How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manfuactured and modular homes

What does pH mean in a well water test and how does it affect water quality?

Friday, August 10, 2018

It is a measure of where, in the range of acid to alkaline, the water falls. Neutral water is 7.0 pH. Below 7.0 is acid and, conversely, as the number rises above 7.0 the water becomes progressively more alkaline. The term “pH” was originated by Soren Peter Lauritz Sorensen, a Danish biochemist, in 1909. The “p” is an abbreviation for the German word for power, potenz, and “H” is stands for hydrogen—because pH is the concentration of the negative log of hydrogen in water.

   Most water in our North Florida area is alkaline, with a pH of around 8.0. The alkalinity goes hand-in-hand with elevated hardness, due to dissolved particles of the calcium carbonate of the karst rock underlayment of the ground. The pH of well water will also be affected by acid rain, soil runoff, decomposition of organic materials, and leaching of mineral deposits.

   An acceptable level for drinking water is 6.5 to 8.5. When the level drops below 6.5, the acidity of the water will attack copper piping. The acidity leaches out the copper and will begin to pit the walls of the pipe.

    Also see our blog posts Should I test my well water for arsenic? and Is a high iron level in well water a health hazard? and What is the danger of radon in well water?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about WELLS:

What is the blue dumbbell-shaped tank at the well equipment?

What is the tank marked "potassium permanganate" in the water treatment system for? 

Does an abandoned well need to be capped or removed?

Does a homeowner need a permit to drill a water well on their property in Florida?  

How often should a well be disinfected? 

What size generator do I need to run my submersible well pump?

Why would a well need to have a chlorinator/dechlorinator system? 

Why does my well pump turn on and off every time I use water?

• What is the required water testing for an FHA, VA, or USDA mortgage application? 

     Visit our WELLS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

Water Heaters

Water Heater Age

"What Are The

Signs Of..."

Septic Tank Systems

Structure and Rooms

Plumbing Pipes

Termites, Wood Rot

& Pests

Sinkholes

Stairs

When It First

Became Code

"Should I Buy A..."

Park Model Homes

Site

Shingle Roofs

Safety

Stucco

Remodeling

Wind Mitigation

Roof and Attic

"Does A Home

Inspector...?"

Pool and Spa

"What Is The Difference Between..."

Radon

Brick

Plumbing

Concrete and

Concrete Block

Metal Roofs

Foundations

Modular Homes

Rain Gutters

Mold, Lead & Other Contaminants

Condominiums

Older and

Historic Houses

Crawl Spaces

Mobile-Manufactured Homes

Building Permits

Life Expectancy

Clay Soil

Insurance

Floors

Insulation

Toilets

Exterior Walls

& Structures

Generators

Common Problems

HUD-Code for

Mobile Homes

Garages and Carports

Flat (Low Slope) Roofs

Electrical Panels

Sprinkler Systems

Electrical Receptacle Outlets

4-Point Inspections

Hurricane Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Home Inspection

Heating and Air Conditioning

Building Codes

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Inspector Licensing

& Standards

Energy Efficiency

Washers and Dryers

Electrical

Kitchens

Doors and Windows

(placeholder)

Cracks

Electrical Wiring

Click Below  

for Links

to Collections

of Blog Posts

by Subject

Plumbing Drains

and Traps

Appliances

Smoke & CO Alarms

Aging in Place

Top 5 results given instantly.

Click on magnifying glass

for all search results.

Bathrooms

Lighting

AFCI, CAFCI,

DFCI, & GFCI

Sinks

Air Conditioner & Furnace Age/Size

Attics

Electrical Switches

Siding

Search

This

Site

Water Intrusion

Electrical - Old

and Obsolete

(placeholder)

Foundation Certifications

Tiny Houses

About McGarry and Madsen

(placeholder)

Wells

Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a  team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.

Moisture Problems