Well water analysis - where to get one done?

[KLKelly]

I'm on well water and I'd like to get a full analysis done on it.  (I live in Rockland).

Any suggestions on where I can drop one off or where to send a sample for a full testing?

Thanks so much.

Karrie

[Laura]

Not sure what range of stuff is tested for, but you may want to take a look here - perhaps the testing locations would do a wider range of tests than is covered by the municipality.

http://ottawa.ca/city_services/water/wells/1_6_en.shtml

[PNA]

Most pet stores (Petsmart - Innis/Blair) will do that for you.. if they think you may be buying some fish depending on the results.

[Aquaviewer]

I think that most pet stores will only test the standard aquarium parameters (pH, KH, GH, the Ns and ammonia) and I think that they only do it if your fish dies, you would have to ask whether they charge for this for additional samples.  You may be better off just getting you own test kits so you can test yourself.  If you are on well water you can be sure that you have hard water with higher pH.  What the city is offering is to test your water for coliform, that's about it.

If you want to test for metals, organics etc... you will have to contact a private lab like Acutest or Maxxam and then you are talking $50 to $100 per sample.

I know in Chelsea on the Quebec side that there is a program to test well water for a more broad spectrum of parameters than just coliform for only minimal cost.  You could check with the municipal office in Rockland to see if there is anything similar.

[Adam]

I got my well water tested at Accutest.  It's on Colonnade road, just off of Merivale or Prince of Wales.  It was tested for everything the ministry and municipal organizations required, and service was prompt and very professional.

Test kits are very innacurate, and SP would not be satisfactory for any regulation testing.

Adam

[KLKelly]

Thanks for the replies.  I was looking at the metals/more extensive testing.  I'll contact accutest first

Thanks again.

Karrie

[darkdep]

Adam, how much did that set of tests cost you?

[Adam]

I paid around ~60-80 (probably lower, it was awhile ago) for a through inorganic testing.  It was nice to know my exact parameters and using that data, I haven't had excess nutrients since.  I like to think it's saved me time and money otherwise spent treating the effects of excess nutrients.  It's when you get to organics that the price goes through the roof.

Adam