Authors: Blake Ross, Extension Specialist, Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech; Kathleen Parrott, Extension Specialist, Housing, Virginia Tech; and Janice Woodard, Retired Extension Specialist, Home Management and Equipment, Virginia Tech.
Publication Number 356-482, posted April, 1998
Table 1. Laboratory Tests for Nuisance Problems
While many of the following symptoms are not considered health hazards, nearly all will render water unsatisfactory for normal household use. Most of the tests for nuisance problems should be included in an initial assessment of a private water supply's quality, for example, when digging a new well or moving into a new home with an existing water system.
| Symptom | Description | Recommended Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Stained plumbing fixtures cooking utensils and/or laundry | red or brown | iron |
| reddish-brown slime | iron bacteria | |
| black | manganese | |
| green or blue | copper | |
| chalky white | hardness | |
| Off-color water | cloudy | turbidityy, suspended solids |
| black | hydrogen sulfide, manganese | |
| brown or yellow | iron, tannic acid | |
| Unusual taste and odor | rotten egg | hydrogen sulfide |
| metallic | pH, corrosion index, iron, zinc, copper, lead | |
| salty | total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, sodium | |
| septic, musty, earthy | total coliform bacteria, methane | |
| alkali, bitter | pH, total dissolved solids (TDS) | |
| gasoline or oil | hydrocarbon scan | |
| soapy | surfactants (surface-active agents) | |
| Corrosive water | deposits, pitting of plumbing fixtures | corrosion index, pH, copper, lead |
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