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Drinking Water Testing
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On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems

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Drinking Water Testing

Phone: (636) 528-6117 option 2

The Lincoln County Health Department does not test non-drinking water. You will need to contact a private testing lab if you need your pond, stream, septic, or other non-drinking water tested.

To check if your water is safe for drinking, you need the “bacteriological analysis” bottle which can be obtained at this office.

To take your own water test with the enclosed bottle, please follow these steps:

1. You can only take bacterial samples on Mondays through Thursdays. There is only a 30-hour window from the time you take the sample until the lab can test it, otherwise the bacteria will die and will not be detected. We suggest taking the sample in the morning and dropping it off at the Lincoln County Health Department before 11:00 AM to give the lab as much time as possible to receive and test the sample.

2. You need to disinfect where you take the water sample. Remove aerator screen, if present. You can use a spray bottle with a bleach and water solution (1 part bleach to 4 parts water) and spray the entire area around the faucet as well as inside the faucet. Then let the water run for two minutes to flush the line; take the cap off of the water bottle and fill it up to the line on the bottle. Do not fill the bottle above the full line as the lab will reject it due to their automation process. Be careful not to touch inside the cap, as this can contaminate your sample. Do not remove the powdery substance inside the bottle, this removes any free chlorine in the water.

3. Fill out the red form with your name and address. This address is where the results will be mailed. You must also fill in the date you take the sample and the time. There is also a number on the water bottle that you must mark on the form.

4. Fill out the return address on the mailing label and seal the box with tape. Return the box(es) to the Lincoln County Health Department by 11:00 AM on the same day as the test is taken. It will be delivered to the state lab by courier free of charge.

5. You will receive the results in approximately 10 days along with an invoice for $10.00 per test. You pay the lab directly and not through our office.

6. The lab is testing for coliform bacteria. You will receive a result either “satisfactory” or “unsafe”. If the sample is unsafe, they will explain how to shock your well. You can then retest your water with the same procedure.

7. If you want the Lincoln County Health Department to test your water, we will do the above procedure for a charge of $50.00 plus $10 per liter/sample. This is considered an “Official Sample” if your lending institution will not accept an unofficial sample that you would take. If you do not have enough time to wait for the results, you can go through a private lab. Their costs are usually more, but they have a turnaround of 48 hours.

Biotech Lab
10114 Woodfield Lane
St. Louis, MO 63132
1-800-727-0466

Directions: 61 S, 40 E, Lindbergh/67 N, just past Olive Blvd., Woodfield on R, across from Lou Fusz Auto dealership.

Your payment must be in the form of check or money order made payable to the Lincoln County Health Department. (Sorry, we cannot accept cash.)