Is Your Private Water Supply Suitable for Drinking?
The AASL drinking water testing kit comes with all the necessary bottles to collect the water sample. Photo: Justin Mansberger, Penn State
When was the last time that you tested your private water supply?
August is Water Quality Month, which is a perfect time to test your well, spring, or cistern. Regular testing is an important step to ensure your private water supply meets DEP standards for various contaminants.
Seven Reasons to Test Your Drinking Water
More than one million homes in Pennsylvania are served by private water supplies (wells, springs, or cisterns). Homeowners using this type of water supply should consider having it tested for the following reasons:
- Unlike public water systems, private water supply testing is the voluntary responsibility of the homeowner. There are no government agencies or programs that routinely test private water systems for homeowners.
- Surveys indicate that about half of the private water supplies have never been tested.
- Additional studies have found that about 50 percent of private water systems fail at least one drinking water standard.
- Many pollutants found in private water systems have no obvious symptoms and can only be detected through laboratory testing.
- Water testing is generally convenient, with many testing laboratories located throughout the state.
- Water testing provides vital information to document the quality of your drinking water. Data from previous tests may be necessary if you ever need to prove in court that a nearby land use has damaged your drinking water quality.
- The only way homeowners can be certain that their water is suitable for drinking is to have the water tested periodically.
Where to Get Drinking Water Tested
It is important that all water tests be performed by a certified water testing laboratory. Be cautious of water test results from any uncertified lab or from water treatment salespeople. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has a current listing of accredited drinking water testing laboratories. You can search for environmental laboratories or find a quick reference specifically for drinking water labs on their website.
Water testing on private water supplies is also available through the Penn State Agricultural Analytical Laboratory. Drinking water test kits are now available at participating county Extension offices or directly from the Agricultural Analytical Services lab. Please reach out to your local Extension office to ensure that they have kits available before stopping in.
These drinking water kits include all the necessary equipment to collect the drinking water sample at home. Instructions are provided to assist with the collection process, but you are also encouraged to reach out to your local Extension Water Resource Educator with any questions. Samples must be shipped overnight or dropped off directly to the Agricultural Analytical Laboratory in State College.
You can view this article on "Testing Drinking Water" for more information about testing your drinking water supply.
