Water Testing

Everyone should have their water tested for bacteria, nitrate, and lead when they move to a house with a private well, and at least every few years after that. Although other contaminants have the potential to contaminate your ground water as well, bacteria, nitrate, and lead are the most common and can be tested for a reasonable cost. Testing for those three ranges from a few dollars up to $30 or so (each parameter) in some labs, while testing for pesticides is likely to cost more.

If you are on a public water system (“city water”), the water system is required to test the water regularly. In general, you should not need to test the water yourself. If you live in an older home and suspect lead from your house’s piping may be contaminating the water, or have other reasons to suspect contamination, consider testing. For Owen County residents with public water system please contact BBP Water Corporation located at 256 W Clay St, Spencer, IN 47460. Their phone number is (812) 829-2283 and their website URL is https://www.bbpwatercorp.com/404.html.

The Indiana State Department of Health Laboratory (ISDH) will test private well water samples for the following parameters. The cost is $10 for bacteria, fluoride, or nitrate, and $20 for the lead, copper, and arsenic test, plus $6.50 shipping and handling.

• Bacteria –  To determine if the water is bacteriologically safe for drinking purposes.
• Fluoride/sodium: Sodium is important for those on low sodium diets, fluoride is important in the prevention of dental caries
• Total Nitrate-Nitrite: Nitrate is particularly a concern for infant feeding because infants are sensitive to nitrate. It is often used as a first test, particularly in agricultural areas, to see if any contamination is present.
• Metals: Lead, copper and arsenic testing, which is a good idea in any home that may contain lead pipes. (The metals test is $20 + shipping).

To have your water tested, you must use the “Water Test Kit Order Form” which is the last form listed at http://www.in.gov/isdh/24550.htm (A direct link to the form (pdf) is at https://forms.in.gov/Download.aspx?id=74). Fill out the tests you want in the Private Individual line. Enclose the fee (currently $10 per test plus $6.50 S&H) and mail to the address on the form. You will receive the test kit, which consists of sterile bottles, a mailer, and instructions for filling the sample bottle and mailing it back. Call 317-921-5874 for more information.

To find Indiana laboratories that test for other contaminants, the most up-to-date source of information is maintained by the Indiana State Department of Health. At this web site, select “certified chemistry laboratories” to find labs that test for parameters such as copper, lead, mercury, nitrate, fluoride, pesticides and other synthetic organic chemicals, or volatile organic chemicals. Select “certified microbiology labs” to find labs that test for E. coli or other bacteria.

Heidelberg College Water Quality Labs (now called the National Center for Water Quality Research) can test private wells in Indiana for pesticides, metals, nitrates, and other contaminants. Prices are listed at the bottom of the web page. You may wish to contact them about their testing program.

Well Disinfection

The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) can provide information on private well water testing. This guide to testing private wells can help landowners gain knowledge, determine what testing your water needs, knowing what can pollute your water, and who to contact for guidance in maintaining clean, healthy drinking water from your private well .

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also has a Frequency Asked Questions guide on determining the recommended test for conditions or nearby activities.

If your well tests positive for bacteria, one recommended solution is to shock chlorinate the well and plumbing systems. Follow this informative guide on well disinfection from IDEM. Then have your well water re-tested.

Test Kits

For landowners interesting in testing their drinking water visit https://envirotestkits.com/. They have been ranked the Best Overall Water Test Kit for three straight years and offer DIY Kits – starting at $12.95 and Lab Kits – Starting at $39.95.