# Where can I get my water tested and how much would it cost? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 27, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008 "2002-05-27T05:44:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/1 "2002-05-27T05:44:06Z")
My water, recently, has had a very metallic taste… at least until I run it for 45 seconds or so. Which makes me assume something from the pipes is seeping through the water… and when I run it for a long time and get fresh stuff, that stuff is fine. Anyway, who would I go to to get my water tested for some sort of contamination? What would it cost? ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/2 "2002-05-27T06:07:54Z")
Try your local health department. They offer inexpensive, basic tests. You’ll have to either pick up a sampling jar or have them mail one to you. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/3 "2002-05-27T09:28:38Z")
Is that a city office, or what? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/4 "2002-05-27T12:07:24Z")
Home depot has 2 kits, pay, take sample and mail it away ---
**Author:** ![Snetho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@Snetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snetho)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/5 "2002-05-27T14:40:11Z")
Free water test: [http://www.culligan.com/athomeonlineoffers1.asp](http://www.culligan.com/athomeonlineoffers1.asp) ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/6 "2002-05-27T14:43:52Z")
I would call the water company of course. I would tell them my concerns. They would probably say they were working on some pipes nearby or something & that it should clear up soon. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/7 "2002-05-27T17:04:09Z")
I just bought a house and one of the things that the bank wanted tested was the water. My realtor had someone who he worked with regularly, so I just used him. I guess my point is, call your local realtor, he will probably know someone who can do it. I don’t recall what it cost. ---
**Author:** ![bare](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bare/32/471_2.png) [@bare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bare)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/8 "2002-05-27T18:11:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SenorBeef \* > \*\*Is that a city office, or what? \*\* No, it is your State Health Department. Basic tests here in Idaho are $10.00. Nearly every county has an office. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/9 "2002-05-27T22:14:54Z")
Don’t use any of the realtor’s suggestions if you are buying (selling it’s OK - actually to your advantage). THey have a finantial stake in making the sale. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-can-i-get-my-water-tested-and-how-much-would-it-cost/111008/10 "2002-05-28T04:43:57Z")
Ok, thanks.