Buying or Selling a Home? Have the Well Water Tested.
This story is produced and presented by Vermont Department of Health
When you buy or sell a home that has a well, be sure to put this near the top of your to-do list: Have the drinking water tested for contaminants.
Why? As a home buyer, you’ll know your water will be safe to drink, and as a seller, you can avoid delays and problems with selling your home, the Vermont Department of Health says.
The best time to have the water tested is before a home even goes on the market.
“In general, it’s a good idea for homeowners to have their water tested before they plan to sell their home,” said Sarah Vose, Ph.D., state toxicologist for the Health Department. “It will give you a heads up on potential issues with the water, and allows time to remediate the water before the sale.”
The State of Vermont does not require water testing upon the purchase or sale of a home. But because neither the state nor the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulate well water as they do with public water, the only way for you to know if the water is safe is to have it tested.
You can sample your private well water by ordering the Health Department’s recommended homeowner’s drinking water test kits. The kits test for the most common contaminants including lead, arsenic, E. coli and more, and come with instructions on how to sample water from your tap.
Kits cost $159 and are available through the Health Department Laboratory by calling 1-855-472-6979.
Some loan programs — such as those through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program — require a water test before purchase or sale, according to Jay Vallieres, loan officer with Movement Mortgage in South Burlington. Other programs require an “uninterested third party” — someone other than the property owner — to sample the water for testing, he said.
Not having water test results ready prior to the home’s purchase or sale could affect financing, Vallieres said, adding that deals can fall through at the closing table due to the lack of a water test.
“We highly recommend a water test” for all types of loans, Vallieres said. “We want to get a water test taken care of right up front, as soon as possible, so that everything goes smoothly.”
Real estate agents can help buyers and sellers get the information they need to make sure a home’s well water is safe.
“Your real estate agent can give you information about water testing from the Health Department,” said Vose. “If you are testing at the time of sale, your agent can help you get access to the property to take the water samples.”
If results show the water is free from contaminants, that can be an added bonus for sellers, according to the EPA’s “What Every Realtor Should Know About Private Drinking Water Wells.”
Just like a home with a new roof will likely sell for more, the EPA says a home with a properly functioning water system that provides safe drinking water is worth more, and will be a place of comfort for the new owners.
If test results show your water is contaminated, call the Health Department at 800-439-8550 for help with water treatment options.
According to Vose, you often can’t see, taste or smell contaminants in water, so don’t assume you can tell if there is a problem with the water. “Have it tested. Contaminated water can cause a variety of health risks, from short-term intestinal problems to cancer if consumed over a long period of time.”
“Once you buy a home with a well, test your drinking water regularly, and enjoy your new home with the peace of mind that comes from having protected your family’s health,” she added.