The Benton-Franklin Health District runs an accredited laboratory at its Kennewick office, 7102 W. Okanogan Place. The district’s drinking water testing page says the most common well water tests are coliform bacteria, nitrate, total hardness and fluoride.
Testing advice. The district recommends testing a private well at least once a year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and re-testing in six months if nitrate is 5 mg/L or higher. It also recommends testing for arsenic twice while you own the well, once in summer and once in winter; the page does not say the district’s lab runs arsenic tests.
Sampling. The page does not give bottle pickup, drop-off hours or fees. Call the lab before sampling.
Accreditation. Ecology accreditation H408 (current certificate H408-26), covering coliform and E. coli and nitrate in drinking water. The Department of Health lists the lab for nitrate and coliform testing of private wells.