Arsenic in the well !

CL 240 LS · 07-15-2011, 06:33 AM

Read this blog entry here on this forum:
http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=148

TOAD · 07-15-2011, 06:51 AM

Thanks for the info and help folks.

Unfortunately we got the radon air tests back yesterday and they were unacceptably high. Means we would have to put in some kind of mitigation system also. There are a few other things concerning the house and property that we know we would have to fix to get the property up to snuff. We were willing to overlook those costs and bite the bullet. Although the property had almost everything we wanted with the bad water test and radon air tests, combined with the other problems that we were willing to get fixed it is just too much.

We withdrew our offer to buy this morning.

Our search continues.

And to add insult to injury as the Missus was leaving for work this morning she gave me a kiss and said, "Happy Anniversary...it's 39 years today.... in case you forgot".

Rattlesnake Guy · 07-15-2011, 09:39 AM

Maybe we can remind you a few days ahead for next year. You don't want to forget that one.

Radon is a pretty common issue in NH as Radon is released by granite. So it gets into most of our cellars and well water. There is a lot of controversy on what level of radon is a reasonable risk. When we bought our house about 17 years ago, the EPA had recently dropped the acceptable level again. At the level (4 pCi/L) the EPA suggest mitigation, they calculate that of a 1000 non smokers, 7 would develop lung cancer from exposure to the radon during their life. At the average US house level of 1.3 pCi/L they anticipate about 2 people per 1000 to get lung cancer. Radon combined with smoking is an entirely different story. Not a good combination.

jrc · 07-15-2011, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOAD

....

And to add insult to injury as the Missus was leaving for work this morning she gave me a kiss and said, "Happy Anniversary...it's 39 years today.... in case you forgot".

You better scramble and get something before she gets back from work. And if you miss next year, radon and arsenic will be the least of your worries.

Back on topic, I'm a sceptic when it comes to the causal relationship between very specific levels of these chemicals and health issues. But the important thing is your view, never buy something as important as a house if you have doubts about it. It doesn't matter if the health risk is meaningful or not, if you believe it is meaningful, you won't be comfortable in the house.

songkrai · 07-23-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

It doesn't matter if the health risk is meaningful or not, if you believe it is meaningful, you won't be comfortable in the house.

Find a home without these issues. These issues may not be important to others. And remedies are available. But you will probably continue to find issues. I'd just move on.

Me, I have had home tested for radon. But not for arsenic. Maybe I should.

Find a home that meets all of your requirements.

beagle · 07-25-2011, 11:43 AM

It seems a shame to risk losing your buyer! Can you rent up here while you look? Then you would get a better feel for different areas cuz you would be here all the time. It seems I have seen people looking for renters just for the winter months so I don't think it would have to be a long term commitment on your part. Just a thought, good luck Toad!

tis · 07-25-2011, 11:51 AM

I wholeheartedly agree with beagle. I would sell while you have the buyer. You never know what is going to happen.

CateP · 07-25-2011, 01:24 PM

I too agree with beagle. As a current seller I can tell you that the market is historically slow. If I had a buyer and didn't have a house to buy yet, I would sell in a heartbeat. I would pack up the house, put most of it in storage and BE FREE!

My former partner is looking at winter rentals in the area now and my, there ARE some really nice ones. (waterfront mansion-check Spencer Hughes)

Irish mist · 07-25-2011, 06:24 PM

Dude....if you have a buyer sell your house & rent up here. Your buyer is not going to wait forever. And like I told you in my PM check out Nature's View in Laconia for new construction at a good price that is somewhat secluded (some lake view lots) but gives you all the city services cause you don't seem cut out for country living. And no I have no connection to Nature's View

TOAD · 07-27-2011, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish mist

Dude....if you have a buyer sell your house & rent up here. Your buyer is not going to wait forever. And like I told you in my PM check out Nature's View in Laconia for new construction at a good price that is somewhat secluded (some lake view lots) but gives you all the city services cause you don't seem cut out for country living. And no I have no connection to Nature's View

DUDE....the fact that the house had elevated arsenic in the well, elevated radon readings in the cellar and some other somewhat ticklish problems has little bearing on our "not being cut out for country living". It's just a matter of common sense. As I stated before we were looking into remediation of those problems but because of the attitude of the realtors and the seller and some of the statements made we just were not getting a good feeling with moving ahead on the buy.

So called city services, I prefer to call them city "ripoffs", are what we are trying to get away from down here in the "Commonwealth"

They just promote the ability for waste fraud and abuse from the local government. You pay a lot and get little in return.

