What to Know About Well Inspections
As a home seller or buyer in Massachusetts, there are always questions that come up regarding testing the water when a private well services a home.
If you happen to be buying a Massachusetts home serviced by a well and not by public water, you better make sure that you have it tested as part of your contingency of sale!
When working as a buyers agent, one of my functions is recommending a good home inspector. In addition to the home inspection, part of the buyers, due diligence also includes testing for other things such as radon, mold, and water.
When you are testing the water, you will want to do what is known as the quality and quantity test. Both of these tests are equally important as you want to ensure the water is safe and that you will have enough to service the home properly.
Well inspections are done by professional well inspectors.
Massachusetts Well Quality Testing
While testing can vary from state to state on what you should be checking the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests that you should be screening for coliform bacteria, nitrates, and the PH level. You should also check for more harmful contaminants such as arsenic, lead, copper, and volatile organic compounds. Massachusetts has no state requirement for testing a well when purchasing a home!
Under Massachusetts General Law (MGL Ch.111 s.122), local Boards of Health have the primary jurisdiction over regulating private wells. The local health board is empowered to adopt Private Well Regulations that establish criteria for private well siting, construction, water quality, and quantity.
For example, in my hometown of Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the board of health has instituted a policy that makes it mandatory to test the quality of your well when selling your home if it has not been done in the last 5 years. Knowing that the town’s homes have good potable water is a measure of public safety.
Interestingly, most lenders using…