410.848.1014Maryland Water Quality Testing
Whether you want peace of mind that your well water is safe to drink or you need to meet EPA, MDE, Health Department, or other requirements, Fountain Valley Analytical Laboratory is happy to help. We provide water quality testing services to a variety of clients from homeowners to businesses, real estate agents, builders and many others. We test well water, tap water, municipal water supply and a variety of other water systems.
We can advise you on the adequate tests and provide speedy turnaround for these and many other water testing needs:
- Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water (GWUDI)
- National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
- The Federal Surface Water Treatment Rule Compliance
- Consumer Confidence Report Preparation
- Monitoring Well Purging and Sampling
- Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance
- MDE New Well Protocol Testing
- Environmental Consulting and Training
- Use & Occupancy Testing
What We Can Test For
Water quality is determined by many factors. Health is usually the main concern when it comes to drinking water, but we also consider such water characteristics as hardness, turbidity (cloudiness), taste and odor, pH balance, etc. Depending on the purpose of the water analysis, we can help you select the right battery of tests to make sure you gather the data you need.
Microbiology
Microbiology testing measures the presence of live microorganisms in your water system, looking for the signs of dangerous bacteria that may pose danger to your health.
When it comes to microbiology, we test for: total coliforms, fecal coliforms, E. coli and E. coli O157:H7, pseudomonas, plate counts, yeasts and molds, environmental sponges, iron and sulfur bacteria.
Chemistry
Chemistry testing has to do with the chemical composition of the water and the balance of organic and inorganic compounds. These tests help determine whether certain elements exceed safe amounts, as well as whether there are dangerous chemicals present, such as pesticides.
When it comes to chemistry, we test for: Nitrate – N, Nitrite – N, fluoride, minerals, metals, nutrients, inorganics, volatile organics, pesticides, herbicides and pH.
Physical Qualities
Physical qualities of water can often be seen with the naked eye. For example, if the water looks cloudy or smells bad, it’s not the kind of water you’d want to drink. We use scientific methods and measurements to evaluate such physical qualities of water as turbidity, total solids, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids and settleable solids.
Microscopy
Direct microscopy of water involves examining a water sample under a microscope to identify, count and enumerate microorganisms and micro particles, such as mold spores, algae, protozoa, etc.
Radionuclides
Radionuclides are radioactive atoms that naturally occur in water, but can also enter water due to human activities. These substances include the metallic elements Radium and Uranium as well as the otherwise inert gas Radon. High levels of radionuclides pose risk to human health and may lead to significant damage after prolonged exposure. Tests are available to determine the total amount of various radioactive particles emitted from a particular sample. There are a number of geographical locations in Maryland that have higher than normal radionuclide levels in the groundwater. We can test your sample for radionuclides and ensure compliance with the EPA’s Radionuclides Rule.
Some of the radionuclides we test for: Gross Alpha (GAPA), Gross Beta (GBPA), Radium 226, Radium 228, Uranium and Radon
Discounts are available for routine testing and multiple sites. Contact us with any questions or to request water analysis.