As for the development you have suggested we just do not care for Laconia. There was a house in Laconia that we looked at last year. Would have snapped it up in a heart beat but for the fact that it was in Laconia.

Selling here and renting up there is an option that we are considering at this point. Would rather not go that route if we don't have to.

Irish mist · 07-27-2011, 12:40 PM

Like other posters have told you these "problems" that concern you are common up here so it's best to get used to it. I, and many others have tried to help you for what, 3 or 4 years out here ? When I see you have a buyer in this terrible market & you are not moving on it I suspect that perhaps you are a house-looking hobbyist & not a serious buyer.

MarkinNH · 07-27-2011, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish mist

Like other posters have told you these "problems" that concern you are common up here so it's best to get used to it. I, and many others have tried to help you for what, 3 or 4 years out here ? When I see you have a buyer in this terrible market & you are not moving on it I suspect that perhaps you are a house-looking hobbyist & not a serious buyer.

Me thinkest that your stirring up an arguement where there needn't be one.
Just sayin.

Irish mist · 07-27-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

Me thinkest that your stirring up an arguement where there needn't be one.
Just sayin.

Not so much I think. Toad's post to me about him perhaps not being cut out to live in the country was a little over the top IMO & I left alot unsaid in my reply to him so as to remain civil. I just find it curious that after 3 plus years of looking he can't find a house up here & now that he has a buyer he's keping in his pocket in the worst housing market since the depression he still can't make a move ? In any event it's no big deal.

skibum · 07-28-2011, 06:47 AM

I have spoken on the phone with Toad and found him to be a kind spirit with a genuine interest in retiring with his wife in our lovely area. He also has very legitimate reasons for being picky about his choice of residence, which he has chosen not to mention. Irish Mist, on the other hand, is not doing a very good job of portraying the attitude that most of us NH residents put forth. Perhaps he hasn't lived here long enough to catch on. Peace.

Irish mist · 07-28-2011, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skibum

I have spoken on the phone with Toad and found him to be a kind spirit with a genuine interest in retiring with his wife in our lovely area. He also has very legitimate reasons for being picky about his choice of residence, which he has chosen not to mention. Irish Mist, on the other hand, is not doing a very good job of portraying the attitude that most of us NH residents put forth. Perhaps he hasn't lived here long enough to catch on. Peace.

I'm sure Toad is a nice guy.....I never said otherwise. This all started when I said perhaps he was not cut out for country living cause I found it curious that those 2 small issues he faced could derail his purchase. And if you read on you will see I then gave him a tip on a property in Laconia, nothing nasty. His resopnes to that post was over the top IMO. Lol, then it went downhill from there. It happens. Of course as his friend I'm sure you have no skin in the game. BTW I'm a native, so you can hold the snark. Also I'm not the one "beating this dead horse" I'm just responding to these 2 posts. I'll be happy to drop it.....but that requires other people to stop dropping into the thread to get their shots in.

SIKSUKR · 07-29-2011, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish mist

. His resopnes to that post was over the top IMO. Lol, then it went downhill from there. It happens.

It HAPPENED because YOU posted an over the top response to him. You started the thread downhill not Toad.

Irish mist · 07-29-2011, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

It HAPPENED because YOU posted an over the top response to him. You started the thread downhill not Toad.

That's your opinion not a fact. I said I'll be happy to drop this, and i have, but I'm not going to sit out here & take pot-shots from the likes of you. And you don't need to post to me in caps. (internet yelling)

I just read my first post to Toad again & the "you may not be cut out for country living" line was a harmless throw-away line IMO & I then went on to give him some tips on a local residential development. There was no malice intended.

I've learned over the years on this forum that "some" people are experts in dropping into threads like this for the purpose of trying to keep "the troubles" going for entertainment value. I woud suggest Don lock the thread down & allow Toad to get back to his house hunting.

MarkinNH · 07-29-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish mist

That's your opinion not a fact. I said I'll be happy to drop this, and i have, but I'm not going to sit out here & take pot-shots from the likes of you. And you don't need to post to me in caps. (internet yelling)

I just read my first post to Toad again & the "you may not be cut out for country living" line was a harmless throw-away line IMO & I then went on to give him some tips on a local residential development. There was no malice intended.

That's your opinion, not a fact. Personally, I feel that your "you may not be cut out for country living" comment was a "pot-shot" and was uncalled for.
It is a fact that this thread went downhill after your uncalled for "throw away line"
Face it! You planted the seed, so don't get your panties all in a bunch because you don't like the way it grew.

TOAD · 07-27-2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irish mist

Like other posters have told you these "problems" that concern you are common up here so it's best to get used to it. I, and many others have tried to help you for what, 3 or 4 years out here ? When I see you have a buyer in this terrible market & you are not moving on it I suspect that perhaps you are a house-looking hobbyist & not a serious buyer.

