Water Quality Testing

Ensure You Get the Water Test That’s Right for You

Harmony Home Inspection of MA is no longer offering water quality sampling and subcontractor analysis services. However, as a courtesy to you, we are providing you with some useful information on the general kinds of water quality tests to consider. The information will help you decide which kind of test is most appropriate for the type of well you have, the geology of your property, and your surrounding neighborhood.

These test descriptions are generic in nature and may not necessarily reflect the specific name and/or the bundled qualitative services offered by a specific laboratory.  You also should consult with your local health department before you decide which test is most appropriate.

Standard Scan

This 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 scan was sufficient in the old days when there were very few problems with groundwater pollution. Nowadays it should only be used in very remote areas where there are no documented problems with industrial pollutants and radon gas.

Our owner’s professional opinion as an environmental scientist is that this scan 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

This 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.

This scan 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 we recommend for determining general water quality in today’s world

PFAS (Polyflourinated Alkyl Substances) 

This is a relatively new group of water contaminants, known as the “forever chemicals”. They are associated with the manufacturer and use of water repellants and fire retardants and represent a very wide class of compounds. They don’t break down in the environment and are being found in many and varied places in public and private water supplies. The health effects are not well documented at this time but they may indeed pose a significant health risk. I strongly recommend testing for this relatively new parameter and it is showing up in private and municipal water supplies alike.

Health Scan

This 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 if 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 as 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

This 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.

The test includes everything in the Comprehensive Scan and adds 17 pesticides to the analysis.

We 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

This 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.

The test includes everything in the Health Scan and adds 17 pesticides to the analysis.

We 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

This very inclusive test targets 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.

Consider this test if you’re concerned about industrial / agricultural pollution from either a nearby industry, a landfill, or a dump. Unauthorized dumping anytime in the past can pollute your water.

Advanced Environmental Health Scan

This test targets 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, a landfill, or a dump. Unauthorized dumping anytime in the past can pollute your water.