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Any combination of analytes below can be tested as well as many not mentioned. Contact us with your desired suite for pricing. These suites represent our most commonly analyzed packages. These analysis suites are shown for your convenience, but may not be adequate depending on your specific situation.
| Contaminant | Which wells or homes should be tested? | How often should I test? |
| Coliform Bacteria | All wells | Test annually, or when there is a change in taste, color or odor. |
| Nitrate | All newly constructed wells with no testing history Wells within 1/4 mile of fertilized fields or animal feed lots | Two tests spaced six months apart Test annually |
| Pesticides | Wells within 1/4 mile of agricultural fields, pesticide manufacturing, storage or mixing facilities | Test once every 5-10 years |
| Lead | Homes with copper plumbing installed before 1985 or brass fixtures and naturally soft water | Test once |
| BTEX/TPH | Water with an oily sheen or petroleum odor, or if you are located close to any gas drilling operations | Test once |
| Arsenic/Selenium | Any well located in the Four Corners region and many other parts of Colorado | Test once |
| Copper | If water is used to prepare infant formula or if any resident in the home experiences repeated symptoms of nausea, diarrhea or abdominal cramps | Test if symptoms indicate possible contamination |
| VOCs | Wells within 1/4 mile of a landfill, underground fuel or gasoline tank and wells within 1/4 mile of where solvents have been used (drycleaners, automotive garages, or body shops, etc. ) | Test once every 5 to 10 years or when solvent or gasoline taste or odor is noticed |
| Radon | Homes with high radon levels in the air that are not reduced by mediation techniques. | Test once if needed |
| Fluoride | Wells used by infants and preschool age children Any well located in the Four Corners region and many other parts of Colorado | Test when infant is born Test once if needed |
| Chloride, Sodium, Barium, and Strontium | Wells near gas drilling operations | Test once if needed |
| Hydrogen Sulfide Gas | If your water has a rotten egg smell | Test once if needed |
| Iron & Manganese | Both cause staining and/or bitter taste | Test once if needed |
| Hardness | Large amounts of hardness will cause a residue on dishes and faucets, and over time can cause damage to plumbing | Test as needed |
| BART Bacteria Test | IRB (Iron Related Bacteria): Red, brown or yellow water; Iron flocs may form SRB (Sulfate Reducing Bacteria): Blackened water; rotten egg smell SLYM (Slyme Forming Bacteria): Cloudy water, slimy residue | Test as needed |
| RSK-175 | Used to determine the presence of dissolved gases, such as Methane, in groundwater | Test as needed |
Package #1: General Water Quality
This package provides information relative to the basic mineral content of surface and ground waters. It can be used to assess common water issues, but does not address some long-term human health hazards.
Tests: pH / Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, Alkalinity, Hardness, Chloride, Fluoride, Sulfate, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, and Iron
Package #2: Safe Drinking Water Act Inorganic Chemistry Parameters
This package targets many low level human health concerns.
Tests: Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Lead, Nickel, Selenium, Sodium, Thallium, Mercury, Fluoride, Sulfate, Nitrate/Nitrite
Package #3
This package contains some from both Package 1 and 2. It is not as complete as a package 1 + 2 and bacteria, but offers the most commonly seen problematic parameters from above.
Tests: Arsenic, Calcium, Fluoride, Chloride, Hardness, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Nitrate/Nitrite, pH, Selenium, Sodium, Sulfate, TDS, Total Coliform and E.Coli.
La Plata County Planning Engineering Package
This suite is used by the county to address common ground water usability. If you have been issued a “La Plata County Planning Engineering Form –Water Quality Testing Results”, this is the package you need.
Tests: Antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Beryllium, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Fluoride, Lead, Mercury, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium, Thallium, Total Coliform and E. Coli.
Prospective Home Buyers
Many government based lenders (VA, FHA) require private water wells to be tested as part of a home loan or refinancing. The exact details of what is required to confirm that the water is acceptable are a bit unclear. If no local guidelines exist, the minimum testing requirements that we have seen referenced are Lead, Nitrate, Nitrite, Total Coliform and E. Coli.
Note: In many government loan situations, it is required to have a third party collect the water sample to be tested.
Oil and Gas
GAL has over 25 years of experience working with Colorado ECMC and New Mexico EMNRD, serving the oil and gas industry.
Surface, pit and groundwater monitoring
Baseline and cleanup confirmation
Hazardous waste analysis for disposal
Rush Spill Assessments
Table 915.1, Rule 608 & 609
Soil Testing
GAL offers many analyses that can be used to determine soil deficiencies or contamination. Some of the tests include, but are not limited to: Chloride, Sulfate, Nitrate/Nitrite, TKN, pH, Conductivity, Exchangeable Cations, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Texture, Neutralization Potential, Potassium or Phosphate Available, Total Sulfur, and metals.
Possible additions to Package #1 Or #2
Total Coliform and E.Coli presence/absence bacterial testing.
(BTEX) Benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene: This is the least expensive organic hazards option and contains the most commonly seen hydrocarbon contaminates.
(VOCs) Volatile Organic Compounds: Full list including BTEX and many other organic, industrial contaminates. Does not include SOCs such as Pesticides and PCBs.
(RadChem) Basic Radioactive Chemistry: Includes Gross A/B particles, Radium 226/228, and Uranium.