Description of the Program

Cowlitz County Health Department provides water testing services to the public.  The water testing services available detect for three contaminants: coliform bacteria, nitrate and arsenic.

Coliform Bacteria:  The presence of coliform bacteria in drinking water indicates that disease-causing organisms (pathogens) may be present in the water system.

Nitrate:  Nitrates can affect red blood cells and reduce their ability to carry oxygen in the body.  Infants who are given water with high levels of nitrate may develop a serious health condition called methemoglobinemia or “blue-baby syndrome”.

Arsenic:  Arsenic has been reported to cause more than 30 different adverse health effects, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, skin changes, nervous system damage and various forms of cancer. 

If a contaminant is detected above Washington State Department of Health primary levels, customers are notified within 24 hours upon receiving laboratory results.  See Arsenic, Nitrate and Coliform Bacteria in Drinking Water fact sheets for more information on primary contaminant levels.

Related Health Department Web Links

• Drinking Water

• The Living Environment

Related Outside  Websites

Washington State Department of Health sites

• Emergency Disinfection of Small Systems

• Arsenic in Drinking Water

• Arsenic and Your Private Well

• Arsenic in the Environment

• Coliforms in Drinking Water

• Coliform Sampling Procedure

• Nitrate Sampling Procedure

• Troubleshooting Checklist for Coliform Contamination

• Nitrates in Drinking Water

Center for Disease Control sites

• Public Health Statement on Arsenic (ASTDR website)

• Nitrate/Nitrite Toxicity

What services do Environmental Health professionals provide for Cowlitz County?  

• Water sample testing for both private wells and small public water systems.

• Provision of water containers and instructions for water testing.

• Consultation with property owners, including remediation of unsatisfactory test results.

Program Accomplishments

• Facilitated 418 bacterial water samples in 2008 to assure the maintenance of safe, uncontaminated drinking water in Cowlitz County.

• Facilitated 48 Nitrate samples in 2008

• Facilitated 8 Arsenic samples in 2008

Sampling Instructions 

Water samples must be taken in Health Department containers and be submitted on the same day they are collected. 

You may pick up containers, forms and instructions for sampling from the Health Department reception desk during regular operating hours.

Please return the sample and completed forms to the Health Department during the following days and hours:

Monday thru Thursday 

8:30 am – 1:45 pm

Note: Office is closed from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., except on Tuesdays

Fees

Fees for water quality testing for coliform bacteria, arsenic, and nitrate are listed on the Fee Schedule.

When are test results available?

Bacteriological test results are normally available within 3-5 days of submittal.

Arsenic and nitrate test results are normally available within 21 days of submittal.

The results will be mailed to you.  If there is an unsatisfactory result, i.e., contamination is detected above Washington State Department of Health primary levels, you will be notified ASAP.