Find a Certified Laboratory for Water Testing

How to find a MassDEP-certified laboratory for testing your tap water.

MassDEP Drinking Water Program

MassDEP - William Wall Experiment Station

Phone

Fax: 978-688-0352 | Hours: M-F 8:45am - 5pm except State Holidays

Fax: 978-688-0352 | Hours: M-F 8:45am - 5pm except State Holidays

The Details   of Find a Certified Laboratory for Water Testing

What you need   for Find a Certified Laboratory for Water Testing

If you are concerned about the quality of your drinking water, you can contact a MassDEP-certified laboratory to have your water tested.

Please note that: 

  • If you receive your water from a public water system, you do not need to have your water tested. Your public water supplier is legally responsible for providing you with safe drinking water and for notifying you if there is a problem with your water supply. 
  • If you have a private water supply (a private well), your local Board of Health has jurisdiction over it. This may include local by-laws or regulations for periodic water testing at the well owner's expense. 
  • MassDEP does not test water for individuals.
  • MassDEP strongly encourages the use of certified laboratories for testing private drinking water.

Fees   for Find a Certified Laboratory for Water Testing

Commercial water-testing laboratories set their own prices. Contact each laboratory you are considering to find out what their prices are. 

How to find   Find a Certified Laboratory for Water Testing

The database of MassDEP-certified water-testing laboratories is available at this link:

http://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/DEP/Labcert/Labcert.aspx

See below for instructions for using the database.

    Next steps   for Find a Certified Laboratory for Water Testing

    1. How to Use the Certified Labs Database

      See the screenshot provided below.

      1. If you know the name of the lab, select it from the first drop-down menu at "Certified Lab Name."
      2. If you do not know the name of the lab and want to find one near your town, click the dropdown menu at "Region." If you do not know which MassDEP Region you are in, click "Find Your Region." Note that there may not be a lab within convenient driving distance of your location. However, many labs offer a mail-in service.
      3. If you want to have your water tested for a specific contaminant, in the box next to "Analyte" scroll to the name of the contaminant. For example, many people want their water tested for lead. Find "LEAD" on the list of analytes and select it. 
      4. To narrow the search to drinking water, next to "Matrix" select "Potable (DrinkingWater)." 
      5. Click "Search." 
      6. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the search results. 
      Screenshot of Lab Search Database
      Sample Lab Search Screen
    2. Contact the Laboratory

      The database provides phone numbers and contact names for each certified lab. Once you have selected one or more lab(s), contact them to make sure they can do your testing, request a price quote, and find out what their arrangements are for receiving your sample(s). 

    More info   for Find a Certified Laboratory for Water Testing

    Please note that although the database includes both commercial and municipal laboratories, municipal water- and wastewater-treatment plant laboratories generally do not accept samples for analysis from private consumers other than local residents. Such samples should be submitted for analysis to a MassDEP-certified commercial laboratory or a MassDEP-certified municipal environmental public health laboratory. 

    Contact   for Find a Certified Laboratory for Water Testing

    Address
    Wall Experiment Station
    37 Shattuck St, Lawrence, MA 01843
    Phone

    Fax: 978-688-0352 | Hours: M-F 8:45am - 5pm except State Holidays

    Fax: 978-688-0352 | Hours: M-F 8:45am - 5pm except State Holidays

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