Environmental Testing Services

Drinking water & well water testing done right

Clean, safe drinking water is essential for protecting health in homes, workplaces, schools, and commercial buildings. Municipal monitoring doesn't catch everything, and private wells are not monitored at all. ESG collects water samples and submits them to accredited laboratories so you get accurate, science-based answers about what's in the water at the taps we sample.

Schedule Water Testing Call 336-373-1538

Independent Testing No Remediation Services Certified Inspectors Accredited Lab Partners

Tap water filling a sink in a North Carolina home before drinking water testing

Why testing matters

Water can look fine and still fail

Lead, bacteria, nitrates, and other contaminants are colorless and odorless. The only way to know what's in your water is to test it with a certified laboratory. ESG collects samples using certified procedures, so results can inform real estate, regulatory, and health-related decisions.

Aerial view of a municipal water treatment facility

Before Testing

Unknown contamination risk

Older plumbing materials, private wells, and aging infrastructure can all introduce lead, copper, bacteria, nitrates, or other contaminants into drinking water with no visible signs. Property owners, buyers, and building managers have no reliable way to know without laboratory analysis.

Gloved ESG technician collecting a certified water sample at a Greensboro NC property

After ESG Testing

Documented results against EPA standards

ESG delivers a clear written report comparing laboratory results against EPA and state drinking water limits, including identification of any contaminants detected and professional interpretation of findings. Results describe the sampled taps and analytes at the time of collection, and reports are designed to support real estate closings, lender requirements, and regulatory documentation.

What we test for

Comprehensive drinking water analysis

ESG collects water samples from faucets, drinking fountains, bottle-filling stations, wells, and other sources, then submits them to accredited environmental laboratories. Testing panels are selected based on your building type, water source, and regulatory requirements. Findings apply to the accessible areas, conditions, locations, measurements, and samples evaluated at the time of service. They do not establish conditions throughout the building or guarantee future conditions.

Metals panel: lead (EPA action level 0.015 mg/L), copper, iron, and other trace metals that can leach from older plumbing materials or environmental sources

Bacteria testing: Total Coliform and E. Coli as indicators of possible microbial contamination in drinking water systems

Nutrients & water chemistry: Nitrates (MCL: 10 mg/L), Nitrites (MCL: 1 mg/L), pH, and water hardness parameters

Expanded testing options: Legionella bacteria, expanded metals, and additional chemical contaminants for large buildings, healthcare, and institutional facilities

FHA and lender sampling protocols: sequential flush and first-draw methods used to evaluate different parts of the plumbing system for mortgage transactions, designed to meet lender and regulatory requirements

Written lab report: sampling locations, laboratory results for each parameter, comparison with EPA and state limits, and professional interpretation of findings

Keys in the front door of a North Carolina home

Photo: labeled laboratory sample vials packed for shipment

Pages of a written ESG water quality report with laboratory data

Glass of clean drinking water poured from a tested private well in North Carolina

Private wells

Well water testing for private wells

If your home or building draws from a private well, no utility monitors your water. Testing is the owner's responsibility, and it is the only way to know what is in the water at the time it is sampled. ESG tests private well water across NC, VA and TN using the same accredited laboratories and certified collection procedures as every other water sample we take.

Routine well water checks for bacteria, nitrates, and metals

Well water testing for real estate closings and FHA or lender requirements

Retesting after well repairs, flooding, or a change in taste, odor, or clarity

Why ESG

We test. We never remediate. That's the difference.

Environmental Solutions Group has provided independent, third-party environmental testing since 2002. We don't sell filters, treatment systems, or remediation services, which means our results and recommendations are driven entirely by science, not sales.

Accurate water test results depend heavily on proper sample collection. Improper sampling leads to false positives, false negatives, rejected samples, and data that may not satisfy lenders and regulators. Our certified professionals follow strict chain-of-custody protocols with the correct containers, preservatives, and documentation every time.

ESG works with accredited laboratory partners and applies EPA and state regulatory standards to every result, delivering clear, professionally interpreted reports designed to support real estate transactions, FHA lending requirements, and institutional compliance documentation.

