Water Testing

Private homeowners frequently are directed to the LabCert Program for assistance in identifying what specific contaminants to be concerned about in their private wells and where they might find a laboratory to perform testing. LabCert Program staff provide a breadth of knowledge regarding both environmnental contaminants and analytical testing protocols. The LabCert Program thus provides an essential link between staff of the Department's Drinking and Groundwater program and the general public. In addition to answering questions about contaminants and testing, the LabCert Program also certifies testing labs, so Program staff can direct private homeowners to a certified commercial laboratory near them.

Once the decision has been made to get the water tested, two very important questions follow:

(1) What contaminant should you test for?, and
(2) How do you find a laboratory to do the testing?

The following hyperlinks are designed to help the private homeowner effectively navigate this process.

The hyperlink above directs users to a webpage that offers a brief overview of typical testing that should be considered by private well owners. It also provides links to a wealth of more detailed information residing on webpages designed by the Department's Drinking and Groundwater Program staff. The Drinking and Groundwater program has also published a pamphlet to help homeowners decide what testing should be considered [PDF 303.4KB] for their wellwater.

Locating a laboratory to perform testing can be a confusing proposition. The yellow pages of the local phonebook will likely list at least several such operations under "Laboratories -Testing" or "Laboratories - Environmental". It doesn't take much to obtain a listing in the phonebook, and you may want the laboratory you choose to be credentialed in some manner. Private well tests performed for your own information (vs. compliance testing) does not require any license or certification. The main private well testing which requires a certified laboratory is for the analysis of bacteria and nitrate as part of any home sales transaction or when a new well is installed. The LabCert Program certifies laboratories across the state and even across the nation. This certification means that the laboratory has been inspected by a professional audit chemist, and maintains compliance with state regulations for lab certification. The hyperlink above has been designed to assist you in locating a certified laboratory for your testing needs. These lists contain only those labs certified through our Program.

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Please consider the following when requesting assistance in locating a laboratory:

• As state employees, we cannot recommend any particular laboratory over any other.
• If you utilize the "Find-a-lab" webpages, please note that the best laboratory for your needs --or even the closest lab to you-- may not be situated in the DNR region closest to you or the location of your well. Take a look at lab facilities available throughout the state.
• Each laboratory operates uniquely to some extent. Some labs will offer sample collection service. Others may offer sample pick-up service. Still others may simply send you a kit, containing sampling instructions, and in which you can mail your sample to the lab.
• We don't have access to price information for analytical testing, although we may be able to suggest a likely price range for a given analysis based on past experience. We recommend obtaining information from several laboratories.

An explanation of the analytical capability summary is provided below:

General Chemistry

This includes tests like demand (BOD, COD), nutrients (ammonia, nitrate, phosphorus, TKN), alkalinity, hardness, and common anions (chloride, fluoride, sulfate, cyanide). Though somewhat subjectively determined, labs identified as holding "Full" certification typically are certified for the majority of these tests.

Metals

Generally labs are certified for as many as 26-30 trace elements. Labs classified as holding "Full" certification can test for most common trace elements.

Waste Characteristics

Includes major parameters such as corrosivity, ignitability, TCLP and SPLP as well as total organic halides (TOX) and total organic carbon (TOC). Labs classified as holding "Full" certification can provide all these capabilties.

Petroleum Hydrocarbons

This category is composed of three tests: gasoline range organics (GRO), diesel range organics (DRO), and petroleum volatile organic compounds (PVOC). Labs classified as holding "Full" certification can provide all three capabilties.

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Pesticides/Herbicides

This category consists of certifications held under test categories 13, 14, and 16 for acid pesticides (herbicides), organochlorine pesticides, nitrogen pesticides, triazine pesticides, and organophosphorus pesticides. Labs classified as holding "Full" certification can provide all these capabilties.

Effluent Toxicity (WET Testing)

Whole Effluent toxicity testing (or WET testing) is a bioassay analysis associated with wastewaters. Homeowners will never have a need to perform this testing.

Drinking Water: Primary Inorganics

This category consists of all eight Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) metals (arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, selenium) plus nitrate, nitrite, and fluoride. Labs classified as holding "Full" certification can provide all these capabilties.

Drinking Water: Disinfection ByProducts

This category consists of haloacetic acids, bromate, and chlorite. Labs classified as holding "Full" certification can provide all these capabilties.

Drinking Water: Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOC)

This is a difficult category to "receive a listing of "Full" certification because of the number of contaminants associated with it. This category consists of synthetic organic contaminants including: benzo(a)pyrene, numerous pesticides, chlorinated hydrocarbons, adipates and esters, and the specialty pesticides of diquat, endothall, and glyphosate. Labs classified as holding "Full" certification can provide all these capabilties.

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