Routine Residential Water Testing
If your drinking water comes from a private well on Cape Cod, you might consider getting it tested regularly. The sandy soils and contiguous aquifer make drinking water wells particularly vulnerable to contamination from activity on the land surface (such as chemical spills and pesticide application) and subsurface (such as onsite septic systems and underground fuel storage tanks). The only way to know if your water is safe to drink is to have it tested regularly by a certified laboratory. See the FAQs below to learn how to submit a sample to the Barnstable County Water Quality Laboratory.
Routine Well Analysis Options and Pricing
| Coliform Bacteria | Nitrate | Iron | Copper | Manganese | Sodium | pH | Conductance | VOCs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routine Well Analysis: $70.00 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| Real Estate Package: $190.00 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Frequently Asked Questions
The Groundwater Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend testing a drinking water well annually for selected parameters. The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment recommends annual testing for (at minimum) coliform bacteria, pH, specific conductance, sodium and nitrates. More comprehensive testing for copper, iron, manganese, total dissolved solids, lead and a suite of volatile organic compounds should be done every three years. Depending on potential sources of contamination in your area, we might recommend testing for other parameters. If you would like to discuss sampling you can call the Water Quality Laboratory at 508-375-6605.
Unfortunately, many contaminants are odorless and tasteless, but some obvious indicators of a problem are provided. These are adapted from the Environmental Protection Agency website. If you suspect a problem with your well, you can contact our laboratory and we will make every effort to assist you.
All samples must be received using containers supplied by the laboratory. You can pick up containers directly from the laboratory Monday-Friday 8:00-4:30 pm (Hours will vary to accommodate government holidays).
The following health departments should also have our sampling container kits* available for pickup: Falmouth, Mashpee, Brewster, Orleans, Chatham, Eastham, Wellfleet, and Truro.
*Kits include the Routine and Real Estate packages. Please call or visit the laboratory if you would like to test for any contaminant that is not included in these kits so that we can supply you with the correct sampling container.
The laboratory is open for sample drop-off Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00 pm and Friday 8:00-12:00 pm. We also provide a free courier service on Tuesday and Thursday from the following health departments: Brewster, Eastham, and Wellfleet. Our courier is also available on Wednesday from the Falmouth and Mashpee health departments. Please deliver your sample to one of these offices by 9:30 am to ensure it is picked up by our courier.
NOTE: all samples must be received at the laboratory on the SAME DAY of sample collection.
If using the courier service, please include a check inside your sample kit for the correct amount (see pricing chart below), made out to Barnstable County.
Generally every laboratory report will indicate the result along with the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). This is the maximum concentration of the contaminant that is considered safe to drink. A list of contaminants with their MCLs can be found at MASS.gov: Drinking Water Standards and Guidelines.
We also encourage you to read the following document from the Water Systems Council:
The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment Laboratory is certified for analysis of a wide range of contaminants. If you are interested in analyzing your well water for a compound not listed, please feel free to call us and we can attempt to arrange testing by another certified laboratory.
Instructional Video: How to Take a Routine Water Sample
| Condition or Nearby Activity | What to test for |
|---|---|
| Water appears cloudy, frothy, or colored | Color, detergents |
| Stained plumbing fixtures, laundry | Iron, copper, manganese |
| Salty taste and seawater, or a heavily salted roadway nearby | Chloride, total dissolved solids, sodium |
| Recurring gastro-intestinal illness | Coliform bacteria |
| Radon in indoor air or region is radon rich | Radon |
| Odor of gasoline or fuel oil, and near gas station or buried fuel tanks | Volatile organic compounds |
| Objectionable taste or smell | Hydrogen sulfide, corrosion, metals |
| Nearby areas of intensive agriculture | Nitrate, pesticides, coliform bacteria |
| Household plumbing contains lead | pH, lead, copper |
| Dump, junkyard, landfill, factory, gas station, or dry-cleaning operation nearby | Volatile organic compounds, total dissolved solids, pH, sulfate, chloride, metals |
| Corrosion of pipes, plumbing | Corrosion, pH, lead |
Routine and Real Estate Pricing
| Analysis | 10 Days Standard | 5 Days (+25%) | 4 Days (+50%) | 3 Days (+60%) | 2 Days (+75%) | *1 Day (+100%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routine Well Analysis | $70.00 | $87.50 | $105.00 | $112.00 | $122.50 | $140.00 |
| Real Estate Package | $190.00 | $237.50 | $285.00 | $304.00 | N/A | N/A |
Normal Hours of Operation
The lab is open 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday
Samples are only accepted according to the following schedule:
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM *Hours will vary to accommodate government holidays.
If you are submitting pool samples:
- Pool samples are only accepted between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
- Pseudomonas expedited turnaround time (rush order) is limited to 4-day and 5-day only.
