Your water can change at any time due to seasonal shifts, nearby construction, changes in local land use, aging pipes, or natural shifts in groundwater. Many contaminants including lead, arsenic, PFAS, bacteria, and radon have no taste, odor, or color, making testing the only reliable way to know what is in your water. Regular testing protects your family and gives you peace of mind. Many mortgage lenders also now require water testing before approving home loans on properties with private wells.

Most water quality experts recommend testing your well water at least once a year. Annual testing allows you to catch changes in your water quality before they become serious health concerns. Even households on city or town water benefit from periodic testing since contaminants can enter the water supply after it leaves the treatment facility through aging distribution infrastructure and household plumbing. For your first test we recommend our Premium Water Test, and we suggest repeating it annually or any time you notice a change in your water’s taste, odor, or appearance.

The right test depends on your water source, your location, and any specific concerns you have. Our Basic Water Test is a great starting point for well owners without specific chemical concerns. Our Premium Water Test adds VOC screening and is ideal for anyone near commercial properties, gas stations, dry cleaners, or landfills. Our Ultimate Water Test is the most comprehensive option available and covers 249 substances including bacteria, heavy metals, cancer-causing chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and radon. If you are unsure, give us a call and one of our water quality experts will help you choose the right test for your situation at no charge.

Samples are best taken from the area where people drink the most water, which in most households is the kitchen sink. Do not remove aerators from the tap. Let cold water run for about five minutes to flush any standing water from your household plumbing before collecting your sample.

That said, where you collect your sample can depend on your reason for testing. If you are looking to install or replace a filtration system, taking your sample before the filter, typically at your holding tank or at the point where water enters the home, gives you the most accurate picture of your raw untreated water quality. This helps ensure you choose the right filtration solution for what is actually in your water. If you have any questions about the best sampling location for your specific situation, give us a call before you begin and one of our water quality experts will point you in the right direction.

Use a sterile glass or plastic bottle. If you are testing for Volatile Organic Compounds, use a glass vial. We suggest that you contact us for sterile sample bottles. As soon as an order is placed for a water test, we will send you the appropriate sterile containers for the tests you have ordered.

Fill each container slowly to minimize air bubbles. Do not touch the inside of the container or lid. Secure all lids tightly. If you have received more than one bottle, fill all bottles near the top. Do not hesitate to call us with any questions about proper sampling technique before you begin.

About 200 ml of water is adequate for most standard tests. VOC testing requires at least 40 ml in a glass vial. The Ultimate Water Test and pesticide or herbicide testing requires at least one liter. Your kit will include the appropriate containers for everything you have ordered.

It is not necessary if you follow proper collection technique. Simply avoid touching the inside of the container or lid and fill carefully. If you have specific concerns about faucet contamination, give us a call and we will walk you through best practices for your situation.

Yes. Running cold water for five minutes is adequate for homes that are currently occupied. For homes that have been vacant for several weeks or longer, run the water for several hours before collecting your sample. If you are concerned about running your well dry, contact your well installer or a plumber for guidance.

New wells often contain silt and residue from drilling that can affect results. It typically takes several days of pumping to clear this out. We recommend performing our Premium Water Test and continuing to pump until you achieve the desired water quality. If you have questions about timing your sample collection from a new well give us a call.

If you are local to Leominster, Massachusetts you are welcome to hand deliver your sample to our lab at 60 Elm Hill Avenue. For everyone else, when you place your order we send your sample containers in a prepaid postage return box so getting your sample back to us is as simple as dropping it in the mail.

Cold shipping is only needed in certain cases. Your kit instructions will specify if cold shipping is needed for your particular test. If you have questions contact us before shipping.

Turnaround times vary by test. Single parameter tests such as Coliform and E. coli can be completed within 1 to 2 business days. Our Basic and Premium Water Tests are typically returned within 2 to 4 business days. The Ultimate Water Test takes 7 to 10 business days. All turnaround times begin from the date your sample arrives at our lab.

Results are emailed to you directly. Feel free to give us a call to go over your results.

Your report will be mailed on the business day following the day it is prepared. Reports are mailed by request only.

A sulfur or rotten egg odor is almost always caused by bacteria or naturally occurring hydrogen sulfide gas in your water supply. When the smell comes primarily from hot water it is often a sign that bacteria are growing in your hot water heater, which can happen when the temperature is set too low. Our BioScan Microbiological Water Test will identify the specific organisms responsible and help you determine the right treatment approach.

We find that microorganisms are typically the cause for odors. We suggest the BioScan Microbiological Water Test for this concern.

Our Premium Water Test will provide the results your bank needs.

Orange, red or brown stains on the dishwasher, toilets and other plumbing fixtures
Blue-green stains on the tub, toilets and other plumbing fixtures
White powdery substance on ice cubes and/or ice maker
Black or gray stains on laundry

All these problems can be caused by various naturally-occurring elements. We suggest the Premium Water Test for these concerns.

