How to Read Your Test Results
Parameter-by-parameter plain-language guide to your lab report, including MCLs, units, and what to do if any value fails.
Failed Coliform Test
Positive coliform result? Here’s the complete step-by-step response: shock chlorination, re-testing timeline, lender documentation.
How Often to Test
Annual testing is the minimum. Learn when you need more frequent tests, what events trigger immediate testing, and what to test by region.
Common Contaminants
Bacteria, nitrates, arsenic, lead, radon, VOCs, PFAS—where they come from, health effects, and treatment options.
How to Collect a Sample
Proper technique is everything. Step-by-step collection procedure for bacteria and chemistry samples that produces valid, accepted results.
Nitrates in Well Water
What to do if your nitrate result exceeds 10 mg/L, why infants are uniquely at risk, and which treatment options actually work.
Arsenic in Well Water
Arsenic is tasteless, odorless, and naturally present in bedrock across large regions of the U.S. Long-term exposure risks and treatment options.
Lead in Well Water
Lead rarely comes from groundwater—it almost always comes from plumbing. Low pH is the primary accelerant. Testing and remediation guide.