Water Sample Information- Which Water Sample Do You Need
Baseline Water Sampling (Recommended)
This test checks for bacteria, common minerals, and nitrate/nitrite. It’s a solid first step to understand your well water quality.
If you have a water treatment system, ask for the full test panel plus an extra mineral test from a faucet after the filter or treatment system. You should also collect a bacteria sample from a tap after any disinfection system.
Bottom line: test the water where you actually drink it.
This is a standard drinking water test that checks for coliform bacteria in two steps. If coliform bacteria are found, the second part of the test shows whether the bacteria come from fecal (human or animal waste) sources.
This test measures the amount of the following: Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Calcium, Chloride, Chromium, Copper, Fluoride, Insoluble iron, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Nickel, pH, Selenium, Silver, Sodium, Soluble iron, Sulfate, Total alkalinity, Total hardness, and Zinc.
This is an important plant nutrient and inorganic fertilizer that enters water supply sources from septic systems, animal feed lots, agricultural fertilizers, manure, industrial waste waters, sanitary landfills, and garbage dumps.
Additional tests can be requested to check for specific microorganisms or to see how they might affect your water quality.
Iron bacteria are not harmful to your health, but they can cause ongoing and costly problems in wells and plumbing, including:
Bad tastes and smells that may seem like fuel, sewage, or rotting plants,
Reddish slime on sinks and fixtures and stains on white clothes or linens,
Rusty, slimy buildup in toilet tanks, filters, or inside the well,
An oily-looking film on the water surface,
Lower well performance or reduced effectiveness of water treatment devices, and
Faster wear and damage to well and plumbing parts.
In short: they won’t make you sick, but they can definitely make a mess—and an expensive one.
This test shows whether bacteria are present that make hydrogen sulfide gas. This gas causes the well-known “rotten egg” taste or smell in water.
The bacteria can form a slimy buildup that may be white, gray, black, or reddish-brown (especially if iron bacteria are also present).
You may also see black stains on silverware and plumbing fixtures, along with damage or corrosion to pipes and metal parts—especially inside the water heater.
This is a special water test that is usually requested when investigating larger water contamination or possible health concerns.
The test uses a lab method to count how many bacteria are in a small water sample (about half a cup). The results show the number of organisms found in that sample, which helps identify the seriousness of the problem.
Metals Panel. This test checks for the following metals in water: arsenic, barium, cadmium, calcium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, magnesium, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, sodium, and zinc.
Individual Metals. This option tests for one to three specific metals from the metals panel list. Uranium can also be added if needed.
Anions Panel. This test looks for nitrate, nitrite, fluoride, chloride, and sulfate in the water.
Hexavalent Chromium is a naturally occurring element in rocks, animals, plants, soil, volcanic dust, and volcanic gases. Hexavalent Chromium is a known carcinogen.
Coal ash is a gray, sand-like waste material made from minerals and metals. It is left behind after coal is burned to produce energy. Coal ash is made of fine sand (called silica), leftover carbon, and metals that can affect health. These metals include Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, Selenium, Mercury, Nickel, and Zinc. Touching water or sediment that contains coal ash may cause skin irritation.
This test checks for 47 different chemicals called organic compounds. It is recommended for wells located within 1,000 feet of former industrial, commercial, or agricultural sites where solvents, fuel, or pesticides may have been used, spilled, or applied in the past.
This test checks for petroleum (oil-based) contamination in water. It looks for heavy petroleum products, like motor oil or grease, and also scans for lighter petroleum chemicals (called VOCs), such as gasoline, diesel fuel, or solvents. This helps identify different types of fuel or oil that may have gotten into the water.
This analysis includes :
Aldrin, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Heptachlor Epoxide, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Methoxychlor, Lindane, Trifluralin, Propachlor, and a scan for DDT.
This analysis tests for 17 herbicides including Glyphosate (weed killers), 2,4-D and Dicamba.
Nitrogen–Phosphorus Pesticides. This test checks for five pesticides, including Simazine, Prometon, and Atrazine. It also includes EDP, DBCP, and TCP, which are chemicals sometimes linked to agricultural use. The test covers farm fumigants such as 1,2-Dibromoethane (EDB) and 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP).
Carbamates. This test looks for 10 carbamate pesticides. These include Carbaryl, which is commonly found in some garden insect powders.
Plain takeaway: these tests are used to check for farm and garden chemicals that can get into groundwater.