Drinking Water Testing and Contaminants
This page was archived in September 2013; see home page for current site status
Want to test the water from your well or spring?
The New York State Department of Health provides a list of certified commercial laboratories (sorted by county, look for "potable water" testing).
Recommended Residential Water Quality Testing (2006, NYS Dept. of Health)
Public water supplies are tested frequently for contaminants, and suppliers are required to provide test results to their customers annually. If you are on a public water supply (whether municipal or a small community system), get and read a copy of the test report (Consumer Confidence Report). These tests are usually done on the water at the treatment plant. Residents may have concerns about the quality of municipal water reaching their home (after it has been distributed through water mains and their home plumbing), and may want to conduct further tests on their water. Testing a private water supply is generally the responsibility of the property owner. Private water supplies should always be tested before a home is purchased and whenever a new water supply is being developed. For more information about the supply of water from private wells and from public sources, see the Wells and Supply page.
If you suspect that your water supply is unsafe to drink, or you are having serious nuisance problems such as rust and hard water, you have several options. Regardless of your water source, you can have your water tested for specific contaminants of concern. Information on testing labs is provided below. You can also seek advice from professionals in cooperative extension, public health, and water resource management in your state, and local water treatment professionals. You will generally have to pay for testing your water, but some communities may offer free testing, and in cases such as a fuel spill, it may be possible to obtain help from your local health department or state agency.
The New York State Department of Health provides a list of certified commercial laboratories (sorted by county, look for "potable water" testing). The U.S. EPA provides links for other states. Samples must be collected using proper containers and following the lab's instructions. Yearly testing for common contaminants such as bacteria and nitrate is recommended to ensure continued safety of your water supply. Occasional testing for specific contaminants, such as pesticides and other chemicals, may be appropriate depending upon where you live and what activities take place around your water supply. Testing results should guide your decisions on whether you need a water treatment system, and if so, what kind.
It is important to keep in mind that no individual water treatment device removes every contaminant from drinking water. Depending on the severity of contamination, it may be necessary to replace your source of drinking water by developing an alternative water supply or purchasing bottled water. Some of these options can be costly and inconvenient, so it is important to have your water tested regularly and remain informed of community water quality issues and decisions. For more information about drinking water treatment methods and devices, also see the Drinking Water Treatment page.
Frequently Asked Questions - including measurement units
General Information about Drinking Water Testing and Standards
More Detail on Drinking Water Standards (set for public water supplies, but they can be used as guidelines for testing private systems)
Decision Table for Water Testing - tests to consider based on your well water symptoms or your location
Microorganisms Including Pathogens (disease-causing organisms)
Hardness, pH, Acidity, Alkalinity
Sulfur Compounds - common source of "rotten egg" smells
Metals and Metalloids - including arsenic, lead, and iron
Inorganic Contaminants - Other - including perchlorate
Chlorine, Chloramine, and Disinfection Byproducts
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) - includes gasoline oxygenates like MTBE; hydrocarbons like benzene; PCE; TCE. Trihalomethanes are mentioned in some of these publications, but covered in more detail under disinfection byproducts above.
Emerging Contaminants including Endocrine Disrupters, Pharmaceuticals, and Personal Care Products
Links to other sites about drinking water testing
Frequently Asked Questions
What units are used for the concentration of chemicals in water?
How often should I test my well? How do I know what tests to run on my water?
Where do I find a lab to test my water?
More FAQ and links to other FAQ sites
What is a chemical contaminant? What kinds of contaminants or pollution are there in water? How much of a chemical in my water is dangerous?
A "contaminant" or "pollutant" in water could be any material other than water that is dissolved or mixed into water, but it is usually used to refer to a substance in water that might be harmful or a nuisance. It is important to keep in mind that "the dose makes the poison". A substance that is neutral or helpful in low amounts or concentrations could be harmful at much higher amounts or concentrations (e.g., vitamins). Also, chemicals vary tremendously in toxicity. Some are never found in high enough concentrations or consumed in large enough amounts to cause harm; others may be toxic even when they are very diluted in water or very rarely consumed. Some substances are acute toxins (cause harm rapidly), and others are chronic toxins (the harm shows up more slowly over time because of the type of chemical and/or the total exposure over time).
