Situation That Requires Special Testing

Regardless of where you get your water from, there are some special
situations that arise in many homes that would indicate the need for
additional water testing.  

1. If you live within an area of heavy agricultural land use.
   Test for pH, nitrates, bacteria, pesticides and herbicides.
2. If you live in an area of heavy land development.
   Test for volatile organic compounds, fuel components, total dissolved solids, heavy metals
   and minerals.
3. If you live near a landfill, or any hazardous land use area.
   Test for volatile organic compounds, pH, chloride, total dissolved solids, sulfate, heavy metals, and fuels.
4. If you are planning on having a baby.
   Test for nitrates specifically.
5. If there has been any flooding in the area.
   Test for nitrates, bacteria, fuels, volatile organic compounds, pesticides and herbicides.
6. If yours or your neighbors septic system has failed.
   Test for bacteria
7. If someone in your family has unexplained illnesses.

Remember that all levels found acceptable by the E.P.A., have been determined by what the government defines as healthy people. There are many people that are considered to be a sensitive
subpopulation and will not be able to tolerate similar levels of contaminants within drinking water that healthy people would. A few examples of that subpopulations would be people undergoing chemotherapy, people living with HIV/ AIDS, transplant patients, the young, the elderly, pregnant women and people recovering from disease and people living with life-threatening illnesses.

These people will require more diligence in keeping their water supply at the highest possible level of cleanliness. Your healthcare provider can help understand what things you will be specifically sensitive to relative to the situation you are living with.