Homeowner and Residential Drinking Water, Groundwater, Spring Water Testing
and Environmental Education PROGRAM

 

Residential Water Supply and Homeowner Drinking Water
Testing Evaluation Program

 

For Monroe County, Pennsylvania
 



Environmental Education and Outreach - Drinking water testing and analysis services provided by a university research laboratory as part of the Homeowner Outreach Program for Monroe County.  The residential water testing program includes analysis for common water quality problems, microbiological contamination, and makes recommendations regarding the potential need for water treatment devices, such as: softeners, reverse osmosis units, distillation, neutralizers, chlorination systems, ultraviolet or UV systems.  We do partner with local watershed groups and homeowner associations.
 

Self-Monitoring Testing Kits and Meters - screen samples at home.



Homeowner Evaluation Programs

For Homeowners ONLY (Not for regulatory use !)
If you are looking for Baseline Testing Related to Natural Gas Development (click here)

 


Option 1: The Basic Water Chemistry Package and Bacterial Testing - You will be linked to a different web page - then navigate to Product List and Find the Code Sighted in the Link.
 

Self-Monitoring Testing Kits and Meters - screen samples at home.

 

Quick Bacteria Test (Presence/Absence) - This is a quick test for the presence or absence of Coliform and E. Coli Bacteria. Coliform is an indicator bacteria that public water supplies are required to monitor. The presence of Coliform could indicate the presence of other infection disease causing organisms. If Coliform is present, then we look for E. Coli which is a known pathogen. (order).  More information


First Flush and Flush Lead - The dual lead test will test for the lead content in the water and includes sample containers and testing for a "first draw" and a "flushed" sample. (order).  More information.  
 

Water Check 1 & 2- This testing package covers 22 heavy metals and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, lead, arsenic, and mercury. Additionally, analyzes other inorganic compounds and physical characteristics including nitrate, nitrite, chloride, fluoride, sulfate, alkalinity, pH and hardness.  (order).  More information

Corrosion Check -An informational testing package that was developed for people who are experiencing signs of corrosion in their plumbing fixtures.  This test analyzes contaminants that can specifically affect corrosion.  This package can be used for well water and city water. (order).  More information.

Option 2: Comprehensive Water Testing for Trace Metals and Organics

Watercheck- This informational testing package will check for 83 contaminants in your well water.  These contaminants include Bacteria, (22) Heavy Metals & Minerals, (7) Other Inorganic Chemicals, (5) Physical Characteristics, (4) Trihalomethanes (disinfection by-products) and (47) Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs).  This package works well for well water customers. (order). More information

Watercheck with Pesticide Option- This informational testing package will check for 105 contaminants in your well water.  These contaminants include Bacteria, (22) Heavy Metals & Minerals, (7) Other Inorganic Chemicals, (5) Physical Characteristics, (4) Trihalomethanes (disinfection by-products), (47) Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs), and (20) Pesticides, Herbicides and PCBs.  This package works well for well water customers. (Order).  More information. 


The City-Check Basic testing package is for customers on municipal water supplies who are concerned about metals, general water quality, and chlorine and disinfection by-products. The testing includes 32 parameters. (Order). More information.

The City-Check Standard testing package is for customers on municipal water supplies who are concerned about volatile organic compounds . This package includes all of the parameters in City Water Check Basic Package, plus 47 volatile organic compounds. (Order). More Information.
 

The City-Check Deluxe testing package is for customers on municipal water supplies who are concerned about pesticides and herbicides. This package includes everything in the Basic and Standard City-Check testing packages and adds on a list of 20 pesticides, herbicides and PCBs that are tested. Pesticides and herbicides are more likely to be found in water supplies that utilize surface water as a source rather than groundwater, due to run-off from agricultural areas. (Order). More information.
 

Featured Pesticide Testing add on - Glyphosate, it is the most widely used herbicide on the market today, known as Roundup™. Testing for this compound is done using highly sophisticated equipment, which utilized High Performance Liquid Chromatography, so it can be a costly test to run. NTL is pleased to offer an informational test for glyphosate in drinking water at a reduced price. This test would solely look for glyphosate with a detection level of 0.1 mg/L or parts per million.  (Order Kit GLYP). 

Miscellanous Packages
Quick Screen (Iron, Alkalinity, Hardness, pH, and TDS)
Bacteria, Nitrate, Nitrite, Lead, and Turbidity
Bacteria, Nitrate, Nitrite, Lead, and Copper

Option 3: Specialized Bacterial Testing  

Nuisance Bacteria Testing - Homeowners interested in getting their water tested and are experiencing nuisance related problems can have their water tested for specific nuisance related bacteria.  This package is recommended if you want to check the general potability of your water source, plus you are having problems with elevated iron levels, musty odors, or sulfur odors. The cost for the testing is $ 45.00 per bacterial screen or all three tests for a total cost of $ 110.00. The specialized bacterial testing package may include iron reducing bacteria, slime bacteria, and sulfur reducing bacteria.  To request a homeowners water sampling package, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 3. Please put Water Testing Option 3 in the Subject area.
 

Pathogenic Bacteria Screening - The specialized bacterial testing package that includes a presence/absence test for pathogenic bacteria.  This package is recommended if you want to check the general potability of your water source, plus you are having problems with musty odors, repeated coliform positives, taste problems, or sulfur odors.  The cost of this analysis is only $60.00 per sample and includes a professional evaluation of the results with recommendations. To request a homeowners water sampling package, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 5. Please put Water Testing Option 5 in Subject area.

Option 4: Radiological Testing Radiological Testing - Uranium, Radon, Radium (More Information).

Radon in Water Testing

The Standard Radiological
water testing package includes Uranium, Gross Alpha & Beta and Radon in Water. (Order).  Request information. 

Deluxe Radiological water testing package includes Uranium, Gross Alpha & Beta, Radon and Radium 226 & 228. (Order). Request information.


Special Testing for Designing- Reverse Osmosis Systems 
A comprehensive testing package for city or well water to design a reverse osmosis treatment system. 
(Order).  More information.  

Option 6: Specialized Pathogen Screening (Waterborne Pathogen PCR Test).
 

Option 7:  In-home Water Testing Kit

 

Baseline and Certified Water Quality Analysis in Pennsylvania

Baseline and Certified Water Quality Analysis Outside of PA

 

Education Program

The Water Research Center is making available a number of free informational documents related to common drink water quality issues and problems, such as: Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium, nitrates, lead, corrosion, bacteria and much more.  Below are three more detailed reports, but more information can be found at the help desk.    We are also available conduct Community Based or Regional Water Quality / Private Well Owner Education Programs, Watershed Based Assessments, and aid in Developing Baseline/Regional Testing Programs -schedule a Workshop.  You can also contact the Keystone Clean Water Team.

The informational documents that are available include:

The Water Library - Pdf files on Water Issues and Topics - A lot of Free Information pdf files, docs and html pages

 

Report #1: Giardia and Cryptosporidium and Waterborne Disease

Report #2: Nitrates: Health Hazard
Report #3: Lead in Drinking Water

Methane Gas Migration

Barium in Drinking Water
 



Online Training Courses

New Online Training Courses for Professionals 
http://online-training-courses.info/