We are accredited by the Oregon Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program for the analysis of drinking water under the U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Act as Laboratory:

OR100013 for 2020 - 2021

OR100013 for 2021 - 2022

OR100013 for 2022 - 2023

For a complete list of our accredited analytes/ analyses: 

Fields of accreditation 2020 - 2021

Fields of accreditation 2021 - 2022

Fields of accreditation 2022 - 2023

These are complicated questions.  There are hundreds of analyses that can be performed on water.  The cost ranges from $25 to $1300 per each test.  You, as the customer, must answer some questions first.  Does your water come from a city or a private well?  Are you concerned about health issues or looking to resolve some aesthetic concerns?  Are you selling your house?  Are you required to test your water by a government department or agency?

The most common test is for bacteria – coliform and E. coli.  Additional common tests include arsenic, nitrate, and lead.  Call the lab for specific prices, quotes and sample requirements.

Typically, results are available in 7-10 business days.  Some tests are faster, and you may see results within a day or two.  Some tests take a little more time, and could take as long as 14 business days or more. If you need results sooner please call or let us know upon receipt of samples; we are happy to rush results whenever possible (rush fees may apply).

We recommend that you use our bottles.  Our bottles undergo a quality control procedure and must be used for the test results to be certified.  They also include instructions covering sampling procedures and holding time constraints for analyses, if applicable.  You may pick up our bottles, free of charge, at our lab or at several locations throughout northwest Oregon.  Call the lab for more details.

Bacteria are a very diverse group of microscopic organisms. While some bacteria are beneficial, others may cause disease.

Coliform bacteria are a broad group of bacteria found on the earth’s surface. When detected in drinking water, coliform bacteria indicate the potential presence of harmful organisms. Coliform bacteria include Escherichia coli, or E. coli, which are found naturally in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. When E. coli are detected in a drinking water sample it is an indication that the water has potentially been polluted by sewage contamination.

The bacteria test specifically indicates the presence or absence of both coliform bacteria and E.coli. All water samples with positive results require action to protect health. 

If you have received test results indicating that your well contains coliform bacteria, we recommend you disinfect your well by following our disinfection procedure.

Arsenic is most commonly found in the basalt bedrock of our valleys throughout Oregon. Any well drilled to a depth near or below bedrock can potentially contain arsenic. Because arsenic has no taste or odor, the only way to know for sure is to test your water. This should only need to be done once for the life span of the well.  

Nitrogen is an essential element for all living things. Nitrogen when combined with oxygen in natural processes becomes nitrate. Nitrates found in drinking water may be from fertilizers, animal wastes, human sewage or mineral sources. Excess levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause health problems for people. Infants, pregnant and nursing women, and anyone with a compromised immune system are the most susceptible to nitrate toxicity. To protect health, the nitrate drinking water standard has been set at 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of nitrate-nitrogen. Milligrams per liter are also referred to as parts per million (ppm). Water treatment or an alternate source of drinking water should be obtained if your drinking water nitrate level is above the drinking water standard.

Lead is a naturally occurring element that can be found in many sources including water, soil, and air. However, over-exposure can be toxic to humans and animals. Due to the prevalence of lead in a wide variety of products around the home or from pipe and plumbing fixtures, the presence of lead may not be abnormal, but the amount being ingested through drinking water could be harmful if it exceeds the EPA standard for Safe Drinking Water. Lead analysis is fairly quick and inexpensive, please call or walk-in during busniess hours if you would like to obtain bottles and sampling instructions.

In Oregon, the property owner is required to test private well water for arsenic, nitrate, and coliform bacteria, report results to the buyer within 90 days of the real estate transaction, and submit the domestic well testing form to the Drinking Water Program (see Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 448.271(1)) and Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 333-061-0305 - 0335).  Some loans require additional tests; please be sure to check with your real estate agent or lending institute.  For water sampling instructions, click here.

The Oregon Health Authority is a great location for finding more information about owning a home or property with a private well. The Domestic Well Safety Program contains a wealth of information and EPA recommendations.

No. We are a private business and analytical lab. We do not have any say or control over the operation of public water systems. If you are a homeowner, please contact your local water utility if you have concerns about your water. If you are a public water system operator, please contact the Oregon Health Authority (Drinking Water Data Online) for regulatory, compliance, and contact info.