Tuesday, October 21, 2014

LinkedIn Group Announced: Private Well Owners

A new linked in Group has be created to provide education and understanding for those who use and serve those who own and use private drinking water wells.  I recently learned of the value of participating in Groups on LinkedIn.  However, when I looked for a group that discussed private drinking water wells, I found that there was not one in existence. So I have created that Group.  

While this blog gives me an opportunity to discuss at specific issues relating to environmental testing, my hope is that the LinkedIn Group will create an environment where specific issues that are of interest to well owners and vendors who serve those individuals can have a dialog. 

If you are interested in participating in this conversation, I invite you to join the group at this location.  Yes you must be a member of LinkedIn to participate. My understanding is the LinkedIn is the future for presenting your professional presence.  If you are on LinkedIn yet, you may want to consider joining soon. Maybe participation in the group Private Well Owners is just the incentive you need to go there?  

All the best,

Greg Aldrich
(800) 344-9977

Friday, September 5, 2014

Ongoing annual testing

Once you have completed the first year testing, future testing will be based on the following criteria. 
  • More reduced testing may be a reasonable solution if the above testing reveals NO significant contamination.
  • Consider the likelihood of of industrial, waste or farming pollution in your aquifer.
  • If trace amounts of the contaminant are present retesting for those parameters annually is recommended.
  • If you have a shallow well, regardless of results the Health Scan is always the recommended minimum testing.
  •  Periodically, once every 3-5 year, you should retest at the highest level suggested by these criteria. 
Finally, let's face it, cost is a consideration for most people.  I leave you with a couple of thoughts. ETR Laboratories works very hard to find a balance between cost and value.  We know that you are concerned about the well being of your family.  Drinking water is fundamental to the health and well being of all people. I suggest that you consider the value to your family of having certainty about your drinking water.

If there is anything we can do to assist you with making the decision as to the correct testing for your situation, please contact us at (800) 344-9977 or by email: info@etrlabs.com.

Greg Aldrich
ETR Laboratories, Inc. 
galdrich@etrlabs.com
  

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Where do I start My annual testing?

There are several approaches you can take to make this decision.  One is to rely on the EPA's recommendation. That recommendation is this. Test for Coliform and e.Coli bacteria, lead, nitrate and nitrite, plus what ever contaminants are known to be a local concern.

The challenge with this criteria is that it is very difficult to know what is a concern to your well. While contamination of a neighbors well can indicate a problem, in most cases no one knows with certainty that your well and theirs are on the same aquifer. Water underground is very much like water on the surface. Sometimes it is in bodies that are very similar to ponds or larger like lakes or oceans. Often the water is in an aquifer that is like a stream or river. Unfortunately knowing if you and your neighbor are on the same aquifer is a difficult task. 

We can make a pretty good guess as to the best testing for your situation. There are two places you could
Well head at ground Level -
Can be a source of
contamination
be. One is that you have not done any testing for a long period of time, possibly you never have.  The other is that you have done some testing recently . . .  in year or two.

If are in the first group, where you have not done much testing recently, don't feel bad. Many others are in the same boat.  It is urgent that you start NOW so that you and your family are protected from any pollutants that either are now in the well or that enter your aquifer in the future. Here are some factors in determining testing you should order at this time.
  • If you have knowledge of significant industrial, waste disposal or farming pollution in your area it is probably advisable to consider very extensive testing similar to our Advanced Environmental Health Scan. For somewhat lesser but similar situation the Environmental Scan should be adequate. 
  • If your well or the water from it has any of the following issues testing similar to our Health Scan is the recommended testing:
    • There is any foul odor, taste or color in your water
    • It is a shallow well. 
    • The well head is less than 12" inches above ground or is subterranean
    • The well cap is not tightly sealed
    • Any structure or plants cover or are less than a foot or two from the well head.
    • The well head is adjacent to a road or any body of water or is in the woods.
  • If none of the above are a concern, it is likely that testing similar to our Comprehensive Scan is adequate to reveal the quality of your well water. 
In the last of this three part series I will discuss the considerations you will want to make regarding the ongoing testing that will ensure your families water source is of good quality.

If there is anything we can do to assist you with making the decision as to the correct testing for your situation, please contact us at (800) 344-9977 or by email: info@etrlabs.com.

Greg Aldrich
ETR Laboratories, Inc. 
galdrich@etrlabs.com

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Annual Private Well Water Testing

Virtually any expert on private well water recommends at least annual water testing.  A study done by three Midwestern universities  reveals that a significant portion of owners do not understand the importance of annual testing.  And even more are confused by what testing is sufficient. Hopefully this discussion will assist you in understanding the importance of annual testing. Additionally I hope to give you some guidance in choosing testing at the right level for you and your family.

