The following is a good basic screen for any private well that should be done at least once, preferably when first moving into the house.

Basic water quality parameters to test for: Bacteria, pH, Hardness, Minerals, Nitrate.

Most wells get this screen when first installed.

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs): Gasoline and Fuel Constituents.
This covers benzene and related hydrocarbons. Gasoline and fuel spills are common in neighborhoods near gas stations., from citizen use of gasoline to run equipment and from home heating oil.

Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs): Industrial Solvents.
This covers trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, vinyl chloride and related solvents. Shops fabricating metal parts often used toxic solvents, some of which may have been released to the ground. Many dry cleaning shops release similar solvents. These chemicals may also be in local landfills.

Toxic metals: This covers lead, aresenic, copper, manganese, uranium, and chromium. Metals can come from a variety of sources, naturally from the soil, industrial processes and landfills, and from household plumbing.

Pesticides: This covers banned pesticides from a generation ago such as dieldrin, chlordane, DDT and EDB, as well as the newer pesticides such as atrazine, organophosophates and pyrethrins.

RE-TESTING YOUR WELL
Cerain chemicals should be tested for on a regular cycle - every year or two - if your well is at risk.

The RISK FACTORS are:

1) Chemicals were in your well's first test
    (note:a high detection above the MCL requires immediate action to filter out the contaminant)

2) Your well is within 1/4 mile of the following sources:    

• Gas Station: fuel related VOCs
• Farm or Nursery: Pesticides
• Industry: Solvent VOCs, fuel VOCs, metals
• Landfill: Metals Solvent VOCs
• Toxic Waste Site: Metals, VOCs
• Dry Cleaners: Solvent VOCs

3) Your drinking water takes on an unusual odor or taste. Go back to a broad spectrum test until you find the new  
     contaminant in the water.

Call your local environmental testing companies and comparison shop. You can find them in the yellow pages. They will instruct you on how to get the sample taken and analyzed.

Costs:
Basic Parameters: $50
Complete Test: $300 or more


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