Choice for Testing Kit/Lab

[NEMatt]

We just bought a house with a well and got *some* data back from the NJ Private Well Test Act results but not quite what I want. I know at the moment I need to figure out iron and pH, however I want the full story.

Based on the green line in our toilet tanks I need info on LSI, TDS, alkalinity, etc. I already know I need an acid neutralizer. And also looking in the tanks I need to determine what kind of iron we have.

What lab is everyone using for a comprehensive look at these items? NTL seems decent, but LSI is a whole other test kit and I don't see an iron bacteria test.

 

[Reach4]

I have just presumed iron bacteria (IRB) is there if I have iron, unless I have sanitized effectively. Same with SRB if I have sulfate. https://terrylove.com/forums/index....izing-extra-attention-to-4-inch-casing.65845/ is my sanitizing write-up.

NTL testing is good.

If you get a test that requires you to ship a chilled container overnight, that will significantly increase the cost. If you are going to test for coliform, you want to be very careful in your sampling. IMO, a large percentage of positive coliform tests from deep wells are due to sampling techniques. I would consider https://envirotestkits.com/product/safe-home-select/ for less money.

https://www.doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Documents/Pubs/331-225.pdf
https://www.anra.org/divisions/wate...nking_Water_Samples_for_Coliform_Analysis.pdf
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/Bacteria-Testing.aspx
https://www.digbydistrict.ca/559-water-testing-sample-taking-procedure/file.html
https://servitechlabs.com/Services/Water/WaterSamplingProcedures/tabid/128/Default.aspx
These all describe methods to avoid contaminating the sample. Don't bother reading all of them. County testing in my limited experience concentrates on the coliform and maybe E.coli testing.

http://www.e-watertest.com/ was the first water test I got. Now that KarLabs has closed, they are looking interesting to me again. The test I got includes tests for things that are seldom detected. If you click through from there, they now redirect to https://mytapscore.com/ , which may or may not be the same company. If you are around chemical plants or there is other stuff that has been found in your area, I would test for the more rare things. Otherwise, I would not spend the extra.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[NEMatt]

Thanks for the advice. After more poking around on NTL's site I actually found this kit that might provide the info I'm after: https://watercheck.com/collections/well-water-tests/products/problem-check. I'll have a look at e-watertest too.

I don't really need coliform. It failed the first time and the previous owners installed a UV system and had it retested before closing. Test also passed for the more foreign environmental contaminants and chemicals, so I really only need the data that will help build a treatment system to get rid of iron and corrosivity.

 

[Reach4]

I don't think you need the iron bacteria either. Presume it will be positive unless you have done a good sanitizing since the last well work.

That will cost over $200 I expect. I think they offer a way to get their shipping rates, which should be considerably cheaper than what you would get charged on your own.

If you want to eliminate the tests that call for overnight shipping, also consider their
WaterCheck™ Lite

 

[NEMatt]

As I have no idea when well work was last completed, I suppose it would be a good first step to have a local well driller come inspect the well and sanitize it and the home piping.

 

[Reach4]

As I have no idea when well work was last completed, I suppose it would be a good first step to have a local well driller come inspect the well and sanitize it and the home piping.

I think sanitizing makes a good DIY thing, because of the time element. Time is money.

However a well person who can bring a big dose of heavily chlorinated and pH-adjusted water in a large tank could do it much faster and better than somebody who pours bleach in. That has the advantage of the flooding volume.