Water is an unusually good solvent, which means many different kinds of materials can be dissolved in it. Solid particles and small organisms can also be suspended in water. Except in certain controlled laboratory settings, what we think of as water is never 100% H2O. For example, naturally occuring gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide will dissolve in to the water. Water usually contains some dissolved gases, plus dissolved charged particles (ions) such as sodium, calcium, and iron. The composition of water in natural settings will reflect the rocks and soils through which water has passed, the organisms living in or near the water, and human activities. Information on some of the most common contaminants of concern is covered in the sections below. Some chemicals are added to water on purpose as part of a treatment process, for example, to kill microorganisms, adjust the acidity, or improve the taste or clarity.
How much of a substance in water is dangerous depends on (1) what chemical it is, (2) how concentrated it is (see next section), and (3) how much exposure you have through drinking, showering, swimming, etc. There is no general rule for how much of a substance in wateris dangerous. The U.S. EPA and state agencies set drinking water standards for public water supplies based on studies of toxicity, and set different limits for different chemicals.
See links in the next two sections for more information on this topic.
What units are used for the concentration of chemicals in water?
When scientists measure compounds in a water sample, they usually express the results as a concentration - how much of the compound is found in a given volume (3-D space) of water? Three grams (3g) of sodium chloride salt dissolved in a Liter (1L) of water could be described as water with 3g/L of sodium chloride. In the same way you can double a recipe, this would be the same as having 6g of salt in 2L of water, but the results are usually reported per Liter or per milliliter (mL) so they can be compared easily.
To picture a Liter, imagine an amount a little larger than a quart, or half of a 2L soda bottle. A milliliter (mL) is much smaller - exactly 1000mL makes 1L. A mL of water is about 20 drops. 1 mL of water has a mass of 1 gram (the metric system is set up that way on purpose). A gram is a little heavier than a paperclip. A gram is 1000 times heavier than a milligram. Follow this link for more on measurements from the National Insitute of Standards and Technology). Several of the publication in the previous two sections give good approximate descriptions of concentrations (e.g., one drop in a tanker car).
Different units are used to express water testing results depending on the measurement technique, typical concentration of the substance, the how the numbers will be used, and tradition.Some units commonly used to describe the concentration of substances in water are:
mg/L, milligrams per Liter - sometimes this is referred to as ppm, parts per million, since a Liter of water weighs 1 million mg.
µg/L, micrograms per Liter - sometimes referred to as ppb, parts per billion (there are a billion mg of water in a Liter of water). These units are much smaller, 1000 times smaller, than mg/L; 2000ug/L is the same as 2mg/L.
grains is sometimes used for a unit measure of hardness (calcium and magnesium ions in water). 1 grain of hardness = 17.1 mg/L or 17.1 ppm of hardness
CFU/mL (bacteria) - colony forming units - it is difficult to count bacteria, so sometimes they are diluted, grown on a surface, and then visible colonies are counted, assuming each colony comes from a single starting bacterium.
How often should I test my well? What tests should I have done?
Start by reading the introductory text at the top of this page and some of the general information and testing recommendation publications below. If you don't have any obvious problems, you should still get baseline information on your well and continue to test regularly. Some problems are not obvious by color or smell.
You should test your water at least once per year for bacteria and nitrate.Tests for bacteria are often called "coliform", "fecal coliform", or "total coliform". Coliform bacteria are a sign that these and other types of bacteria are entering your well. While some coliform bacteria themselves may not cause disease, they can warn you of the presence of more harmful bacteria. High levels of nitrate (NO3-) and/or nitrite (NO2-) ions dissolved in water can cause health problems, particularly in children. Either of these problems suggests your well is prone to contamination and you may want further tests.
Depending on problems you observe in your well water (color, taste, odor, hardness, corrosion, etc.), and activities occuring in your area, you may want to test for additional contaminants and/or test more frequently. If you have specific problems, try the publications sorted by contaminant types, and the well testing decision table below.
Where do I find a lab to test my water?
Municipal water is frequently tested by the supplier. If you are on a public water supply, you should receive an annual Consumer Confidence Report. The New York State Department of Health provides contact information for municipal suppliers. For other states, try the AWWA directory. See the links in the public supply section on another page of this site. Your water quality can be affected by the distribution system from the treatment plant, to your home, to your tap. For additional testing, you can pay for analyses as described below.
To have your water tested, keep in mind that samples must be collected using proper containers and following the lab's instructions. Most labs provide their own sterile sample containers for you to use. Keep careful records of your test results.
