Drinking water analysis at NEL Water Quality Specialist

Bacteria in Drinking Water: General Information and Sampling Instructions

Microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, are the contaminants with the greatest chance of reaching levels high enough to cause acute health effects. You cannot detect bacteria in drinking water by sight, smell, or taste. You must have your water tested for coliform bacteria.

Northeast Environmental Laboratory, Inc. (NEL, Inc.) is certified by the Massachusetts DEP for analyzing drinking water samples for bacteria.

Collecting Drinking Water Samples for Bacteria Testing

When you are ready to have your drinking water tested for bacteria, contact NEL, Inc. by telephone at (978) 777-4442 or by e-mail at contact@northeastlab.com, or stop in at the lab in Danvers to obtain a drinking water bacteria test kit, which are free of charge with pre-paid tests.

It is important to use the bacteria test kit to help ensure accurate test results. The sample bottle is sterile to assure the sample is not contaminated by bacteria in the bottle.

Sampling Guidelines

Please read instructions carefully since failure to follow proper sampling procedure can result in invalid test results.

  • Take the sample from a faucet that you use for drinking and cooking, usually a kitchen faucet.
  • Do not touch or contaminate the inside of the bottle or cap. Break the seal and open the sample bottle carefully. Remove and discard the seal. Hold only the outside of the cap.
  • Refrigerate the sample and transport it to the laboratory in an cooler with ice packs within six hours.
    ** Sample Drop Off Hours: Monday - Thursday 8am-3:30pm. **

Sampling Instructions

  1. Remove the screen/aerator from the faucet before collecting the sample.
  2. Dry the mouth of the faucet and wipe with alcohol to sterilize. (If sample must be collected from an outside faucet, first clean with bleach.)
  3. Run the cold water for at least two minutes.
  4. Collect the sample in the sterile container from the drinking water bacteria test kit, taking care not to touch the inside of the container, the cap of the container, or the head of the faucet.
  5. Keep samples cool (in a cooler with ice pack) and deliver to the lab within six hours after sample collection.

A final report will be emailed when all tests are completed.