Philadelphia Water Department Bureau of Laboratory Services
- Arsenic
- Coliform Bacteria
- Full Homeowner Panel
- Iron and Manganese
- Lead
- Nitrate / Nitrite
- Volatile Organic Compounds
Listed on the official state certified laboratory list.
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.
Certified by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health (lab number 34700). Contaminants this lab is certified to test for compliance: INORGANICAluminum (UR)AmphiboleAntimonyArsenicBariumBerylliumBromideCadmiumCalcium (UR)Chloride (UR)ChromiumChrysotileCopperFluorideIronLeadMagnesiumManganeseMercuryNickelNitrateNitriteSeleniumSilver (UR)SodiumSulfateTDS-Total Dissolved SolidsThalliumTotal AsbestosTurbidity (UR)Zinc (UR) MICROBIOLOGYCryptosporidium (UR) PFASHFPO-DA (GenX)PFBSPFHxSPFNAPFOAPFOS RADIOCHEMISTRYGross AlphaGross BetaRadium 226Radium 228Uranium SYNTHETIC ORGANIC (SOC)1,2-Dibromo-3-ChloropropaneEthylene dibromide (EDB) VOLATILE ORGANIC (VOC)1,1,1-Trichloroethane1,1,2-Trichloroethane1,1-Dichloroethylene1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene1,2-Dichlorobenzene1,2-Dichloroethane1,2-Dichloropropane1,4-DichlorobenzeneBenzeneBromodichloromethaneBromoformCarbon TetrachlorideChlorobenzeneChlorodibromomethaneChloroformcis-1,2-DichloroethyleneDichloromethaneEthylbenzeneStyreneTetrachloroethyleneTolueneTotal Xylenestrans-1,2-DichloroethyleneTrichloroethyleneVinyl Chloride.