Testing Your Well Water
The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/My-Water/PrivateWells/Pages/Water-Testing.aspx recommends that you test your well water periodically. Here are some guidelines to follow when testing your water:
• Test your water every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids and pH levels.
• If you suspect other contaminants, test for those too.
• Always use a state certified laboratory that conducts drinking water tests
• Since some contaminant testing can be expensive, spend some time identifying potential problems.
3 locations to pick up your Water Testing Kit.
- Bucks County, 576 Penns Park Road Suite EXTNewtown, PA 18940 267-483-2020
- More Info >
- Northampton County, 14 Gracedale AvenueNazareth, PA 18064 610-813-6613
- More Info >
- Lehigh County, 4184 Dorney Park Road, Room 104 Lehigh County Agricultural Center Allentown, PA 18104-5798 610-391-9840
Well Water Testing Laboratories
The following is a list of labs for testing your well water. The Bridgeton-Nockamixon-Tinicum Groundwater Committee recommends the Penn State Water testing lab. Additional information can be found on the Penn State website below. Other labs are listed for more comprehensive analysis (including PFAS, VOCs, pesticides) or if you want to hire a pro to do the sampling. Whatever lab you chose, it should be EPA/DEP certified.
Penn State Water Testing https://agsci.psu.edu/aasl/water-testing/drinking-water-testing
Ag Analytical Services Lab
111 Ag Analytical Srvcs Lab
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0841
Drinking Water Test Kits are available at many county extension offices. The kit consists of a cooler, shipping box, sample bottles, instructions on how to take a sample, and a submission form. After taking your water sample, you must send the kit to the laboratory by overnight mail along with your payment for the test(s) requested. For the bacteria test, included in all test packages, the laboratory must receive the sample within 30 hours after sampling. If you need the bacteria test only, contact the laboratory to receive a smaller cooler test kit. The lab cannot accept any water samples for bacteria on a Friday. Cost for the test range from $70 for a standard test to $220 for more extensive tests.
Bucks County Dept of Health https://www.buckscounty.gov/1126/Residential-Water-Testing
Neshaminy Manor Center
1282 Almshouse Road
Doylestown PA 18901
Phone: 215-345-3333
Information on how to purchase water-sampling kits can be obtained by calling Doylestown 215-345-3318 or Quakertown 215-529-7000. See the attached handout for water sample procedure.
Additional PA Accredited Environmental Laboratories
09-00332
Analytical Laboratories, Inc
4208 Bethlehem Pike
Telford, PA 18969
(215) 723-6466
https://www.analab.com/priceList.php
Total coliforms RTCR
E. coli RTCR
Metals, anions and VOC
6-00026
Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc.
762 W. Lancaster Avenue.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010-3489
(610) 525-1400
https://www.paael.org/aqua-pennsylvania-2/
Total coliforms RTCR
E. coli RTCR
Many metals
VOC
46-00564
Eagle Industrial Hygiene Associates Inc
216 Cedar Avenue,
Willow Grove, PA 19090
(215) 672-6088
https://www.eagleih.com/contact/
Total coliform & E. coli (P/A)
46-05499
Eurofins Environment Testing Philadelphia LLC (Former QC Labs)
213 Witmer Road,
Horsham, PA 19044
(215) 355-3900
https://www.eurofins.com/
E. coli (Enumeration)
Total coliforms RTCR
(All the metals, anions, PFAS and VOC)
09-00277
North Penn Water Authority Laboratory
144B Park Avenue,
Chalfont, PA 18914
(215) 822-1759
https://npwa.org/
E. coli RTCR
Total coliforms RTCR
VOC
Nitrate/nitrite
09-00373
Quakertown Veterinary Clinic
2250 N Old Bethlehem Pike,
Quakertown, PA 18951-3948
(215) 536-6245
https://www.quakertownvetclinic.com/
E. coli RTCR
Total coliforms RTCR
06-00003
M. J. Reider Associates Inc
107 Angelica Street,
Reading, PA 19611-1999
(610) 374-5129
VOC EPA 524.2 (Rev. 4.1)
09-01225
Criterion Laboratories Inc
400 Street Road Suite 100,
Bensalem, PA 19020
(215) 244-1300
VOC EPA 524.4 (Rev. 1.0)
46-01135
Republic Environmental Systems Pennsylvania LLC
2869 Sandstone Dr.,
Hatfield, PA 19440-1912
(215) 822-8995
VOC in waste water EPA 624.1
51-00016
Philadelphia Water Department Bureau of Laboratory Services
1500 East Hunting Park Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19124-4941
(215) 685-1402
VOC EPA 524.2 (Rev. 4.1)
06-00208
Suburban Testing Laboratories, Inc.
1037F MacArthur Road,
Reading, PA 19605
(610) 375-8378
VOC EPA 524.2 (Rev. 4.1)
