Environmental Laboratory

Water Testing

The City of Rockford Environmental laboratory will accept water samples collected by contractors, well operators, well drillers, and public water system operators as long as they are submitted in approved sample bottles. Sample bottles are available at the 1111 Cedar Street location. Water samples should be dropped off at 1111 Cedar Street. A City of Rockford Environmental Laboratory form must accompany each sample. These forms are available via download, Sample Collection Form (PDF) and Chain of Custody Record (PDF), or at 1111 Cedar Street. These forms must be completely filled out by the sample collector before a water sample is accepted. Incomplete forms will result in the rejection of the water sample. The City of Rockford Environmental Laboratory's normal operating hours is Monday through Friday between the hours of 6 am and 2:30 pm, with normal sample submittals accepted Monday through Thursday. Further, the City offers extended hours for specimen submittal via our self-service kiosk. Please view a list of holidays on which the Laboratory will be closed (PDF). Please contact us at 779-348-7373 for additional information.

The cost for analysis is as follows:

• Note 1: The price listed does not include tax.
• Note 2: Lead Testing for the City of Rockford Water Customers is done at no cost.

Samples are also accepted on weekends with a weekend surcharge equaling 2x the normal cost of analysis.

Collecting a Total Coliform or Membrane Filtration Water Sample

To perform the water sampling please read all of these instructions first.

Only State-approved laboratory-prepared bottles are to be used for samples. All water sample bottles are sterilized before distribution and must be handled carefully to avoid contamination during the sampling process.

Sampling Point

Select a sampling point as close as possible to the water supply source. If possible select a faucet or spout without a threaded outlet. Do not collect from garden hoses, dirty faucets, or swing-type faucets where foreign material may contaminate the sample. Remove faucet screens or aerators before sampling. Do not collect softened water.

Proceed as Follows

Make sure your hands are clean. They should be free of soil or dirt. Clean and disinfect the surface spout. Commercial bleach is a very effective disinfectant to use for this process. Do not touch the spout/faucet at the sampling point.

Before collecting the sample open the tap and allow water to run at a steady flow. Slow the water flow down to the stream size of a pencil during actual collection to avoid contamination from splashing.

Carefully unscrew the cap of the bottle. Hold the cap without touching the inside edges of the cap or the neck of the bottle. Do not attempt to clean or rinse the bottle. Next, fill the bottle to the marked fill line or to the bottom of the neck threads. Note: Please fill the collection bottle above the 100-millimeter line. Testing cannot be performed on samples with less than 100-millimeter of water. Do not fill to the rim, as you must leave air space in the bottle. Immediately and carefully replace the cap.

For questions, please contact the Water Quality Section at 779-348-7151 or email our Water Quality Section.