Living Water Services
- Coliform Bacteria
Listed on the official state certified laboratory list.
Alabama Department of Public Health Bureau of Clinical Laboratories branch. Private well and spring samples for total coliform and E. coli come in through the county health departments: pick up the bottle and form at your county health department's environmental office, collect the sample and return it there (a small per-sample fee applies), or ask the environmentalist to collect it. Results usually come back within a few days. The branch is on the ADEM certified bacteriological laboratory list (April 7, 2026).
Bacteria samples need a sterile bottle from the lab. Chemistry samples usually take a clean container the lab supplies.
Skip softeners and filters. Remove the aerator, run the water 3 to 5 minutes, then fill without touching the inside of the cap.
Bacteria samples are time-sensitive. Use a cooler with ice packs and hand it in or ship it the same day.
Compare results with EPA drinking water limits. If anything is over, our problem pages explain what it means and how to treat it.