Home purchases in North Carolina are subjected to specific rules that are meant to protect the buyer and seller. Many homes in this state get their water from a private well, so anyone purchasing a home must know that the well water is safe for the home.
Because private wells aren’t tested in the same manner as public water supply sources, they can often have contaminants that the homeowner doesn’t know about. These sources of water may be contaminated with lead, arsenic and manganese.
Updated requirements in North Carolina
To protect home buyers, North Carolina now requires property owners of homes with private wells to provide specific information before selling the home. The updated residential property disclosure statement includes a question about private well testing for dangerous contaminants.
As of July 1, 2024, home sellers must indicate whether the well water has been tested for pressure, quality and quantity. If testing has occurred, the date of the testing must be provided on the disclosure.
Importance of the disclosure
Many people who have private wells assume the water is safe. Some may not test the water because they don’t know they should. The cost and inconvenience of testing may also play a role in the lack of testing.
Having a water quality disclosure statement for a home purchase lets the buyer know if the well is safe for drinking water. The buyer could use these test results to determine if they want to purchase the home, as well as to make requests for certain concessions. It also serves as a reminder that they should periodically test the water after they purchase the home.
In some cases, water filtration is all that’s needed to make the well water safe to drink, so the home seller may have one in place. Home buyers should consider learning about the status of a private well as part of their due diligence. Having someone who can assist them with the legal aspects of disclosures and similar documents may be beneficial for these individuals.