Quality Well Head
What do you need to know?
In previous postings I have discussed the wide variety of issues that can inform you regarding the circumstances that effect the quality of the water in a water well.  I encourage you to check those out if you have not already done so.  

Most important is this.  Each private well owner/user is responsible for ensuring the quality of the water they and their family consume. While the government continues to find ways to involve itself in your private affairs, ultimately the owner or user of the well is responsible for the safety and comfort of their family. 

The only way that you can do that is to be responsible for the following:
  • Be informed as to the local issues that effect water quality. Those include:
    • Naturally occurring minerals.
    • Toxic substance spills.
    • Potential local industrial sources of pollution - both current and past.
  • Annually testing the water quality.
  • Annually disinfect the well - I will cover this in a later posting.
So what testing do I order?
There are several approaches you can take to make this decision.  One is to rely on the EPA's recommendation. That recommendation is this. Test for Confirm and e.Coli bacteria, lead, nitrate and nitrite, plus what ever contaminants are known to be a local concern.  

The challenge with this criteria is that it is very difficult to know what is a concern to your well. While contamination of a neighbors well can indicate a problem, in most cases no one knows with certainty that your well and theirs are on the same aquifer. Water underground is very much like water on the surface. Sometimes it is in bodies that are very similar to ponds or larger like lakes or oceans. Often the water is in an aquifer that is like a stream or river. Unfortunately knowing if you and your neighbor are on the same aquifer is a difficult task. 

In my next post we will talk about where to start your annual testing regimin.

If there is anything we can do to assist you with making the decision as to the correct testing for your situation, please contact us at (800) 344-9977 or by email: info@etrlabs.com.

Greg Aldrich
ETR Laboratories, Inc. 
galdrich@etrlabs.com

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Endotoxin Analysis

Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories announce adding enhanced endotoxin analysis to their services.  Historically, endotoxin analysis was limited to identifying results in one of three ranges. Recently, sophisticated FDA approved equipment has been acquired which provides ETR Laboratories with the ability to promptly and easily give exact results . . . . often the same day as sampling.  

Endotoxins are a lipopolysaccharide complex associated with gram negative bacteria.  Understanding the level of these bacterial pathogens present in certain medical environments assists in ensuring safe use of services provided. 

ETR Laboratories testing is accurate from .05 EU/ml (Endotoxin Units/milliliter) up to infinity. 

For additional information on endotoxin analysis, contact ETR Laboratories, (800) 344-9977 Greg Aldrich, Director, Sales and Marketing, galdrich@etrlabs.com or Ram Ananthoji, PhD., Laboratory Manager, ram@etrlabs.com

Monday, August 4, 2014

# 1 Mistake Regarding Sulfur and Drinking Water




Many times each week we have someone complain that they have Sulfur in their water.  While there are probably few areas of the world where sulfur occurs naturally in the aquifers from which drinking water is drawn, the fact is there are very few.  More often the source of the odor is something else completely. Most folks would be surprised and probably dismayed to know what the source is. More significantly the solutions are pretty simple. 

Folks frequently complain for rotten egg or sulfur odor from their water.  Sometimes it is from just the hot water. Often it is from both hot and cold water.  So what is the cause if it is not sulfur?  Actually there is not one cause, but several.  Often called iron bacteria or manganese bacteria they are in fact one of several species including Thiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans. These micro-organisms use dissolved ferric iron (and sometime manganese) which results in ferric oxide.


The result is often a musty, rotten egg or other unpleasant odor in water from your tap.  For most folks these little creatures are not harmful. Some people with a compromised immune system may suffer ill effects. The question is "How did they get there?"  While it may have been a onetime issue of contamination, often this bacteria is an indicator of surface water or other contamination of your well system.  That is, these bacteria can indicate that surface water is getting into your system. Removing them and then monitoring that they stay removed is important. 


How do you do this?  If the odor is observed only in the hot water, then it is probably because you have turned the water temperature down too low.  This is common in this day and age when folks are looking for anyway to save a few bucks.  Lowering the temperature on your hot water tank or system will save you money.  However if you lower it below 140 degrees Fahrenheit, that will allow these bacteria to grow with the resulting objectionable odor.   


So turn the thermostat on your hot water tank or system up so that the water coming out of the tap is above 140 degrees.  That will kill the bacteria that is resident in you hot water tank and the resulting odor will likely go away and stay gone!  BE CAREFUL! Raising the temperature can lead to scalding, so make sure that everyone in the home, PARTICULARLY THE KIDS, know how to adjust their use of the shower and other water faucets to ensure there are not injuries. 
ETR Well Water Disinfection Kit
ETR Well Water Disinfection Kit

Both Hot and Cold Water.  If the odor is coming from both hot and cold water the solution becomes disinfecting the well. Sometimes this is called shocking the well.  To learn more about this process go to this location at ETR Laboratories Website.

