Water testing can be scheduled individually or can be associated with a Home Inspection. The cost of a water testing is discounted when scheduled with a Home Inspection.
The lab services I use is the ElPaso County Department of Health and Environment. Please keep the following schedule in mind when scheduling a water test.
Per the ElPaso County Department of Health and Environment, water samples are accepted 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday. Samples will
not be accepted on Thursdays or Fridays. Samples cannot be accepted the day before a
holiday.
Standards:
No specific regulations or laws exist that govern private well water quality. It is the policy of El Paso
County Department of Health and Environment to evaluate private water well supplies by the same
standards used by the state to evaluate public drinking water. Those standards indicate that the presence of
coliform (potentially harmful bacteria) will cause a water sample to fail. Often the conditions that cause a
sample to fail can be corrected through chlorination.
To Chlorinate Water Supply Wells
I. Inspect the water supply system for all possible routes of contamination (broken well casing, condition of
the sanitary seal, leaks, structural integrity of cistern, surface source, etc.)
II. After contamination routes have been repaired, the supply can be disinfected as follows:
A. Mix 1 gallon household bleach (use non-scented only) to 4 gallons of water. Pour this mixture
into the well; avoid exposed electrical connections in the well.
B. Open outdoor water taps until a chlorine odor is noticeable, then turn them off. (It may take 20-
30 minutes to draw chlorine through). Now, turn on indoor faucets until chlorine odor is
noticeable. (In some cases you may not be able to smell chlorine). Shut off all taps.
C. Use a hose that is connected as near to the well as possible and run water back down the well for
at least 15-20 minutes to recirculate the chlorinated water. Thoroughly rinse the sides of the well
casing and the pitless adaptor during recirculation. Wash every component of the system that
may have contact with the water supply.
D. Allow chlorine to remain in the well, storage tank, and all pipes overnight.
E. The next morning, flush chlorine from your system as follows:
Inspections Done Right
