Virginia Household Water Quality Program
The Virginia Household Water Quality Program provides water testing programs and practical information to private water supply users about maintaining and protecting private water systems including wells, springs and cisterns. In the U.S. regular testing and treatment of municipal water supplies is required under the Safe Drinking Water Act but private water systems are the responsibility of the owner. We offer water testing programs (drinking water clinics) in around 70 Virginia counties every year through local Virginia Cooperative Extension offices with trained local agents. These programs provide affordable, confidential water testing, interpretation of results and help understanding how to solve water problems.
Drinking water clinics include:
- local sample kit pick-up event or period
- sample collection day on which all participants collect their water samples following our instructions and drop off locally
- sample transport to Virginia Tech for analysis
- about 4-5 weeks after sample collection, water test results are returned by email, snail mail or at a local meeting. A local in-person or virtual zoom results meeting may be offered along with a recorded presentation about well maintenance, water quality problems and solving problems
What does it cost?
Participation in a drinking water clinic includes analysis for 28 chemical and bacteriological constituents. Since analysis occurs at our cost recovery lab, the analysis per kit is $70. Comparable analysis at a private commercial lab would cost more than $300.
What if a clinic is not scheduled any time soon in my county?
Unfortunately, our labs on campus are not equipped to handle individual analysis requests, and are only contracted during scheduled VAHWQP drinking water clinics. Contact your local Extension office to let them know you are interested in participating in a drinking water clinic. If you are interested in having your water tested at a private lab, click here for a list of certified laboratories. For additional questions, contact our coordinator.