However you treat you water, if the odor comes back repeatedly, you probably have an issue with surface water getting into your well.  To learn more about how to properly maintain a private well go to this location and download the available documents.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

ETR Laboratories Names Lab Manager

LEOMINSTER, MA, July 30, 2014.  Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories is pleased to announce that Ramakanth Ananthoji, PhD, has assumed the position of Laboratory Manager.  Ananthoji comes to ETR Laboratories with a broad level of experience including leadership, management and technical work in both a laboratory and academic setting.

A native of India, Dr. Ananthoji earned his PhD at University of South Florida in Tampa. Graduate and undergraduate work included emphasis in both chemistry and education.  His previous employment was with Key Safety Systems, Lakeland, FL and as a faculty member at both University of South Florida and University of Tampa.

ETR Laboratory director, Eric Koslowski said “Ram brings a wealth of leadership skills, chemical knowledge and communication skills to our company.  We are excited to add his experience and wisdom to our staff.”

Ananthoji lives in Fitchburg with his wife and daughter.  ETR Laboratories is a full service analytic laboratory which specializes in providing private confidential testing for individuals and industry.  Areas of emphasis include private well water, radon and air quality testing.  Additionally, the Laboratory works with manufactures, product developers, hospitals and other industrial clients to solve many issues using chemical and bio chemical analysis.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Private Well Construction and Maintenance

Quality Wellhead
One of the amazing things we find is how many poorly constructed and maintained wells there are in this country.  While some of those substandard wells were built recently, most are a number of years or even decades old.  The fundamentals of well construction have been known for many years. However, like most everything else in the construction industry there have been significant improvements in the ability to build and maintain properly operating well which provide quality drinking water in sufficient quantities.

Problem well cap

So that public is better informed on this subject, ETR laboratories has complied three documents which together provide a thorough review of the knowledge you, the private well owner must have to ensure your well is operating consistently and the you maximize the likelihood that the water provided to your family is the quality that they deserve.
Problem wellhed

To get those documents you simple need to click to here, complete a very brief form and you will be able to download all three documents.

If after reading these you have additional question, please call me at (800) 344-9977.


Tuesday, June 17, 2014

ETR Laboratories Adds Arsenic III & V Speciation

Environmental Testing and Research Laboratories, Inc. is pleased to announce that they are now offering a new level of testing regarding Arsenic in drinking water.  ETR Laboratories will be able to provide interested clients speciation of Arsenic.  What that means is that we are able to tell our client the level of Arsenic III and Arsenic V in their sample.  


Most private well water has either undetectable or extremely low levels of Arsenic.  That is, the level or Arsenic is well below the 10 parts per billion that the EPA standards require for Public Drinking Water.  However, in those circumstances when the level exceeds acceptable amounts, speciation of the Arsenic assists water treatment experts to more completely removal the contamination.
"We are excited to be able to provide this expanded service to our clients” shared ETR Laboratories Eric Koslowski, Lab Director.  Koslowski’s partner Terry Barter expanded on this by noting that "clients having some level of Arsenic will now have the information they need to work with filtration experts. This information gives qualified water treatment professionals the knowledge they need to install the most cost effective systems for the specific circumstances that exist.”
Arsenic occurs in drinking water from two sources.  In many case it occurs naturally in the
minerals from the rocks and soil surrounding the aquifer from which the water is drawn. 

Additionally Arsenic has been used widely for a number of industrial and farming purposes so there are often residuals on the surface from those applications.  As we have learned more about the effects of this metal, the uses of Arsenic have gone out of favor so this source of contamination has been come less of a concern.
Removal of Arsenic from drinking water is a challenge.  There are a number of known solutions, but some work well only for Arsenic V, some are relatively expensive, some don’t work so well if there are other types of contaminants (e.g. iron, manganese, TDS, sulfate and more), some require a certain level of attention to maintenance to ensure their safe and reliable application.  
Learning if Arsenic or other contaminants are a concern is a pretty simple process. First have a thorough water quality test performed by an independent laboratory.  Then if the level of Arsenic is a concern, a follow up test determining the speciation of the Arsenic is ordered and performed. Following that work, the well owner would be well served to consult with a qualified water treatment professional to determine the exact filtration system that is ideal for the circumstance in the specific situation. 
ETR Laboratories is a full service analytic laboratory located in Leominster, MA.  Best known for testing private well water, ETR Laboratories also does extensive work with Radon testing as well as creating solutions for a wide variety of industrial applications.  For more information on Arsenic and other service contact Greg Aldrich, Director, Sales and Marketing (800) 344-9977 or galdrich@etrlabs.com.