Yes, private water supplies need to be tested to know exactly how and why the supply fails to meet with regulations. In some cases a mortgage lender will not lend without proof the water is safe to drink

There are lots of properties, in rural parts of the country, that rely on a private water supply rather than mains water. These supplies are usually from a borehole or spring but can be from other sources too. These can be things like wells, rivers, streams or, in some cases, even a pond.

Private water supplies, especially their quality, are becoming more and more important when applying for mortgages. In most cases a mortgage application will not be granted unless the water is safe to drink.

If you are not familiar with private water supplies, here is a list of things you may want to ask the vendor:-

• Where does the water come from/what is the source?
• Has the supply ever run dry?
• Does the quality change at all?
• Is it a shared supply? If so, who is responsible for the supply/maintenance?
• If it is a shared supply, are the details correct in the deeds? Has anything changed since the deeds were written?
• Is there any water treatment in place?
• Has the water ever been tested?

The water looks clean, do I really need a water test?

Yes, not all contaminants can be seen or tasted.

From a filtration design point of view, all components of the water need to be checked. Sometimes the way we treat the water can be dictated by the full chemistry of the water.

For example some water treatment medias require the pH to be above 8 in order for manganese to be removed. Other treatments will only work effectively if the iron and manganese are at relatively low levels. Other systems use a brine solution to regenerate (clean) the media and this process will increase the level of sodium ion in the water. By using this, ion exchange, process and raising the sodium level, we have to ensure we do not exceed the regulation limit of 200ug/l of sodium. This is calculated by the amount of sodium found in the raw water supply.

By getting your water sampled, by UKAS accredited samplers who use a UKAS accredited laboratory, we know that we can produce the most cost-effective water treatment solution which will give you many years of service life.

With a pre and post treatment analysis we can show you that your water complies with all the current regulations. This analysis will also give you peace of mind that your water treatment system is working correctly.

If you are a landlord of a property or you own a holiday let, you have a legal obligation to test your water supply on a regular basis.

Visit our Water Testing page

If you have any concerns about your water quality or need your water testing, contact us here.