Call Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young today to schedule your Asheville home water testing.
Clean, safe drinking water is a modern convenience many of us take for granted. Grab a glass, turn on the tap – what could be easier? If only it were that simple! Too bad it’s not.
What do you know about the quality and safety of the water coming from your tap? Drinking water quality varies considerably here in Western North Carolina. Many factors can affect local drinking water. Do you rely on a private well, or do you live within the service area of a municipal water supply? Either way, there’s no guarantee your water is clean and safe. The only way to tell is by having your Asheville home water testing by professionals.
What affects your home water quality?
Industrial waste can affect your water quality.
If you rely on a private well, several factors can affect your water quality. Here are just a few:
• Depth of the well: The deeper the well, generally the fewer the contaminants. The key word here is “generally.” Having a deep well does not guarantee clean water.
• Proximity to industrial waste: Is your home located near a manufacturing plant that could be leaking hazardous substances into the groundwater? A controversial example of this is the CTS plant near Mills River, which leaked toxic chemicals into the ground, affecting nearby water safety. If you live near an industrial manufacturing facility, it is in your own best interest to have your water tested by professionals.
• Nearby farms and commercial agriculture: Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers can leach past the soil and into the groundwater. Even distant farms can be affecting the quality of water that flows though underground aquifers.
• Lead pipes: In our area, only Waynesville and Maggie Valley state that there are no lead pipes in their municipal water systems. Asheville water officials admit to the existence of lead pipes in their system, but claim to not know the exact number. Lead pipes are responsible for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Since lead is a powerful nervous system toxin, it pays to have your water tested to ensure that levels are within acceptable guidelines.
Another source of water contamination is disease-causing bacteria. These can lead to temporary illnesses, such as vomiting and diarrhea. Municipal systems treat their water with chlorine to kill these pathogens, but if you’re on a well, you have no such protection.
Disease-causing bacteria in water?
What contaminants are found in local well water? Click here to see a listing by county in North Carolina. Remember, these figures are only guidelines. You could be in a “safe” zone, but still have contaminated water flowing from your tap. Only testing can tell you for sure.
What should a home water quality test include? Minerals and chemicals may be lurking in your water, depending upon your region and local land use. Some wells in the area have been shown to contain higher than normal levels of lead, iron, arsenic, manganese, acidic pH, and harmful bacteria.
If you are pregnant, nursing, or have an infant at home, you should test your water for nitrates. If nitrates are present, do not drink the water or use it to prepare baby formula. Please note:Boiling water does not remove nitrates.
How often should water be tested?
Asheville home water testing isn’t something to do once and forget about. Changing conditions in your area can affect groundwater contamination. Click here for a general guideline of how often to test your water for certain types of contaminants. Note that the recommended test for coliform fecal bacteria is annually, but other tests are every three years or every five years.
If you do discover less than desirable contaminant levels in your well water, here’s a guide to finding the right treatment system.
So is Asheville home water testing really necessary? The answer in a word is YES!
How to get your Asheville home water testing
Asheville home inspector Peter Young can arrange a home water quality test and make recommendations in the event you find your results less than satisfactory. Contact Peter Young Home Inspections today to arrange your water test. Do it for your own peace of mind.
