ENVIRONMENTAL FACT SHEET

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NHDES Technical Bulletin                   WD-WSEB-2-3

Suggested Water Quality Testing
For Private Wells

The purpose of this document is to identify those health related contaminants that are frequently found in drinking water samples from New Hampshire wells. These contaminants are related to New Hampshire's geology and general land use characteristics.

STATE, TOWN AND LENDER REQUIREMENTS

There is no state mandate for testing the water quality of private wells; accordingly, the information in this document is offered only for educational purposes. State Law (RSA 477:4-c) however, requires that if a water test has been performed, the results must be made known to a future buyer of that real estate.

Since there are no state water quality requirements, a few towns, primarily in southern New Hampshire, have identified a required or recommended roster of contaminants that must be tested for in samples from private wells. This testing is typically associated with a "certificate of occupancy" permit (CO). Please check with your town to see if water quality testing of private wells is required. The Veterans Administration (VA), Farmers Home Administration (FmHA) and many banks require some water quality testing when writing a mortgage however their requirements are not consistent and generally there has been more emphasis on factors that pertain to aesthetics rather than those related to health.

SUGGESTED ROSTER OF CONTAMINANTS TO TEST FOR

The roster below has been prepared after a review of the extensive records of DES's public water supply program. Although more test parameters could be selected, this list provides a reasonable balance between the high cost of extensive testing and the relatively low cost for testing only those contaminants that are commonly found in New Hampshire. The typical cost of an extensive water quality test, similar to that required of a municipal public water system, at a commercial laboratory, would be over $1,000.

If contaminant(s) are found, please ask for the DES Fact Sheet(s) for that contaminant and Fact Sheet WD-WSEB-2-1 concerning considerations when purchasing water treatment equipment.

The list of recommended testing has been coded for both bedrock wells (a.k.a. drilled or artesian) and dug wells (those excavated into sand and gravel). The contaminants of arsenic, radon and total screen alpha typically are only seen at elevated levels in bedrock wells and thus are not specifically suggested for sand and gravel type wells.

Other parameters:

  1. ORGANICS TESTING

    Laboratory testing for contaminants in the "Organics" group is very expensive. In general, DES does not believe that testing for organics is necessary unless an individual site review of the area near and uphill of your well identifies past or present land use that would make such contamination possible. Examples of some but not necessarily all activities include: farming, landfills, and heavy industry.

    Some factors important in judging whether organics testing may be necessary include:

  2. LEAD COPPER TESTING

    If your water is corrosive, lead and/or copper can leach from metal plumbing, pumps and fixtures in your home. If there is little flow, lead and copper will accumulate in the water that touches these components. There is no appreciable lead or copper in NH's aquifers or its bedrock geology.

    These tests under non flushed conditions should be processed if greenish blue staining is seen on water use fixtures or where the water's pH is less than 6.8.

    The sampling protocol for collecting lead/copper test is significantly different from the protocol used to collect the "Standard Analysis" and thus separate sample bottles and collection procedures are necessary. Cost for testing "flushed" and "non-flushed" samples for lead or copper is $10 per element per test.

  3. TOTAL BETA SCREEN TESTING

    Beta producing radionuclides are believed to be low in New Hampshire however, the DES data base is small. Consider testing if other mineral radionuclides are elevated. Laboratory options include State of Maine's Environmental Laboratory, 1-207-287-2070.

DES LABORATORY FEE SCHEDULE:
The fee schedule for water testing performed by the DES laboratory is shown below:

Test Name
Cost
Standard Analysis
$75.00
Arsenic
10.00
Gross (screen) alpha
50.00
Gross (screen) beta
(Testing Not available thru DES Lab)
Radon
20.00
Volatile Oranics
(Including solvents, hydrocarbons & trilomenthanes)
160.00
Pesticides & Herbicides
450.00 (limited availability of this test)

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information please call the DES's Water Supply Engineering Bureau at 271-3139. We would appreciate your comments concerning this fact sheet.