NDSU Offering Water Quality Tests at Field Days

The North Dakota State University Extension Service will offer water quality testing during NDSU Research Extension Centers’ annual field day events this year.

“If you have a private well or question the quality of your livestock water, this would be a great opportunity to have it tested by Extension water quality specialists at no charge,” says Roxanne Johnson, NDSU Extension water quality associate.

Samples should be collected in any clean plastic bottle capable of holding 15 to 20 ounces.

To obtain your sample, you should allow the water run for 30 seconds and then rinse the bottle three times before filling, according to Johnson.

Substances that Extension specialists will test for on site include nitrates and total dissolved solids. They’ll also test for pH (acidity or alkalinity) and hardness. This is a screening only.

The New Ulm, Minn.-based Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories also is offering to test water for a coliform group of microorganisms that includes E. coli. The cost for this test is $7. Johnson will accept samples for testing and deliver them to the Minnesota Valley Testing’s laboratory in Bismarck.

Johnson says the sample for this test must be collected in a sterile bottle. To obtain a bottle, contact your local county Extension office. This container may contain a chlorine inhibitor, so do not rinse the container prior to use.

Here are the steps to follow when collecting a sample:

* Remove the aerator from your faucet if it has one.
* Sterilize the end of the faucet with a flame.
* Remove the bottle cap, taking care not to touch the inside of the cap or container.
* Run the water for 30 seconds to remove stagnant water from the system.
* Fill the bottle to the line indicated or near the top.
* Immediately replace the bottle cap and refrigerate.

Specimens should be analyzed within 48 hours, so collect your sample close to the time you leave for the field day. Bacteriological results will be sent to you from NDSU as soon as possible.

Here are the dates and field day locations where you can get your water tested:

* June 26 - Central Grasslands Research Extension Center, Streeter
* July 8 - Hettinger REC
* July 9 - Dickinson REC
* July 10 - Williston REC
* July 14 - Agronomy Seed Farm, Casselton
* July 15 - Carrington REC
* July 16 - North Central REC, Minot
* July 17 - Langdon REC
* July 29 -Oakes Irrigation Research Center

If you have any questions about water testing, contact Johnson at (701) 231-8926 or roxanne.m.johnson@ndsu.edu.

Bacteriological Testing Laboratories

Astro-Chem Lab, Inc.
4102 2nd Avenue West
P.O. Box 972
Williston, ND; 58801
Phone: 701-572-7355
Cost: Bacteriological, 2-4 day, $15.00, 18 hour Colilert method, $22.00, Nitrates $14.50, Mineral Analysis $50.00

Southwest District Health Unit
2869 3rd Avenue West
Dickinson, ND; 58601
Phone: 701-483-0171
Cost: Bacteriological and Nitrate $12.00, no mineralogical testing

First District Health Unit Laboratory
801 11th Avenue Southwest
PO Box 1268
Minot, ND 58702
Phone: 701-852-1376
Cost: Bacteriological and Nitrate $15.00 (present/absent only)

Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories, Inc. (MVTL)
1411 South 12th St.
Bismarck, ND 58504
Phone: 701-258-9720
Cost: Bacteriological and Nitrate $28.00

Fargo Cass Public Health
435 14th Ave. S.
Fargo, ND 58102
Phone: 701-298-6986
Cost: Coliform bacteria $14.00, Nitrate $13.00, Both Coliform and Nitrate, $25.00

City of Grand Forks
503 S. 4th St.
Grand Forks, ND 58206
Phone: 701-746-2594
Cost: Coliform bacteria $25.00

Mineralogical Testing Laboratories

Minnesota Valley Testing Laboratories, Inc. (MVTL)
1411 South 12th St.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58504
Phone: 701-258-9720
Fax: 701-258-9724

Routine Water Analysis (per sample) $50.00.

