Thinking About Buying a Home in the Country?
By Jim Palmer Jr.

If you are thinking about buying rural property this year, there are some things you should know.  The seller is obligated by WA State law to deliver a detailed disclosure statement that may answer many of your questions, but you should never shirk your duty to do your own investigation.  That can be done easily by hiring a competent home inspector who will give you a detailed report of the condition.

But there are other weighty matters to consider besides a “Whole House Inspection”, such as testing the two most important systems of the property, the septic and well.  If there is not good quantity and quality of water, you may be looking for a cure of deficiencies or looking elsewhere to purchase.  All three of the above mentioned inspections should be listed in your Purchase Agreement as contingencies.  That means at your sole discretion, you can terminate the transaction if you are not satisfied with test results. 
Water quality is one topic that gets marginalized or even forgotten by buyers, especially when they have gone unrepresented in a transaction or when they hire an inexperienced land broker who simply doesn’t know what to ask for.  Sometimes buyers are so preoccupied by the quantity aspect (gallons per minute) that they don’t pay sufficient attention to the quality. 
Spokane County Health Department only requires testing for bacteria and nitrates.  If buyers just test for those elements they are being short sighted and even misled.  In contrast, Tri-County Health District (Stevens, Pend Orielle and Ferry) requires testing for bacteria, lead, arsenic, nitrates, and uranium. That broader perspective is more protective of the consumer, but may still not be enough. 

For people who are troubled by kidney stones or other health issues, they may consider testing for many elements including hardness, or even PH levels.  In areas where iron content is troublesome, buyers may consider testing for iron and/or looking for suitable mitigation remedies.
On Spokane’s West Plains there are many wells that have been found to be contaminated or at risk of contamination by polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) because these chemicals have been used at local airports. What about pesticides or herbicides used on farms adjacent to your proposed purchase?  

Keep in mind that a well test is only a snap shot in time.  Consistent monitoring of your water source should be maintained.   The good news is that filtration systems can be used to mitigate virtually any contaminant. The real question might be,” what is the ongoing cost of that mitigation?”