Individual homeowners, who are concerned about the levels of bacteria or inorganic compounds in their well water or other non-processed water supplies can find peace of mind by bringing their water samples to the Environmental Quality Lab.

Water testing available for homeowners:

Option 1: Basic water chemistry - $100.00

This option includes the analyses of pH, conductivity, turbidity, total coliform and e. coli, minerals (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, sodium, zinc), hardness, and IC scan (nitrate, nitrite, chloride, fluoride, sulfate).

Option 2: Lead analysis - $35.00 (+ $10 digestion fee per batch of samples)

Option 3: Bacterial analysis - $30.00

This option includes the analyses of total coliform and E. coli.

Other analyses are available; contact the Water Center Lab for information. 

Sample collection instructions:

For bacterial analysis:

IMPORTANT: Samples for bacterial analysis must be analyzed within six hours of collection.

Bacterial samples are accepted Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., in Prescott Hall, Room 426.  No samples will be accepted on Fridays. Contact Phillip Burr with any questions at (931) 372-3538. 

You can purchase a bottle of drinking water from any store. The standard size is usually around 16.9oz (500mL) of water. Special care must be taken when collecting a sample for bacteria analysis. The container is certified by the manufacturer to be sterile, but should not be opened until you are ready to collect the sample.

Turn your faucet on and let it run for about thirty seconds. Open the drinking water bottle, pour out the contents, hold the container under the water stream and fill it to the shoulder of the bottle, leaving a little headspace. Re-cap the bottle. This container MUST BE transported to the lab on ice or in a cooler kept cold as soon as possible after collection. This sample cannot be sent through the mail or other express delivery.

For lead analysis: Limit the overnight use of water from the tap you are testing, then collect the first catch from the faucet in the morning. Fill an emptied bottled water and mark the bottle specifically for lead testing.  You can simply write “lead” on the bottle.

For all other analyses: Simply fill another bottle in the same manner as for bacteria testing and transport both containers to the lab ASAP.  They MUST be delivered to the lab within 6 hours of collection. 

INFORMATION

• Bacteria Facts
• Bacteria Sampling Instructions
• Available Homeowners Tests

Caring how their operations impact the environment, businesses and industries turn to the environmental quality lab for answers to their water quality questions and assistance with state and federal regulation compliance.

Safety is our first priority.  Therefore, we follow strict protocols before approving laboratory facilities access to Tennessee Tech students and faculty.  If you wish to use Water Center facilities for your research work, please submit the form below and schedule a meeting with Dr. Grace Tinker to discuss your needs:

• 100-130  Water Center Laboratory Access Request Form

FACILITIES

The analytical lab has 4,300 square feet that include the following: 

• Two molecular areas for research and analysis (PH419/421)
• Two programmable temperature and humidity walk-in chambers (contained within PH419)
• A cold room for sample storage (contained within PH429)
• A 1,090 sq. ft. wet chemistry and project area (PH428)
• 1,610 sq. ft. of space for laboratory instrumentation (PH426, 430A, 430B)
• An organic laboratory for sample preparation, distillation, extraction, and analysis, including gas chromatography (PH429B/PH430C)
• 308 sq. ft. dishwashing area (PH429)
• An isolated chemical storage room
• Microscope Room (PH 340)
• Microplastics Lab (PH 343)
• Chlorophyll and Algae Lab (PH 344)
• Field Equipment Room (PH 346)

 Coming Soon

Lab Analysis Cost Sheet

 

DIRECTIONS:  GPS Address -- 1020 Stadium Dr., Cookeville, TN 38505

From I-40, take Exit 286 and go north on Willow Avenue for 2.8 miles. Turn RIGHT (at Pizza Hut) onto 7th Street. Take second LEFT (0.2 miles) onto Stadium Drive. At the 4-way stop, go straight. Take the second parking lot entrance on the left. A parking spot for our customers is at the far end, in the corner, nearest the intersection. There is a sign designating it for Water Center visitors only.

The Water Center lab sample receiving area is on the 4th Floor of Prescott Hall, Room 426. 

Where to Go Inside Prescott Hall