Water Testing
Some water tests are time sensitive and must be returned for testing within 24 hours
WATER QUALITY CONCERNS
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Well testing is required for the sale or transfer of any home in Oregon that gets its drinking water from a well water source. Well water testing may also be required for government loans like VA or FHA loans. We are ORELAP certified to test wells under The Domestic Well Testing Act (ORS448.271) which requires testing for sale or exchange of real estate with a domestic well. The seller must test the well’s water quality for arsenic, nitrate, & coliform bacteria and share the results to comply.
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Rose City Labs tests for 59 different pesticides. Pesticides applied to crops and landscaping have the potential to contaminate drinking water. They can make their way into water systems that feed drinking water supplies. The risk posed by your exposure varies based on: types of pesticides used, toxicity, concentrations in the water, and amount of daily exposure.
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We are ORELAP certified to provide well water sampling and arsenic testing required for real estate transactions under the Domestic Well Testing Act (ORS 448.271), and test schools and day care centers for lead in accordance with EPA guidelines. Rose City Labs is also ANAB IEC/ISO 17025 accredited to test for heavy metals in drinking water. We can perform full heavy metals panels for water, which are also available in our testing kits.
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Coliform bacteria is a family of bacteria that occurs commonly in nature. Fecal Coliform bacteria occur in the intestines of humans and animals. E.Coli is a subgroup of fecal bacteria that can cause severe illness. Runoff and flooding can pollute water supplies. Private wells are a greater cause for concern because many don’t have a way to disinfect water. Rural water supplies are the most likely to be contaminated. Although public water systems use chlorine, ultraviolet light or ozone to kill E. coli, some E.coli outbreaks have been linked to contaminated municipal water supplies.
Why do I need my water tested?
The most common sources of water contaminants include:
Naturally occurring chemicals and minerals
Local land use practices such as fertilizers and pesticides
Manufacturing processes
Malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems
Testing drinking water quality on a regular basis is an important part of maintaining a reliable and safe water source. Although public water supplies are tested regularly, contaminants in drinking water can come from inside the home’s pipelines. Lead, arsenic, copper, and other substances can enter drinking water through corrosion of plumbing materials, especially where the water has high acidity or low mineral content that corrodes pipes and fixtures. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures and solder.
Groundwater Contamination
”Groundwater contamination is a serious issue in some areas of Oregon. Many agencies study the quantity and quality of Oregon’s groundwater resources. Ambient groundwater quality studies over the past 20 years and routine monitoring of public water supplies found 35 of 45 study areas show some impairment or reason for concern. Nitrate is the most commonly detected contaminant, followed by pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and bacteria. Data collected show that twenty-four percent of 1156 wells sampled statewide exceed the drinking water standard for arsenic. Sixteen percent of 2187 wells sampled exceed the drinking water standard for nitrate. Thirty-three percent of Willamette Valley rural wells contain at least one pesticide.” -www.oregon.gov/deq
Waste can enter the water through different ways, including sewage overflows, sewage systems that are not working properly, polluted storm water runoff, and agricultural runoff. Wells may be more vulnerable to such contamination after flooding, particularly if the wells are shallow, have been dug or bored, or have been submerged by floodwater for long periods of time. Nearly 23% of Oregonians rely on private wells as their primary source of drinking water. This makes groundwater and well protection important to Oregon's public health. The Domestic Well Testing Act (ORS 448.271) requires testing for sale or exchange of real estate with a domestic well; a well used for drinking, cooking, washing, or bathing. The seller must test the well's water quality for arsenic, nitrate, & coliform bacteria and share the results to comply. Results are good for one year.
DIY Testing Kits
Easy-to-use DO-IT-YOURSELF Test Kits make water testing easy. All kits include Lab Testing Fees and Return Shipping. Results in 3-5 Days.
Our send-in, DIY, radon in water test kit includes: sample bottles, a guide book. Testing fees are included for your samples. Take your samples, drop them off, and we will take care of the rest. Must be returned to the lab within 24 hours of taking the sample.
Rose City Labs provides water tests for a variety of needs and industries, whether you’re testing your water for Real Estate Transactions, Financing, Regulatory requirements or safety or Water Quality concerns. We are ORELAP certified for well water testing and accredited for heavy metals testing in drinking water.
We test schools and daycare centers for lead in accordance with EPA guidelines, and we are also NRSB certified for radon in water testing.