Certified Lab
CSI’s Certified Water Quality Testing Lab
The Community Science Institute (CSI) operates a certified testing laboratory in Ithaca, NY. It is certified by the New York State Department of Health-Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (NYSDOH-ELAP) under EPA guidelines (National Laboratory Accreditation Conference, or NELAC). Our identification numbers are NYSDOH-ELAP #11790 and EPA # NY01518. For a list of tests, see below.
Contact information
Community Science Institute
284-286 Langmuir Lab/Box 1044
95 Brown Road, Ithaca, NY 14850
Voice (607) 257-6606 (preferred method of contact)
Email lab@communityscience.org
Directions to lab: The Langmuir Lab is located near the Ithaca/Tompkins Regional Airport. Take Route 13 north from Ithaca, turn left onto Warren Road, then right onto Brown Road and into the Cornell Business and Technology Park. The Langmuir Lab is the last building on the right before Brown Road loops back to Route 13.
Sample bottles: Pick up bottles for coliform bacteria (basic potability test) or nitrate from a small bin on the door of the CSI lab, room 284 in the Langmuir Building. Bottles for coliform bacteria and nitrate tests are also available at the Trumansburg ShurSave. For tests other than coliform bacteria and nitrate, please inquire about bottles by calling 607-257-6606.
Sample drop-off: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 1-4 PM are the times the lab accepts samples for testing. Samples may also be dropped off at the Trumansburg ShurSave Monday-Thursday before 8:30 AM (be sure to follow step-by-step instructions provided with the sample bottles). Samples should be collected the same day they are dropped off for testing. Samples are not accepted on Fridays or weekends except by special arrangement.
Prices: See below. Discounts are available for some tests on five or more samples.
Field sampling: As a service to our clients, CSI performs field sampling for a flat rate of $60 anywhere in Tompkins County. Outside Tompkins County, travel is charged at a rate of $30/hour plus $0.55/mile (federal rate) based on Mapquest time and distance. In addition, there is a site sampling fee of $30. Travel costs are split among clients when samples are collected from two or more households in the same area.
Baseline testing for gas well contamination: CSI recommends baseline water testing before a gas well is drilled and hydraulically fractured nearby. The principle behind baseline testing is to obtain a “chemical signature” that is likely to change if contamination occurs. A changed “chemical signature” may provide a basis for holding the gas company legally accountable for damage to water. Baseline water samples must be collected by an impartial third party and analyzed by a certified lab, otherwise the results cannot be used in court. For more information on baseline testing of private drinking water wells and a list of recommended tests and prices, click here. For more information on baseline monitoring of surface water (streams and lakes), click here.
Drinking Water Tests (Certificate)
Bacteriology Solids
Total coliform and E. coli $25 Total Dissolved Solids $18
Standard Plate Count $30
Nutrients Miscellaneous
Nitrate (as N) $20 Surfactants (MBAS) $32
Nitrite (as N) $16 Turbidity $12
Residual chlorinea $ 7
Minerals
pH $12
Alkalinity $18
Calcium Hardness $18
Chloride $20
Sulfate $22
Specific conductance $12
Corrosivity $75
Non-Potable Water Tests (Streams, Lakes, Ponds, Other)
(Certificate)
Bacteriology Solids
Fecal coliform bacteria count $30 Total dissolved solids $18
E. coli bacteria count $30 Total suspended solids $18
Total coliform bacteria count $30 Total solids $18
Standard plate count $30
Minerals
Demand pH $12
Chemical oxygen demand $20 pHa $ 7
Alkalinity $18
Nutrients Acidity $18
Soluble reactive phoshorus (as P) $23 Calcium Hardness $18
(detection limit 0.4 ppb) Total Hardness $18
Total phosphorus (as P) $21 Chloride $18
(detection limit 1.5 ppb) Sulfate $22
Total dissolved phosphorus (as P) $33 Specific conductance $12
Particulate phosphorus (as P) $47
Nitrate (as N) $20 Miscellaneous
Ammonia (as N) $20 Surfactants (MBAS) $32
Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (as N) $25 Turbidity $12
Organic nitrogen (as N) $48 Residual chlorinea $ 7
Total nitrogen (as N) $48 Dissolved oxygenb $15
Chlorophyll ab Inquire
Tests subcontracted to other labs (partial list)
Gross alpha and beta radioactivity $55
Metals (barium, strontium, iron, manganese $25 first metal
arsenic, lead, others) $18 each additional metal
Mercury $35
Methane (natural gas)b $100
Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes (BTEX) $ 85
Volatile organic compoundsc (VOCs) $125
Volatile organic compounds + TICsd $170
(Tentatively Identified Compounds)
Other subcontracted tests Please inquire
a Non-certifiable test using LaMotte test kit b Non-certifiable test using standard method
c Standard list of 59 compounds; includes BTEX d Tentative identifications in addition
to standard list of 59 compounds, based on online library of approx. 20,000 compounds