Why test my well water?

Many potentially harmful well water contaminants have no taste, color or odor and may enter aquifers from which drinking water wells without notice. Municipal water supplies that draw from the same aquifers as local private water wells perform regular tests on their water (as mandated by law) so any changes would get noticed and corrected immediately where as no laws mandate testing of private wells… meaning private well owners would continue using contaminated water because they did not know of water quality issues.

How does well water contamination occur?

Despite the fact that wells draw their water from sources hundreds or possibly thousands of feet below the Earth’s surface, any source of contamination on the Earth’s surface can eventually makes its way into our subterranean water sources.

Potential sources of surface contamination that can trickle into our water supply include animal waste (pick up after your dogs, people!), wastewater from industry, sewer and sewage system overflows, tainted storm water runoff (don’t dump things into the sewers, people!), excessive fertilizer use in agriculture and on lawns, and in some cases pollutants come right out of Nature itself (examples: metals, arsenic, radon, uranium, etc.)

OK, so how do I get my water tested in McHenry County?

First, pick up a sterile water sampling container from one of the participating locations listed below. Then, return samples for testing on Tuesdays in April between 9 AM and noon at one of the same locations. Note: We suggest collecting your sample on the same day as you intend to drop it off for testing.

• Algonquin Township Office, 3702 Route 14, Crystal Lake, (847)639-2329
• Dorr Township Office, 1039 Lake St., Woodstock, (815) 338-0125
• McHenry County Dept. of Health, 2200 N. Seminary Ave., Woodstock (815) 334-4585
• McHenry County Dept. of Health, 100 N. Virginia St., Crystal Lake (815) 459-5151
• McHenry Township Office, 3703 Richmond Road, McHenry (accepting samples from 8 AM to 4 PM Monday – Wednesday; and 8 AM to Noon on Thursdays) (815) 385-5605
• Nunda Township Office, 3510 Bay Road, Crystal Lake, (815) 459-4011
• City of Marengo, City Hall, 134 E. Prairie St., Marengo, (815) 568-7112
• Harvard Police Department, 201 W. Front St., Harvard, (815) 943-4431
• Richmond Township Office, 7812 S. Route 31, Richmond, (815) 678-0077
• Grafton Township Office, 10109 Vine St., Huntley, (847) 669-3328

Source: http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20160401/submitted/160409879/

What if I want my water tested… but I live elsewhere?

Not all discounted (or free!) water testing opportunities offered by departments of health and other agencies get publicized as much as they should so we recommend contacting your local health department directly to see what they may offer.

For those interested in performing water testing on their own well or tap water, we offer a wide variety of DIY water test kits in the Water Test Kit Store.

Lead in Water Test

Water Metals Test Strips

Total Iron Visual Test Kit

Total Copper in Water Test

Chromium in Water Test

Mercury in Water Test

]]> http://watertestingblog.com/2016/04/06/reduced-fee-water-testing-in-mchenry-county-illinois-april-1st-30th-2016/feed/ 0 http://watertestingblog.com/2016/03/02/does-your-coliform-bacteria-test-replace-laboratory-testing/ http://watertestingblog.com/2016/03/02/does-your-coliform-bacteria-test-replace-laboratory-testing/#respond Wed, 02 Mar 2016 15:42:20 +0000 http://www.watertestkitstore.com/blog/does-your-coliform-bacteria-test-replace-laboratory-testing/ A few hours ago we received an inquiry from 'Dean' who asked, " How good is the test kit for testing coliform in water. Is it close to what they do at some labs?"

The coliform bacteria water test kit we carry ( EZ Coliform Cult) works well as an on-site screening method to determine the presence/absence of coliform bacteria in a 100mL water sample.  If the test indicates positive for coliform,a contamination, then more precise laboratory should take place.

As for whether or not a different field test method exists that gives results comparable in precision to those given by laboratory testing, at this time we do not know of a field bacteria test capable of replacing laboratory testing.

We do, however, know of water test kit called the "Compartment Bag Test (CBT)" from a company called Aquagenx ( www.aquagenx.com) that specifically detects E. Coli and gives an indication of the extent of contamination, as well.

