Well Water - Potability Tests - RI Living. Buying real estate in an area that does not have a
public water supply encompasses a significant geographic area of my RI real estate business. So two of the water tests a home buyer needs to be aware of as part of their home inspection process are:
- water potability ( free of bacteria & contaminants in the well water)
- radon in the water (no current standards mandated by RI law yet)
Most home inspectors will recommend a water quality company for both well water potability and radon in the water for an additional expense during home inspection. It is money well spent.
Just going through this with a Charlestown home for sale that has been vacant for nearly 9 months. High levels of bacteria as well as radon in the water existed. Now the listing agent (representing the Bank) had never experienced going through either process before so I did take charge to make sure it was done right. In fact, the buyers lender required that both the well water potability be free of bacteria and that the radon in the water was lowered to Connecticut standards in order to issue a final commitment letter.
Although there is a lot of water quality information on the EPA web site, it is not right to the point for the consumer (not surprising one might say). Considerable couching of terms...so I go to my home inspector for better guidance. Remember this is RI living in the smaller towns in southern RI. In fact, if you do have a well you should be testing the water at least once a year, I am told, to ensure your drinking water is drinkable water.
The potability test requires putting bleach in the water lines, both hot and cold lines, and letting the bleach permeate and kill the bacteria residing there as well as in the well. Now the house has been winterized and had to be de-winterized for this bleach process. The flushing of the chlorine out of everything will take place in 48 hours. One does need to be careful because it is a well that has limited water so we do not want it to go dry either. Water will then again be re-tested by the lab.
So signals did get crossed, the testing company told the listing agent that the potability test was done and only because I have been through it before, I knew that was not correct. Communication in a technical field of scientific language gobbleygook here. Check with a reputable water testing company in your area on the how-to's of this process.
I am not getting paid for doing the listing agent's job though (ha!) but I do make sure that my first time home buyers will be protected. They have not a clue about what to do here. They are totally dependent upon me doing what is right for them. That is why buyer agency is so important to home buyers. Remember ALWAYS use good buyer representation and do not go it alone when home buying.
Buying a home takes more than a good credit score these days. Talk to me about the best steps to take to buy a home, locations and additional check points to ensure your home inspection process goes well. Call me at - 401.529.7849 - your North Kingstown Realtor serving all of southern RI. Well Water - Potability Tests - RI Living.
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Ginny Lacey Gorman is a North Kingstown Realtor who works and knows the North Kingstown RI geographic area of homes for sale, schools, happenings, important tidbits of information and businesses well. Waterfront, water view, ocean front, luxury and coastal RI real estate are her specialty, so call Ginny for your buying and selling home needs. As North Kingstown short sale agents, she and her team helps clients navigate successfully the rough short sale waters throughout RI, contact Ginny if you are having trouble paying your mortgage. When you are in need of an internet savvy RI realtor® who sells homes in this real estate market, call Ginny today at 401.529.7849.
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