• McCampbell Analytical, Inc.
  • Connected With Us
  • 1534 Willow Pass Road Pittsburg, CA
  • Microplastics Testing
  • Respirable Silica Testing
  • Click here for PFAS Testing
  • Click here for UCMR 5 testing
  • Click here for residential drinking water testing
  • Click here for Lead Testing in Child Care Centers

Drinking & Well Water Testing for Bay Area Homeowners

McCampbell Analytical provides certified drinking and well water testing for homeowners throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and surrounding Northern California communities, with sample drop-off available at our laboratory.

Drinking & Well Water Testing for Bay Area Homeowners

Many homeowners test their drinking or well water when purchasing a home, after noticing taste or odor concerns, or simply to confirm water quality for their family.

McCampbell Analytical provides certified drinking Water testing services for homeowners, real estate transactions, and private wells throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Results are provided by experienced laboratory professionals. Homeowners may pick up sample bottles and drop off collected samples directly at our laboratory and our staff can help determine which testing is appropriate for your situation.

When should water be tested?

Water testing is commonly requested when:

  • Buying or selling a home
  • Testing private wells or rural water systems
  • Water shows unusual taste, odor, or color
  • Plumbing or well repairs have occurred
  • Flooding or contamination events have occurred
  • Routine household safety testing is desired

What can be tested?

We offer testing for a wide range of common drinking water concerns, including:

  • Bacteria testing - Total Coliform and E. coli
  • Nitrate and Nitrite
  • Metals such as lead and arsenic
  • PFAS compounds
  • General mineral and water quality parameters
  • Additional contaminants as needed

Sample drop-off process

Homeowners may collect samples and drop them off at our laboratory. Typical steps include:

  • Contact our laboratory to determine required testing
  • Obtain proper sampling containers and instructions
  • Collect water sample following instructions
  • Drop off sample at our lab
  • Receive certified analytical results
  • Standar turnaround time is 5 business days.

Our staff can help determine what testing is appropriate and provide sampling instructions.


Why Choose McCampbell Analytical?

McCampbell Analytical has served California since 1995 as a certified analytical laboratory trusted by environmental professionals, consultants, agencies, and property owners. Unlike mail-in kit services, samples are analyzed locally in our Bay Area laboratory by experienced staff who are available to answer questions and help guide clients through the testing process. Our laboratory results are suitable for real estate transactions, regulatory requirements, and general water quality evaluation. Testing is also available for PFAS compounds and other contaminants.

Service Area

McCampbell Analytical serves homeowners throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Peninsula communities, the East Bay, North Bay, and surrounding regions.


Additional homeowner testing information and package options are available on our Homeowner Testing Services page.

Contact the Lab for Sample Bottles or Drop-Off Instructions

FAQ & Package Information

Do I need an appointment to drop off a sample?

No, but contacting the lab first ensures proper containers.

How much water is needed?

This will depend on the testing requested. Contact the lab for more information

Do you provide sampling bottles?

Yes, contact us for containers and instructions.

Coliform Bacteria

This test is a primary indicator of potability & sanitary conditions of a water supply. Homeowners are highly encouraged to routinely perform this test on private water systems annually. Maximum Acceptable Concentration for Drinking Water = none detectable per 100 mL. The US Environmental protection Agency (EPA) designates Total Coliform testing as a standard test for determining the bacterial safety of drinking water. The EPA also suggests that people who drink from private water supplies, such as wells, test for bacteria (as well as nitrates) annually (see http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/faq.cfm).

Nitrate plus Nitrite-Nitrogen

The EPA has set the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of nitrate as nitrogen (NO3-N) at 10 mg/L (or 10 parts per million) for the safety of drinking water. Nitrates are readily found in several types of food as well as fertilizers, animal waste, human sewage, septic systems, flooded sewer's, agricultural runoff, and decaying plants. Elevated levels may serve as an indicator of other potential contaminants, such as pesticides or chemicals associated with septic system effluent.

pH

Measures the relative acidity of the water. The pH level of the water can change how your water looks and tastes. If the pH of your water is too low or too high, it could damage your pipes, cause heavy metals like lead to leak out of the pipes into the water, and eventually make you sick.

Alkalinity

Amount of bicarbonate, the major anion in water, as related to pH and corrosion..

Hardness

Is the measure of the amount of calcium and magnesium. This is important if water softening is considered.

Chloride

An indicator ion that, if found in elevated concentrations, points to potential contamination from septic systems, fertilizer, landfills, or road salt.

Conductivity

It is the measure of the total dissolved minerals in water. Change in conductivity or unusual ratio of conductivity to hardness may signal the presence of contaminants.

Corrosivity Index

A calculation of the corrosivity index is performed to determine the tendency for plumbing to corrode or for lime to deposit in your plumbing.

Arsenic

The safe drinking water standard for arsenic in drinking water is 0.010 mg/L. Arsenic occurs naturally in rocks and soils and is also widely used the agricultural industry. When groundwater levels drop significantly arsenic can dissolve out of rock formations. In rare cases, past pesticide use practices (especially those associated with cherry orchards) or improper disposal of arsenic containing chemicals may also be potential sources.

Calcium

Naturally occurs in groundwater where soils or underground rock formations contain limestone or dolomite. Essential to bone and tooth development, blood clotting, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and may reduce heart disease. Calcium along with magnesium causes hard water.

Copper

Levels above 1.3 mg/L exceed the safe drinking water standard. All living organisms including humans need copper to survive; therefore, small amounts of copper aid in iron utilization in the body. Copper can get into drinking water either by directly contaminating well water or through corrosion of copper pipes if your water is acidic. Corrosion of pipes is by far the greatest cause for concern.

Iron

Is a naturally occurring mineral which causes taste problems and discoloration of water. Iron is an important component of blood hemoglobin.

Lead

Lead in drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and plumbing in buildings and homes.

Magnesium

It can naturally occur in groundwater, along with calcium. Magnesium causes hard water.

Manganese

It is naturally occurring in some groundwater. Elevated levels of manganese in groundwater can result in aesthetic problems. Black precipitates (specks or staining) are often a result of manganese. There is a health advisory limit of 0.300 mg/L of manganese in drinking water. Problematic levels of manganese and iron are sometimes found together since both are associated with low levels of oxygen in groundwater

Potassium

Levels greater than 10 mg/L may indicate contamination from animal waste or may come from water softeners that use potassium chloride.

Sodium

Water supplies that are softened will contain elevated levels of sodium if sodium chloride is used as the softener salt. Elevated levels in groundwater may be the result of road salt or septic system effluent.

Sulfate

It is naturally occurring in some groundwater. Concentrations above 250 mg/L may cause a laxative effect, especially in people not accustomed to drinking the water. Sulfate is not the same as hydrogen sulfide which causes the rotten egg odor, although both contain the element sulfur.

Volatile Organic Compounds

VOCs are byproducts of industrial processes and petroleum production, and can also come from gas stations, urban stormwater runoff, agricultural applications, and septic systems.