The question, "Is my well water safe to drink?" can only be answered by sending a water sample to a certified laboratory for testing. Fortunately, you have chosen the University Hygienic Laboratory that is not only certified for all drinking water analyses but also has many years of water testing experience and knowledge.

What to Test for
Under normal circumstances we recommend a yearly testing for the presence of total coliform bacteria, (including E. coli), and nitrate, which will provide a good indication of the drinking water safety of your well.

If a specific contamination problem is suspected, for example, a nearby chemical or gasoline spill or a backsiphoning accident, go to the Grants-to-Counties Program to learn more about the services available through this program or contact the University Hygienic Laboratory at 1-800-421-4692 (IOWA) for special containers needed to test for these contaminants.

Your Sampling Kit
After requesting a sample collection kit using the form below, you'll receive your kit in the mail. The kit contains all the information that you need to successfully complete the collection of your water sample. It will take 5 to 10 minutes to collect the sample and to fill out the sample collection form.

It is important to provide all the information on the sample collection form, especially the date and time the sample was collected. Also, remember to include a check or money order payable to the University Hygienic Laboratory for the tests requested.

• Drinking Water Safety Test Request Form
• 2 sterile, clear plastic sampling bottles
• 2 Styrofoam mailers
• Plastic bag for Test Request Form and payment by check
• Outer chipboard mailer

Water Sample Collection
Go to Water Sample Collection for step-by-step instructions on how to collect your drinking water sample. Collection instructions are also included in the kit you receive.

Shipping Your Sample
Mail or ship the kit back to UHL the same day it is collected. Samples must reach the laboratory within 48 hours of collection to ensure accurate results. Please follow the shipment suggestions below to meet this deadline:

• Iowa customers should use first-class postage or ground carrier service.
• Out-of-state customers should use an overnight carrier service to ensure delivery within the crucial 48-hour transit time.

Receiving Your Results
Once UHL receives and processes the sample, the results will be mailed to you within a week. If you need the results sooner, please contact us at 1-800-421-4692 (IOWA) to make other arrangements.

Testing City Water
If you live within the city limits, you probably receive your water from the city public water supply which is routinely tested for many parameters including total coliform bacteria and nitrate. It is usually not necessary for private individuals to test this water. If you have concerns about the city's water quality, we encourage you to consult your city water department or the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Field Offices.

Order a Water Sampling Kit
If you want to order a water sampling kit for total coliform bacteria, (including E. coli), and nitrate testing, please fill out the following information and we will send a kit to you shortly. If you qualify, water collection kits and funding may be avaliable for this testing through your county health department(see County Sanitarians). If you have any questions, contact us or call 1-800-421-4692 (IOWA) and ask for extension 54251.

Stop here if no further testing is needed.

Additional Water Quality Tests
All drinking water tests that are performed at the University Hygienic Laboratory are available but not all these tests are necessary and can be expensive. For more information see Additional Water Quality Tests.