Thanks for the help Irish Mist.

YA..you have been just great.

The market is not terrible all over. The town that I live in is in a somewhat demand. Basically a bedroom community but with access to 3 major highways so one has an easy commute to the larger employment hubs. At the worst of the market we only lost around 12% max off the peak.

I will say thank you once again but there is no further need for your help anymore. Perhaps I shall mail a card.

I suspect you may be an instigator.

House looking hobbyist?

YA...we like driving 4 hours north to look at a couple of houses and drive back another 4 hours on the same day. It's all we need for entertainment in our lives.

lawn psycho · 07-23-2011, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOAD

Thanks for the info and help folks.

Unfortunately we got the radon air tests back yesterday and they were unacceptably high. Means we would have to put in some kind of mitigation system also. There are a few other things concerning the house and property that we know we would have to fix to get the property up to snuff. We were willing to overlook those costs and bite the bullet. Although the property had almost everything we wanted with the bad water test and radon air tests, combined with the other problems that we were willing to get fixed it is just too much. We have water that sits exactly on the EPA "limit" and have an RO system.

We withdrew our offer to buy this morning.

Our search continues.

Late to the party on this one. Just realize that if you are concerned about Arsenic it is extremely common in well water in Vt, NH, and ME. For about $900 you can get a reverese osmosis sytem that removes it and is plumbed to you sink (ie, drinking water) taps as well as the refrigerator which make syour ice. The lowered the As level about 10 years ago and now just about every house with a well is at or above that limit. Even if it tests fine today the level can fluctuate with the water table. A lot of people don't know this.... This would not be a show stopper for me.

As far as radon, is it a basement you would be living in? If not, again should not be a show stopper. A system is not much more than a fan to bring in fresh air.

From your posts it seems like you were 100% sold on the house to begin with.

If you want to live in the "country" without the benefit of city water and septic, these are things that you will face.

steadyon · 07-23-2011, 11:48 AM

Hi toad,
sorry to hear the news! as far as the arsenic, as others have said it is remediable.
with the radon air results, what was the reading, what type of test was used?
I would definately recommend testing radon a second time if you get an elevated reading.
good luck!

TOAD · 07-23-2011, 12:31 PM

We withdrew our offer on the house a week ago.

We knew that the arsenic and the radon problems could be remedied with the investment of some dollars. We had contacted several companies to find out when, how and how much the problems could be fixed. We were going to proceed.

Toward the end of the inspections (only needed septic) we grew more uncomfortable with some of the statements made by the real estate agents. There were also some other problems with the house that time and money could also fix. There was some intransigence on the sellers part to remedy or at least meet us halfway on some of these things. I have to assume it was the owner because real estate agents can muddy the pie somewhat what when communications are going back and forth. There were also some statements made by the agents that just didn't seem quite right. No need to go into any more detail.

It is unfortunate because we have a buyer waiting in the wings for our house here in western Mass. I am concerned that they will not wait too long for us to find a house up there. They have already been waiting a year. Our communications with the buyers have been very amicable. They know everything about our house because we have shown them everything. No miscommunication down here.

We loved the house and the location. Unfortunately, as I stated, we just didn't feel at ease as the sale progressed. I am old enough to know that. "If it don't feel right.....don't do it!"

07-15-2011, 06:51 AM	#2
TOAD Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Soon to be Moultonboro Posts: 258 Thanks: 1 Thanked 81 Times in 34 Posts	Thanks for the info and help folks. Unfortunately we got the radon air tests back yesterday and they were unacceptably high. Means we would have to put in some kind of mitigation system also. There are a few other things concerning the house and property that we know we would have to fix to get the property up to snuff. We were willing to overlook those costs and bite the bullet. Although the property had almost everything we wanted with the bad water test and radon air tests, combined with the other problems that we were willing to get fixed it is just too much. We withdrew our offer to buy this morning. Our search continues. And to add insult to injury as the Missus was leaving for work this morning she gave me a kiss and said, "Happy Anniversary...it's 39 years today.... in case you forgot". __________________ "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.....Unknown....but attributed to George Washington Last edited by TOAD; 07-15-2011 at 07:24 AM.

07-25-2011, 11:43 AM	#6
beagle Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 176 Thanks: 184 Thanked 25 Times in 21 Posts	can you rent It seems a shame to risk losing your buyer! Can you rent up here while you look? Then you would get a better feel for different areas cuz you would be here all the time. It seems I have seen people looking for renters just for the winter months so I don't think it would have to be a long term commitment on your part. Just a thought, good luck Toad!

