VA & FHA Loan Water Testing Made Simple for Home Inspectors

If you’re a home inspector working with VA, FHA, or USDA loans, water testing is often required for properties on private wells.

SimpleLab offers a range of mail-to-lab drinking water test kits designed to detect common contaminants for wells, springs, and other non-public drinking water sources. Each kit includes everything needed to collect a sample, ship it to a certified lab, and receive clear digital results, making it easy to integrate testing into your inspection workflow.

This guide provides a clear, practical overview of recommended analytes for VA/FHA loans, available SimpleLab test kits (and turnaround times), as well as Pay Later options for inspection teams. 

For additional inspection testing (air, mold, lead, and more) visit: gosimplelab.com/solutions/property/inspection. 

Table of Contents:

1. Recommended Analytes for VA & FHA Loan Water Testing
2. VA/FHA-Compliant Water Test Options
3. RUSH Test Options
4. Expanded Inspection Water Testing
5. What Is a ‘Pay Later’ Kit?
6. What’s Included in Every SimpleLab Kit
7. Frequently Asked Questions
8. Key Takeaways & the Bottom Line

Recommended Analytes for VA & FHA Water Testing

For properties on private wells, most VA, FHA, and USDA-backed loans often require testing for basic drinking water safety. The following six analytes are recommended for a baseline assessment:

• Total Coliform
• E. coli
• Nitrate (as N)
• Nitrite (as N)
• pH
• Turbidity

These analytes evaluate:

• Bacterial contamination
• Agricultural runoff risk
• General water quality

All of these are fully covered by SimpleLab’s Basic Inspection Water Test. 

Important: Some counties, lenders, or loan officers may require:

• Specific lab certifications
• Additional analytes
• Special sampling protocols

Note: New Jersey has specific requirements under the Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) for sample collection and testing, restricting who can collect a well water sample.

If you’re unsure, please contact hello@gosimplelab.com or call 833-888-8522 before ordering.

VA/FHA Loan Compliant Water Test Options

Basic Inspection Water Test (Standard)

Best for:
VA/FHA/USDA loan recommendation for private wells

Turnaround:

• Return shipping: 1 day
• Lab testing: 5 business days

Analytes Tested (6): 

• Total Coliform
• E. coli
• Nitrate (as N)
• Nitrite (as N)
• pH
• Turbidity

RUSH Testing Options

Basic Inspection Water Test (RUSH)

Same recommendations, faster results:

Best for:
Tight closing timelines or expedited inspections

Turnaround: 

• Return shipping: 1 day
• Lab testing: 3 business days

Analytes tested: 

• Same 6 recommended analytes as standard

Expanded Inspection Water Testing

Drinking Water Test: Level 1

Best for:
Municipal water or expanded due diligence beyond loan recommendations 

Turnaround:

• Return shipping: 2 days
• Lab testing: 5 business days

Analytes tested (47 total) include:

• Hardness
• Total dissolved solids
• Lead
• Copper
• Corrosion and scaling indicators

Inspection Water Test: Level 1 + Bacteria*

* Requires SimpleLab Team to view product. See below for more information. 

Best for:
Expedited analysis for testing one drinking water sample related to a mortgage, the purchase of a new home, or a refinancing. Ideal for those looking to meet VA, FHA and USDA Minimum Property Requirements.

This “Pay-later” test kit includes all sampling materials and prepaid shipping to the lab. Only pay for the analysis when you activate the kit and are ready to use.

Turnaround:

• Return shipping: 1 day
• Lab testing: 3 business days

Analytes tested include:

• Arsenic
• Lead
• Nitrate 
• Nitrite
• E. coli
• Total coliform

Note: If the county or loan officer requires specific sample handling practices or specific local lab certifications, we strongly suggest you email the SimpleLab team (hello@gosimplelab.com) to ensure we meet your needs.

Additional Inspection Kits 

While the Basic Inspection Water Test meets minimum recommendations , many lenders, counties, or real estate transactions require additional analytes such as Lead and Arsenic.

RUSH: Lead Water Test
RUSH: Iron Water Test
RUSH: Total Arsenic Water Test

In these cases, inspectors often use expanded panels like Level 1 + Bacteria to ensure broader coverage and avoid re-testing.

VA/FHA-Compatible Expanded Panels

All of the following inspection kits are compatible with VA/FHA loan water testing recommendations and include the recommended core analytes, along with expanded coverage and rush options:

• Inspection Water Test Level 1 + Bacteria *
• Inspection Water Test Level 2 + Bacteria * 
• Inspection Water Test Level 3 + Bacteria *

* Requires SimpleLab Team to view products. See below for more information. 

Key Differences Between Test Levels

• Broader analyte coverage across each level
• Includes bacteria testing (Total Coliform + E. coli) for compliance
• Designed for more comprehensive real estate inspections
• Higher levels include additional metals and contaminants

How to Access These Kits

The inspection kits above are available through a SimpleLab Team.

Creating a Team gives you access to:

• Expanded inspection panels
• Pay Later kits
• Team-based workflows

Sign in, or create a SimpleLab Account to add a Team. 

Find out how to create a SimpleLab Team.

What Is a Pay Later Kit?

Pay Later kits are designed for inspection teams managing multiple properties or high inspection volume.

They allow you to separate the cost of materials from the cost of testing.

How Pay Later Works

1. Materials Payment (Upfront)
   Pay a small fee for:

• • Kit materials 
  • Shipping

2. Activation Payment (Later)
   Pay for lab testing only when you collect the sample

Why Inspectors Use Pay Later

• Keep inventory of kits ready to go
• Reduce upfront costs
• Move faster between inspections
• Simplify workflows across multiple properties

Key Details

• Available for many standard and RUSH kits
• Limited to commonly used test kits
• Kits expire after 1 year

Need a Pay Later version of a kit you don’t see listed?
Email us at: hello@gosimplelab.com

What’s Included in Every SimpleLab Kit

All SimpleLab mail-to-lab water test kits include:

• Sampling materials
• Prepaid shipping to you and to the lab
• Easy-to-follow instructions
• Testing at accredited laboratories
• Chain of custody documentation
• Secure digital report delivery

View a sample lab report.

The primary differences between kits are analytes tested and turnaround time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these tests meet VA/FHA loan recommendations?

Yes. The Basic Inspection Water Test includes the 6 standard recommended analytes.

How fast are the lab results available?

• Standard: ~5 business days at the lab
• RUSH: ~3 business days at the lab

Do I need bacteria testing?

Yes. Total coliform and E. coli are typically required for loan-related well testing.

Do I need a SimpleLab Team to purchase kits?

No, a SimpleLab Team is not required to purchase standard kits. However, it is required for Pay Later kits and team-based workflows.

Key Takeaways

• VA/FHA backed loans water testing typically recommend 6 core analytes: E. coli, total coliform, nitrate, nitrite, pH, and turbidity, with additional analytes depending on lender or local recommendations
• The most common SimpleLab kits for home inspectors are:
• Basic Inspection Water Test (minimum testing recommendations)
• Inspection Water Test Level 1 + Bacteria (available for SimpleLab Teams)

• RUSH testing reduces lab time from 5 days to 3 days
• Pay Later kits allow inspectors to order materials upfront and pay when sampling
• Testing recommendations vary by county, lender, and loan officer—always confirm before sampling

The Bottom Line

SimpleLab helps home inspectors:

• Stay compliant with VA/FHA/USDA loan testing recommendations
• Simplify logistics with mail-to-lab kits
• Speed up results with RUSH testing
• Scale operations with Pay Later workflows

Sign in, or create your SimpleLab Account to add a Team today!