DrinkWell^TM tests water quality by mail

Water testing via the Internet and U.S. mail is available to the 15 percent of Americans whom the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates have their own sources of drinking water, such as wells, cisterns and springs.

DrinkWell^TM tests for up to 94 contaminants, including bacteria, industrial chemicals, herbicides, insecticides, solvents and heavy metals, as well as compounds that affect how water looks, tastes and smells. The program is offered by UL, the safety organizations that's been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for more than 117 years.

"Approximately 53 million Americans use well water, and the perception is that the quality of that water is constantly being evaluated," said John Drengenberg, UL's Director of Consumer Affairs. "The fact is that well water is not covered by the Safe Drinking Water Act so it's up to the owner of the well to ensure that the water is free of containments and safe to drink."

The EPA and UL recommend that private wells be tested annually, after any service to a well, or if there's a noticeable change in water quality.

"Water quality isn't static. Just because water was tested once and determined to be free of bacteria and contaminates doesn't mean that the quality will be the same six to 12 months down the road," Gebhart said. "The only way to know if a water supply is safe is to test it regularly."

Customers can order the tests they want at uldrinkwell.com. After following the testing kit's simple sampling instructions, well owners submit water samples using a prepaid UPS shipping label found in the kit. The water is analyzed at UL's drinking water facility, a nationally recognized laboratory with more than 18 years experience testing to the requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act and certification in 48 states and Puerto Rico. This facility tests water for more than 7,000 municipalities nationwide.

Once the water is evaluated, a color-coded, comprehensive report is provided that summarizes any contaminants that exceed federal limits, accompanied by published reports citing any potential health or aesthetic issues related to the excessive contaminants. Additionally, to help answer health-effect questions about any contaminants found in the water, DrinkWell also offers access to a nurse call center through Memorial Health System in South Bend, Ind.,

If your water is polluted, solutions include disinfecting the water, having a new well drilled or repairing the system. Sources of EPA and other information related to water treatment are also provided with the DrinkWell report.

For more information, or to order a DrinkWell test, visit uldrinkwell.com.