Quick Guide: Best Water Test Kits for New Homeowners

Tap Score simplifies the water testing process by offering a wide range of kits linked to a nationwide network of certified laboratories; our helpful customer support team is there to guide you every step of the way.

Key Takeaways: 

• For properties with private wells, a water test kit for a property transfer should at least test for:

  • Coliform bacteria
  • Nitrates / nitrites
  • Heavy metals
  • Other contaminants of local concern 
• Certain loans to finance or refinance a property require well water supplies to be tested. Make sure you find out whether specific contaminants need to be tested or specific procedures need to be followed
• Some circumstances require a third party to do the sampling; but the analysis of the water sample itself must be done by a certified lab. That means no DIY water testing strips

Additionally, the specifics of service line replacement will depend on the utility involved.

What Are the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI)?

Do FHA/VA/USDA Loans Require You to Test Your Water?

Yes—certain loans for financing or refinancing a property with a private well require water supplies to be tested under certain circumstances.

FHA (Federal Housing Authority) Loans

In order to qualify for an FHA loan, a property with a private well must have its water tested if the following circumstances apply:

• The well is newly constructed
• An appraiser has reported deficiencies with a well or its water
• The water supply has been reported to be unsafe or dangerous
• The property is located near a dump, landfill, industrial or agricultural site, or any other sites that could contain hazardous waste
• The distance between the well and the septic system is less than 100 feet

VA (Veterans Administration) Loans

VA loans require water tests any time a property with a private well is financed or refinanced. Other Requirements include:

• Testing must be done by a third-party (including sample collection and transportation)
• Water must meet requirements of local health authority
• If local guidelines have not been established, the well water will have to meet the EPA’s primary drinking water regulations

USDA (US Department of Agriculture) Loans

The USDA offers loans as part of a rural housing program in a designated eligible “Rural” area. These loans require:

• A local health authority or a state-certified laboratory perform the water quality analysis
• Well water quality meets the requirements of the state or local authority. If those guidelines have not been established, it must meet the EPA’s primary drinking water regulations 
• The water analysis report must be no greater than 180 days old at loan closing

In all cases, your water must be tested by a third party—i.e., sent to a lab for testing or collected by an authorized individual and tested by a laboratory.

Need a Loan-Approved Test Kit?

Tap Score offers easy-to-use, fully compliant water testing kits, analyzed by certified labs—so you can qualify for your loan without any hassle. All kits include step-by-step instructions, fast shipping, and accurate results you can trust.

Be sure to refer to your loan’s unique requirements to determine whether or not you need a third party to collect your sample.

What Should A Loan-Approved Water Test Kit Include?

For properties with private wells, a water test kit adequate to a property transfer should test for:

• Coliform bacteria
• Nitrates / nitrites
• Heavy metals (incl. Lead and arsenic)
• Other contaminants of local concern (particularly if specified in the loan application; examples incl. radionuclides or chemicals from local industry)

The Importance of Testing Private Well Water

Because neither the EPA nor local health agencies regulate or monitor private well water, water quality—and the maintenance necessary to ensure it remains safe to drink—is in your hands when you purchase a property with a private well.

Annual testing for bacteria and nitrate is a highly recommended practice for all private well owners. Additional testing is strongly encouraged by most state governments because groundwater can be exposed to a range of natural and human-made hazards including microbial contaminants, organic and inorganic compounds (e.g. pesticides, heavy metals), and radiological particles.

Some contaminants should be tested for more often than others, and we’ve prepared a handy Ultimate Guide to Well Maintenance, as well as the Ultimate Guide to Well Water Contaminants.

Do I Need to Test City Water?

Even if your property is on public utility water, it’s still a good idea to test your water. Public utilities generally do a great job making sure your tap water complies with regulations. But, some utilities have more resources than others, and water may travel through many miles of piping infrastructure to get from the treatment plant to your tap, all of which can affect the quality of water you drink.

Most importantly, as we covered above, the age of your house can help clue you in to some of the risks. For example, homes built before 1988 may still have pipes with high lead content; PVC pipes made before 1977 can leach vinyl chloride.

Where Can I Find the Latest Data from My Water Utility?

Every public water utility must report and make publicly available their cumulative water quality data for each year they are providing water. These reports are called Consumer Confidence Reports (or CCRs) and can usually generally be found by using a search for “CCR” or “water quality” on your utility’s website.

You can also use Tap Score’s City Water Project, which provides regional water quality information, to gain insight into geographical concerns around water quality. But it’s still no substitute to testing the water that flows out of your tap.

You don’t need to test for everything, but our Wirecutter-approved Advanced City kit covers the most important items:

Can I Test My Property’s Water Myself?

Tap Score’s mail-to-lab kits mean you can do your sampling yourself. Every kit comes with clear instructions to guide you every step of the way.

However, some home inspectors and specific loans might require an independent party to do the sampling. It’s important to find out the specifics before starting anything.

What it really comes down to is that the testing of the water sample itself is done in a certified laboratory and no place else.

Test strips, while easy to use and affordable, are not a reliable or accurate way to test your water for important contaminants; furthermore, they won’t cut it with any state, local, or lender requirements.