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What to do when the well fails a potability or bacteria test. Here we explain how to interpret and act on the results of drinking water or well water tests for various types of water contamination. Green links show where you are. © Copyright 2013 InspectAPedia.com, All Rights Reserved. Author Daniel Friedman. Common Water Contamination Tests for Bacteria Levels - Identifying Unsanitary Drinking Water
Emergency drinking water needed? Basic water purification procedures that can be used in an emergency such as after a hurricane, flood, or earthquake are described at DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY PURIFICATION and emergency sources of drinking water are described at DRINKING WATER - EMERGENCY SOURCES. If community or private wells are back in operating and providing water, do not assume that the water is sanitary and ok to drink until responsible authorities have said so. Even then, local water pipes in a building may be unsanitary and additional cleaning or disinfection may be needed. See WELL CHLORINATION SHOCKING PROCEDURE and See WATER TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT for advice on using a private well for drinking water. This document combines information from various sources including from the Dutchess County NY health department, from Smith Laboratory in Hyde Park NY (914-229-6536), water test developer/suppliers, and other independent sources. Pending review corrections by these sources, the author is responsible for the content which includes opinion and advice based on more than 40 years experience in the field. Because water quality can have major effect on personal health, home owners and home buyers, & ASHI home inspectors should consult with their local health department before performing tests or taking corrective actions regarding water quality. PA - Coliform Bacteria Test for Contamination in Water: Presence/Absence TestThis standard water test required by many banks, involves pouring use of a chemical Defined Substrate Technology (DST) reagent which produces a color change (or another signal, i.e. fluorescence), both indicating and confirming the presence of total coliform and E. Coli in a sample of drinking water. The test indicates either the presence or absence of this bacteria. This test, used by most water test companies for real estate transactions does not produce a bacteria colony count. We order this procedure, or the lab will elect this procedure when the water sample is turbid (contains sediment or other material which precludes alternative test procedures). The test is sensitive and specific for the detection of total coliform and E. coli at 1 CFU/100mL of sample in water samples with as many as 20,000 heterotrophic bacteria present per ml. This means that this test for coliform bacteria is not obscured by the presence of other bacteria in the water. P/A Test results: if the test did not find an indication of a coliform bacteria problem the result will say "Less than 1" or if the lab reports carelessly, "Zero". Accurate lab test reporting would be to say "below the limits of detection" of a given test, and then to specify the limits of detection used. The acceptable level of bacteria in water varies by jurisdiction. For example in some Canadian provinces a higher level of 10 CFU/100mL is permitted. These very slightly higher numbers are allowed because the opinion of health experts is that there is no measurable risk at those levels. See TOTAL COLIFORM TESTING for details about coliform bacteria test procedures and standards. See WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES for choices of water tests and our advice about choosing among them. M.F.T. - Coliform Bacteria Test for Contamination in Water: Membrane Filter TechniqueThis standard water "test" required by many banks, involves pouring 100 ml of water through a membrane filter. The bacteria present in the water are trapped on the surface of the filter. After an incubation period of 24 hours the coliform colonies present are counted. The count may not exceed 0 per 100 ml according to recently updated New York State Drinking Water Regulations. (MFT=Multiple tube Fermentation Test.) MFT Test results: If the lab finds apparent unacceptable results with this general test for the presence of any bacteria, the revised NY State procedure requires the lab to measure for E-coli, by performing the MPN procedure as follow up. This is because the presence of non-coliform bacteria present in the water can obscure the test and prevent counting E-coli. The NY State Sanitary Code has no standard for total bacteria count in water supply. The need to go to an MPN test often explains additional delay of up to a week beyond usual time for obtaining water test results. MPN - Coliform Bacteria Test for Contamination in Water: MPN testingThis test is used when the water cannot be filtered due to turbidity, high iron, large amounts of sediment, or high non-coliform bacteria count. This test involves incubation of measured volumes of sample in liquid nutrients which favor the growth of any coliform bacteria present. This is a statistical method of testing based on the number of positive tubes of media after 48 hours of incubation and 48 additional hours of confirmation. MPN Test results: As of modified NY State procedures starting in 1991 a count of 0 indicates no coliform and water of satisfactory quality. (MPN=MilliPore Nutrient test.) See WATER TEST CHOICES & WATER TEST FEES for choices of water tests and our advice about choosing among them. Interpreting Other Water Test ResultsExamples of allowable limits (subject to change) for other tests are listed at Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - New York State Maximum Allowed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)... Ask a Question or Search InspectApediaQuestions & answers or comments about how to understand the meaning of water potability test reports & what actions to take based on water test results. Ask a Question or Enter Search Terms in the InspectApedia search box just below. Technical Reviewers & ReferencesRelated Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.
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This series of articles explains many common water contamination tests for bacteria and other contaminants in water samples. We describe what to do about contaminated water, listing common corrective measures when water test results are
unsatisfactory. We include water testing and water correction measures warnings for home owners and especially for home buyers when certain conditions are encountered, with advice about what to do when these circumstances are encountered. Various treatment methods for contaminated water are reviewed and the pros and cons of each are discussed.