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Water Testing Scams
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Facts for Consumers from the Federal Trade Commission
Water Testing Scams -- December 1993
Worried about the safety of your drinking water? You are not
alone. Fears about the purity of our water have increased
dramatically in recent years, along with news reports of leaking
landfills, corroding lead pipes, and crumbling gasoline storage
tanks tainting water supplies. These reports paint a gloomy
picture of toxic wastes, pesticides, and other chemicals seeping
into both well and ground water.
Although most households using water from public sources should
have few concerns, potentially harmful contaminants have been
found in some water supplies. If you have serious questions about
the safety of your drinking water, you can take the suggestions
described in this fact sheet to have your water tested and, if
necessary, buy a water treatment unit. This fact sheet also warns
you about some home water testing scams, where unscrupulous
salespeople use scare tactics and fraudulent methods to sell
their water treatment devices.
Some Fraudulent Promotions
Not all companies offering water tests are legitimate. For
example, fraudulent sellers that advertise "free home water
testing" may only be interested in selling you a water treatment
device, whether you need it or not. Because there is no charge
for the "testing," you may be willing to allow a company
representative into your home to check your water for impurities.
In doing the test, the representative may add tablets or drops of
chemicals to your tap water, telling you the water will change
color or particles will form if it is contaminated. When your
water changes before your eyes, the representative may warn you
that the water is polluted and may cause cancer. The best
solution, you are told, is to buy the company's water treatment
device. You should understand, however, that even spring mineral
water would "fail" the company's test.
Others will try to sell you a water treatment device without
testing your drinking water or without even suggesting it be
tested. They may offer water purifiers as part of a prize
promotion_notifying you, either by mail or telephone, that you
have been selected to win an expensive prize.
To qualify for the prize, you are required to buy a water
treatment device, costing hundreds of dollars. Unfortunately, you
may discover later that both the prize and the water purifier are
of very little value. And you probably cannot cancel your order
or return the prize and water purifier for a refund.
If you are invited to participate in such a prize promotion, do
not be pressured into making a decision on the spot. Ask for a
copy of the offer in writing and read it carefully. Sometimes
sellers will tell you that they need your credit-card number for
identification or verification, while in reality they want your
number to make unauthorized charges to your account. Remember,
never give your credit-card number over the telephone to someone
you do not know.
Some FTC Cautions
The Federal Trade Commission suggests that you take the following
steps before you have your water tested or you purchase any type
of water treatment system.
Avoid "Free" Home Water Tests
Offers to test the tap water in your home for free are almost
always part of a sales promotion. More important, in-home testing
does not provide the specific, in-depth analysis that is required
to determine if your water needs treatment and what kind of
system is suited to your needs. For example, in-home water tests
may only check for acidity/alkalinity, water hardness, iron,
manganese, and color, but none of these is harmful. Avoid dealing
with salespersons who tell you strictly on the basis of their
in-home testing that your drinking water is polluted,
contaminated, or bad for your family's health.
Be Wary of Claims of Government Approval
Fraudulent sellers use many different sales techniques. Some
fraudulent sellers claim that certain government agencies require
or recommend widespread use of purification systems. Others claim
that the government has approved a particular method for in-home
water testing. Still others claim that the government has
approved or licensed a particular water treatment unit or
purification system. All of those claims are false.
The government does not endorse water tests or water treatment
products. If you see an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
registration number on a water treatment product label, it merely
means that the manufacturer has registered its product with the
EPA. A registration number does not mean the EPA has tested or
approved the product.
Determine the Quality of Your Water Independently
To learn about the quality of your water, ask your local water
superintendent for the latest test results of the public water
supply and then compare them to state and federal standards
available from your state government and the EPA. If you use well
water, ask your local or state health department if it offers
free water testing. Most will for bacterial contaminants.
Arrange for An Independent Test
If you are concerned about the results you got from your local
water superintendent or are worried about possible contaminants
in your water supply, have your water tested by a private
laboratory that is certified by your state health department or
environmental agency. To find out where you can get a list of
state-certified laboratories, call the EPA's Safe Water Drinking
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
When having your water tested, deal with the laboratory directly.
Some fraudulent sellers ask for a sample of your water to send to
an independent laboratory for testing, and then alter or
misrepresent the laboratory's test results.
You should understand that the costs of different water tests
vary widely. Tests for bacteria range from $15 to $45, while
tests for chemical contamination can cost hundreds, even
thousands of dollars, depending on the depth of the analysis.
Decide What You Need
If tests on your water indicate problems, the next step is to
determine what type of system you need to treat the water. This
can be a difficult decision because there is a wide variety of
water treatment devices on the market today. Water purifiers
range from relatively low-cost, simple filter devices for a
kitchen faucet to more expensive, sophisticated systems that
treat water from its point of entry into a home.
Keep in mind, no one water treatment device can solve every
problem. Some systems only soften water by removing calcium and
magnesium, while others eliminate virtually all minerals and
other foreign matter present in the water. Ask the testing firm
or local government officials what kind of water treatment or
purification system will suit your needs.
Comparison Shop
Remember, first you need to identify the water problem, and then
you need to shop for the right device or filter to correct the
problem. Once you decide to purchase a particular type of water
treatment system, you will have to make choices in terms of
price, installation, maintenance, and warranties. To become
familiar with the most commonly available treatment methods and
devices, ask for a free copy of the FTC's brochure "Home Water
Treatment Units," developed in cooperation with the EPA. Contact:
Public Reference, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580;
202-326-2222. You also may request Best Sellers, which lists all
of the FTC's consumer publications.
If You Have a Complaint
To report problems about fraudulent sales practices, call:
National Fraud Information Center
Consumer Assistance Hotline
1-800-876-7060
9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday _ Friday
You also may file a complaint with the FTC. Write:
Correspondence Branch
Federal Trade Commission
Washington, DC 20580
Although the FTC cannot intervene in individual disputes, it
needs to learn about home water treatment sales practices you
believe to be deceptive.
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