Have you had your drinking water tested? Whether you are drinking city water, or draw your water from a well source on your property, it is extremely important to be confident in the quality of the water that you drink, cook with, bathe in, clean with, give to your pets, etc.

The reason being is that contaminated water can cause a host of problems when it is consumed—this is especially the case over time. There are more than a few health concerns that can impact you and your family, friends, neighbors, and the Haymarket community at large when it comes to unclean water sources. Are you wondering when, why, and how to get your water tested in the greater Haymarket, Virginia area? Joiner Micro Labs has put together some guidance for those wondering about water testing in northern Virginia.

When Should I Get My Water Tested and How Often?

Let’s start with the basics: when and how often to test. Haymarket residents who are supplied with city water have some quality control. However, when it comes down to it, there are still a few instances that it is prudent for residents with city treated water to have it tested by an accredited water testing laboratory.

For starters, if something tastes off in your water or it doesn’t smell right, testing will provide some piece of mind and early detection to send it into a lab for testing. Additionally, if anyone in your household is experiencing prolonged, unexplained illness, it is important to test your water quality as soon as possible. Residents living in homes constructed prior to 1986 would be wise to monitor their water supply for potential lead contamination (and if you have lead pipes, investigate getting those switched out. The Safe Water Drinking Act recognizes that lead contamination is harmful to human health.

For homeowners and residents drawing drinking water from a well source, regular water testing is strongly advised. How regularly? The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend that your well water source be tested once a year. The reason being: well water is not treated and could be more vulnerable to contamination. Additionally, having your water tested after a flooding event (regardless of the source) is crucial.

Why Do I Need to Test My Water?

Water testing in northern VA is extremely important when it comes to keeping your household healthy. Contaminated water can cause a variety of issues for those who drink it regularly. We mentioned lead pipes above. Lead is super toxic to our health. That’s why it is no longer used in things like gasoline (everything is unleaded). For pregnant women and children, lead has been shown to cause problems and is consumption is heavily correlated with developmental delays. It can injury organs and other tissues and can even kill.

From gastrointestinal issues to death and prolonged chronic illness, contaminated water is bad news bears for all. Did you play Oregon Trail—well between having your oxen die trying to ford the river and maintaining your wagon, you may remember your virtual family members dying of things like dysentery and cholera. These are waterborne diseases. From diarrhea to typhoid fever to polio and even hepatitis A and cancer, there are many illnesses that can develop from consumption of contaminated water. This is what makes water testing so important. Early detection can make an enormous difference.

How to Go About Testing Your Water: Joiner Micro Labs

You might be wondering who to call about getting your water tested in Haymarket. Fortunately, Haymarket water testing is relatively simply. Joiner Micro Labs has been testing water for Northern Virginia residents since 1991.

We are state accredited, which is what you want to look for with any water testing laboratory. With a stellar reputation for fast turnaround and accuracy coupled with our stellar customer service, Joiner Micro Labs makes water testing easy. Are you interested in learning more about who we are and what we do? Visit our website or contact us for more information.