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Water Testing

Water Quality Testing in and Around Roanoke, Virginia

At Wisler Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Electric, we understand the importance of providing you with comprehensive information to ensure you make the best decision for your needs. Before installing any system, we test the water flowing through your pipes.

To help you make an informed decision, we continuously compile our most recent water quality test data, and make it available to you.

Water Test Results Covering the Previous 6 Months:

These are the average results of water tests conducted in homes across our service area. This information will guide you in determining the best course of action for your water quality needs. You can also request a free water test from us at any time.

What To Do Next?

Make this decision at your own pace. If you have a spouse, discuss it with them. Schedule a free, no-obligation water test to determine if you need a system (we won’t sell you one if you don’t).

– Schedule your water test

– Learn about city and well water

– Discover what the Water Quality Association says about better water

– Read about how to choose a water softener

Contaminants Commonly Found in Water

City water has contaminants removed but may taste different from bottled water. Well water, depending on its setup, may also contain contaminants. To determine if your water has contaminants, collect a sample and have it tested. Here are the most common contaminants found in your water:

  • Iron: Not harmful but can discolor water.
  • Pesticides: Can pose serious health risks if present.
  • Giardia: A harmful parasite that can cause illness.
  • Lead: Often from old pipes, a major health hazard.
  • Chlorine: Used to disinfect water but can affect taste and smell.
  • Nitrates: Common in agricultural areas, can be harmful to infants.
  • Bacteria and Viruses: Can cause serious waterborne diseases.
  • Sediment: Not a health risk but can make water cloudy.

 

“…the most dangerous contaminants are those that consumers cannot see, smell, or taste,”

— Stew Thornley, NC State University.

Other contaminants possibly found in your water include:

  • Chloramines
  • Hydrogen Sulfide
  • VOCs
  • THMs
  • Calcium Carbonate
  • Magnesium
  • Limescale
  • E. coli
  • Cysts
  • Sand
  • Silt
  • Clay
  • Rust
  • Coliform Bacteria
  • Cryptosporidium
  • Manganese
  • Fine Particles

The Difference Between Waters

Bottled water is regulated by the Food, and Drug Administration (FDA). City water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both of them set standards for water purification, however, in some instances, standards for bottled water are different than those for city water. Lead is an example. Here are the main differences between city water and well water:

City Water

Lead can leach from pipes as water travels from utilities to home faucets. The EPA set an action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb) in city water. This means that when lead levels are above 15 ppb in city water that reaches home faucets, water utilities must treat the water to reduce the lead levels to below 15 ppb. In bottled water, the lead limit is set at 5 ppb. FDA survey information shows that bottlers easily produce water products with lead levels below 5 ppb. The reason for the lower level was the FDA goal of reducing consumers’ exposure to lead in drinking water.

Like bottled water, your city water is also tested and treated. However, in 2001, one out of every four community water systems did not conduct testing or report the results for all of the monitoring required to verify the safety. [source: EPA]. Although failure to monitor does not necessarily suggest safety problems, conducting the required reporting is crucial to ensure that problems will be detected.

Well Water

Water from the ground is easily impacted by environmental changes and those changes can happen quickly without you noticing. And the water you pump from the ground is not regulated or checked by any regulatory agency. Because there is no consistent verification process, it’s easy to miss something that could be causing health risks to you and your family. It’s imperative to have well water tested at least once a year.

Contact Us Today to Schedule Water Testing in Roanoke, VA and the Surrounding Areas

For more information about our water quality services, contact us today! We can conduct a water test, discuss costs, options, and answer any questions you may have. We will also inform you if you don’t need a system. You won’t receive continuous sales calls from us; we’ll follow up only if you ask or have more questions. Contact us today!