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Drinking Water Sampling Techniques

City and local governments frequently test their jurisdiction's drinking water supply for contamination, harmful organisms and chemical imbalances. Government authorities only test public water; they do not test wells that run independently from the public system. Many homes in the United States operate on well water, so the owners of the property must sample the water and have it tested by a laboratory themselves. Using the proper techniques to sample drinking water ensures accurate test results.

  1. Laboratory Requirements

    • Each lab creates its own sampling procedures and requirements. Contact the laboratory to gather information about their sampling process, including how and where to send the water sample. Laboratories provide sterilized containers that protect the sample from contamination. The containers are often boiled, treated with chemicals and washed with distilled water.

    Prepare for Sampling

    • To sample drinking water, gather a small amount of water from a commonly used tap inside the house. Before filling the sampling container, the water line from the well must be completely flushed to clean out possible contaminants lodged in the pipes. If your faucet has aerating screens, remove them before sampling. Turn the tap on and let the water run until its temperate changes significantly--this signals that the water is fresh from the well (and hasn't been sitting in the pipe for hours).

    Gathering the Sample

    • Once the water line is flushed, turn the facet down until the stream of water is reduced to a quarter inch in diameter. Open the container, be careful not to touch the inside or the lid with your hand. Let the tap water fill the container within an inch of the top, then quickly remove and close the container. If your sample is going to be tested for bacterial agents, take particular care to avoid water splashing from your hand into the container as you hold it under the tap.

    Importance

    • Contaminated drinking water is dangerous, but difficult to diagnose. Regularly testing drinking water, especially if the well is located at the base of a hill or near pipes, is critical to maintaining the health of residents on the property. Drinking water can transmit deadly diseases or chemical contamination relatively quickly. Catching contamination by sampling and testing drinking water is the best way to prevent the outbreak of a water-born contagion.

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