Water Quality Lab Testing
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Ensure the Quality of Your Water with Lab Testing
Serving homeowners throughout Tilton, Laconia, NH, and the surrounding areas, we are a drop-off location for Granite State Analytical.
At LaChance Water Filtration, we are proud to work with Granite State Analytical as our local certified water testing facility. Granite State Analytical is one of the most trusted water testing facilities in New England and has been providing extremely accurate testing since 1987.
When you need professional water testing, you can count on us to deliver results you can trust.
Serving Tilton, Sunapee, Meredith, NH, and the nearby communities, our technicians can come to your home to evaluate your water quality before sending a sample off to our partners for a more detailed analysis.
In addition to our water testing and water filtration system installation services, our company is happy to provide you with sample bottles if you wish to sample water on your own.
Please give us a call or submit an inquiry or to discuss what option is best for you. It will be our pleasure to get to work for you to ensure your water quality is where it needs to be.
Be sure to also check out Granite State Analytical’s site for more information!
What Lab Testing Provides
- Detailed Water Analysis
- List of Contaminants
- Clear Instruction for Solutions
- And More
If you are interested in having your water quality tested, be sure to contact us today. We’re proud to offer our comprehensive water testing services to both residents and commercial property owners throughout Laconia, Center Harbor, Wolfeboro, Ashland, Ossipee, Alton, Bow, NH, and beyond.
Understanding what is tested for in a water quality lab test and its impact on you, your family and your home…
Arsenic
If you’re thinking of getting your water tested in New Hampshire, it’s important to be aware of the presence of arsenic. Arsenic is a common element found in well water, and while most types are considered harmless, exposure to inorganic arsenic can have harmful effects on your health. Arsenic has no taste or odor and the only way to know it is present is to test for it. Arsenic comes in many forms, primarily organic and inorganic. Organic arsenic is very common in fish but is not considered harmful. Inorganic arsenic is considered very harmful. Inorganic arsenic in well water can come from several sources, including natural bedrock deposits or industrial or agricultural pollution. The EPA has set a limit for how much arsenic can be present in public water supplies, but since private wells are not regulated, it’s up to the homeowner to make sure their water is safe. In New Hampshire, the limit for arsenic in public water is 0.005 mg/L – stricter than any other state in the US. Arsenic can come from a variety of sources, including natural deposits in bedrock and industrial or agricultural pollution. If you’re concerned about the safety of your well water, it’s best to have it tested by a qualified professional to ensure that any arsenic present is within safe levels. To learn more about arsenic testing, contact us today.
Calcium (Hardness)
Calcium in water makes our water hard. Hard water can make soaps and detergents less effective, because they are not able to dissolve completely. The sediments that harden after being exposed in the pipes also clog up washrooms with build-up of minerals from dissolving calcium which sticks around on your skin or hair follicles causing dullness and lifelessness when washed – this makes it necessary for more cleaning product than usual! When you wash dishes, clothes or your car with soap that isn’t soluble in water it leaves behind spots. Calcium builds up when there is more than enough liquid present, reducing flow rates for taps or appliances while also shortening heater life spans because these minerals generate scale buildup within them that reduces their efficiency over time
Copper
Copper is an essential element for plant and animal life. However, copper contamination of well water may pose a health risk if your water is acidic. The greatest concern is pipe corrosion. Copper pipe corrosion can release copper into your drinking water, which may cause gastrointestinal distress, including diarrhea and vomiting. Infants, pregnant women, and people with Wilson’s disease are particularly vulnerable to copper toxicity. If you suspect that your water may be contaminated with copper, you should have it tested by a certified laboratory. Treatment options for copper contamination include using a whole house filter or installing a copper removal system. If you have copper pipes, you can also reduce the risk of corrosion by adding a corrosion inhibitor to your water.
Lead
Having a blueish-gray color, lead is a metal that naturally exists on the surface of the Earth. Our environment is full of lead, and much of it originates from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, mining, and manufacturing. Toxic metals such as lead can have serious health effects if they are consumed or inhaled. As a result of lead exposure, children can suffer neurological damage, learning disabilities, and behavioral problems. Adults who are exposed to lead can also develop kidney damage, high blood pressure, and fertility problems.
When it comes to tap water, lead is a serious problem. Most of the lead in tap water comes from lead pipes. Lead is also found in the water delivery system in places like copper pipes soldered together, faucets, coolers, and valves. It is important to note that brass fixtures commonly contain low lead levels, but the lead can still dissolve into the water, especially when they are new. In older private wells, lead may be present in the “packer” element that helps seal the well above the well screen. Considering the dangers of lead, it’s important to understand where lead comes from in your water.
