol, Fluorene, Fluridone, Heptachlor., Heptachlor Epoxide, 2,2',3,3',4,4'6-HeptachloroBiphenyl, Hexachlorobenzene, 2,2',4,4',5,6'-HexachloroBiphenyl, Alpha Hexachlorocyclohexane, Beta Hexachlorocyclohexane, Delta Hexachlorocyclohexane, Hexachlorocyclohexane, Hexazinone, Indeno (1,2,3-CD) Pyrene, Isophorone, Lindane, Merphos, Methoxychlor., Methyl Paraoxon, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Mevinphos, MGK 264, Molinate, Napropamide, Napthalene., Norflurazon, 2,2',3,3',4,5',6,6'-OctachloroBiphenyl, Pebulate, 2,2',3',4,6-Pentachlorobiphenyl, Pentachlorophenol, Phenanthrene, Permethrin, Cis, Permethrin, Trans, Prometron, Prometryn, Pronamide, Propachlor, Propazine, Pyrene, Simazine, Simetryn, Stifros, Terbuthiuron, Terbacil, Terbufos, Terbutryn, 2,2',4,4'-Tetrachlorobiphenyl, Triademefon, 2,4,5-Trichlorobiphenyl, Tricyclazole, Trifluralin, Vernolate, PCB Screen, Toxaphene Screen, Technical Chloradane
Herbicides and Pesticides:
2,4-D, 2,4,5-TP, 2,4,5-T, Aldrin, A-BHC, B-BHC, C-BHC, D-BHC, Chlordane, 4,4'-DDD, 4,4'-DDE, 4,4'-DDT, Dieldrin, Endosulfan I, Endosulfan II, Endosulfan Sulfate, Endrin, Endrin Aldehyde, Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Methoxychlor, Toxaphene
Examples of Contaminants:
Nitrate is naturally found in many types of food. However, high levels of nitrate in drinking water can make people sick. Nitrate in your well water can come from animal waste, private septic systems, wastewater, flooded sewers, polluted stormwater runoff, fertilizers, agricultural runoff, and decaying plants. The presence of nitrate in well water also depends on the geology of the land around your well. A nitrate test is recommended for all wells. If the nitrate level in your water is higher than the EPA standards, you should look for other sources of water or ways to treat your water.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)VOCs are industrial and fuel-related chemicals that may cause bad health effects at certain levels. Which VOCs to test for depends on where you live. Contact your local health or environmental department, or the EPA to find out if any VOCs are a problem in your region. Some VOCs to ask about testing for are benzene, carbon tetrachloride, toluene, trichloroethylene, and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE).
Other germs or harmful chemicals that you should test for will depend on where your well is located on your property, which State you live in, and whether you live in an urban or rural area. These tests could include testing for lead, arsenic, mercury, radium, atrazine, and other pesticides. You should check with your local health or environmental department, or the EPA to find out if any of these contaminants are a problem in your region.
Please remember that if your test results say that there are germs or chemicals in your water, you should contact your local health or environmental department for guidance in interpreting the test.
Pacific Northwest Inspections Group performs Private water well testing as well as public Commercial and Residential water sampling.
Call us Today for Water Testing! 425.608.9553