In New York State, use a lab certified by the NYS Department of Health. See the list of certified commercial laboratories (sorted by county, look for "potable water" testing). You can also check with your County Health Department or County Cooperative Extension office to see if they offer testing (see our Contact page for links).
In other states, check with your County Health Department or County Cooperative Extension office. The U.S. EPA also provides links to testing certification lists by state.
My water smells like rotten eggs. Why? What can I do? This smell is usually due to hydrogen sulfide, a sulfur compound - see the information below.
Is drinking hot tap water OK? The short answer - cold water is better because more metals dissolve in hot water than cold. See an answer from NY Times 1/29/08.
What causes etching of my glassware in the dishwasher? (Q&A from Water Quality Association & Water Quality Research Council)
Ground Water and Drinking Water FAQ (US EPA)
FAQ - search question database (US EPA)
US EPA - Drinking Water Glossaries: Consumer ; Technical / Legal
FAQ from Alabama State Water Quality Program
General Information about Water Testing and Contaminants
Quality of Water from Domestic Wells in the United States (USGS, 2009)
Drinking Water Standards and the Health Effects of Drinking Contaminated Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #14, 2004)
An Introduction to Toxic Substances (NYS Dept. of Health)
What contaminants may be found in drinking water? - general summary of contaminant issues (US EPA)
Man-Made Chemicals Found in Drinking Water at Low Levels (USGS, 2008)
Drinking Water and Health: What you need to know (US EPA, 1999)
Drinking Water Standards & Health Effects - general overview (US EPA, 2004)
Private Drinking Water Supplies: Quality, Testing, and Options for Problem Waters - 60pp., available from NRAES for $8.00 - see link for details.
NSF Contaminant Guide - links to quick summaries on many contaminants (NSF International) - note that some of these contaminants have sections of information on this page further down
Fit to Drink? - Consumer Reports - January 1990 issue has several articles on contaminants, testing, carbon filters, reverse-osmosis systems, distillers, and water softeners. Our office has some printed copies of this available, or check your local library.
Reducing Potential Cancer Risks from Drinking Water: Part 1: Contaminant Sources and Drinking Water Standards (1998, BCERF Fact Sheet #7A)
Gas Well Drilling and Your Private Water Supply (includes info on natural gas drilling in Marcellus Shale, Penn State Extension, 2008)
More Detail on Drinking Water Standards
Note that standards are set for public water systems. Well owners are responsible for their own water supply, but can use the government standards to guide their well care and water treatment decisions.
Drinking Water Standards and the Health Effects of Drinking Contaminated Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #14, 2004)
Drinking Water Contaminants - describes different types of contaminants (US EPA)
Drinking Water Contaminants - federal public drinking water supply standards from US EPA. Also links to more information for many of the contaminants
Drinking Water Standards Timeline (US EPA)
Drinking Water Standards and Health Advisories (US EPA, 2006)
Maximum Contaminant Levels for Public Water Supplies (NYS Dept. of Health)
Safe Drinking Water Act Public Access to Information & Public Involvement - general overview (US EPA, 2004)
Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality - Supporting Documents from Health Canada, has futher information about many specific contaminants (analogous to EPA in US)
Testing Recommendations
Also see our testing decision table section below, and the FAQ above.
