Buying a home in rural Nash County or already living on a private well? You want clean, safe water and no surprises during due diligence. The right tests at the right times protect your health, your budget, and your closing timeline. In this guide, you will learn what to test, how often to test, how to collect samples the right way, and how to interpret results for Nash County. Let’s dive in.
Why well testing matters in Nash County
Nash County sits in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain, where groundwater often flows through sands and clays with relatively shallow water tables. That makes some wells more vulnerable to surface contamination from septic systems, agriculture, roadways, and small industrial sites.
Private wells are not regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. You are responsible for testing and maintenance, and health-based benchmarks from EPA and the state are used as references for safe results. Testing matters most during a purchase, after well construction or repair, after flooding, when infants or pregnant people live in the home, and when nearby land use changes.
What to test first
Core tests for all wells
Start with the essentials that protect health:
- Bacteria: Total coliform and E. coli
- Why it matters: Indicates possible fecal contamination and pathogens.
- What to do: Any E. coli detection is an immediate health risk. Do not drink the water until you address the problem and retest.
- Nitrate (as nitrogen, NO3-N)
- Why it matters: Often from fertilizer, manure, or septic leachate. High levels can harm infants.
- Reference point: EPA’s drinking water limit is 10 mg/L as nitrogen.
Routine water quality panel
These parameters help you understand overall water chemistry and common nuisance issues in the Coastal Plain:
- pH and total dissolved solids (TDS) or conductivity
- Hardness (calcium and magnesium)
- Iron and manganese
- Sulfate and chloride
These results guide treatment choices and can flag corrosion or aesthetic problems like staining or metallic taste.
Metals to check every 2 to 5 years
- Lead and copper
- Why it matters: Corrosive water can leach metals from plumbing and fixtures. Lead is a serious health concern, especially for children and pregnant people. Any detectable lead deserves attention.
- Arsenic
- Why it matters: Can occur naturally in some geologic settings. Long-term exposure is linked to cancer risk.
- Reference point: EPA’s arsenic limit is 10 micrograms per liter.
VOCs, fuels, and pesticides when risk is present
Order targeted testing if your property is near gasoline or diesel storage, areas with regular pesticide use, older industrial sites, or known spills. Common targets include BTEX compounds, MTBE, solvents, and agricultural pesticides or herbicides.
Additional concerns to consider
- Radon in water if indoor air radon is elevated or the well is deep.
- Barium, fluoride, nitrite/nitrate speciation, and other site-specific checks if your lab or county health staff recommends them.
How often to test
If you are buying a home with a well
During your inspection contingency, request a practical panel that fits most Nash County properties:
- Core panel: Total coliform and E. coli, nitrate, pH, TDS.
- Metals: Lead and arsenic, especially with older plumbing or when local geology suggests risk.
- Add VOCs and pesticide screening when land use indicates higher risk.
- If possible, schedule a well inspection by a licensed well contractor to check yield, casing condition, and required separation from septic.
If you own the home
Use a simple schedule to stay ahead of issues:
- Annually: Bacteria and nitrate.
- Every 2 to 3 years: Lead, arsenic, pH, TDS, hardness, iron, manganese.
- Every 3 to 5 years: A comprehensive screen that adds VOCs and pesticides. Test sooner if you notice taste, odor, or color changes or if land use nearby changes.
- Immediately: After well construction or repair, after flooding, or when infants, pregnant people, or immunocompromised individuals are in the home.
If you get a positive result
- Retest promptly to confirm.
- For bacteria: Use an alternative drinking water source right away. Consider shock chlorination and retest. If bacteria persist, have a licensed well contractor evaluate the well and sanitary protections.
- For other contaminants: Work with a lab, public health staff, and a treatment professional to select the right solution.
How to collect and submit samples locally
Where to get kits and lab services
Start with Nash County Environmental Health. They are the local point of contact for guidance, sample bottles in some cases, and referrals to state-certified laboratories. State-certified commercial labs analyze bacteria, nitrate, metals, VOCs, and pesticide panels. NC Department of Health and Human Services and NC State Extension also provide consumer guidance on private wells and testing.
Choose a lab and the right panel
- Use a state-certified lab that follows drinking water methods.
- During a real estate transaction, confirm parameters with your lender or inspector.
- Ask about containers, holding times, and whether samples need refrigeration. Some tests must be run within 24 to 48 hours.
Step-by-step sampling best practices
Follow your lab’s instructions exactly. Common steps include:
- Use sterile containers provided by the lab or county. Do not substitute bottles.
- Collect from a cold-water interior tap served by the well. Run water to flush standing water unless the lab requests first-draw for a specific test.
- For bacterial samples, disinfect the faucet per lab instructions, then fill the bottle without touching the cap or rim.
