Engineers Without Borders

ETR Laboratories has recently offered technical support to the Boston Chapter of Engineers Without Borders http://www.ewbboston.org/.

If you are a golfer or know of a corporate sponsor who would find value in sponsorship of a great cause, please consider participation in The First Annual EWB Boston Golf Tournament, Sept 12, @ Stow Acres Country Club.

Engineers Without Borders is a group of mostly Engineers who work on projects internationally, particularly in areas where such expertise is not readily available.  The Boston Chapter is working on projects in Honduras and Tanzania. The focus of Boston EWB is working with local groups in these two countries to facilitate those towns and villages to assist their residents to create solution to the issues they face.

Funds raised are primarily to defray the travel and related expenses of the local members of EWB to go to Honduras and Tanzania in what I would describe as a combination coach and technical adviser for the local projects.  It has been found that locally funded and managed projects are far more likely to survive than those funded and run by outsiders.  Your support of this group is welcome and very much appreciated.

Wal-Mart may be Selling the ETR Well Water Disinfection Kit

Wal-Mart may be selling the ETR Well Water Disinfection Kit and your ASSISTANCE could be what makes the difference to Environmental Testing Research Laboratories of Leominster. The public will vote for the winner. You can help this local company achieve the honor. 

The more votes ETR receives, the more likely the laboratory is to get a contract with Wal-Mart. That contract would make a huge difference for this small company.  You can vote once per day.  ETR staff and management would very much appreciate it if you would vote as often as possible between now and Sept 2.

Wal-Mart Announcement message says:  The Voting Process ============ Voting runs from now through September 2; you may vote once per day per product. To vote for a product, visit that product's page on our site and click the Vote button. Your product's page is https://getontheshelf.walmart.com/product/1588/ETR-Well-Water-Disinfect. Our judges will use vote totals as an indicator of public support, to help give them an idea of products' commercial viability.

It appears that one must have a Facebook account to do this voting.  It has also been learned that voting works better from some computer than from others.  

What is a Disinfection Kit? 

Any time private wells are contaminated or may be contaminated with microorganisms, disinfecting the well is essential to maintain good health of the people and animals consuming the water.  Disinfection is appropriate when:

1. Any work is done by on the household plumbing or well system.
2. The well cap is removed for any reason.
3. There is a flood or for any reason surface water gets into your well
4. Annually as a precaution
5. A water test indicates the presence of bacteria or other microorganisms.
6. You start using water at the beginning of the season for all wells used seasonally.
7. Anytime the water taste or odor changes

To learn more go to: http://www.etrlabs.com/Water-Test/Well-Water-Disinfection-Kit

BACKGROUND

ETR Laboratories is a full service analytic lab specializing in testing of private well water. Since the single most common contaminant in private well water is bacteria, we developed the ETR Well Water Disinfection Kit.  It uses a reagent safer than traditional household bleach. Additionally, the kit  includes  a follow up laboratory test to verify that the water is free of bacteria after the treatment is complete.

Wal-Mart has a program called "Get on the Shelf.” This program is open to products produced by US based small companies.  ETR Laboratories, Greg Aldrich said "We submitted an application which was approved for us to move to the next step."  The number of votes received from the public for the ETR Well Water Disinfection Kit will be an indicator to Wal-Mart Management of the market appeal of the product.

What else you can do:

If you are interested in assisting ETR Laboratories to be awarded a contract, there are several things you can do that would make a difference. They include:

1. Post a notice on your Facebook page
2. Send an email to some or all the folks in your contact list. 
3. Post notices on other Social Media
• Twitter
• Pintrest
• YouTube
• MySpace 
• Google +
• Any other social media where you have a following

You may also have other ideas on how ETR Laboratories can get the word out about this opportunity.  If you do, contact Greg Aldrich, Director, Sales and Marketing with those ideas. He can be reached at (978) 660-2669 or galdrich@etrlabs.com

It's NONE of their business

You want to know what is in your well water, the new product you have designed, the soil in your yard. Maybe you are the process engineer in a manufacturing plant.  For some reason the process which has always work is failing now.  You believe chemical or biochemical analysis will assist in resolving the issues.  But, frankly,  you really don't think it is anyone else's business.  Well neither do we at ETR Laboratories.