Well water should be tested annually to reduce health risks to children (National Institues of Health, 2009)
Home Water Testing (US EPA, 2005)
Recommended Residential Water Quality Testing (2006, NYS Dept. of Health)
Ground Water Quality Basics (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Drinking Water Testing (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
The ABC's of Water Testing (American Ground Water Trust)
Water Testing (Ohio State Extension)
Flood Recovery - Private Well Sampling (NYS Dept. of Health, 2006)
Well Water Symptoms and Solutions (City of Ottawa, Ontario)
Testing Water for Gardening and Lawn Irrigation (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Well Water Testing FAQ (US CDC)
Contaminants (US CDC)
Test Results
Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) - what your water supplier must provide (US EPA)
Consumer Confidence Reports (DrinkTap.org from American Water Works Association)
Understanding Drinking Water Test Results (wellcare, from Water Systems Council, 2005)
Water Tests: What do the Numbers Mean? (Penn State Extension, 2003)
Children and Drinking Water Standards (U.S. EPA, 1999)
Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) - search by location - provides a list of violoations in municipal water systems, and smaller systems such as schools, restaurants, mobile home parks, and apartment complexes (US EPA)
The chemical quality of self-supplied domestic well water in the United States (USGS, 2006)
Contaminants and Drinking-Water Sources in 2001: Recent Findings of the USGS
Decision Table for Water Testing
Under construction
| Symptom or Concern | Consider testing for... |
Skip to info below on... |
Skip to decision table on treatment page |
| Orange/Brown/Rust color or stains | Iron | Metals | |
| Green/Blue color or stains | Copper | Metals | |
| Black/Dark Brown color or stains | Manganese | Metals | |
| Lead pipes | Lead | Metals | |
| Metallic taste | Metals | Metals | |
| Salty taste | Sodium | ||
| Cloudy water, particles | Turbidity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) |
Color and Solids | |
| Soap scum; Scale buildup | Hardness | ||
| Rotten egg odor | Sulfides | Sulfides |
Information compiled from publications from Cornell Cooperative Extension, US EPA, other sources coming
Also see this excellent large poster from US EPA (2007): Removing Multiple Contaminants from Drinking Water: Issues to Consider
Also see the Water Quality Symptom Search Engine from the Water Quality Association
Home Test Kits
Be sure to read the information above about state certified testing laboratories. Generally speaking, home testing kits can test for fewer contaminants than state labs, with less accuracy and sensitivity. Inclusion or exclusion of products does not imply endorsement or a poor review.
More links coming soon
Test tap water for a drop in the bucket - review of Watersafe All-in-One Kit (Consumer Reports, Sept. 2006)
Microorganisms Including Pathogens (disease-causing organisms)
US EPA's page on Pathogenic microbes in water
Drinking Water Supplies and Biological Warfare (CCE Water Bulletin, 2002)
Bad Bugs (Groundwater Foundation)
Microbial Contamination of Drinking Water (New England Interstate Pollution Control Commission)
Combating Waterborne Disease at the Household Level (World Health Organization (WHO), 2007) - water treatment at Point-of-Use (POU) in developing nations
Bacteria
Bacteria in Drinking Water (Ohio State Extension)
Bacteria (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Bacteria in Your Water (National Ground Water Association)
Total Coliform Rule in public drinking water systems - Basic Information (US EPA)
Coliform Bacteria (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Coliform Bacteria (Penn State Extension, 2007)
Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water Supplies (NYS Dept. of Health)
Coliform Bacteria and Drinking Water (Washington State Dept. of Health, 2006)
Coliform and E. coli Bacteria (American Ground Water Trust)
Blue-Green Algae (NYS Dept. of Health)
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) and their Toxins (Health Canada)
Legionella: Fact Sheet (US EPA)
Legionella: Drinking Water Health Advisory (US EPA)
Mycobacteria: Fact Sheet (US EPA)
Mycobacteria: Drinking Water Health Advisory (US EPA)
Iron Bacteria - also see the section on Iron below
Iron Bacteria (Water Technology Magazine, 2008)
Iron Bacteria (National Ground Water Association)
Iron Bacteria (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Iron Bacteria in Drinking Water (Wisconsin DNR)
Protozoa including Cryptosporidium and Giardia
Cryptosporidium: Drinking Water Health Advisory (US EPA)
Cryptosporidium: A Waterborne Pathogen (CCE Water Treatment Notes #15, 1996, updated 2004)
Cryptosporidium Information page (US CDC)
Cryptosporidium Infection (Cryptosporidiosis) (US CDC, 2004)
Preventing Cryptosporidiosis: Guide to Water Filters & Bottled Water (US CDC) Cryptosporidium - includes life cycle and links to microscope photos (US CDC)
Cryptosporidium (US CDC)
Cryptosporidium - Guidance for People with Severely Weakened Immune Systems (US EPA)
Cryptosporidiosis Fact Sheet (New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection)
Cryptosporidium (Washington State Dept. of Health)
Giardia: Drinking Water Health Advisory (US EPA)
