OLS - Environmental Chemistry

ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY

4710 Chimney Drive Suite G

Charleston, WV 25302

Program Manager: Larry Duffield

Telephone: 304-965-2694 FAX: 304-965-2696

BUSINESS HOURS: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

MONDAY – FRIDAY

Safe drinking water is critical to our health and everyone wants to be assured that the water they drink is safe, especially for children, the elderly, and others who may be sensitive to the contaminants found in water. The mission of the Environmental Chemistry Section is to provide the highest quality of analytical testing for drinking water and to certify private laboratories wishing to analyze drinking water according to the Safe Drinking Water Act.

The Environmental Chemistry Laboratory consists of chemists, technicians, and office staff that are available, friendly, and anxious to assist the public, whether it is just for answering questions or for analytical testing of drinking water. We provide testing for Trace Metals, Inorganic Chemistry, and the Pediatric Fluoride Program for all sources of drinking water: wells, public water, bottled water, residences, home loans, businesses, and water treatment plants (etc).

When data from testing will be used for evidence in litigation, the samples must be collected by a designated third party sampler, contacted by the laboratory, and a Chain-of-Custody Form must accompany the sample.

PAMPHLET FOR MORE INFORMATION:

A pamphlet “Drinking Water from Household Wells” is available to inform the public of some potential sources for contamination of drinking water. In it are five basic steps that will help you determine and maintain the safety of your drinking water, and advise when you should have your water tested.

LABORATORY CAPABILITY:

A reference table is available, listing the analytes currently tested at the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory for drinking water and for fluoride pediatrics. This table includes detailed information on each analyte’s Maximum Contaminant Level, the sample preservation, holding time and fee for testing. Instructions on how to collect a water sample vary depending on the type of testing you are requesting. Some samples are required to be stored and mailed on ice in a cooler. A cooler and bags for ice will be supplied by the Laboratory upon request. All samples must be collected in bottles supplied by the Laboratory. Some tests require a special bottle and need to contain a preservative before collecting the sample. Samples may be mailed to the laboratory or be delivered by a courier service, or hand delivered. Special packaging may be necessary for mailing some sample kits. There is no additional charge for state sales tax.

Our dedicated and professional chemists and technicians participate annually in a proficiency evaluation study following the nationally mandated criteria addressed in the Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water, published by the Environmental Protection Agency. The laboratory also participates in a proficiency evaluation study to meet quality assurance objectives for Fluoride testing through the Centers for Disease Control.

HOW TO ORDER SAMPLE BOTTLES:

To better serve the public, sample bottles to test drinking water can be obtained by telephoning (304-965-2694), Faxing (304-965-2696) the lab or mailing a bottle request form, which can be found on the web site. To assist The County Health Departments, a bulk shipment of kits can be ordered to have on hand for sanitarians to collect water samples for the public. For Dentists who wish to participate in fluoridation, bottles for pediatric fluoride testing can be ordered from the Office of Maternal, Child, and Family Health.

AUTOMATIC BOTTLE SHIPMENT:

The Office of Environmental Health Services, Compliance and Enforcement Section, monitors and regulates Public Water Systems for various chemicals and contaminants for potential health risks. The Environmental Chemistry Laboratory offers the service of Automatic Bottle Shipment, for water samples to be collected and tested yearly for the purpose of regulatory compliance. When enrolled in the Automatic Bottle Shipment Program a sample bottle will be mailed automatically for yearly or quarterly sampling, for example Nitrate/Nitrite, and Lead and Copper. This service will eliminate the problem of forgetting to have a sample tested or waiting until the last minute to have your sample tested in time to stay in compliance. Just by calling or faxing the lab you can request a bottle shipment form or print one from the FORMS section.

REPORTING RESULTS:

A copy of the completed, signed laboratory report is mailed back to the customer, and as an added service for samples marked “regulatory compliance” a copy is mailed to the Office of Environmental Health Services, and to the District Office at no additional cost. If after receiving a laboratory report, there is a question, just give our office a call and one of our qualified technical staff will gladly interpret the results.

The Environmental Chemistry Drinking Water Laboratory is Certified/Approved by the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY for the Following:

Sampling instructions

Antimony

Alkalinity

Aluminum

Arsenic

pH

Chloride

Barium

Conductivity

Iron

Beryllium

Calcium

Manganese

Cadmium

Calcium Hardness

Nickel

Chromium

Sodium

Silver

Copper

Turbidity

Sulfate

Cyanide

Ortho-Phosphate

Total Dissolved Solids

Fluoride

Lead

Mercury

Zinc

Nitrate

Nitrite

Selenium

OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE TO MEET YOUR COMPLIANCE NEEDS

Total Organic Carbon (Raw/Finish)

SUVA (Raw/Finish)

Listing of West Virginia Certified Drinking Water Laboratories

RESOURCE LINKS:

Drinking Water Contaminants Listing – An EPA listing of regulated contaminants and their potential health effects from exposures above the Maximum Contaminant Level and common sources of contaminants.

Drinking Water Fluoridation – CDC’s National Water Fluoridation Program.

Private Drinking Water Wells – Information and Resources provided by the EPA to educate owners of private drinking water wells.

Surface Owner’s Guide to Oil and Gas – A written Guide for drinking water well owners potentially affected by nearby oil and gas drilling.

Point-of-use or Point-of-Entry Treatment Options for Small Drinking Water Systems - Provides information about point-of-use or point-of-entry treatment options for small drinking water systems.

Local Health Departments by County/Area in West Virginia – List of County Health Departments provided by Office of Environmental Health Services.

PAMPHLETS:

Laboratory Services for Community/Public Water Supplies – A listing of the tests provided by the Environmental Chemistry Laboratory and the cost associated with each parameter.

Drinking Water from Household Wells – A listing of contaminants tested by the laboratory and the common source of each.

REGULATIONS AND POLICIES:

Individual Water Supplies – General information concerning drilling or modifying drinking water wells.

FORMS:

Environmental Chemistry Sample Identification Form – A required form that must be completed by the customer and accompany the sample bottle.

Fluoride Sample Identification Forms – All Public Water Systems requesting fluoride testing must complete this form.

Environmental Chemistry Bottle Request Form – To request a test kit please complete this form and Fax or mail to the Laboratory. Please call if you need guidance in choosing a test.

Bottle Request Form for County Health Departments – For County Health Department to request additional bottles for emergencies or to have supplies on-hand.

PWS Fluoride Bottle Request Form – For Public Water Systems to request a year supply of sampling kits for fluoride.

Pediatric Fluoride Bottles – This Link will direct you to The Office of Maternal, Child and Family Health Warehouse which provides sampling kits.