HOUSTON – Owners of private water wells possibly contaminated by storm water runoff may submit water samples for testing to the Houston Health Department of Health’s laboratory.
The laboratory is able to test samples from the 17 counties surrounding Houston. It is the only lab in the region licensed to perform well water testing.
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The laboratory, located at 2250 Holcombe Blvd. in the Texas Medical Center, accepts water samples weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The department’s Northside Health Center, 8504 Schuller Road, accepts samples Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Water well owners need to submit samples in sterile bottles supplied by the laboratory or their local health department. The testing fee is $16.50 per bottle.
If a water well or the area around it is flooded, it is considered contaminated, and residents need to stop drinking it or using it to bathe, wash their hands or brush their teeth.
The laboratory tests water samples for coliform and E. coli bacteria. The presence of coliform and E. coli bacteria indicates that owners need to disinfect the well before its water is safe for drinking or human contact.
Well owners may submit samples if they reside in Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Orange, San Jacinto, Walker, Waller and Wharton counties.
For more information or instructions on how to properly collect water samples in a sterile container, call 832-393-3939.