Well Water Testing in Connecticut

 
water well testing

According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 23% of residents in Connecticut use private wells as their primary source of drinking water. Many of which do not know when it’s appropriate to test their water well, what they should be testing for, or how to administer testing.

Our Well Water Testing Services

If you have a property or are purchasing a property that has a private well supplying water to the house, we suggest that Connecticut residents have well water testing services completed to determine the quality of the water. SIS has conducted well water testing in Connecticut for decades. Our inspectors will come to your property, draw water samples, deliver them to a qualified, approved laboratory for testing, and share the results with you in a handy report. 

How to Test Water Quality

The most common test we perform is a simple potability scan which will test for coliform bacteria, minerals, and other physical parameters to determine if the water is considered safe and acceptable to drink. It’s important to test well water in CT to detect if any harmful substances are in the water. We assess several factors when we complete our extensive Connecticut well water testing.

potable water testing

Water Quality Parameters

  • Odor: well water should be free of odor.
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = None
    • Scale: 0 (none) – 5 (strong)
    • Recommended Level < 2
  • Turbidity: measure of particles in the water, usually indicates iron.
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = None
    • Recommended <5
  • pH Level
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = None
    • A level of 7 is neutral, <7 is acidic, >7 is basic. A pH less than 6.4 is considered acidic and may be corrosive to piping.
    • Scale: 0 – 14 pH
    • Recommended 6.4 – 10 pH
  • Color
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = None
    • High color usually indicates the presence of iron.
    • Recommended <15
  • Nitrite Nitrogen
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = 1.0 mg/L
    • An intermediate breakdown product of organic matter.
  • Nitrate Nitrogen
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = 10.0 mg/L
    • The final completely oxidized stage of nitrogen. Levels above 10 are known to be harmful to infants. Pregnant/nursing mothers and parents of infants should consult with a physician.
  • Chloride
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = 250 mg/L
    • The non-metallic portion of common salt. Levels above 50mg/L may indicate undesirably high sodium levels and it also may appreciably increase corrosion rates. Levels above 250 mg/L impart a salty taste noticeable to most people.
  • Hardness
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = none
    • A measure of the total calcium and magnesium in water. Water over 100mg/L is described as hard and levels over 250 mg/L are considered very hard. The effect of hardness is to increase the amount of soap necessary to form suds with water. High levels may also increase scaling on the inside of water pipes.
  • Iron
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = none
    • Above 0.3 mg/L iron may cause staining to laundry and fixtures. Iron is naturally occurring water mineral due to the geology of the area.
  • Manganese
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = none
    • Above 0.05 mg/L manganese may cause staining to laundry and fixtures.
  • Sulfate
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = none
    • A naturally occurring substance in water. Levels above 250 mg/L may impart a bitter taste and render a laxative effect.
  • Sodium
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = none
    • A notification level of 28 mg/L has been established for people on low salt diets. High levels may increase the corrosive effect.
  • Uranium
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = 30.0 mg/L
    • Toxic, naturally-occurring metal that can have negative health effects if people are exposed to it at high levels. The toxicity of uranium metal has been linked to kidney issues.
  • Arsenic
    • Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) = 10.0 mg/L
    • A cancer-causing agent that has also been connected with an increase chance of contracting lung, bladder, and skin cancers.

  • Volatile Organic Chemical (V.O.C)

  • Lead

  • Radon

 

Contact us to ensure the water you’re using on a daily basis is safe with testing done by experienced professionals!

For more information on water testing guidelines in Connecticut, please refer to the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

Our inspector, Frank, spent all the time we needed him to take not only inspecting the house, but also introducing us to well water! I am thankful we hired them, and I think you can’t get any better. The report we received from them was very professional, and it included photos and test results. I hope not to move again soon, but if I do I will hire them again.
Victor D.