Again, we stress that at this time we neither carry nor know of a field test capable of providing bacteria test results comparable to those provided by a qualified water testing laboratory.

About EZ Coliform Cult Test

The EZ Coliform Cult (MUG) Test gives homeowners and water professionals the ability to get accurate coliform bacteria test results for a water sample in 24 to 48 hours!

In the presence of coliform bacteria, the media (powder in the test container) turns blue-green and detects down to the USEPA limit of 1 coliform per 100 mL sample. Additionally, users of this test want to confirm the presence of E. Coli, illuminating the sample with blue fluorescent lighting (UV light) or adding a Kovacs reagent makes that possible.

• Detects the EPA limit of 1 cfu (coliform unit) per 100 milliliters of sample water.
• Easy and safe test procedure.
• No laboratory equipment required.

What Should I Do If My Water Tests Positive for Coliform Bacteria?

Stop using the water right away and have the water tested by a certified water testing laboratory. Then, depending upon the results, you may find that you need to invest in a water filtration system capable of rendering the bacteria incapable of reproducing (see UV Water Sterilizer) or removing it altogether (see Ceramic Water Filters).

Good afternoon, Kerry, and thank you for your inquiry.

The product you asked about (EZ Coliform Cult (MUG) Test) does not provide a numeric value of coliform bacteria detected. Instead, it serves as a presence/absence test showing whether or not a water sample contains 1 cfu/100 ml.

We do, however, know of a test called 'CBT' that provides users with more quantitative results by indicating that a water sample contains coliform bacteria contamination in one of several ranges. You can obtain more information on the test by visiting www.aquagenx.com.

In case you did not know, health officials and water experts suggest having one's well water tested at least once a year for coliform bacteria and more often than that if the well head seal gets breached or flood waters cover the well head at any point.

The EZ Coliform Cult (MUG) Test makes it possible for homeowners and water professionals alike to get accurate coliform bacteria test results for a water sample in just 24 hours -- no incubator required!

The media turns blue-green in the presence of coliform bacteria and can detect down to the USEPA limit of 1 coliform per 100 mL sample. Additionally, users of this test can confirm the specific presence of E. Coli by illuminating the sample with blue fluorescent lighting (UV light) or by adding a Kovacs reagent.

Why Test for Bacteria?

• If you have a private well the responsibility for the quality of the water coming out of that well rests on your shoulders. No one will come out and do periodic testing to make sure you and your family have safe, clean drinking water free of coliform bacteria such as E. Coli.
• If you have tap water (i.e. city water, municipal water, etc.) the water provider performs regular testing of the water for bacteria at the water treatment facility... but the water must travel through many miles of piping before it reaches your tap and at any point during that long journey bacteria could possibly find its way into the water supply -- and you would never know until after someone got sick.

What Should I Do If My Water Tests Positive for Coliform Bacteria?

Stop drinking the water right away and have the water tested by a certified water testing laboratory. Then, depending upon the results, you may need to invest in some sort of filtration system capable of rendering the bacteria incapable of reproducing (see UV Water Sterilizer) or removing them altogether (see Ceramic Water Filters by Berkey).

The important part: Test your water for coliform bacteria so you can make an educated decision when it comes to purchasing or not purchasing a water filter for your home, school or office!

Roughly 96 percent of the U.S. rural population relies upon ground water, the water filling the cracks and porous areas between rock and sand, for fresh drinking water. Additionally, in the United States approximately 79.6 billion gallons per day of fresh groundwater get used by the public for irrigation, watering livestock, manufacturing processes, mining operations, thermoelectric power generation, and other purposes. ( source )
In Illinois: Thanks to sponsorship by the Central Regional Groundwater Committee, the Tazewell County Health Department, Peoria County Health Department, Woodford County Health Department, and the Mason Soil and Water Conservation will offer free private water testing for private well owners in Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford and Mason Counties.

The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) suggests routine well maintenance checks to help ensure water quality and proper operation of the well. As part of regular well maintenance, the NGWA also suggests that owners of prove water wells have their water tested (at least) annually or when well owner’s notice a change in their water’s taste, color, odor, or appearance.

