Home Well Water Test for E. coli & Total Coliforms
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), local governments and public health agencies do not regulate privately owned wells and water systems. If you are a well owner, you are responsible for making sure your water is safe to drink. Water filtration systems do not guarantee the removal of harmful bacteria in well water. The U.S. EPA national drinking water regulatory standards mandate 100mL water samples must contain zero E. coli bacteria to be considered safe to drink.
Well Water Testing Blog
Features
- P/A test results for E. coli and Total Coliforms, 100mL samples
- Distinguishes between E. coli and Total Coliforms
- Simple test, color change test results easy to interpret
- No labs or electricity required
- Room temperature incubation at 77° Fahrenheit and above
- Room temperature test results in 20-48 hours
- Three year shelf life of E. coli growth medium when stored properly
Well owners anywhere in the USA can easily and quickly self-test for the Presence/Absence (P/A) of E. coli and Total Coliform bacteria in 100mL well water samples according to EPA regulations for safe drinking water. No lab is needed.
Buy on Amazon & Walmart
Buy kits that contain 2, 5, or 10 tests
Buy In Bulk from Aquagenx
Buy kits that contain 25, 50 or 100 tests
Easy Testing Procedure
Collect 100mL Sample
Add Growth Medium
Incubate 20-48 Hours
Determine Test Results
Images of Test Results
Yellow/Yellow-Brown
Total Coliforms = Negative
E. coli = Negative
Blue/Blue-Green
Total Coliforms = Positive
E. coli = Positive
Why Test for E. coli Bacteria
- The greatest bacteriological waterborne risk to human health are fecal pathogens such as E. coli that are ingested by drinking water contaminated with the feces of humans and warm-blooded animals.
- You cannot tell by the look, taste or smell of well water if E. coli bacteria is present. Testing well water is the only reliable way to know if your well water is safe to drink.
- U.S. EPA regulatory drinking water standards for bacteria say 100mL water samples must contain zero E. coli.
How Often to Test for E. coli
- The U.S. EPA recommends well owners test their water for E. coli bacteria at least once a year. If you experienced bacteria problems in the past, you should test your well more frequently. Drinking water obtained from shallow wells should also be tested more frequently.
- Water quality changes over time. E. coli can enter wells due to poor, defective well construction, or a nearby source of contamination such as animal agriculture, or problems with your septic system, or environmental factors such as flooding and precipitation.
Instructions for Use and Resources
Click the button below to download instructions, view how-to videos, and read other helpful product resources.
Home Well Water Test Kit Components
Growth Medium
Aquagenx powder growth medium dissolves quickly
Whirl-Pak Thio-Bag
100 mL Whirl-Pak Thio-Bag for sample collection and P/A Kits