Homeowner and Residential Drinking Water, Groundwater, Spring Water Testing and Environmental Education PROGRAM

Residential Water Supply and Homeowner Drinking Water
Testing Evaluation Program

For Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania

coilform bacteria, testing, analysis, drinking water, nuisance bacteria, slime, odors, staining    metals, lead, copper, zinc, hardness, analysis, water testing

Environmental Education and Outreach - Drinking water testing and analysis services provided by the Wilkes University Center for Environmental Quality laboratory as part of the Homeowner Outreach Program for Susquehanna County.  The residential water testing program includes analysis for common water quality problems, microbiological contamination, and makes recommendations regarding the potential need for water treatment devices, such as: softeners, reverse osmosis units, distillation, neutralizers, chlorination systems, ultraviolet or UV systems. As part of the Environmental Quality Centers continuing efforts of environmental education, the following programs and pages were established:

Homeowner Education Program- Susquehanna County

Homeowner Evaluation Program Susquehanna County

Education Program

The Center for Environmental Quality at Wilkes University is making available a number of free informational documents related to common drink water quality issues and problems, such as: Giardia cysts, Crytpsporidium, nitrates, lead, corrosion, bacteria and much more.  Below are three more detailed reports, but more information can be found at the help desk.   The informational documents that are available include:

The Water Library - Free pdf files

Evaluation Programs - Susquehanna County

Package Option #1 - The Basic Water Chemistry Package.

Homeowners interested in getting their water tested can request the Center for Environmental Quality at Wilkes University to conduct a water quality analysis. The basic water chemistry package includes:

Basic Water Quality Chemistry Package
(additional services available upon request)
pH Conductivity and
Corrosion Index
Total
Dissolved
Solids
Total
Coliform
Alkalinity Iron, Manganese, Copper, Sodium
Calcium, Magnesium, 
Potassium, Zinc
Nitrate and Nitrite Chloride, Sulfate, Chlorine Total
Hardness

The cost of this analysis is only $ 70.00 per sample and includes a professional evaluation of the results with recommendations. To request a homeowners water sampling package, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 1. Please put Water Testing Option 1Susq in Subject area.  

Option 1 - Plus Lead In Water Testing
Add Lead to the Option 1 Package - Add $ 15.00 per sample.

To add analysis for lead, the addition cost will be $ 15.00 per sample. Please note that lead analysis is only conducted once per month, so the analysis results may be delayed.  Therefore, the cost of Option 1 with lead is $ 85.00. 

To request a homeowners water sampling package with lead, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 1 with Lead. Please put Water Testing Option 1 with lead in Subject area. 

Option 1 - Plus Arsenic In Water Testing
Add Arsenic to the Option 1 Package - Add $ 15.00 per sample.

To add analysis for arsenic, the addition cost will be $ 15.00 per sample. Please note that arsenic analysis is only conducted once per month, so the analysis results may be delayed.  Therefore, the cost of Option 1 with AS is $ 85.00. 

To request a homeowners water sampling package with lead, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 1 with Arsenic. Please put Water Testing Option 1 with As in Subject area. 

Option 1 - Plus Lead and Arsenic - Add $ 25.00 to Option 1

Add Lead and Arsenic to the Option 1 Package - Add $ 25.00 per sample.

To add analysis for arsenic and lead, the addition cost will be $ 25.00 per sample. Please note that lead and arsenic analysis is only conducted once per month, so the analysis results may be delayed.  Therefore, the cost of Option 1 with AS and PB is $ 95.00. 

To request a homeowners water sampling package with lead, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 1 with Arsenic. Please put Water Testing Option 1 with As in Subject area. 

Package Option #2 - The Basic Water Bacterial Package.

Homeowners interested in getting their water tested can request the Center for Environmental Quality to conduct a water quality analysis. The basic bacterial testing package includes testing for Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform, Fecal Streptococcus, and standard plate count.  This is the initial recommendation if the homeowner is concerned about the presence of pathogenic or disease causing organisms in a water supply.

The cost of this analysis is only $ 35.00 per sample and includes a professional evaluation of the results with recommendations. To request a homeowners water sampling package, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 2. Please put Water Testing Option 2Susq in Subject area.

Package Option #3 - Specialized Bacterial Package.

Homeowners interested in getting their water tested can request the Center for Environmental Quality to conduct a water quality analysis. The specialized bacterial testing package includes testing for coliform bacteria, iron reducing bacteria, slime bacteria, and sulfur reducing bacteria.  This package is recommended if you want to check the general potability of your water source, plus you are having problems with elevated iron levels, musty odors, or sulfur odors.

The cost of this analysis is only $ 50.00 per sample and includes a professional evaluation of the results with recommendations. To request a homeowners water sampling package, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 3. Please put Water Testing Option 3Susq in Subject area.

Our Newest Package - For Homeowners ONLY (Not for regulatory use !)

Package Option #4 - Complete Water Testing Package

 The cost of this analysis is only $ 250.00 per sample and includes a professional evaluation of the results with recommendations.   The package includes toxic metals analysis, such as: Aluminum, Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead, Nickel, Selenium, and more); water quality parameters in Option 1;  trihalomethanes,  over 40 volatile organic compounds; and over 15 herbicides and pesticides.  To request a homeowners water sampling package, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 4. Please put Water Testing Option 4Susq in Subject area.  

Package Option #5 - Pathogenic Bacteria

Homeowners interested in getting their water tested can request the Center for Environmental Quality to conduct a water quality analysis. The specialized bacterial testing package includes testing for coliform bacteria, presence/absence testing for pathogenic bacteria, and standard plate count..  This package is recommended if you want to check the general potability of your water source, plus you are having problems with musty odors, repeated coliform positives, taste problems, or sulfur odors.

The cost of this analysis is only $ 55.00 per sample and includes a professional evaluation of the results with recommendations. To request a homeowners water sampling package, please send an email to the address found below and include the following: Name, complete mailing address, email address, and a description of your water supply and possible concerns by email to Request Order Form For Option 5. Please put Water Testing Option 5 in Subject area.

 

Please Do Not Send Any Payment Before Requesting an Order Form

Download Order Form

For More information about the Environmental Quality Center, please contact:

Attn: Mr. Brian Oram, Professional Geologist (PG)
Laboratory Director
Wilkes University
Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences
PO Box 111
84 West South Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18766

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Note: Data generated by this unfunded study will be used to create a database of groundwater quality in NEPA.