WATER BACTERIOLOGY TESTING FOR TOTAL COLIFORM/E. COLI
The Laboratory performs testing for Total Coliform/E. coli in drinking water for public water systems and private individuals with well water systems. The laboratory is accredited by TCEQ and certified to perform both presence/absence testing.
AVAILABILITY
Water Testing is performed Monday through Thursday. Samples must be received prior to 3:00 p.m. on those days to insure enough time for sample processing and testing before the laboratory closes at 5:00 p.m. Testing is not performed on Fridays because the test takes 24 hours and the laboratory is closed on weekends. No samples will be accepted on Friday's, except extreme emergencies or very special instances and then only after prior approval by the Laboratory (additional charges may apply).
FREE COLLECTION BOTTLES
The laboratory provides free sterile and buffered collection bottles for the collection of samples, and these are the only acceptable containers. Home-sterilized containers are not acceptable, as we cannot guarantee sterility as well as they do not contain a special buffer that assists in bacteria recovery. For this reason, only approved sample containers will be accepted. If you need them, please stop by our laboratory and pick them up for free.
No water sample will be accepted unless the sample is collected in a proper sterile collection bottle and accompanied by the appropriate and complete laboratory request form, both of which are available free of charge from the Laboratory/Water Pollution Division of the Health District. Additionally, containers and forms may be obtained from the local municipal city halls in various communities.
DEADLINE FOR TESTING
All samples for water testing must be delivered to the laboratory for testing within 30 hours of collection and kept on ice during transport. Any samples received that are older than 30 hours or greater than 10 degrees Celsius will be rejected for testing, since this requirement is a part of the regulations that govern water testing, there will be no exceptions to this requirement.
FEES
- Total Coliform/E. coli Presence/Absence Test: $20.00 per sample
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