Drinking Water Testing
Why should you test your drinking water?
There are over 1 million private wells serving 3.5 million people in rural areas. Approximately 20,000 new wells are drilled each year. About half of the private water wells that have been tested in the state have at least one water quality problem. Yet, despite the importance of testing your water, only half of wells have ever been tested.
What should you test for?
In general, you should test your water annually for coliform bacteria and every three years for pH and total dissolved solids. If you are concerned about potential pollutants or if you are experiencing aesthetic problems such as staining, taste, or odor, more extensive testing is warranted. Pollutants that enter wells can often be linked to activities on the land surface such as mining, agriculture, or industry.
If you have one of these activities within sight of your home, you may wish to select a drinking water test package based on pollutants most commonly found in association with each activity. Or, if you have concerns about the potential contamination of your well from a near-by septic system, the Agriculture/Septic test package is recommended.
If you are performing this test for the purpose of documenting water quality before and/or after gas-drilling activities, it is recommended that you use an accredited laboratory that can collect your sample and provide full chain of custody.
How do you submit a water sample?
After taking your water sample, you must send the kit to the laboratory by overnight mail along with your payment for the test(s) requested. For the bacteria test, included in all test packages, the laboratory must receive the sample within 30 hours after sampling. If you need the bacteria test only, contact the laboratory to receive a smaller cooler test kit. The lab cannot accept any water samples for bacteria on a Friday.
Water Quality Testing
Water testing includes trace analysis capabilities. water analysis capabilities vary by location, please contact to determine the laboratory best suited to your water testing requirements.
Water testing:
Marine Potable Water Quality Testing
Cooling Water Conditioning and Control
Microbiology Services
Water Content Testing for the Petroleum Industry
Formation and Produced Water Analysis
Sea Water Analysis
Water Activity Testing (Aw)
Drinking Water Quality Testing
Water Quality Testing
Environmental Services
Water Services
wide range of services assists our clients in all water related sectors including water utilities, industry, oil and gas, ports and harbours, food, power stations, desalination and pharmaceuticals. We help our clients explore water properties and produce quality improvements through the use of practical technologies.
modelling and predictive services provide design and investment information for asset investment and management, delivering substantial cost savings and demonstrable improvements in environmental quality
global network of laboratories, our analytical services range from drinking water to industrial water, wastewater and contaminated groundwater. Intertek also offers inspection and maintenance services for ballast water, water treatment plants and waste water treatment processes.
Modelling – Prediction, data analysis, compliance and impact assessment
modelling services provide environmental assurance and compliance services to the water industry. We deliver comprehensive assessment of asset impacts on the environment and advise on mitigations and interventions to ensure environmental performance, protecting vital resource and delivering cost efficient asset investment and asset management.
Using unique and highly advanced compliance assessment software, for example in the management of bathing waters and commercial shellfish waters, provides enormous amount of understanding and information regarding management, leading to better quality, efficient investment and highly managed assets.
Water Quality Services
provides water quality testing and analysis services on a global bases. comprehensive suite of water testing services includes marine potable water quality testing and legionella management as well as regional specific services like drinking water quality testing and water quality testing that help ensure companies meet and exceed regional specific legal requirements.
Water Activity in Food
provides water activity testing for food, grains and other agricultural products. food laboratory uses state-of-the art laboratory instrumentation for water activity analysis that allows our customers to remain compliant with government and other food safety programmes.
Water Content Testing for Petroleum, Chemicals and Fuels
Determining the water content of crude oil, refined petroleum products, fuels, biofuels, lubricants, chemicals, and other products is important for maintaining quality control, meeting trade specifications, protecting financial value, and enhancing process optimization.
Knowing water content in hydrocarbons enables clients to take steps to reduce risks from corrosion, safety problems, and infrastructure damage which can be caused from unwanted water content levels.
Water content tests for petroleum and biofuel products:
Water content by distillation
Water and sediment
Water vapor content
Trace water content analysis
Additional water content and moisture testing
Additional oil, gas, and biofuel products tested for water content:
Natural gas, condensates, and natural gas liquid (NGL)
Liquid petroleum gases (LPG)
Solvents and volatile solvents
Lubricants and greases
Biofuels, including ethanol, bio-diesel, and bio-mass fuel products
Other products
Well Water Testing
Why should you test your well water?
Well water can contain harmful bacteria that causes stomach cramps, diarrhea and other health concerns. Private well owners are encouraged to get their water tested every spring, summer and fall, even if it looks, tastes and smells fine.
Whether your test results are positive or negative, understand that the sample you collected is just a “snapshot” of your well’s water quality. The more samples you have tested, the more confident you can be about the quality of the water you are drinking.
In addition to regularly testing well water, owners should inspect their well at least once a year to make sure it is free from damage and in good working condition.
Sample bottles are available for pickup at that laboratory, and at water testing pickup and drop-off locations.
Obtain a water sample bottle.
Plan to sample your well water when you are sure it can be delivered to a drop-off location within 12 hours of the collection time.
Remove any aerator, screen, or other attachment from your kitchen faucet. If you cannot do this, take a sample from an inside faucet with no aerator, such as the bathtub. Do not take a sample from an outside faucet or the garden hose.
Turn on the cold water and run for two to three minutes to remove standing water.
Disinfect the end of the faucet spout with an alcohol swab, or a diluted bleach solution (1 part household bleach to 10 parts water).
Turn on the cold water again and run for three minutes before sampling. Remove the lid of the sample bottle. Do not touch the inside of the lid, put down the lid, or rinse out the bottle.
Fill the bottle to “fill line” directly from the tap without changing the flow of water. Do not touch the bottle lip. Replace cap tightly.
Samples must be refrigerated after collection. During transportation, put bottle in a cooler if possible.
Remove ONE of the bar code stickers from the bottle and attach it to the blue card that came with your water sample bottle. This bar code is your PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN). You will need it to get your results over the phone.
Return the sample and completed form within 12 hours of collection. If your form is incomplete, the laboratory will not test your sample, and you will need to submit another sample with another form
Bacteriology interpretation
Drinking water is tested for the presence of two groups of bacteria: Total Coliforms and E.coli (Escherichia coli). Total Coliforms are a group of bacteria commonly found in animal waste, sewage, soil and vegetation. They are also found in the intestines of animals and humans. Total Coliforms are not likely to cause illness, but their presence indicates that your water supply may have been contaminated by more harmful microorganisms present in surface water seeping into your well.