Giardia: Fact Sheet (US EPA)
Giardia Information page (US CDC)
Giardia Infection (Giardiasis) (US CDC, 2004)
Giardia - includes life cycle and links to microscope photos (US CDC)
Giardia (US CDC)
Giardiasis Fact Sheet (New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection)
Removing Giardia Cysts from Drinking Water (Penn State Extension, 2001)
Taste and Odor
Rotten egg smell - see hydrogen sulfide below
Color, Taste, and Odor Problems in Drinking Water (Washington State Dept. of Health)
The Taste of Ground Water (American Ground Water Trust)
Color, Taste, and Odor (Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection)
Color and Solids Problems
Note - "milkiness" that clears up when water is left to stand may be due to very tiny air bubbles
Color, Taste, and Odor Problems in Drinking Water (Washington State Dept. of Health)
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Turbidity in Drinking Water (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Color, Taste, and Odor (Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection)
Hardness, pH, Acidity, Alkalinity
Hard Water (CCE Water Bulletin, 2005)
Solutions to Water Hardness Problems (American Ground Water Trust)
Hard Water - To Soften or Not to Soften (University of Kentucky Extension)
Hard Water (University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, 2004)
pH in Drinking Water (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Hardness in Drinking Water (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
What makes water hard and how can hard water be improved (Water Quality Association & Water Quality Research Council, 2000)
Water Hardness: Explanation; Map; Map Legend (USGS)
See water softener section on treatment page
Inorganic Contaminants - Sulfur Compounds
Hydrogen Sulfide in Household Drinking Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #7, 1999)
Sulfate in Drinking Water (US EPA)
Solutions to Sulfur Problems (Rotten Egg Smell) (American Ground Water Trust)
Hydrogen Sulfide (Rotten Egg Odor) in Pennsylvania Groundwater Wells (Penn State Extension, 2001)
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) (National Ground Water Association)
Hydrogen Sulfide in Drinking Water (Ohio State Extension)
Sulfates and Hydrogen Sulfide (University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, 2004)
Sulfur (wellcare, from Water Systems Council, 2007)
Inorganic Contaminants - Nitrate and Nitrite
Nitrate: Health Effects in Drinking Water (1985, CCE Fact Sheet, print copies also available from us)
Nitrate (US CDC)
Nitrate in Ground Water (American Ground Water Trust)
Solutions to Nitrate Problems (American Ground Water Trust)
Nitrates (National Ground Water Association)
Nitrates in Drinking Water (Penn State Extension)
Nitrate-Nitrogen (University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, 2006)
Nitrate and Nitrite (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Green Lawns and Safe Wells (American Ground Water Trust)
Nitrate and Groundwater: Why Should We Be Concerned with Our Current Fertilizer Practices? (Oregon State Extension, 2004)
Nitrate in Drinking Water (Washington State Dept. of Health, 2007)
Workgroup Report: Drinking-Water Nitrate and Health—Recent Findings and Research Needs (USGS, 2005)
Inorganic Contaminants - Metals and Metalloids
Arsenic
Arsenic in Drinking Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #19, 2006)
Arsenic and Your Distribution System (US EPA, 2007)
US EPA's Arsenic in Drinking Water pages
Arsenic Fact Sheet (NSF/ANSI Standards 53 and 58) (NSF International)
Arsenic in Ground Water of the United States (USGS)
Arsenic (National Ground Water Association)
Arsenic (US CDC)
Arsenic (University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, 2006)
Removing Arsenic from Drinking Water (Environmental Health Perspectives, 1998)
Arsenic (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Chromium
Chromium (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Copper
Copper (US CDC)
Copper (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Copper in Drinking Water (Wisconsin DNR)
Copper (University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, 2006)
Copper and Your Health (Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection)
Copper in Drinking Water (Washington State Dept. of Health, 2006)
Copper from Pipe Corrosion (EPA Water Distribution Research)
Iron and Manganese
Iron (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Iron in Drinking Water (Wisconsin DNR, 2005)
Iron in Drinking Water (Pacific Northwest Extension)
Also see the section on Iron Bacteria above
Iron from Pipe Corrosion (EPA Water Distribution Research)
Solutions to Iron Problems (American Ground Water Trust)
Solutions to Manganese Problems (American Ground Water Trust)
Iron and Manganese in Household Drinking Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #6, 2005)
Iron and Manganese in Private Water Systems (Penn State Extension, 2001)
Lead
Lead in Drinking Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #2, 2006)
Lead In Drinking Water (US EPA, links to many pages and documents)
Drinking Water in Schools and Child Care Facilities (US EPA; for now, focus is mostly Lead)
3Ts for Reducing Lead in Drinking Water in Schools (US EPA, 2006)
Lead (US CDC)
radio segment on aging public infrastructure (pipes) and lead in drinking water (Earth and Sky Radio)
