Should my water be tested for arsenic? 
 
Recent concern about arsenic in drinking water has left many homeowners wondering, "Should I test my water for the presence of arsenic?" If your drinking water is provided by a city or town, these municipalities are required to perform testing on an ongoing basis to ensure water is safe to drink, and there would be no need for private individuals to test for arsenic in this situation. Public water supplies provide an annual water quality report to their customers.

If your drinking water comes from private well, we recommend that the water be checked at least once a year for coliform bacteria and nitrate to ensure that the water is safe to drink. In addition to testing for bacteria and nitrate levels, drinking water can also be tested for arsenic.

If you are concerned about arsenic levels in well water, contact the State Hygienic Laboratory (1-800-421-IOWA) and ask for a test kit to test the water for arsenic.

Arsenic is an element that occurs naturally in rocks and soil. Many treatment options are available for well water that is determined to have elevated levels of arsenic. The Well Water Quality and Home Treatment Systems booklet provides information about this contaminant and treatment options. Additional information is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Protection and from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The State Hygienic Lab charges $20.00 for the arsenic test kit.

*The county sanitarian will pull a sample of your well water to send to a certified lab for Total Coliform Bacteria, Fecal Bacteria, Nitrates and Sulfates.  This is done in conjunction with a grant from the state of Iowa at no cost to property owners.