07-25-2011, 01:24 PM	#8
CateP Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 868 Thanks: 584 Thanked 540 Times in 210 Posts	Sell Your House if You Can I too agree with beagle. As a current seller I can tell you that the market is historically slow. If I had a buyer and didn't have a house to buy yet, I would sell in a heartbeat. I would pack up the house, put most of it in storage and BE FREE! My former partner is looking at winter rentals in the area now and my, there ARE some really nice ones. (waterfront mansion-check Spencer Hughes)

07-28-2011, 06:47 AM	#14
skibum Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 11 Thanks: 3 Thanked 10 Times in 3 Posts	Enough already! I have spoken on the phone with Toad and found him to be a kind spirit with a genuine interest in retiring with his wife in our lovely area. He also has very legitimate reasons for being picky about his choice of residence, which he has chosen not to mention. Irish Mist, on the other hand, is not doing a very good job of portraying the attitude that most of us NH residents put forth. Perhaps he hasn't lived here long enough to catch on. Peace.

07-23-2011, 12:31 PM	#22
TOAD Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Soon to be Moultonboro Posts: 258 Thanks: 1 Thanked 81 Times in 34 Posts	We withdrew our offer on the house a week ago. We knew that the arsenic and the radon problems could be remedied with the investment of some dollars. We had contacted several companies to find out when, how and how much the problems could be fixed. We were going to proceed. Toward the end of the inspections (only needed septic) we grew more uncomfortable with some of the statements made by the real estate agents. There were also some other problems with the house that time and money could also fix. There was some intransigence on the sellers part to remedy or at least meet us halfway on some of these things. I have to assume it was the owner because real estate agents can muddy the pie somewhat what when communications are going back and forth. There were also some statements made by the agents that just didn't seem quite right. No need to go into any more detail. It is unfortunate because we have a buyer waiting in the wings for our house here in western Mass. I am concerned that they will not wait too long for us to find a house up there. They have already been waiting a year. Our communications with the buyers have been very amicable. They know everything about our house because we have shown them everything. No miscommunication down here. We loved the house and the location. Unfortunately, as I stated, we just didn't feel at ease as the sale progressed. I am old enough to know that. "If it don't feel right.....don't do it!" __________________ "Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master. Never for a moment should it be left to irresponsible action.....Unknown....but attributed to George Washington

07-15-2011, 06:33 AM	#1
CL 240 LS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 98 Thanks: 25 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Read this blog entry here on this forum: http://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums/blog.php?b=148

07-15-2011, 09:39 AM	#3
Rattlesnake Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 423 Thanked 366 Times in 175 Posts	Maybe we can remind you a few days ahead for next year. You don't want to forget that one. Radon is a pretty common issue in NH as Radon is released by granite. So it gets into most of our cellars and well water. There is a lot of controversy on what level of radon is a reasonable risk. When we bought our house about 17 years ago, the EPA had recently dropped the acceptable level again. At the level (4 pCi/L) the EPA suggest mitigation, they calculate that of a 1000 non smokers, 7 would develop lung cancer from exposure to the radon during their life. At the average US house level of 1.3 pCi/L they anticipate about 2 people per 1000 to get lung cancer. Radon combined with smoking is an entirely different story. Not a good combination.

07-25-2011, 11:51 AM	#7
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,714 Thanks: 751 Thanked 1,456 Times in 1,013 Posts	I wholeheartedly agree with beagle. I would sell while you have the buyer. You never know what is going to happen.

07-25-2011, 06:24 PM	#9
Irish mist Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 683 Thanks: 127 Thanked 85 Times in 49 Posts	Dude....if you have a buyer sell your house & rent up here. Your buyer is not going to wait forever. And like I told you in my PM check out Nature's View in Laconia for new construction at a good price that is somewhat secluded (some lake view lots) but gives you all the city services cause you don't seem cut out for country living. And no I have no connection to Nature's View

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07-27-2011, 12:40 PM	#11
Irish mist Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 683 Thanks: 127 Thanked 85 Times in 49 Posts	Like other posters have told you these "problems" that concern you are common up here so it's best to get used to it. I, and many others have tried to help you for what, 3 or 4 years out here ? When I see you have a buyer in this terrible market & you are not moving on it I suspect that perhaps you are a house-looking hobbyist & not a serious buyer.

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07-23-2011, 11:48 AM	#21
steadyon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Meredith Posts: 102 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts	Hi toad, sorry to hear the news! as far as the arsenic, as others have said it is remediable. with the radon air results, what was the reading, what type of test was used? I would definately recommend testing radon a second time if you get an elevated reading. good luck!