Lead (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Lead in Drinking Water (Washington State Dept. of Health, 2005)
Lead from Pipe Corrosion (EPA Water Distribution Research)
Lead and Drinking Water - Questions and Answers (Ontario Ministry of the Environment)
Protecting You and Your Family From Lead (New York City Dept. of Environmental Protection)
Lead and Plumbing (American Ground Water Trust)
Lead (University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, 2006)
Get Ahead of Lead! Get the Lead Out of Drinking Water (NYS Dept. of Health, 2002)
Lead (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
Lead Fact Sheet (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
Straight Talk on Lead (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
Dare you drink from a garden hose? (Consumer Reports 2003, partly a question of lead contamination)
Runs Better Unleaded: How to Protect Your Child from Lead Poisoning (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 1999)
Protect Your Family From Lead In Your Home (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 2003, pamphlet available in several languages)
Mercury
Mercury (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Inorganic Contaminants - Other
How well is your well? (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2003, discusses several inorganic problems)
Nutrients in Drinking Water - info about drinking water consumption, and drinking water as a source of essential minerals
Sodium (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Bromate in Drinking Water - Information Fact Sheet (NYS Dept. of Health)
Fluoride
Fluoride in Drinking Water (American Ground Water Trust)
Fluoride and Human Health (Health Canada)
Also see fluoridation information in the section on public water supplies
Perchlorate
Perchlorate (CCE Water Treatment Notes #20, 2006)
Perchlorate (US EPA)
Perchlorate Fact Sheet (US CDC, 2006)
Perchlorate (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Perchlorate in Ground Water (American Ground Water Trust)
Perchlorate (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
Radon, Radium, and Uranium
US EPA's summary page on Radon in drinking water (note that radon from drinking water is a much lower risk than radon in air rising from the ground)
Radon (US CDC)
Radon in Drinking Water (American Ground Water Trust)
Radon in Ground Water (National Ground Water Association)
Reducing Radon in Drinking Water (Penn State Extension, 2001)
Radon (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Radon (wellowner.org from NGWA)
Radium (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Uranium (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Uranium (University of Nebraska Lincoln Extension, 2005)
Chlorine, Chloramine, and Disinfection Byproducts
Chloramines in Drinking Water (US EPA, website and PDF available there)
Chlorination of Drinking Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #5, 2005)
Questions and Answers about Monochloramine (Vermont Department of Health; includes info about pets, fish, reptiles)
Chlorine (American Ground Water Trust)
Chlorine (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Chlorination of Drinking Water (Washington State Dept. of Health, 2004)
Disinfection Byproducts from Chlorination of Drinking Water (Washington State Dept. of Health2004)
Disinfection Byproducts (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
DBPs Fact Sheet (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
Straight Talk on DBPs (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
Pesticides
Pesticides (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Water Quality and Home Pesticide Use (NYS DEC / Westchester County, 2000)
Pesticide Properties That Affect Water Quality (Texas Cooperative Extension, 1997 - click "View PDF" at the link)
Green Lawns and Safe Wells (American Ground Water Trust)
Pesticides: Health Effects in Drinking Water (1985, CCE Fact Sheet, print copies also available from us)
Pesticides and Groundwater: A Guide for the Pesticide User (1989, CCE Groundwater Fact Sheet, print copies also available from us)
Pesticides in the Nation's Streams and Ground Water, 1992-2001 (USGS 2006; full report, press releases, and summaries)
How Soil Properties Affect Groundwater Vulnerability to Pesticide Contamination (Oregon State University)
Understanding Pesticide Persistence and Mobility for Groundwater and Surface Water Protection (Oregon State University)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
Includes gasoline oxygenates like MTBE; hydrocarbons like benzene; PCE; TCE. Trihalomethanes are mentioned in some of these publications, but covered in more detail under disinfection byproducts above.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) (wellcare, from Water Systems Council, 2007)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the nation's ground water and drinking-water supply wells - a summary (USGS, 2006)
VOCs in the nation's drinking-water supply wells - what findings may mean to human health (USGS, 2006)
FAQ about VOCs (USGS)
National survey of MTBE and other VOCs in community drinking-water sources (USGS, 2001; explains use of MTBE as a gasoline additive)
