|
WATER TESTING
 If you suspect your drinking water is contaminated, the water should be tested. If your water is provided by a public system, contact the operator of the system for testing and possible disinfection. If you have an individual well, we suggest that you test your water annually. If your water sample is unsatisfactory, you should then evaluate and disinfect the well.
The Clallam County Drinking Water Laboratory offers bacteriological and nitrate water testing. For other types of tests, look in the yellow pages for ‘water testing', or refer to the attached list of chemical labs in the Puget Sound area.
The lab is located at the Clallam County Courthouse, within the Environmental Health Division of the Department of Community Development.
Water samples must be submitted in specific sterile sample bottles that are available from Environmental Health. You may ask for specific instructions about collecting a water sample when you pick up your empty bottle. You may pick up empty sample bottles at the Environmental Health Division at any time during business hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bottles are also available at Sequim City Hall and the Forks Health Department. However, samples can only be accepted at the times listed below.
Bacteriological Testing
The test done by the Clallam County Drinking Water Lab measures the presence of coliform bacteria. These bacteria are commonly found in human and animal waste, decaying vegetation, as well as in the soil. Although coliform bacteria are not usually a cause of illness, their presence indicates a potential contamination problem. A sample which tests positive for E. coli or fecal coliform bacteria is most likely to indicate recent fecal contamination, and requires immediate attention and follow-up sampling.
|
The water lab accepts BACTERIOLOGICAL samples Monday through Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
Bacteriological test fees are:
- $20.00 Coliform Bacteria - presence/absence test
- $30.00 Coliform Bacteria - colony count
- $15.00 Bacteria re-test (within 30 days of bad sample
- $23.00 Fecal Coliform test
|
|
The bacteriological test takes at least 24 hours to complete. You will typically receive your results in the mail within a few days. If your water contains coliform bacteria, Environmental Health staff will contact you by phone immediately with the result and suggestions for disinfecting your well. Two days before any Holiday, the laboratory stops accepting bacteriological samples at 12:00pm. Please contact Environmental Health at (360) 417-2258 for operating hours just prior to all Holidays.
Nitrate Testing
The Clallam County Water Lab tests for the amount of nitrate in drinking water. Nitrate can come from natural sources such as decomposing vegetation and geological deposits. It can also enter water supplies through human impact such as failing on-site septic systems or nitrogen fertilizer use. Please see the Washington Department of Health´s Fact Sheet about Nitrates in Drinking Water.
High nitrate levels can cause methemoglobinemia, a potentially fatal blood disorder affecting the oxygen levels in the blood. Methemoglobinemia can affect people of any age, but infants in particular. High nitrate levels may also suggest that other contaminates, such as microorganisms or pesticides may be present.
|
The fee for a nitrate test is $25.00. The water lab accepts nitrate samples every other Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. You may also submit samples the Tuesday immediately before each date listed.
Nitrate samples must be kept cold after they are collected. Please use a cooler or put the tightly closed sample bottle in a plastic baggie with ice. |
|
Nitrate tests results are generally available the same afternoon the samples are accepted (near the end of the day). These results are also mailed, and a phone call made if the results indicate a high level of nitrate.
Forks Water Sample Pick-ups
Environmental Health staff pick-up bacteriological and nitrate water samples from the Forks Health Department at 140 C Street (see dates below). You may pick up empty sample bottles from the Forks Health Department during regular office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday – 8:30 a.m. to noon & 1:00 to 4:30.
|
Forks Pick-up Dates
Drop off samples by noon.
2009 DATES
|
January 6, 20
February 3, 17
March 3, 17, 31
April 14
May 5, 19
June 2, 16, 30 |
July 14
August 4, 18
September 1, 15
October 6, 20
November 3, 17
December 1, 15 |
|
Samples are picked up at mid-day, so please deliver them to the Health Department by noon. Samples will not be accepted any other days, or after noon.
|
|
Other Water Contaminates
Several fact sheets about other drinking water contaminates are available from the Washington State Department of Health.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also has information and fact sheets about many drinking water contaminates.
Contact Environmental Health with questions or comments about the information on this page.
|