Schedule a Water Test

EPA

Standards applied to every result

Remediation services or treatment products sold by ESG

FHA

Lender-compliant sampling protocols

Certified

Environmental consultants on staff

Our process

Four steps from sample to clear answers

Professional sampling, accredited lab analysis, and a report written in plain language. ESG handles every step so you get reliable data to inform your next steps.

ESG consultant defining a water testing scope with a client in Greensboro NC

Schedule & define scope

Tell us your property type, water source, and reason for testing (real estate transaction, FHA requirement, health concern, or routine monitoring). We'll recommend the right testing panel and book your appointment.

Photo: gloved technician filling a labeled sample bottle at a tap

On-site sample collection

A certified ESG professional collects water samples from faucets, fountains, wells, or other sources using the correct containers, preservatives, and protocols. Chain-of-custody documentation is completed at the time of collection.

Photo: accredited laboratory analyzing water samples

Accredited lab analysis

Samples are submitted to accredited environmental laboratories for analysis. Each parameter is measured and compared against applicable EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels and action levels.

ESG professional reviewing a written water quality report with a North Carolina client

Clear written report

You receive a professional report listing each sampling location, all laboratory results, comparison with EPA and state drinking water limits, any contaminants detected, and ESG's interpretation of the findings.

Professional vs. DIY

Why professional sampling produces valid results

Professional ESG sampling

Certified collection methods are designed to produce accurate, defensible results for lenders, regulators, and laboratories. ESG's independence means no upsell pressure, just data.

Correct containers and preservatives for each parameter
Proper labeling, documentation, and chain of custody
Designed to meet FHA lender and regulatory requirements
Results interpreted against EPA standards by certified professionals

DIY or improper sampling

Without proper protocols, even accredited lab analysis can produce misleading results, and rejected samples mean delays, added costs, and potentially invalid data for a real estate or regulatory deadline.

False positive results from improper collection technique
False negatives: missed contamination due to incorrect protocol
Samples rejected by the laboratory or lender
Invalid data for real estate, FHA, or regulatory purposes

Why clients trust ESG

Independent answers you can rely on

No fabricated promises, just the facts about how we work.

Independent since 2002: 23+ years of environmental testing across NC, VA and TN

We test, we never remediate: this separation helps reduce financial conflicts between evaluation and corrective work

Technical reports receive review appropriate to the service and scope before delivery

ESG's team includes a Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC), a Council-certified Indoor Air Quality Manager (CIAQM), Council-certified Residential Indoor Environmentalists (CRIEs), and staff certified in BPI Infiltration and Duct Leakage testing

BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating, based in Greensboro, NC

Reachable people: 336-373-1538, Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What contaminants does drinking water testing detect?

ESG tests for metals (lead, copper, iron, and trace metals), bacterial indicators (Total Coliform and E. Coli), nutrients and water chemistry parameters (nitrates, nitrites, pH, hardness), and optional expanded panels including Legionella and additional chemicals depending on your building type and concerns.

Is well water testing required for FHA home loans?

Many mortgage lenders, including FHA, require well water testing for homes that rely on private well systems. ESG uses sampling protocols (sequential flush and first-draw methods) designed to meet lender and regulatory requirements.

Why does sample collection method matter so much?

Improper sampling can produce false positive results, false negatives, or samples that are rejected entirely by the laboratory, making the data useless for real estate or regulatory purposes. ESG uses certified procedures with the correct containers, preservatives, labeling, and chain-of-custody documentation for every collection.

What is the EPA action level for lead in drinking water?

The EPA action level for lead in drinking water is 0.015 mg/L (15 µg/L). Lead is particularly concerning because it can leach from older plumbing materials without any visible sign. ESG reports all lead results against this threshold and flags any exceedances clearly in the written report.

Does ESG test both residential and commercial buildings?

Yes. ESG provides drinking water testing for homeowners, home buyers, property managers, commercial building owners, schools, universities, government facilities, and institutional buildings. Testing can be performed as a standalone service or as part of broader environmental investigations.

Does ESG sell water filtration or treatment systems?

No. ESG is an independent testing company. We do not sell filters, water softeners, treatment systems, or any remediation products. This independence is core to our value: our results and recommendations are driven entirely by the data, not by a financial interest in selling you a solution.

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