Requiring the inspection of a private well serving a building upon the transfer of ownership of the building

This bill requires an inspection of a private well that serves a building in which a person resides, congregates, or is employed upon the transfer of ownership of the building, as outlined by the bill. The inspection shall examine the level of nitrate, nitrite, arsenic, and coliform bacteria. If the building is a home, the inspection shall also examine the level of lead and copper. The bill also authorizes a county board of health to require that an inspection in the county include an examination of the level of other contaminants based on local groundwater conditions upon the recommendation of the state hygienic laboratory, the Iowa geological survey, or the department of natural resources. Only a person certified by the department may conduct an inspection. The department shall consult with the state board of health to adopt rules establishing certification requirements and uniform statewide inspection criteria. The bill allows county personnel to become certified inspectors. The bill authorizes a county to set an inspection fee for inspections conducted by county personnel. The bill authorizes counties to use grant moneys received pursuant to the grants to counties water well program in order to alleviate administrative costs associated with private well inspection. A county that uses grant moneys for such purposes shall report inspection results to the state board of health. Following an inspection, the inspection form and any attachments shall be provided to the county board of health and the department. An inspection is valid for all transfers of ownership of a building within a 24-month period. A report of the inspection results shall accompany the disclosure statement required upon the transfer of ownership of the building and a groundwater hazard statement accompanying a declaration of value submitted to a county recorder. The owner of the property is responsible for the accuracy of the information submitted on the groundwater hazard statement and the owner’s agent shall not be liable for the accuracy of such information. A person who fails to include a private well inspection report with the disclosure statement or provides inaccurate information in the report may be liable for actual damages suffered by the transferee.