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Water
Testing
Bellis Property Inspections offers a varity of water testing that will fit your needs.
Know your Water!
The United States enjoys one of the world's most reliable and safest supplies of drinking water. Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 to protect public health, including by regulating public water systems.
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires EPA to establish and enforce standards that public drinking water systems must follow. EPA delegates primary enforcement responsibility (also called primacy) for public water systems to states and Indian Tribes if they meet certain requirements.
Private Drinking Water Wells
It is estimated that more than 13 million households rely on private wells for drinking water in the United States (US Census American Housing Survey 2015). EPA does not regulate private wells nor does it provide recommended criteria or standards for individual wells
Potential Sources
Private wells can be contaminated by both naturally occurring sources and by human activities. The following are commonly found contaminants, their sources, and their possible human health impacts
Microorganisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
They can be found all over the surface of our planet and are found in human sewage and animal waste. People that consume drinking water containing microorganisms can experience gastrointestinal illnesses and infections. Water run-off from rainfall or snow-melt can contaminate private wells by washing microorganisms into the well system or seeping underground. Leakage of waste from underground storage tanks and effluent from septic leach fields can reach a water source and result in microorganisms being present in water wells.
Heavy metals
These can leach into drinking water from household plumbing and service lines, mining operations, petroleum refineries, electronics manufacturers, municipal waste disposal, cement plants, and natural mineral deposits. Heavy metals include: arsenic, antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium and many more. Heavy metals can contaminate private wells through groundwater movement and surface water seepage adn run-off. People that consume high levels of heavy metals risk acute and chronic toxicity, liver, kidney, and intestinal damage, anemia, and cancer.
Nitrate and Nitrites
Present in chemical fertilizers, human sewage, and animal waste and fertilizers. They can contaminate a private well through groundwater movement and surface water seepage and water run-off. High levels of nitrate/nitrite in drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia or "blue baby syndrome". These substances reduce the blood's ability to carry oxygen. Infants below six months who drink water with high levels of nitrate can become seriously ill and die.
Organic chemicals
Found in many house-hold products and are used widely in agriculture and industry. They can be found in inks, dyes, pesticides, paints, pharmaceuticals, solvents, petroleum products, sealants, and disinfectants. Organic chemicals can enter ground water and contaminate private wells through waste disposal, spills, and surface water run-off. People that consume high levels of organic chemicals may suffer from damage to their kidneys, liver, circulatory system, nervous system, and reproductive system.
Radionuclides
These are radioactive forms of elements such as uranium and radium. They are harmful to humans and can be released into the environment from uranium mining and milling, coal mining, and nuclear power production. Radionuclides may also be naturally present in ground water in some areas. Radionuclides can contaminate private wells through groundwater flow, waste water seepage and flooding. Drinking water with radionuclides can cause toxic kidney effects and increase the risk of cancer.
Fluoride
Present in many aquifers and can be found in private wells. Fluoride can be helpful in preventing tooth decay. However, excessive consumption of fluoride can cause skeletal fluorosis, a condition characterized by pain and tenderness of bones and joints. Excess consumption of fluoride during formative period of tooth enamel may cause dental fluorosis, tooth discoloration and/or pitting of teeth.
Lead in Drinking Water
EPA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree that there is no known safe level of lead in a child's blood. Lead is harmful to health, especially for children.
Lead can enter drinking water when service pipes that contain lead corrode, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. The most common problem is with brass or chrome-plated brass faucets and fixtures with lead solder, from which significant amounts of lead can enter into the water, especially hot water.
Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) has reduced the maximum allowable lead content -- that is, content that is considered "lead-free" -- to be a weighted average of 0.25 percent calculated across the wetted surfaces of pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures and 0.2 percent for solder and flux
Learn more about lead in your drink water Click Here
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Water Testing offered
The Environmental Protection Agency recommends you test your water annually. Even if you are not experiencing any current problems routine testing establishes a history to help resolve issues you may have in the future. My basic package includes the four tests that are considered to be the minimum you want to know about your water. This test may be often required by loan companies for home purchase.
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All tests have a turn around time of 2-3 days unless noted otherwise.
Complete Test
Includes total Coliform bacteria, E.Coli bacteria, nitrates, nitrites, arsenic, lead, sodium and hardness.
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Basic Test
Includes testing for Total Coliform Bacteria, E.Coli Bacteria, Nitrates and Nitrities.
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City Water Test
Lead, Copper, Fluoride & Chlorine
VA Water Test
The majority of VA loans require these 5 tests, however verify with bank.
This test includes Total coliform Bacteria, e.Coli Bacteria, nitrates, nitrites and lead.
Lead Test
Lead in drinking water comes from corrosion of household plumbing systems and erosion of natural deposits.
Swimming Pool and Spa Test
Maintaining your swimming pool or Hot tub is essential to healthy water recreation.
This test includes total coliform bacteria, e.coli bacteria and total plate count.
Partial Chemistry Package
10-14 days turnaround.
This test package is most commonly used for compliance testing for community well systems.
This package includes Chloride, Fluoride, Hardness, Iron, Nitrate, Nitrites, Sodium and Sulfates.
Add Ons or Single Testing
Arsenic, Bacteria test, Cooper, Iron, Maganese, Nitrates/Nitrites