Sodium and Chloride
Sodium and chloride naturally occur in groundwater, but they can also come from human activity. Road salt storage and application, industrial wastes, sewage, fertilizers, water softeners, and proximity to saltwater are some of the things that can elevate the levels of these minerals in drinking water. That can be a concern for people on low-sodium diets, as well as for those who want their water to taste good. High levels of sodium and chloride can also interfere with plants’ ability to take up water, and they can increase the corrosivity of water. If you’re concerned about elevated levels of these minerals in your drinking water, the first step is to identify and eliminate the source of contamination.
Having high chloride levels causes corrosion and shortens the life of pipes, pumps, and water heaters. In drinking water, chloride concentrations exceeding about 250 milligrams per liter usually produce an unpleasant taste. Chloride increases in well water may indicate sewage pollution or road salt, especially if surrounding wells typically contain low levels of chloride. If this is the case, you should also test your water for bacteria.
Fluoride
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoride occurs naturally in most water sources but is often not enough to prevent tooth decay. There are a number of communities that adjust the fluoride level in their drinking water in order to promote good oral health and prevent tooth decay.
Nitrate
Nitrates are an essential part of the Nitrogen cycle and are necessary for all forms of life. Nitrogen is found in the air, soil, and water and is a key element in the proteins that make up all living things. Nitrates are made by combining nitrogen with oxygen or ozone, and nitrate levels in the environment are increased by the burning of fossil fuels, animal waste, and agricultural fertilizers. Although nitrates are necessary for plant growth, high levels of nitrate in drinking water can be dangerous to human health, especially for infants and pregnant women.
High levels of nitrate in well water often result from improper well construction, well location, overuse of chemical fertilizers, or improper disposal of human and animal waste. Nitrate contamination of wells may be more vulnerable to such contamination after flooding, particularly if the wells are shallow, have been dug or bored. Some sources of nitrate that can enter your well include fertilizers, septic systems, animal feedlots, industrial waste, and food processing waste. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can cause serious health problems in infants and young children.
pH
The pH of water indicates whether it is alkaline or acidic. pH scale ranges from 0-14; 7 indicates the theoretical neutral point. Water with a pH value less than 7 indicates acidity and tends to be corrosive, while water with a value greater than 7 indicates alkalinity and tends to affect the taste of the water. The pH of drinking water is not a health concern, however, acidic water (low pH) can leach metals from plumbing systems, which can cause health problems.
E. coli Bacteria
E. coli is a bacteria that can cause serious illness, and contaminated water sources can harbor the bacteria if they have been contaminated by waste from sick people or animals. Sewage overflows, malfunctioning sewage systems, filthy stormwater runoff, and agricultural runoff are all ways waste may enter the water. Wells may be more prone to contamination after flooding, especially if they are shallow, were dug or bored recently, or have been covered for a long period of time. To help protect your family from E. coli, it’s important to test your well water regularly and to disinfect your well if it becomes contaminated. Even if you’re lucky enough to have a municipal water system, that doesn’t mean your water is completely safe. Farm runoff and sewage overflows can contaminate even the biggest water systems with dangerous bacteria like E. coli.
Coliform Bacteria
Coliform bacteria are organisms that are present in the environment and in the feces of all warm-blooded animals and humans. While coliform bacteria will not likely cause illness, their presence in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) could be in the water system. Most pathogens that can contaminate water supplies come from the feces of humans or animals.
Iron
If you’re noticing red or brown stains in your sinks, toilets, or showers, it’s likely due to iron in your water. Iron is a naturally occurring mineral found in soils and rocks, and it’s commonly found in groundwater. While low levels of iron won’t cause any health issues, concentrations above 0.3 mg/L can cause taste issues and staining. If you have iron in your water, you can usually remove it with a water softener. If you’re not sure how to treat iron in your water, contact us for help.
Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential nutrient that we often lack in our diet. It can be found naturally occurring as a result of groundwater dissolving magnesium from soils or dolomite rock, though the amount present may not always make up for what’s been lost through digestion by animals such as cows who eat grasses containing this metal amongst other things! Even when exposed to water with high concentrations (upwards 3-35 mg/L), people typically don’t suffer any negative effects unless there are also other nutrients lacking – like hardness which forms scale at higher levels than desirable
Manganese
Manganese is a naturally occurring mineral found in soils and rocks. Groundwater that is stored and moves through these materials may become contaminated with manganese. Drinking water that contains high levels of manganese over many years may cause health problems. The maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) for manganese in drinking water is 0.050 milligrams per liter (mg/L). This manganese level does not cause taste or aesthetic problems, such as black staining of sinks, showers, and toilets. however, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set the maximum contaminant level (MCL) at 0.300 mg/L to protect against potential health effects.
Radon
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can seep into homes through cracks in the foundation or other openings and can be present in groundwater. Although radon is colorless, odorless, and tasteless, it can be harmful to your health if inhaled over a long period of time. Homes that are served by bedrock wells are at a higher risk for elevated radon levels in the air. Radon gas dissolved in water can be released to indoor air through normal household activities such as showering, dishwashing, and laundry.