Water Testing

Every month Mid-Atlantic Laboratories, Inc. receives hundreds of requests for advice about drinking water safety. Many people want to "do the right thing", i.e., make sure their drinking water is safe.

Chances are that your water is just fine, but YOU CAN'T TELL JUST BY LOOKING, SMELLING OR BY TASTING.

Testing is the first and most Important step for well owners, or for any consumer concerned about water quality. We recommend that a certified laboratory such as MAL be used for water tests. Click here for the FAQ on "How can I find out what to test my water for?"

ONCE A YEAR TEST FOR:

• Coliform Bacteria
• Nitrate and pH (acidity)
• If pH is less than 7.0, test for lead

FIRST TIME TESTS
If you have never had your water tested, or if you don't have any record of previous tests, we recommend that you test for the following:

• Coliform Bacteria
• Nitrate & Nitrite
• pH (acidity)
• sodium
• Iron
• Manganese
• Hardness
• Alkalinity
• Total dissolved solids (TDS)

If your well is near an operational or abandoned gas station or buried fuel storage also test for:

• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

IF YOUR WELL IS IN BEDROCK TEST FOR:

• Arsenic
• Radon
• Fluoride

IF YOU HAVE NEW WELL EQUIPMENT OR A CHANGE IN WATER APPEARANCE:

• After the installation of any new well equipment or if there is any change in taste color or odor of your water at any time, it makes sense to immediately test for Bacteria.

Keep a file of your water test results, but remember water test results only show what was tested!

CALL OR EMAIL TODAY FOR A TEST KIT OR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SAMPLE YOUR WATER!

HELPFUL WEBSITE: VA Water Resources **Explains drinking water issues, problems, solutions and test regulations and results

**Reference: (Other helpful websites)

• Well Care Hotline
• American Water Works Association (AWWA)
• American Ground Water Trust (AGWT)