Every sample we receive and every test we perform is for YOU our client. We send the results where you direct us, and only to who you direct us.  

Why is this important?  Frankly, I don't know.  BUT YOU DO!!!!!! If you ever need us to discuss your report with your partner, your mom, the guy down the hall, your boss or the mailman, we are happy to do that. But ONLY when you give your explicit permission.

There are two reason I mention this.  One is to give you comfort that your work with us IS CONFIDENTIAL.

The other is so that you understand that stories I tell in the future will never reveal the client, or even sufficient information for an astute observe to suspect who the client is.  I promise you that I will only tell real stories with real issues.  Some of those storie you may find sensational.  But all will be about circumstance that actually exist in the world.

So make sure if you hire a Laboratory to work for you that their fiduciary responsibility is to you and you alone.

I hope you find the this column valuable.  I look forward to you comments.

All the best

Greg Aldrich
ETR Laboratories
(978) 840-2941
gpaldrich@etrlabs.com

Leominster, MA.  May 21, 2013.  Environmental Testing and Research (ETR) Laboratories, Inc. of Leominster announced that today, that they completed the initial presentation of the REACT course to be offered to real estate professionals. REACT (Realty Environmental Access Core Training) is designed to keep RE agents and brokers fully versed on radon and private well water as to the effect they can have on a property sale.

Cathi DeCiero,
Prudential Prime Properties

This REACT presentation was made at the request of Cathi DeCiero of Prudential Prime Properties (PPP) headquartered in Maynard, MA and was opened to all real estate professional. PPP has 288 agents and employees in 19 offices located in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Maine.  The training was held in the Conference Room at ETR Laboratories.

Those attending were provided a review of radon and private well water as they affect the value of real estate.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has published these finding widely.  The findings state that radon can be a serious health hazard.  The EPA publicity of the effects of radon has adversely affected the value of houses where radon is at elevated levels.  While remediation is an option, that option is also costly.  Having a clear understanding of the significance of the level of radon in a house assists agents to better evaluate property values.

While only about 15% of homes in the US  are served by private water wells, in some communities in New England, 100% of the homes have private wells.  The good news is that the majority of these wells have among the best drinking water available. Many more can have great water with minor changes. Understanding how to spot issues with a well is part of the REACT Training.

Enough wells have issues that most authorities recommend water quality testing prior to closing of all transaction where a well is in use. As with the level of radon, the quality of the well water affects property values.

ETR Laboratories’ Greg Aldrich reviewed many of the parameters that effect property values.  With the level of testing necessary to have a reliable report on the water quality.

Greg Aldrich
ETR Laboratories

assistance of Laboratory Director, Eric Koslowski, those attending the training saw many examples that demonstrate how a well should be constructed and some of the signs of improper construction.  Additionally, Aldrich and Koslowski discussed the

ETR Laboratories is a full service analytical lab specializing in private well water and radon testing.  Established in 1995, ETR has tested well water and radon for clients throughout the US and around the world.  Eric Koslowski, the Laboratory Director has over 30 years experience testing well water and consulting clients regard the results of their analysis.  The Laboratory staff is always welcome to assist with testing and consulting regarding either radon or private drinking water.

We are also available to conduct seminars for your organization.  The REACT seminar will be available in Webinar format soon. The Laboratory is open Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm and can be reached at (978) 840-2941 or info@etrlabs.com for general information or seminars@etrlabs.com discuss scheduling a seminars.

LEOMINSTER, MA. May 16, 2013. Environmental Testing andResearch (ETR) Laboratories, Inc. announced today the creation of a new training designed for Real Estate Professionals.   The training is designed specifically to ensure that Real Estate Agents are fully versed in the environmental issues that affect property values.  The training will be known as Realty Environmental Assessment Core Training (REACT).

Specifically, the Training will cover:

1.    Radon in Air
•   What Radon is.
•  Understanding how radon affects property value.
•  How to measure Radon.
•  Where to measure Radon.
2.  Private Well Water
• Location of the well
•  Construction of the well
• Water Quality
•  Solutions

ETR Lab Director, Eric Koslowski has over 30 years’ experience in the industry. He has contributed that extensive experience to this training.

