Know Your Water

“As a homeowner/resident, with a private well source, it is YOUR responsibility to know what contaminants are present in your water.”

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The La Porte County Health Department Water Laboratory, (LPCHDWL) a Public Health Laboratory Service, is certified by the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) Water Microbiology/Chemistry Certification Program for the Bacteriological Examination of Public Waters under the Safe Drinking Water Act in accordance with the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141) and the Indiana Primary Drinking Water Regulations (327 IAC 8-1 & 8-2).

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To maintain state certification, the laboratory conducts required blind study proficiency testing annually and quality assurance and quality control exercises on a daily and monthly basis. Every three (3) years the LPCHDWL is audited by the Indiana Department of Health Water Microbiology and Chemistry Certification Programs to receive accreditation and re-certification.  The LCHDWL analyses water for Total coliform and E. Coli bacteria in public and private well water, community pools and spas. Coliform bacteria are a commonly used as a bacterial indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water. They are defined as rod-shaped Gram-negative non-spore-forming bacteria which can ferment lactose with the production of acid and gas when incubated at 35-37°C. Coliforms can be found in the aquatic environment, in soil and on vegetation; they are universally present in large numbers in the feces of warm-blooded animals. While coliforms are themselves not normally causes of serious illness, their presence can be used to indicate that other pathogenic organisms of fecal origin may be present. Fecal pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoa and many multicellular parasites.