Trichloroethylene (TCE) (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Benzene (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Fact Sheet for Gasoline Oxygenates in Drinking Water (NYS Dept. of Health, 2006)
Drinking Water and MTBE: A Guide for Private Well Owners (from Farm*A*Syst/Home*A*Syst, printed copies also available from us)
Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) and Drinking Water (CCE Water Treatment Notes #18, 2005)
US EPA page on Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE)
MTBE and Ground Water - What's it all about? (American Ground Water Trust)
MTBE (National Ground Water Association)
MTBE (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
MTBE (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
MTBE Fact Sheet (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) in Public and Private Wells in New Hampshire: Occurrence, Factors, and Possible Implications(research study published in Environmental Science and Technology)
Emerging Contaminants including Endocrine Disrupters, Pharmaceuticals, and Personal Care Products
Don't Flush Medications! (NYS DEC, Sept. 2008)
Proper Disposal of Household Prescriptions and Over-the-Counter Drugs (NYS DEC, 2008)
Pharmaceuticals in Our Waters: An Emerging Concern (NYS DEC)
Pharmaceuticals as Emerging Contaminants: A Rationale for Reduction in New York State's Waters (NYS DEC)
Program on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors (BCERF) at Cornell - includes fact sheets and videos on environmental estrogens and related issues
Emerging Water Contaminants (wellcare, from Water Systems Council)
Traces of Pharmaceuticals and Household Chemicals Found in Northeast Ohio Streams (USGS, 2008)
Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water (Legislative Commission on Water Resource Needs of NYS and Long Island, 2008)
Pharmaceuticals in Drinking Water Guide (NSF International, 2008)
Smart Disposal Partnership (FAQ and suggestions for disposing of pharmaceuticals safely)
Pharmaceuticals are in the Drinking Water: What Does It Mean? (George Washington School of Public Health)
Drugs in Drinking Water (CCE Water Bulletin, 2000)
Drugs in Your Water (American Ground Water Trust)
Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds (EDCs), Pharmaceutically Active Compounds (PhACs), and Personal Care Products (PCPs) (Water Research Foundation)
Endocrine Disruptors and Pharmaceuticals: Implications for the Water Industry (Southern Nevada Water Authority Las Vegas Valley Water District) - has good description of risk assessment, small concentrations, and public perception
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in Drinking Water Supplies (The Groundwater Foundation)
PPCPs Threatening Water Quality (The Groundwater Foundation)
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
Are Pharmaceuticals in Your Watershed? (USGS, general description of studies underway)
Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products as Pollutants (PPCPs) (US EPA)
Spotlight on Bisphenol A (CDC, 2008)
Since You Asked - Bisphenol A (FAQ on a compound associated with some plastics, and tips to reduce exposure, from NIEHS - NIH, 2008)
BisphenolA (European Food Safety Authority)
Series of reports from Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel on BPA
Links to other sites about drinking water testing
Government
New York State Department of Health - Drinking Water Protection Program
NYSDOH certifies environmental analysis labs. Commercial labs accept samples from the public (sorted by county, look for "potable water" testing).
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation - Division of Water
New York City Department of Environmental Protection - Drinking Water
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Ground Water & Drinking Water
There are hundreds of links and publications available on the EPA site. Some of these that may be of interest to consumers are linked on this page or elsewhere on this site by topic.
For the Safe Drinking Water Hotline click here or call 1-800-426-4791
U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) - Water Among its many responsibilities, USGS monitors stream and groundwater levels, collects and analyzes environmental water samples, and cooperates with other federal and state agencies.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Drinking Water - Private Well Resouces (focus on contaminants; some fact sheets are already linked elsewhere on this site)
Extension
wellowner.org (consumer info from National Ground Water Association)
Home*A*Syst - An Environmental Risk-Assessment Guide for the Home - program of many extension systems, based at Univ. of Wisconsin
View Table of Contents and Order a Home*A*Syst Manual (1997, from NRAES)
Help Yourself to a Healthy Home: Protect Your Children's Health: Drinking Water (1997)
Kansas Home*A*Syst Manual (Kansas State University, 1999, chapter 3 is on wells)
International Drinking Water Regulations (National Drinking Water Clearinghouse, 2003)
Other Organizations
Water Quality Association & Water Quality Research Council
Water Quality Symptom Search Engine
WQA Water Information Library (a search page)
The wellcare® Hotline - or call 888-395-1033
wellcare® Information Sheets (2003-2007)
DrinkTap.org (American Waterworks Association (AWWA))
Water Quality (DrinkTap.org from AWWA)
American Ground Water Trust - Groundwater Info - more publications (1998-2003)