- Label with address, well ID if known, date and time, and your contact information.
- Keep samples cool if the lab requests it and deliver within holding times. Bacterial samples typically need delivery within 24 hours.
- Note recent events like heavy rain, septic pumping, well work, or nearby fertilizer or pesticide application and share that context with the lab or county staff.
Costs at a glance
Bacteria and nitrate tests are typically modest in cost. Panels that add metals often range from under one hundred dollars to several hundred dollars depending on scope. VOC and pesticide testing costs more. Contact Nash County Environmental Health or a state-certified lab for current pricing.
Making sense of results and when to treat
Interpreting results
Private wells are not regulated like public water systems, but health-based benchmarks help you judge safety. Use EPA’s references such as 10 mg/L for nitrate as nitrogen and 10 micrograms per liter for arsenic. Any E. coli detection is an immediate concern and calls for alternate drinking water and corrective action.
Low-level, chronic contaminants may require a conversation with public health and a treatment professional to weigh risk, cost, and practicality. In some cases, monitoring on a schedule may be sufficient.
Common treatment options
Match solutions to the problem and your household needs:
- Bacteria
- Short term: Bottled or boiled water for drinking and cooking.
- Corrective: Shock chlorination, repairing sanitary defects, and, if needed, continuous disinfection like chlorination or UV systems.
- Nitrate above 10 mg/L as nitrogen
- Point-of-use reverse osmosis or ion exchange for drinking water. Consider a whole-house system if levels are high and your usage requires it. For infants and pregnant people, use an alternative source until treatment is verified.
- Arsenic
- Reverse osmosis, adsorption media, or distillation. The choice depends on concentration and speciation.
- Lead
- Replace leaded components and consider certified point-of-use filters. Address water corrosivity.
- VOCs
- Granular activated carbon or aeration, depending on the contaminant.
- Iron, manganese, hardness
- Water softeners, oxidizing filters, or iron-specific media to address staining and taste.
- Radon
- Aeration systems or granular activated carbon. Consider both water and air radon levels.
Fixing the source can be smarter
If the cause is a failing or too-close septic system, poor grading, or another surface source, address that first. Treatment at the faucet helps, but removing the source reduces long-term risk and maintenance.
Buying or selling a home with a well
In North Carolina, sellers complete standard disclosure forms, and specific testing is typically negotiated in the contract. As a buyer, include well testing and a licensed well inspection in your due diligence. Confirm test parameters with your lender. As a seller, testing ahead of listing can prevent delays and give you time to address findings.
If results require treatment, coordinate with a licensed water-treatment professional and a well contractor as needed. Keep documentation of test results and installed systems for future buyers.
Your next steps in Nash County
- Contact Nash County Environmental Health for current guidance, sample kits, and state-certified lab referrals.
- Select a certified lab and confirm the panel, containers, holding times, and delivery schedule.
- Collect samples according to lab instructions and submit on time.
- Review results against health-based reference values and plan any needed treatment or source fixes.
- If you are in a purchase or sale, coordinate testing and well inspection early in your due diligence window.
Foote Real Estate Group can help you navigate rural properties with confidence. We coordinate well testing during due diligence, connect you with licensed well contractors and treatment pros, and manage repairs or upgrades through our build-renovation partners so your closing stays on track. Have questions about a specific property or timeline? Reach out and let’s talk through a plan that fits your goals.
FAQs
How often should I test a private well in Nash County?
- Test bacteria and nitrate every year, metals and basic chemistry every 2 to 3 years, and a broader panel including VOCs and pesticides every 3 to 5 years or sooner if risks change.
What should I do if my water tests positive for E. coli?
- Stop using the water for drinking and cooking, use bottled or boiled water, arrange for shock chlorination, retest, and have a licensed well contractor check sanitary protections and septic separation.
Who can help me get water testing in Nash County?
- Start with Nash County Environmental Health for guidance and referrals to state-certified labs, then work with the lab for containers and instructions and a licensed well contractor for any needed repairs.
Which tests are required during a home purchase with a well?
- Requirements vary by lender and contract, but a common buyer panel includes bacteria, nitrate, pH, TDS, and metals like lead and arsenic, with VOCs and pesticides added when land use suggests risk.
What do the numbers mean on my lab report?
- Compare results to health-based reference values such as 10 mg/L for nitrate as nitrogen and 10 micrograms per liter for arsenic, and consult county health staff or a treatment professional for next steps.
Can a standard water softener remove lead or nitrate?
- No, softeners are not designed for lead or nitrate; use point-of-use reverse osmosis or other targeted systems based on confirmed lab results and professional guidance.
Do I need to test for radon in water?
- Consider it if indoor air radon is elevated or your well taps deeper groundwater; the right choice between aeration and carbon treatment depends on your test result and home setup.
