How to Check the Water in Your Home to See if It Is Drinkable

Depending on where you live and the way your home was constructed, the water flowing through the pipes of your house may or may not be drinkable. There are a number of factors to consider, including the main line your pipes tap into for water, whether or not you are connected to a well and the condition of the pipes carrying the water. While the issue may seem more about the water's taste, it is actually much more significant than that, as water contaminated with certain chemicals can be detrimental to your health.

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the type of drinking system you have for your home. If you tap into a public water system, then you can access records regarding whether or not the water is drinkable and any contaminants that may be contained within it. However, if you have a private water system, such as a well, you may need to take a different route to test the water.
- 2
  Request a consumer confidence report from your city's water division. This document gives an account of your water quality, which can help you determine whether your home's water is drinkable. This document is required to be sent annually to homeowners under the Safe Water Drinking Act. If you haven't received one or you have recently moved, the records for your property should be posted online, according to the EPA website.
- 3
  Send a water sample to a local water testing facility. You can find one through your city's water division, your state's water quality department or on your own using local search resources. Contact the facility and determine the cost to test your water (according to the EPA website, it can run anywhere from $15 to hundreds of dollars). Depending on the testing facility, you may need to provide the sample yourself or the company will send an inspector to take the sample from whichever point in your water source they prefer.

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