The initial presentation of REACT will be on May 21, 2013.  It will be held in conjunction with Prudential Prime Properties based in Maynard, MA. This presentation will be in the conference room at ETR Laboratories.  The training is open to all licensed real estate agents.  Registration is recommended to ensure seating.  Send an email to seminar@etrlabs.com.

ETR Laboratories is a full service analytical lab specializing in private well water and radon testing.  Established in 1995, ETR has tested well water and radon for clients throughout the US and around the world.  The Laboratory staff is always welcome to assist with testing and consultation regarding either radon or private drinking water.  The Laboratory is open Monday through Friday 9 am to 5 pm and can be reached at (978) 840-2941 or info@etrlabs.com.

If I could see the future

Boy would that be really cool.  Just think. I could tell you that your well was never going to be contaminate
. . . and you, yeah you over there that your well was going to be contaminated in by the floods next month . .

Some rights reserved by Gamma Man

.. and you, yeah you . . . your well will be contaminated next year by the industrial spill that occurred last year several miles away. 

But the truth is, I can't do that. . . . And in fact no one can with any level of certainty.  So there is testing to see what the quality of your water actually is. The EPA says every year. Actually there are two important reasons to get your water tested regularly.   

1.  The first, and most obvious, is to know what the quality of your water is now.  Has anything changed since the last test? So many folks wait till they are suffering some illness or inconvenience to do the testing. 
2. The second, and equally important, is to have a record of you water quality history. If you ever do experience pollution in your water you will have a historical record which will be useful for two purposes.  To allow medical experts to understand the changes that have occurred in you water and how it has affected the health of your family. The second is to show the quality of the water in the past as a baseline for discussion about what has changed.

For the majority of people, regular testing provides the assurance that they and their family are using healthy water.  But knowing early on when pollutants are beginning to encroach on your well water will save you issues of unpleasant and often serious health effects.

So often I hear that those managing an apparent source of pollution ask for evidence that their enterprise is the source of said pollution.  With no historical records, it is hard to prove that the pollutants were not always there or at least arrived as a result of that enterprise entering the picture. If you have the records you have the basis for proving your case. 

Hopefully you now have a better appreciation of the reasons to order an your annual water check up now while you are thinking about it.

Have a great day

Greg Aldrich

ETR Laboratories, Inc.

(800) 344-9977

(galdrich@etrlabs.com

http://www.etrlabs.com

Welcome to ETR Laboratories ETR Labs has been in the laboratory business since 1995. We are a Central Massachusetts based, full service Laboratory, specializing in the analysis of private drinking water. Our facility has serviced thousands of clients across North America and beyond.

There are essentially three market segments we serve. We serve industrial companies large and small analyzing everything from process water to plastics, air samples to unknown analysis, dairy to particle analysis.  The second market segment is those individuals and businesses that own private water wells.  The third market segment is those businesses (Home Inspectors, Real Estate Agencies, mortgage lenders, Filtration Companies, well drillers and pump installers) which serve the private well owner.

Outstanding service and quality have made ETR Laboratories nationally recognized . WE combine professional staff with state of the art equipment to provide our clients with fast results using the most up to date testing methods. We offer a wide range of testing options at reasonable prices that will address any concern or environmental issue that could affect your water.

Confidentiality is one of the most important elements of our business.  We will  never share results of any work we do for a client, business, academic or individual unless our client specifically directs us to do so.  Our work on your behalf is for your benefit and yours alone.

We can provide you with a free sample collection kit. If that is not practical in your situation, call the lab for ideas on how to provide a suitable sample using other options.  You just send us back a water sample in the enclosed container. Results for most tests are completed within two business days. Reports can be emailed, faxed or mailed to you. Our goal is to provide you and your family the assurance and peace of mind that your water is safe, clean and healthy.

Sound analytic protocols are at the heart of what we do everyday. We thrive on a spirit of innovation and leadership, which are the essential elements of our laboratory’s continued success in meeting the needs of those who place their trust in us. We realize the importance of our test results and the impact they have on our client’s well being. Our philosophy is: "Quality Water and Good Health go hand in hand”.