Health Department

You do not want the water you drink, cook and wash dishes in to be contaminated with microorganisms that cause disease.  Unsafe water can spread a number of diseases known as "waterborne" infections - typhoid, cholera, and dysentery, to name a few.   All of these illnesses are caused by microorganisms in the intestines of infected people and animals, who may not always appear to be sick.  Water supplies can be contaminated when the feces(bodily wastes) from these infected individuals if not properly disposed of, and instead seep into underground water or run off into surface water supplies.

• Use a sample container provided by an approved laboratory.

• Complete G-19 form, may be obtained from public health laboratory

• The test is a 24 hour Test

The most important part of the results will be the indication of "coliform organisms found" or "coliform organisms not found."

A "not found" report indicates coliform organisms are absent and means the water is bacteriologically safe to drink at the time of the sampling.

A positive or "coliform found" report indicates that coliform organisms are present and the water may be unsafe.  If routine bacteriological test reveals the possibility of contamination via a "coliform found" result, then well disinfecting is recommended.
 

When a laboratory analysis report indicates "Unsuitable for Analysis," it means the laboratory was unable to conduct a valid test to draw a conclusion.  In this case, a well owner should consider well disinfecting before resubmitting a sample.