Well water also should get tested in the event that the well head gets submerged by surface water (i.e. during a flood) or after the well head gets unsealed for service work.

Private well owners may collect free sample bottles from the Tazewell County Health Department, Peoria County Health Department, Woodford County Health Department or Mason County Soil and Water Conservation and drop off samples for free water testing between 8:30 a.m.- 2:30 p.m. on March 9th, 10th and 11th during Groundwater Awareness Week. Samples will get tested for nitrates and total coliform bacteria. This offer available only to private well owners.

An ex-employee at an asphalt company has come forward recently with allegations that higher-ups in the company encouraged him to submit fake water samples (taken from a rainwater collection bucket) and submit them for testing by the Oregon Department of Transportation… because the higher-ups feared actual testing of their waste water stream would reveal code violations.

Nothing makes the taste of fresh, clean drinking water vanish quite like… runoff from an asphalt plant, right? Even just saying that to ourselves as we put together this blog posting turned our stomachs.

So, if unlike ourselves you actually believe all of required environmental testing gets done in the proper manner, perhaps now you will see things a bit differently and start testing your water on, at the very least, a semi-regular basis?

Think we made up this story? Not! Read the source article here.

Common water contaminants to test for?

Although far more sinister compounds and elements exist in our world that could enter our water supply (i.e. organic solvents, radioactive isotopes, etc.), we routinely suggest testing for heavy metals as a good starting point because whether you have city/municipal water or your water comes from a well or spring, metals can pretty much always — under the right circumstances — find a way into the water supply.

• Well casings typically get made out of metal.

• City/Municipal water must travel through miles of metal piping before it gets to one’s residence.

• Water extracted from wells comes in contact with rocks and soil that all contain traces of metals.

• While most homes these days contain plastic plumbing, many older homes still contain metallic plumbing (copper w/ lead-laced solder at the joints) plumbing… and metal lines get used to connect most homes (regardless of age) to the municipal water system.

What should I test for next?

After dissolved metals in water testing things get a bit murky. Pardon the expression.

Folks with well water may want to test for all sorts of things such as nitrates, nitrites, coliform bacteria (important!), hydrogen sulfide, arsenic, etc. while folks on city water may want to test for specific metals such as copper and lead, total hardness, free chlorine, total chlorine, etc.

No matter what type of water you have going into your home, school or place of business, only regular testing of the water’s quality will let you know if you have anything to worry about when it comes to the safety and purity of the water you drink.

Good afternoon, Domingo, and thank you for your inquiry regarding possibly providing water testing to airlines and ground services at an airport in the Bahamas.

At this point we do not know exactly what sort of information you seek… but we have heard that some airlines already have guidelines and procedures in place which require testing of water that will get served on their planes regardless of geographic location.

At the very minimum those tests, we would guess, include testing water in planes’ potable water tanks for free chlorine levels and unwanted organic contaminants such as coliform bacteria — though the results of bacteria testing would not become known until after 24 hours and by that time the plane would obviously have already left the ground and traveled, perhaps halfway around the globe.

We suspect that you will need to get in touch with each respective airline’s main office if you want to learn more about what each airline tests for. Additionally, you may also want to contact the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration in the United States) to see if they have any regulations on the books governing water quality on airplanes and/or at airports.

Conveniently, this brings us to the matter of testing water used by ground services at the airport.

Without a doubt any food service operation must adhere to water quality requirements and testing testing requirements spelled out for them by the local health department.

Also without a doubt, the airport answers to the region’s environmental and/or natural resources department on matters dealing with the quality of water exiting the property in the form of waste water, runoff, etc.

Sorry we do not have more information to share on the topic of airport water testing but we do think, after hearing rumors involving accidental fuel spills (unreported), deicing solution spills (unreported), and the detection of coliform bacteria in potable water supplies on commercial aircraft, etc., that the topic deserves more attention than perhaps many people give it.

We wish you the best of luck in getting your business off the ground!

