According to the Census Bureau, roughly 18 million Americans were military veterans in 2018. This figure accounted for roughly 7% of the adult population.
Americans find several ways to express their gratitude for veterans, and this appreciation extends to the federal government. For this reason, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers several loans to help veterans purchase a home.
A VA loan comes with two primary benefits. First, the borrower rarely needs a down payment.
Second, there are no private mortgage insurance requirements. However, the property must pass a VA inspection, which includes the VA water test.
If you’re unfamiliar with these tests, don’t worry! We’ll explore four essential facts in this guide.
1. What Does a VA Water Test Look For?
The primary concern in a VA water test is ensuring the property has safe drinking water. However, the VA has no specific requirements for water tests. As such, these tests aren’t looking for any specific contaminants.
Instead, water tests must ensure that the water on your property meets local health requirements. Usually, this means your water cannot contain the following:
- lead
- coliform
- nitrites
- nitrates
Some locales lack a local health authority. In these cases, your home must meet state standards or provisions set by the EPA.
2. How Long Will Your Test Results Remain Valid?
The VA does not conduct your water test itself. Instead, a local health authority will test your water and verify if the sample passes inspection.
If so, you can report this information to the VA. You will have 90 days from the time health officials conduct the test to do so.
What happens if you don’t make the 90-day deadline? Generally, you can request another test to ensure the water meets the requirements. However, this can prolong the loan approval process.
3. What About a VA Well Water Test?
Some locations may receive their water from well sources. In general, these fall into two categories:
- private wells
- shared wells and cisterns
Private wells require a water test conducted by local authorities. These follow the standard requirements laid out previously.
Shared wells have a few more requirements beyond standard water test requirements. The well must also support each property within its network with safe water.
Likewise, this well must include a permanent easement that allows access for maintenance and repairs. However, if the water comes from a spring or cistern, it only must pass a water test.
4. Who Pays for Water Tests
VA lenders must ensure the water test passes examination before closing the loan. Often, veterans pay for these tests out of pocket. However, they can also ask for reimbursement from the lender afterward.
Find a Quality Well Water Testing Agency
The VA water test is crucial in getting a VA loan for homebuyers. However, you may not know where to get a reliable inspection for the loan.
Many Central Florida residents turn to us for this task. Our company offers well water quality testing for homeowners and buyers. Contact today to schedule an appointment!
