Testing
Well Water Testing
Sampling and interpretation for bacteria, nitrate, arsenic, iron, manganese, hardness and pH.
The short answer
Well water testing is the laboratory analysis of a private well sample to find out what is actually in the water. For a household well the baseline panel is bacteria (total coliform and E. coli), nitrate, arsenic, iron, manganese, hardness and pH. Testing matters because the most serious problems — nitrate, arsenic, bacteria — have no taste, smell or colour.
What usually causes it
Water that looks fine but is not
Nitrate and arsenic are invisible. A well can produce crystal-clear water for twenty years and still be above the safe limit. Only a lab test finds them.
Recurring bacteria after treatment
If coliform returns after every shock chlorination, the entry point has not been fixed. The well cap, casing, pitless adapter and grout seal all need checking.
Buying a property with a well
A pre-purchase test is the only way to know what you are inheriting. It also establishes a baseline for future comparisons.
Signs it is time to call
Any one of these is worth a phone call. Two or more together usually means something is already failing.
- Never tested, or not in the last year
- Buying or selling a property with a well
- Water tastes, smells or looks different
- Recurring stomach illness in the household
- After flooding or well repairs
- Before installing treatment equipment
What to test for, and how often
Bacteria and nitrate annually. Arsenic every three to five years, or once as a baseline if the well has never been tested. Iron, manganese, hardness and pH whenever water quality changes or treatment is being designed. Any time the well is flooded, repaired or disinfected.
- Total coliform and E. coli — annually
- Nitrate — annually
- Arsenic — baseline, then every three to five years
- Iron, manganese, hardness, pH — when conditions change
- Lead and copper — if plumbing is older or corrosive water is suspected
Getting a sample that means something
A bacteria sample has to come from a tap that has been disinfected, after the line has been flushed, in a sterile bottle supplied by the lab. A sample taken from a garden hose or a dirty tap will show contamination that is not in the well. We take samples properly and read the results with you.
How the job runs
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01
Choose the panel
Baseline, pre-purchase, or a targeted panel based on a specific complaint.
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02
Sample
Sterile bottle, disinfected tap, correct flush time, delivered inside the lab hold time.
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03
Interpret
Results explained against the Oregon drinking water standards, in plain language.
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04
Act
Treatment or well repair recommended only where the numbers call for it.
What you get
- Correct sampling technique, not a hose into a jar
- Results explained against Oregon standards
- Treatment recommended only where the numbers justify it
- Baseline record kept for the property
How often should I test my well water?
Bacteria and nitrate once a year. Arsenic every three to five years if it has never been detected. Any time the water changes, the well is flooded or repaired, or you are buying the property.
What should I test my well water for in Oregon?
At minimum: total coliform, E. coli, nitrate, arsenic, iron, manganese, hardness and pH. Add lead and copper if the plumbing is older or the water is corrosive.
Does boiling water make well water safe?
It kills bacteria, but it concentrates nitrate and does nothing for arsenic or metals. Boiling is a short-term measure during a bacteria advisory, not a treatment solution.
Can I test my own well water with a kit?
Home test strips are useful for a rough hardness or pH reading. They are not reliable for bacteria, nitrate or arsenic. Those need a certified laboratory.
Related services
Well water purification
UV sterilisation, arsenic and nitrate treatment for wells where filtration alone is not enough.
Read moreWell water filtration
Whole-house filtration designed from a water test — sediment, iron, manganese, sulphur and taste, not a generic cartridge.
Read moreWell pump maintenance
A scheduled look at the pressure tank, switch, controls and water quality before something fails on a Sunday.
Read moreWell water testing across the service area
This service is available throughout Lane, Linn, Benton and Douglas counties. These pages cover the towns we are called to most.
Talk to a well tech
Not sure whether it is the pump, the tank or the well?
That is what the phone is for. Describe what the water is doing and we will tell you what it sounds like.
Request service
Book well water testing
Send the details and we will call back with a time. If the water is off now, call 541-935-7867 instead.
Phone
Based in
22071 Fisk Rd
Noti, OR 97461
Emergency
No water, a burst line or a pump that will not stop: call any hour, including weekends.