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Why should I test my water? There are many
reasons why you might want to test your water. You may have a specific
concern, such as a change in taste or odor, or there may have been
a recent environmental incident. In addition, many banks now require
water testing for home loans if there is a well on the property.
Whatever the reason, Environmental Testing & Research Laboratories can administer
the appropriate test for your specific needs.
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How often should I test my water? We suggest
regular analysis of your water to keep informed of your water condition.
Most experts on well water suggest annual testing to ensure it hasn't
changed. And while public water is usually safe at its source, old
water distribution systems and plumbing systems can contaminate
your water. Regular testing ensures top quality water. For your
first test (and again after about a year), we recommend our Comprehensive
Scan.
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How do I know which test to choose? Our
Comprehensive Scan detects commonly found contaminants, and is usually
sufficient when there are no concerns, but depending on your particular
concerns, you may want to administer another test. Visit our Health
or Environmental Tests, or our Other Tests page for a full description.
If you have any questions, please contact us to speak with one of
our lab experts.
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Where should I take my water sample? Samples
are best taken from the area from which people drink the most water-usually
the kitchen. Remove any mixers or purifiers from the tap you plan
to use, leave the aerator if that's all there is and let cold water
run for about 5 minutes to flush standing water in the pipes.
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What kind of container should I use for my water
sample? Use a sterile glass or plastic bottle, or a glass vial
(to test for VOCs). Fill the container slowly to eliminate air bubbles
(air bubbles that occur after the container is closed do not affect
sample), and use caution not to contaminate the inside of the container
or the lid. Secure the lid tightly, and deliver by hand, or by overnight
or second-day mail. We advise that you contact us for sterile sample bottles, we will have them shipped to you immediately an order is placed.
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How much water do I need? We will send you
the appropriate container for your specific test(s). About 125 ml
(4-5 oz) of water is adequate for most tests. VOC's (as in the Comprehensive
Scan) requires at least 40 ml (1.5 oz.). Analyzing Pesticides and
Herbicides or the Health Scan requires at least one liter. For the
Environmental Scan, we will require all the above plus an additional
liter of water in a plastic container.
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Before taking a water sample, do I need to disinfect
the faucet? Many people wipe the faucet with alcohol or run
a lit match around the end of it. These are common procedures to
kill any bacteria that may be present, but if you fill your containers
correctly, there is no need to do either of these.
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Should I run the water prior to taking a water
sample? Running your water for 5 minutes is adequate for a house
that is currently being lived in under normal circumstances. For
homes that have been unoccupied for several weeks or longer, run
the water for several hours. If you're concerned about running your
well dry, contact the well installer or a plumber for assistance.
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I'm taking a sample from a new well. What should
I do? This is normally done by the well driller or well pump
installer. If you decide to do it yourself, you should plan on taking
several samples to ensure quality water. It often takes several
days of pumping to remove the silt and residue from drilling. Perform
the Comprehensive Scan, and keep pumping until you obtain the desired
water quality.
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How do I get my sample to ETR Labs? You
can hand deliver your sample to our lab, or send it to us via overnight
or second day delivery. In special cases, overnight or same day
delivery may be required. By ordering from this web site, we will
send you containers in a postage prepaid box for shipment back to
us.
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Do I need to keep my water sample cold during
shipment? Only in special cases is cold shipping advisable.
Check with the lab if you have a concern in this area.
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How long does it take to get my results? In most cases, we will have your report prepared in two business
days. Reports for samples arriving after 2 PM often will not be
prepared until the second business day after arrival.
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How do I view my report? We can e-mail,
fax your report, the original is always mailed normally.
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When will my report be mailed? Your report
will be mailed on the business day following the day it is prepared.
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Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs
(sulfur)? This complaint is most often caused by microorganisms
growing in your hot water tank. That can happen when the temperature
of your hot water is low or the organisms are coming from the incoming
water. In these cases, we suggest the Health Scan.
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Why do my hot and cold water smell like rotten
eggs (sulfur)? It is our experience that the most cost effective
way to approach this is to test the water to our Health Scan. This
odor is typically caused by micro-organisms. The Health Scan identifies
organisms which may be a health concern and cause of the odor.
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Why does my water smell swampy? We find
that microorganisms are typically the cause for odors. We suggest
the Health Scan for this concern.
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My bank wants me to test my water. What analysis
should I do? Our Comprehensive Scan will provide the results
your bank needs.
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Why do I have orange or red/brown stains on
my dishwasher, toilet and other plumbing fixtures? The culprit(s)
could be various naturally occuring elements. We suggest the Comprehensive
Scan for these concerns.
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Why do I have blue green stains on my tub,
toilet and other plumbing fixtures? The culprit(s) could be
various naturally occuring elements. We suggest the Comprehensive
Scan for these concerns.
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Why do I have a white powdery substance on
my ice cubes and/or icemaker? The culprit(s) could be various
naturally occuring elements. We suggest the Comprehensive Scan for
these concerns.
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Why does my laundry have black or gray stains? The culprit(s) could be various naturally occuring elements.
We suggest the Comprehensive Scan for these concerns.
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I'm concerned about septic leaking into my
well. What analysis do I need to do? We will test for Total
Coliform, Fecal/E. coli, Nitrate, Nitrite, Ammonia and Volatile
Organic Compounds. The Comprehensive and health Scans covers all of these.
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What is Hardness or Hard water and how does it
affect my drinking water? Hardness is a term used to measure
the presence of calcium and/or magnesium in water along with other
elements. Hard water is not dangerous, but can cause white spots
on glasses washed in your dishwasher, poor soap sudsing and plumbing
deposits, which will eventually restrict water flow. We suggest
our Comprehensive Scan for these concerns.
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