Tips to Choosing the Right Private Water Testing Laboratory

Having a private lab test your water makes a lot of sense, especially in the light of the Flint, Michigan, water fiasco. At Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories, Inc., we see all kinds of different quality waters, and many of them need special testing. Here are some ways to choose the right lab for your needs.

Type of Testing

If the lab doesn’t do the kind of testing you need, there’s no use in going any further in your inquiry. Some labs focus on well water and some focus on industrial testing needs. Start by finding a lab that can and will test your water.

Time Frame

If you’re on a tight deadline and the lab can’t have it done when you need it, again, you need to find another lab. For some time-sensitive testing, late results can be a huge problem.

Available Services

Some labs only do one thing. Some offer pass/test notices but don’t give any more information. Chances are you’re going to need a lab for multiple services. Choosing one of the labs that offers different services can make your life easier in the long run.

Customer Service

Nobody has time to deal with surly people in life, and in a business that you’re paying for a service, poor customer service of any type is unforgivable. Check out reviews online and ask your friends and business associates for recommendations. Be sure that you’re going to get the results in a way that you can read and understand. Some places will give you the raw data, and that might not mean anything to you.

Correct Documents

Private water testing laboratories should be certified and have the documents you need to qualify their data results. Usually certification comes from the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) and/or the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). Without the proper accreditation, the results may still be valid, but they may not carry any weight in a legal sense.