This test checks for conductivity, sodium, hardness, pH, Iron (total), calcium, manganese (total), magnesium, nitrates, sodium abosrption ration (SAR) and total dissolved solids (TDS calculated).

Comprehensive Water Analysis (per sample) $85.00. This test checks for conductivity, sodium, hardness, pH, Iron (total), calcium, manganese (total), magnesium, nitrates, sodium abosrption ration (SAR) and total dissolved solids (TDS calculated), potassium, alkalinity, chloride, fluoride and sulfate.

Stock Pond Series (per sample) $25.00. This test checks for conductivity, sulfate, nitrate, and total dissolved solids (TDS).

Irrigation Series (per sample) $25.00. This test checks for conductivity, sodium, calcium, magnesium, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), and total dissolved solids (TDS).

North Dakota Department of Health
Chemistry Division
2635 East Main Avenue, P.O. Box 937
Bismarck, North Dakota 58501
Phone: 701-328-6140
Fax: 701-328-6145

Partial Mineral Chemistry - This test checks for bicarbonate, calcium, carbonate, conductivity, iron, magnesium, manganese, percent sodium, pH, potassium, sodium and sodium absorption ratio.

Complete Mineral Chemistry - This checks for biocarbonate, calcium, carbonate, conductivity, iron, magnesium, manganese, percent sodium, pH, potassium, sodium and sodium absorption ratio, chloride, fluoride, sulfate.

Lead and Copper
Fluoride
Nitrate

Special or unusual requests can possibly be handled and will have a varying price range. This could include total alkalinity, hardness, total hardness, total dissolved solids, turbidity, silica, nitrate, and hydroxide. Please call for details.

The partial and complete mineral analyses require a sample of at least one quart in a clean plastic or glass container.

NOTICE: These analyses generally take approximately two weeks to complete and mail out, but on occasion may take longer due to heavy sample load and/or program priority.

For more information, refer to website: http://www.health.state.nd.us/lab
If you have any questions or would like a list of current pricing, please call (701) 328-6140

Fargo Cass Public Health
401 3rd Avenue North
Fargo, North Dakota 58102
Phone: 701-241-1360

Complete Potable Water $55.00. This test checks coliform bacteria, nitrates, calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese, magnesium and total hardness.

Partial Water Chemistry $40.00. This test checks calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, manganese, iron and total hardness.

Complete Water Chemistry $75.00. This test checks pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, iron, manganese, total hardness, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, sulfate and P & M alkalinity.

Irrigation Series $40.00. This test checks calcium, magnesium, sodium, conductivity, and sodium absorption ration (SAR).

Trace Minerals: Lead & copper, $25.00. Arsenic, $20.00.

First District Health Unit Laboratory
801 11th Avenue Southwest
PO Box 1268
Minot, North Dakota 58702
Phone: 701-852-1376

Chemical Analysis $15.00. This checks for conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, iron, manganese, sodium and nitrate.

Irrigation Water Quality $15.00. This checks for specific conductance @ 25 degrees, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, iron, sodium, nitrates, and pH.

Lead sample and analysis $20.00

Astro-Chem Lab, Inc.
4102 2nd Avenue West
P.O. Box 972
Williston, ND; 58801
Phone: 701-572-7355

Flouride Analysis $16.50

Nitrate - N Analysis $14.50

Lead & Copper Analysis $21.00 each

Routine Water Analysis (per sample) $50.00 (drinking, irrigatin, stock). This test checks for pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS calculated), carbonate, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, potassium, sodium absorption ratio (SAR), hardness, and sodium chloride (calculated).

The above tests require a sample of at least one quart in a clean plastic or glass container.

NDSU Extension Service
NDSU
Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering
College of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Natural Resources

______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Department of Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering, 1221 Albrecht Blvd., P.O. Box 5626, Fargo, ND 58105-5626
Phone: 701-231-7261, Fax: 701-231-1008

Published by: North Dakota State University
Lori Sholts
Last Modified: February, 2008