This NebFact describes the laboratory approval and certification process for those which test drinking water, lists government and commercial approved laboratories, and includes tips for contacting a water testing laboratory

Dvorak, Bruce I.

Skipton, Sharon

Woldt, Wayne

English

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Extension 2005 Drinking Water: Approved Water Testing Laboratories in Nebraska Sharon Skipton University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sskipton1@unl.edu Bruce I. Dvorak University of Nebraska-Lincoln, bdvorak1@unl.edu Wayne Woldt University of Nebraska-Lincoln, wwoldt1@unl.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist  Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Curriculum and Instruction Commons Skipton, Sharon; Dvorak, Bruce I.; and Woldt, Wayne, "Drinking Water: Approved Water Testing Laboratories in Nebraska" (2005). Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. 59. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/extensionhist/59 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Extension at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Historical Materials from University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. A-14NF635Drinking Water: Approved WaterTesting Laboratories in NebraskaBy Sharon Skipton, Extension EducatorBruce Dvorak, Extension Environmental Engineering SpecialistWayne Woldt, Extension SpecialistMany Nebraska laboratories offer testing servicesthat include drinking water analyses. Some of these labo-ratories are operated by government agencies and othersare private commercial laboratories. A degree of reliabil-ity and accuracy can be expected when testing is per-formed in an approved laboratory situation.For additional information on drinking water analy-ses, see the NebGuide G89-907, Drinking Water: Testingfor Quality.Laboratory Approval/CertificationThe Nebraska Health and Human Services SystemDepartment of Regulation and Licensure administers theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency Safe DrinkingWater Act. This includes approval (certification) of labo-ratories to test drinking water samples.A laboratory must use approved test methodology andequipment and meet requirements outlined by the Envi-ronmental Protection Agency. An approved laboratorymay not be approved to test for all potential drinking watercontaminants. Approval is given to laboratories to analyzespecific contaminant(s) and a laboratory must meet crite-ria for each individual analysis for which it wants to beapproved.Regulatory approval provides some assurance that thelaboratory has the capability to perform water qualityanalyses within an acceptable range of accuracy, and willprovide reliable and accurate results. It is not a guaranteethat a specific water sample analysis has been or will beperformed accurately.The Nebraska Health and Human Services SystemPublic Health Laboratory either is approved or has acontract with an approved laboratory to test for every EPASafe Drinking Water Act publicly regulated drinking watercontaminant. In addition, it can provide information onrequest regarding all laboratories located and approved inNebraska, and can provide information on the specificcontaminants for which each is approved.Nonapproved laboratories may use the same equip-ment and procedures as an approved laboratory. Suchlaboratories may provide accurate analyses, but there is noindependent information about the laboratory’s ability toobtain reliable results for a particular analysis.Approved (Certified) Water Testing Laboratories inNebraskaThe laboratories listed are those located in Nebraskathat are approved in Nebraska (as of February 2005) to testprivate drinking water supply samples. This list is notmeant to be an endorsement of any organization. Eachlaboratory offers different testing services. Most of thelaboratories are certified to perform the most commonwater quality tests, such as coliform bacteria and nitrate.As of January 2005 only two laboratories; MidwestLaboratories and Nebraska Health and Human ServicesSystem, are certified to perform tests for some of the lesscommonly tested parameters such as herbicide, VolatileOrganic Chemicals, heavy metals and arsenic. Currently,only Nebraska Health and Human Services System testsfor uranium. Testing certification and services providedby laboratories can change. Check with laboratories atthe time testing is to be done to determine if they arecertified to perform the specific tests in which you areinterested.File under: WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENTA-14, Water QualityIssued March 2005Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln cooperating with the Countiesand the United States Department of Agriculture.University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the University of Nebraska–Lincolnand the United States Department of Agriculture.© 2005, The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska on behalf of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension.  All rights reserved.Government Operated Approved LaboratoriesCentral District Health Department1137 South LocustGrand Island, NE 68801(308) 385-5175Douglas County Health Department/Laboratory Services4102 Woolworth Ave.Omaha, NE 68105(402) 444-7496Nebraska Health and Human Services SystemDepartment of Regulation and LicensurePublic Health Laboratory3701 South 14thLincoln, NE 68502(402) 471-8426Commercial Operated Approved LaboratoriesEnviro Service, Inc.818 South Beltline Highway EastScottsbluff, NE 69361(308) 632-3933Midwest Laboratories, Inc.13611 B StreetOmaha, NE 68144(402) 334-7770Olsen Agricultural Laboratory210 East First StreetP.O. Box 370McCook, NE 69001(308) 345-3670Servi-Tech Laboratories1602 Park West DriveHastings, NE 68901(402) 463-3522Contacting a LaboratoryContact the Nebraska Health and Human ServicesSystem to ask which laboratories are approved to test forthe specific contaminant(s) you are considering. Ask indi-vidual laboratories about test fees, sampling bottles or kits,and sampling instructions. Typically there will be a fee foreach contaminant tested, however some laboratories offer“package tests” which will include testing for a number ofcontaminants for a specified fee. For many contaminantsthere are special sample containers, preservatives andsampling procedures that must be used. Always be sure tocarefully follow the sampling instructions provided by thelaboratory.Non-Drinking Water TestingThe information in this NebGuide refers to testingwater for human domestic consumption and use. Theremay be occasions when tests are needed to determine thesuitability of water for other uses. Many of the laboratorieslisted above provide testing for uses in addition to domes-tic use. Reputable nonapproved laboratories also mayprovide nondrinking water testing.Related Drinking Water PublicationsG04-1539 An Introduction To Drinking WaterG02-1471 Decommissioning Water Wells: An Owner’s GuideRelated Drinking Water Contaminant PublicationsG89-907 Drinking Water: Testing for QualityG90-989 Drinking Water: BacteriaG96-1274 Drinking Water: Hard WaterG96-1275 Drinking Water: Sulfates and Hydrogen SulfideG96-1279 Drinking Water: Nitrate-NitrogenG96-1280 Drinking Water: Iron and ManganeseG96-1282 Drinking Water: Man-made ChemicalsG97-1333 Drinking Water: LeadG98-1360 Drinking Water: CopperG98-1376 Drinking Water: FluorideG98-1369 Drinking Water: Nitrate and MethemoglobinemiaG02-1448 Drinking Water: Bottled or Tap?G04-1536 Drinking Water: Storing An Emergency SupplyG04-1552 Drinking Water: ArsenicRelated Drinking Water Treatment PublicationsEC03-703 Drinking Water Treatment: An OverviewG03-1488 Drinking Water Treatment: What You Need ToKnow When Selecting Water Treatment EquipmentG03-1489 Drinking Water Treatment: Activated Carbon Fil-trationG03-1490 Drinking Water Treatment: Reverse OsmosisG03-1491 Drinking Water Treatment: Water Softening (IonExchange)G03-1492 Drinking Water Treatment: Sediment FiltrationG03-1493 Drinking Water Treatment: DistillationG03-1494 Drinking Water Treatment: Emergency ProceduresG04-1496 Drinking Water Treatment: Continuous Chlorina-tionG95-1255 Shock Chlorination of Domestic Water SuppliesNF02-505 Drinking Water: Chloramines Water Disinfectionin Omaha Metropolitan Utilities DistrictReviewed by:Sandi Irons, Nebraska Health and Human Services SystemDalton Johnson, Nebraska Health and Human Services SystemMary K. Warner, University of Nebraska Cooperative ExtensionDr. King, Midwest Laboratories, Inc.

Drinking Water: Approved Water Testing Laboratories in Nebraska

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Drinking Water: Approved Water Testing Laboratories in Nebraska

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