Pun intended. 😉

Once deposited the contaminants have the opportunity to possibly enter the well cap and work their way down into the water supply and since no one requires private well owners to test their water… the contaminants could go undetected for quite some time. While some contaminants make their presence known in the form of gastrointestinal illness very quickly — talking about coliform bacteria here — others like heavy metals (i.e. arsenic, chromium, etc.) can build up in people’s systems and cause long-term health problems down the road.

So, the next time heavy rains hit your area, do yourself a favor and perform quick tests for simple, but important, water quality contaminants like heavy metals, nitrates/nitrites, arsenic, coliform bacteria, etc.

The above advice to test your well water after heavy rains matters even MORE if you have your well head located downhill from areas of agricultural activity, industrial activity, fuel stations, septic systems, etc. As moving surface water washes over those areas it carries with it anything that it comes in contact with and since water obeys gravity it will head downhill to contaminate any and everything in its path with whatever it picked up before.

How much does well water testing cost?

Sometimes after a period of heavy rain has caused flooding in an area health departments will partner with local third party water testing laboratories and put together a low-cost or free well water testing program. Therefore, in the event of regional flooding, we highly suggest contacting contacting your local health department to see what, if any, reduced cost well water testing they can recommend.

If no such options exist in your area then definitely seek out the assistance of a qualified water testing lab and for routine (non post-flooding) water testing you may find some of the drinking water water test kits offered in our store both highly useful and affordable.

Is your well water safe?

It may look crystal clear, but don’t let that fool you; contaminants could be lurking.

The only way to know for sure if your home’s drinking water is safe is to have it tested.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends having well water tested every year, and the best time to do so is now, in the spring after a few rainy days.

“Unlike public water systems, there are no water quality monitoring requirements for private wells, and many never get tested,” said Scott Kendzierski, director of environmental health services for the Health Department of Northwest Michigan. “It is up to well owners to make sure their drinking water is safe for consumption. Fortunately, it’s easy, quick and inexpensive to test drinking water.”

The local health department offers two types of well water testing kits for a nominal fee. Both kits are available the department’s offices in Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties. The kit, which tests for the presence of E. coli and other bacteria, costs $16; and the kit that tests for fluoride, chloride, hardness, iron, sodium, sulfates and nitrites is $18. These are small prices to pay to assure your family’s drinking water is safe. ( source )

So, for less than $40 residents of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties in Michgan can have their water tested for coliform bacteria (including E. Coli), fluoride, chloride, hardness, iron, sodium, sulfates, and nitrites. We consider THAT a really great deal!

OK, but what about everyone else?

If you live close to those counties but not actually in any of them, the article concludes by saying, “For more information about well water testing, visit www.nwhealth.org or call your local health department office.” — and we could not have said it any better than that.

Looking for test kits for home use?

Although all of us at Water Testing Blog highly suggest that private well owners get their water tested annually by a certified water testing laboratory such as National Testing Laboratories or one recommended by your local Health Department, if you would like to test your own well or ground water we can definitely point you in the right direction.

The Water Testing Blog Store carries a variety of useful test kits for home water testing. Below you will find some of the more popular kits we carry:

You will find the full selection of test kits currently available on the Water Testing Blog Store’s Main Page.

The standards for safe drinking water are hundreds of times tighter than those for safe swimming water. Typically, limits for safe swimming allow for a maximum of 100 to 500 cells in 100 mL of water, depending on jurisdiction. For water to be considered safe for drinking, there cannot be even one cell in 100 mL – a little less than half a cup of water. (source)

What sort of nasty biological contaminants may lurk at the local swimming hole? Quite a few, actually. Just to name a few, you could possibly encounter Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, E.coli, species of Salmonella, Shigella, Enterobacter, Klebsiella and many other Coliform and non-Coliform bacteria.

While we would all prefer exposure to NONE of the critters on that list, or ones not on that list, eventual exposure to one or more will certainly happen at some point or other. You do NOT have to put yourself in harm’s way unnecessarily, though, since WaterSafe Brand manufactures and distributes a product it calls the Pool and Spa Bacteria Test.

With easy-to-follow directions and a total test time of less than 20 minutes, the Pool and Spa Bacteria Test works quite well as an on-the-spot test kit for excessive levels of potentially harmful bacteria in your favorite pool, spa, or swimming hole.