Frequently Asked Questions

The environmental laboratory at 19 Warehouse Row closed on October 1st, 2020. The employees from the old laboratory have opened a new laboratory called Capital Region Environmental Laboratory.

The laboratory is located at 137 Columbia Turnpike Rensselaer, NY 12144. The phone number is 518-949-2020. The website is crenvlab.com.

Emails can be sent to brian@crenvlab.com or erika@crenvlab.com.

A Total Coliform/E. coli test is one of the best ways to determine whether your water is safe for consumption.

The New York State Department of Health recommends that this test be performed annually on private wells. A group we refer to as the Routine Physical and Chemical Examination gives a more thorough overview of common contaminants in well water.

Additionally, Lead and Copper are recommended if the house was built prior to 1976 and the original pipes are still in place. Other health concerns are organic contaminants and heavy metals.

Feel free to contact the laboratory for more information.

A Total Coliform/E. coli test is required for most mortgages on houses with well water. Additionally, some loans require a Short FHA Group or Long FHA Group, so you should check with your lender to determine which tests are required.

At a minimum, it would be suggested to test for arsenic and nitrate as these are common contaminants found in drinking water in farming areas.

A Routine Physical and Chemical Examination gives a broader overview of the water including many common contaminants. Synthetic organic contaminant (herbicide and pesticide) testing may also be suggested.

Feel free to contact the laboratory for more information.

We would suggest that you contact the local health department to find out common contaminants in your area. A thorough analysis may be recommended including Routine Physical and Chemical Examinations, Volatile Organic Contaminants, and heavy metals.

A Lead and Copper test is recommended if the house was built prior to 1976 and the original pipes are still in place.

Additional testing can be done if there is an unusual smell or discoloration of the water. For other contaminants, an annual report can be requested from your water provider.

New York State Department of Health Recommends annual testing for Total Coliform and E. coli. It is also recommended to perform most of the tests included in our Routine Physical and Chemical Examination every 3-5 years.

More information from the state can be found at: www.health.ny.gov/publications/6628/index.htm

Total coliform/E. coli results should be available the next business day. Most other testing will take about 5-10 business days for results. Certain specialty tests may take longer to receive results.

While we do offer expedited services at an additional cost, the above time frames should be referenced for most samples.

If you have not yet done so, discontinue using the water for drinking, preparing food or making ice, and use bottled water instead.

The well should be inspected for any damage or normal wear and tear that could allow contamination. If no damage is present or after repairs are done, the well can be disinfected to eliminate the bacterial contamination.

Water should be retested and shown to be free of total coliform before consumption. If continued testing is also positive, treatments systems such as ultraviolet (UV) or chlorination should be considered.

Call or email us anytime and you will understand that we take your water quality personally! We are happy to answer any of your questions or concerns and can offer suggestions, should you have water quality issues.

We have the experience and expertise you need. While the company may be new, the individuals employed at CREL have a combined 75 years of experience in the water testing industry.

All technical staff members of CREL were previously employed by St. Peter’s Environmental Laboratory. Some of our staff members have been in the field for over 30 years.

Capital Region Environmental Laboratory is a New York State and EPA approved environmental laboratory. As such, the laboratory is audited biannually by the state department of health and held to very high standards. The equipment used is well maintained and highly sensitive. The methods used are EPA approved and historically produce very accurate results that you can count on.

Check the below FAQ’s for topic-specific Questions/Answers

E. Coli

Fecal Coliform

Total Coliform