Water Testing

The goal of Penn State's Drinking Water program is to promote well water testing and to educate home-owners on its importance. Penn State's Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory is accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for drinking water analysis.

Testing drinking water for livestock is an important step for diagnosing problems related to water quality that could limit productivity and profitability. It is not uncommon for aesthetic problems, such as odors and tastes, to cause water intake in livestock to drop. This, in turn, can reduce productivity. Less frequently, bacterial contamination can adversely affect animal health.

Testing irrigation waters is important for diagnosing problems that may be related to water quality as well as for assessing irrigation water nutrient content when used for fertigation.

Testing irrigation waters is important for diagnosing problems that may be related to water quality as well as for assessing irrigation water nutrient content when used for fertigation.

Testing your pond or lake water is an important step for assessing its quality and to help prevent problems before they occur. For ponds or lakes with an existing water quality program, testing is an essential tool for diagnosing the cause of the problem and determining suitable treatment options.