You need tests for Total Coliform, Fecal/E. coli, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia and Volatile Organic Compounds. The Basic, Premium, and Ultimate Water Tests all include these tests.

Hardness refers to elevated levels of calcium and magnesium in your water. Hard water is not a health risk but it can cause white spots on dishes and glassware, reduced soap lathering, mineral buildup in pipes and appliances, and shortened appliance lifespan. Our Premium Water Test includes hardness testing along with a full mineral panel so you know exactly what you are dealing with.

PFAS compounds do not appear in our standard water test packages. For PFAS screening you will need our dedicated PFAS Forever Chemical Drinking Water Test which screens for 18 compounds including PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and 15 others. Many homeowners choose to pair this with our Premium or Ultimate Water Test for a complete picture of their water quality.

Many people assume that because their water comes from a municipal treatment facility it is safe by the time it reaches their tap. The reality is more complicated. The EPA estimates that U.S. water systems lose approximately 2 trillion gallons of treated water annually due to aging infrastructure, leaking over 6 billion gallons per day. Every leak in that distribution system is a potential entry point for contamination. Water that leaves a treatment plant clean does not always arrive at your tap the same way.

For city water customers we recommend our Premium Water Test as the most practical and comprehensive starting point. Here is what it covers and why it matters for municipal water specifically:

Lead and heavy metals are a serious concern in older homes and neighborhoods where service lines and household plumbing may contain lead, copper, or other metals that leach into the water supply. If your home was built before 1986 this is especially important to test for.

Trihalomethanes and disinfection byproducts form when the chlorine used to treat municipal water reacts with naturally occurring organic matter. These compounds have been linked to increased cancer risk with long term exposure. Knowing whether they are present in your water at significant levels helps you determine whether a carbon filtration system is advisable for your home.

Hard water is common in many municipal supplies and causes white mineral buildup on fixtures and appliances, reduces soap lathering, and shortens the lifespan of water heaters and dishwashers. Our Premium Water Test includes a full mineral and hardness panel so you know exactly what you are dealing with.

Bacteria and microbial content are something many water testing companies skip entirely when testing city water, assuming treatment makes it unnecessary. We disagree. Given the scale of infrastructure leakage nationally, and the fact that household plumbing systems can harbor bacteria independently of the municipal supply, we believe coliform and E. coli testing is important for city water customers too. Peace of mind should not come with exceptions.

Properties near commercial operations, gas stations, dry cleaners, landfills, or industrial sites are at elevated risk for volatile organic compound contamination in their groundwater. Our Premium Water Test includes a full VOC screen covering more than 60 compounds including Benzene, Toluene, Trichloroethylene, and MTBE. For the most comprehensive screening available our Ultimate Water Test covers 249 substances and is the right choice when contamination risk is high.

Wells are not sterile environments. When functioning properly and well maintained, having your own water source can be incredibly rewarding. You have full control over your supply and the ability to deliver clean, healthy water for your family and even your pets. But because a well is a non-sterile, wet environment subject to structural changes over time, periodic disinfection is necessary and recommended by the EPA.

Disinfection is particularly important after any work has been done on your well, after flooding or heavy rain events, after a new well is drilled, or any time your water test results show elevated bacteria levels. Our Well Disinfection Kit is a do-it-yourself solution that includes clear instructions, a USDA-approved disinfectant, and exclusive to ETR Laboratories, a follow-up test kit to verify the disinfection was successful. If you are unsure whether your well needs disinfection, give us a call and we can help you assess your situation.

A basic visual inspection of your well can reveal potential contamination risks before they become serious health problems. Here is what to look for:

Well caps are one of the most important things to examine. An unsealed or damaged well cap is one of the leading causes of microbial contamination in private wells. The cap should fit tightly with no visible gaps, cracks, or damage. Any opening, no matter how small, is a potential entry point for surface water, insects, and other contaminants.

The conduit where the electrical feed enters your well, typically a small black pipe running alongside the casing that is visible above ground, should also be fully sealed with no visible damage. This conduit is frequently struck by lawn mowers and other equipment, leaving gaps where insects and even rodents can squeeze through. This may sound unlikely but over the years our team has conducted well inspections where we discovered mice living inside the well casing. The cost to remediate that kind of contamination can run into the thousands of dollars and more importantly it puts your family at serious risk of illness.

Other things to watch for during a visual inspection include standing water pooling around the well casing, cracks or deterioration in the casing itself, rust or corrosion around the cap or fittings, and any unusual odors near the wellhead.

A visual inspection takes just a few minutes and can catch problems early. Pair it with annual water testing and you have the two most important tools for protecting your water supply. If anything looks off during your inspection give us a call before ordering a test and we can help you determine the right course of action.