Water Testing

We are a full service drinking water and waste water, ELAP certified laboratory located in the foothills of Northern California. We pride ourselves in customer service and maintaining working relationships with our clients. 


For homeowners we offer a full array of testing to ensure your water is not only safe but aesthetically pleasing. This includes microbiological contamination, minerals that may cause staining on your faucets and showers, or heavy metals which while have no visual indicators, can be harmful over time. We offer various testing panels and are happy to assist you in determining what testing should be performed. Contact us for testing of your real estate transactions or refinancing.


For public water systems (drinking/waste) we provide sampling or just courier service for your facility. If you prefer we also provide scheduling and sampling of all county and/or NDPES permit requirements, meaning you do not have to worry about whether you are up to date with your sampling requirements. We have a fantastic LIMS system with portal access and live updates on your results.


For small drinking water systems we handle your Electronic Annual Report (EAR) and Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) at no additional cost. We have licensed D-1 and T-1 Operators to oversee your small water system at a very affordable price.


For engineering and construction companies, we provide sampling and courier service to/from the project sites. We can assist with the project sampling requirements and a quick turn around time reporting.


Our laboratory specializes in Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET), acute and 3-species chronic analysis.  We also provide 96 hour Hazardous Waste bioassay (fathead minnow) analysis. We provide courier service or if you’d prefer simply ship the samples overnight in the ice chests we provide. 

Common Tests...

  • Bacteria Colilert Quantitray (Numeration)

    WHY TEST?

    We recommend testing your well water for bacteria at least once a year, especially if you notice change in your water color, smell, or after a storm to see if there is seepage into your well.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    Total Coliform and E.Coli bacteria in number form so you get an accurate numeration of how contaminated your water may be with bacteria growth.


    COST:

    $40

  • Bacteria Colilert (Present/Absent)

    WHY TEST?

    We recommend testing your well water for bacteria at least once a year, especially if you notice change in your water color, smell, or after a storm to see if there is seepage into your well.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    Total Coliform and E.Coli bacteria in Present or Absent only, to see if either or both bacteria is present.


    COST:

    $35

  • Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC)

    WHY TEST?

    Elevated counts of heterotrophic bacteria can represent a process issue or even a public health hazard in drinking water. In addition to the normal bacteria testing (total coliform and e.coli) HPC bacteria can give you usefull information about the water quality and potential issues.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    Heterotrophic Plate Count bacteria.


    COST:

    $30/35

  • Iron Rust Bacteria

    WHY TEST?

    Iron Rust Bacteria is a type of bacteria that uses Iron (or Manganese) as a food source. 

    Although iron bacteria are not harmful, they can cause troublesome, persistent, and expensive well and related plumbing problems, including:

    - Unpleasant taste and odors resembling fuel, sewage, or rotten vegetation. Rotten egg smell.

    - Rusty, slime buildup in toilet tank, on holding tank, on filters, or the inside of the well casing.

    - Oily sheen on the water surface, called Bio film.

    - Reduced well production or efficiency of point-of-use treatment devices.

    - Premature or excessive corrosion of well and plumbing components.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    A Present or Absent, including the level of infestation of iron rust bacteria. If warranted a treatment plan for the iron rust bacteria and getting rid of the smell in your well water. 


    COST:

    $65

  • General Mineral

    WHY TEST?

    Finding out the composition of your water to possibly prepare a system.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    Iron, Managese, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, and Hardness. 


    Iron and Manganese are not regulated even though they do have limits, they are considered secondary and thus as a nuisance for well water consumers. 


    pH is a measure of how acidic it is. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. Base on the differentiation from 7.0, determines if your water is acidic or alkalinic. 


    Total dissolved solids (TDS) is the term used to describe the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in solution in water. The principal constituents are usually calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium cations and carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate anions. Limit is 500 mg/L. 


    Hardness measures how hard your water is, meaning the level of Calcium and Magnesium, dissolved in you water.


    COST:

    $65

  • Real Estate Panel

    WHY TEST?

    Finding out the composition of your water to possibly prepare a system.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    The basis of a General Mineral test: Iron, Managese, pH, Total Dissolved Solids, and Hardness. And in addtion, Lead and Nitrate.


    Iron and Manganese are not regulated even though they do have limits, they are considered secondary and thus as a nuisance for well water consumers. 


    pH is a measure of how acidic it is. A pH of 7.0 is neutral. Base on the differentiation from 7.0, determines if your water is acidic or alkalinic. 


    Total dissolved solids (TDS) is the term used to describe the inorganic salts and small amounts of organic matter present in solution in water. The principal constituents are usually calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium cations and carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, chloride, sulfate, and nitrate anions. Limit is 500 mg/L. 


    Hardness measures how hard your water is, meaning the level of Calcium and Magnesium, dissolved in you water.


    COST:

    $65-125

  • Mine Panel

    WHY TEST?

    Finding out the composition of your water, if your well is located in or around a current or past mining area. These metals are heavy metals that may have cancer causing properties.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    Lead: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal drinking water standard for lead in drinking water is 0 micrograms per liter (µg/L) is a toxic metal that can be harmful to human health even at low exposure levels.


    Arsenic: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal drinking water standard for arsenic in drinking water is 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L). * However, drinking water with arsenic at levels lower than the EPA standard over many years can still increase your risk of

    cancer.


    Nickel: Nickel is necessary in many organism's diets but can become carcinogenic and toxic in high doses. Women are more commonly  allergic to nickel exposure than men. Exposure to skin can cause dermatitis upon contact. 


    Mercury: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) federal drinking water standard for mercury in drinking water is 2 micrograms per liter (µg/L) Erosion of natural deposits; discharge from refineries and factories; runoff from landfills and croplands. Can cause kidney damage.


    COST:

    $125

  • Nitrate

    WHY TEST?

    Consuming too much nitrate can affect how blood carries oxygen and can cause methemoglobinemia (also known as blue baby syndrome). Older adults and bottle-fed babies under six months old are at the highest risk of getting methemoglobinemia. Methemoglobinemia can cause skin to turn a bluish color and, left untreated, can result in serious illness or death.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    Nitrate as N for Drinking Water.


    COST:

    $35

  • Legionella

    WHY TEST?

    A bacteria which cause Legionnaire's Disease, a type of pneumonia. Found naturally in water; multiplies in heating systems.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    Legionella Bacteria, numeration for accurate level of contamintation.


    COST:

    $135

  • Pseudonomas

    WHY TEST?

    Pseudomonas bacteria can be found naturally in the ground and within drinking water sources such as aquifers.


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    Pseudomonas Bacteria numeration for accurate level of contamination or Present/Absent.


    COST:

    $155 (Numeration)

    $100 (Present/Absent)

  • Other Common Testing

    OTHER TESTS

    Hardness

    Alkalinity

    Biochemical Oxygen Demand

    Total Suspended Solids

    Total Dissolved Solids

    Total Solids

    pH

    Specific Conductance

    Dissolved Oxygen

    Chlorine Residual

    Ammonia

    Nitrate

    Nitrite

    Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen

    Phosphate

    Metals

    Total Organic Carbon

    Dissolved Oranic Carbon

    Pesticides

    TPH - Motor Oil/Gasoline/Diesel

    Volatile Organic Compounds

    Semi Volatile Organic Compounds

    Synthetic Organic Compounds


    WHAT DOES THE TESTING INCLUDE?

    A report outlining the result of the test, a MCL (Maxium Contaminant Level) if applicable. 

    Sample bottles may be provided at no additional cost.


    COST:

    Varies by test. Contact us for pricing.