Water Testing Information

Woodford County Health Department provides water sample test kits to the general public. Water samples must be collected on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays and mailed Priority Mail the same day to the state laboratory for bacterial and nitrate analysis.

Testing performed by the state lab and costs are as follows:

Bacteria (including E. coli and total coliform) - $7.50
Nitrates/Nitrites - $7.50

In addition Woodford County Health Department also provides water sample collection and analysis for real estate transactions.

Anyone having questions regarding these services can call the Woodford County Health Department at (309) 467-3064.

Collecting a Water Sample

To perform the water sampling yourself, please read all of these instructions first.

Only State approved laboratory-prepared bottles are to be used for samples.

All water sample bottles are sterilized before distribution, and must be handled carefully to avoid contamination during the sampling process.

Sampling Point:

Select a sampling point as close as possible to the water supply source. If possible select a faucet or pump-spout without a threaded outlet. Do not collect from garden hoses, dirty faucets or swing-type faucets where foreign material may contaminate the sample. Remove faucet screens or aerators before sampling.

Proceed as Follows:

Cleanse hands. They should be free of soil or dirt. Cleanse surface of spout. It should be free of soil or dirt also. Do not touch the spout at the sampling point.

Before collecting sample

open the tap and allow water to run at full flow until the pump starts, and then run water for several minutes. This allows water to be collected from the ground water supply, rather than water that has been in storage for a period of time. Slow the water flow down to the stream size of a pencil during actual collection to avoid contamination from splashing.

Carefully unscrew cap of bottle.

Hold cap without touching inside edges of cap or neck of bottle. Do not attempt to clean or rinse bottle. Next fill bottle to the marked fill line or to the bottom of the neck threads. Do not fill to rim, as you must leave air space in bottle. Immediately and carefully replace cap. The lab will be able to do two lab tests if filled to fill line. They may be able to perform three lab tests if filled to bottom of neck threads. You may be asked to provide more sample bottles if more than two tests are requested.

Complete the report form that was with the bottle. Be sure to write date of collection, sampling point, name and address. Signature is required on collection form.